On the Town Encores Thoughts

Posted: 11/19/08 at 3:58pm

Anyone gone yet? I'm dieing to hear how it was--especially if anyone has any pics (not of the rehearsal) and can comment on the choreography--particularly the three recreated Robbins numbers.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 4:02pm

Well, seeing as how the show opens tonight...unless people went to a final dress rehearsal, there aren't many people who can comment on the show as of yet.

BUT...I'm going tonight and can't wait! I'll be SURE to return with a review!

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 4:19pm

I'm going on Friday! I can't wait. :)

[Just_John]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 4:54pm

It's fantastic. Andrea Martin really stands out amongst the cast. Every time she left the stage she got a round of applause. Also, Christian Borle can dance.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 5:02pm

I would love it if this could transfer.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 5:53pm

I got a last-minute ticket for Saturday night. Am especially looking forward to it because I've never seen OTT on stage. Is Andrea Martin ever in a show where she doesn't mop up the stage?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 6:55pm

How could you get a "last minute ticket" for the show when you won't be seeing it for three days?

"Last minute" is when you're walking past the theater, stop and go the box office, where you make your purchase and then take your seat.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:08pm

The mid-mezzanine side seats as well as most of the front gallery seats are being sold as partial view seats at the box office only for $10.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:12pm

I'm going tonight. I'm excited, as I know next-to-nothing about On The Town (sans the [title of show] tribute-lyric)

For $10 tickets, use code P2P10 when ordering online. They're in the rear-mezz and balc but you can likely move-down (which I don't necessarily condone)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:15pm

2 words: LESLIE KRITZER. She's playing the scene-stealing Hildy.

Nothing more; nothing less.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:33pm

due to a set design issue.....

the gallery (top balcony) is closed. people who had tickets in that section are being reseated in other locations, so it's going to be tough to get a ticket to the show.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:10pm

Three words: JESSICA LEE GOLDYN.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:56pm

I went tonight (Wed) $25 on TDF, good mezz seat a little to the side, some choreography is off to the sides but I saw most everything.
This is not the type of show that I think ENCORES should be doing because it has been revived several times.
But it is exactly HOW I think these shows/concerts should be done.
There is no set at all, a space in front of the orchestra for the scenes and intimate songs and a larger platform upstage for the dances.
There are a few clever projections, not credited.
The reason I love ON THE TOWN is the score, it is so unusual and jazzy, and it has three of the most haunting ballads ever heard on Broadway.
LONELY TOWN, LUCKY TO BE ME, and the perfect SOME OTHER TIME.
The cast and orchestra give full justice to this plethora of styles and melodies.
The dances by Robbins and Warren Carlyle mesh well and Robbin's ballets give us just enough to imagine what a breakthrough style of dancing this was for Broadway.
The men are especially strong, Tony Yazback gives a break out performance proving he can dance, act and sing better than most of his peers.
His vocals here are very strong and moving.
Christian Borle and Justin Bohan are great back ups and cut ups and both sing and dance with the right colorfull sailor enthusiasm.
And the tight white sailor pants ain't bad to look at.
Because this is done more like a concert the scenes come out of nowhere and this hurts the women a bit because they don't have the thru-story the gobs have.
Jessica Lee Goldyn is lovely as Ivy, this has to be the one lead actress in a musical who has about 5 lines and almost no singing.
I like Claire de Loone to be played more comical but Jennifer Laura Thompson sings the part so well and gets a lot of laughs.
I expected a lot more of Leslie Kritzer. I thought this was a perfect role for her, but it just didn't sit well in her range. her acting was fine and she did some nice riffs when the song was sitting in her voice, but I wanted more.
Andrea Martin was brilliant, as always and her cracking up of Ms. Goldyn was pee inducing.
If you can get a ticket, go see this and just listen to that incredible score performed by a most incredible cast.

Also kudos to Todd Ellison, Ethyl Will and the wonderful orchestra!

Updated On: 11/20/08 at 11:56 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:00am

Shame to hear that about Kritzer. Curious to see how she gets as the run goes on. I too thought her born to play Hildy.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:32am

NEW YORK NEW YORK
IT'S A HELLUVA TOWN

And City Center Encores! presents ON THE TOWN is a HELLUVA SHOW!

Holy crap. I haven't seen too many Encores! shows, but excluding GYPSY this one has to have truly raised the bar. Utterly superb and phenomenal. Not a bad egg in the bunch. Shining, stellar, bombastic, feel-good and polished!

What can be said, really?

I knew next-to-nothing about the show and walked-out humming.

The orchestra! The orchestra! The orchestra! It's this sublime jewel that keeps Encores! so top-notch. Take away the talent and the costumes, and we still have a stand-alone spotlight on the incredible musicians (under Todd Ellison's skilled baton). Leonard Bernstein's score sounds better than ever. Every instrument gets its moment, and I was such a fan of the dissonant strings during the Coney Island scenes

I'm a huge huge fan of this show now also because nearly EVERY song has either a reprise or a ballet/dance "button." Keeps the melody flowing and action fluid.

Tony Yazbeck (Gabey) is just a charm. Today's true song-and-dance man (And in those pants? What a butt!) Soothing tenor he holds his notes whole and high in "Lonely Town." Phenomenal chemistry and partnering with (real-life honey) Jessica Lee Goldyn.

It's so great to hear Jennifer Laura Thompson's (Claire) signature "squeal/squeak" again (so distinctive from Urinetown) and her comedy is off the charts. She can keep the most straight face while being the most tilted and obscure!

Not to be out-done, Leslie Kritzer (Hildy) is out of control. Strap yourselves in tight when you're in her taxi... she's a wild ride! "Come Up To My Place" (with adorable crooner Justin Bohon) is so much fun and "I Can Cook Too" knocks it outta the ballpark. Just having such a grand ol' time.

The triple punch of goofy glammy gals is Andrea Martin. Geezus effin christ. [insert Ms Martin here] [insert scenery here] [commence chewing]

Each stitch of this carefully crafted (and practiced!) piece is in place! Pulsating and cute choreography (three nods to Jerome Robbins' original staging). Such a New York show for a New York crowd!

Downer: Because of the relocated people (moving from balcony to mezz), there was little wiggle-room to change seats. Therefore, the $10 ticket ended-up really being worth $10. My view was nearly 50% obstructed (good thing I'm flexible).

But then again, who can argue with two words: DANCING SAILORS!

THERE ARE ONLY 5 SHOWS LEFT! SEE. IT. NOW.

[Heybeenfood]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:35am

Kritzer was absolute perfection. Not underwhelming at all.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:38am

Good to hear.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:40am

I'm going to try TKTS for this. Is it on there?

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:45am

This was incredible! I've longed to see a production of On The Town for years, and tonight my dreams were well exceeded! The cast was perfection. I though all members contributed their heart, soul, voices, movement and comedy into their characters. Tony Yazbeck needs to be a huge Broadway star soon. His performance was amazing, and he is on incredible triple threat. His performance gave me a new dream role: Gabey.

The orchestra was beautiful. It enchanced the amazing score.

I high suggest everyone go out and see this. I really hope it transfers to Broadway. I'd love to see it with sets.

EugLoven: Where were you sitting? I was in the Front Gallery, did $10 seats from Peer-2-Peer.
Updated On: 11/20/08 at 12:45 AM

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:46am

Any chance this will transfer to Broadway?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 1:01am

After the huge failure of the not-so-long-ago revival, I highly doubt it.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 1:48am

MusicAndPassion: I was Center RearMezz Row O

Posted: 11/20/08 at 5:37am

"Well, seeing as how the show opens tonight...unless people went to a final dress rehearsal, there aren't many people who can comment on the show as of yet.

BUT...I'm going tonight and can't wait! I'll be SURE to return with a review! "

*blush* sorry--I got a text this morning from a friend who had seen it the night and said a few good things about it. But I found out now he did go to a dress rehearsal.

Loved reading all the reviews! It's true that OTT hasn't had much luck with revivals--I think one reason being the replacing of Robbins' choreography...

[cat4]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 8:47am

Saw it last night. Had a great time!!

This is how a musical should be done, with performers who can sing and dance well. Though it's only a concert version, I have to say I enjoyed it way much more than Pal Joey (which I saw 4 days ago).

Andrea Martin is funny as hell. There was a scene of her with Jessica Lee Holdyn (as Ivy Smith) which got so comical that Holdyn bursted into laughter on stage. Even the orchestra members on stage were laughing their butts off.

The dancing was exquisite by today's Broadway standard. We don't see dancing like this in musicals anymore. What a pity. It was a joy watching Yazbeck and Goldyn dancing. All the female performers in the show did a great job, including Leslie Kritzer and Jennifer Laura Thompson.

One of the best City Encores I've seen throughout the years. I do have to say that some of the scene change was not that smooth and abrupt. Also Act II felt a bit slow. But otherwise this is a good production and if you go you're definitely going to have a good time!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 9:06am

Okay, after weeks of trying to get a decent ticket, on Tuesday, I finally had some luck and was able to nab a single. It was so close to the opening that I felt I was getting it at the last minute. Sorry about my ignorance and I'll NEVER say last-minute unless I get one the way Dolly described.