On the Town Encores Thoughts — Page 2

If I go to the box office on Sunday when the box office opens I will I be able to get $50 or $25 dollar tickets?

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I left the theater at 10:30pm last night but the show didn't start till almost 8:15pm. They opened the doors quite late as there was some dinner thing going on on the 2nd floor. The intermission started at around 9:30pm. I'd say the whole thing is probably about 2hr 20min.

I don't really mind nosebleed. I just want a relatively cheap ticket where I can see everything. But proximity doesn't matter too much.

Totes must be sold-out!

On of the Best! Honestly, this show just brings such joy that when done right, it can be euphoric. I know I had a smile on my face throughout most of the show and I even got a little teary-eyed during the most perfect sentimental, but not overly sentimental, musical comedy song "Some Other Time." the Encores! mission for this production was too highlight the Bernstein music (and I guess along with that came the Robbins' choreography) and my gosh did they do the excellently. Staging, props, sets and even some of the comedy took a backseat to the music (orchestra being placed front and center) and the dancing (a raised platform in the back), in which guest musical director, Todd Ellison, and choreographer, Warren Carlyle, did not hold back one bit.

The cast was perfect all around, with Tony Yazbeck anchoring the show as leading man and Jessica Lee Goldyn right there with him as the leading dancer (not really, but whatever. Her dancing was phenomenal). While she might not have developed quite the sharpness in her comedy that Nancy Walker had (then again how many young actrresses have?), Leslie Kritzer did get most of the laughs for her 2008 characterization of the sexual taxi driver. She even channeled some Nancy Walker in her "I Can Cook Too." Jennifer Laura Thompson and Michael Cumpsty also stood out form the rest of the main players. But, the whole night belonged to Andrea Martin as the drunk opera teacher, who brought down the house with every syllable uttered, every movement for her bottle and every lookto anyone!

Thanks so much Encores!

Anyone else there on Saturday afternoon? That's when ENCORES always has a post-performance discussion, and in addition to several people from this production, Phyllis Newman and the original Ivy Smith, Sono Osato, were there to share stories about the 1944 production. It was a perfect coda to a terrific afternoon!

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I saw the show at yesterday's matinee and loved it. Yes, Tony Yazbeck is giving a break-out performance. I loved every minute of ON THE TOWN!!

The talk-back after the performance was a bit of a letdown. Sono Osato had some good tales to tell about how she was cast in the original production, but the lovely lady is well on in her years and rambled quite a bit. It took forever for her to make her point. Lots of people walked out of the talk-back.

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I saw it last night; so glad I did, it was fantastic!

There's nothing like watching a Bernstein show live, especially with a full 30-piece orchestra. Great work from the musicians in what is a very, very difficult score (some of those crazy fast notes the woodwinds had to play...damn).

I, of course, agree that Martin stole the show, and Yazbeck gave a great turn as the lead, but I am so glad that almost everyone is giving the real star of the show its due -- Leonard Bernstein's music.

I've often lamented that, while everyone acknowledges Bernstein's gift, his name is often left out of discussions of the greatest Broadway composers ever -- because he didn't do as many shows as Rodgers or Sondheim, or because he was known for other things -- I don't know, but Carnegie Hall's festival honoring his 90th birthday has been fantastic, and On The Town is just icing on the cake.

I saw Mass for the first time at Carnegie Hall (and of course loved it), went to an informative Bernstein discussion/panel at the Paley Center, and now saw On The Town.

With the upcoming Broadway revival of West Side Story, dare I hope that this is a year where Bernstein truly gets his due?

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I was there on Friday and I was disappointed by how they handled the gallery seating. I had a pair of seats in the first row of the front gallery and I was moved to the second to last row of the rear mezz. I could see the dancing, but not much of anything else. I went up to the gallery at intermission and the front gallery was full (I assume from people originally in the rear gallery). City Center always constructs their shows with little to no regard for those in the rear mezz or gallery, but this was crazy. The show was great! I just wish I could have seen all of it. I guess you get what you pay for.

I saw the show saturday night and was not impressed. Tony Yazbeck doesn't have a bit of charisma( he can dance) Leslie didn't have the vocal strength for the part, Andrea Martin was great, and the rest of the show was just ok.

I saw it this evening, and enjoyed it tremendously. Leonard Bernstein's music filled the house and it was lovely to heard. I loved Leslie Kritzer and her song "I Can Cook Too".

However, the Gallery seats were very partial view. Whenever the ballet moments took place beyond the orchestra their heads were chopped off and you couldn't see any of the projections on the back screen. That was a major let down. They shouldn't place the orchestra on the main part of the stage again. I've always sat in the Gallery for the Encores productions and have never had this much partial view before.

Well, at least everything else was very good.

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To be fair, Mildred Plotka, after some dancing following the first two verses of "I Can Cook Too," Kritzer was out of breath for the final verse. She still hit the notes, but there was some strain.

I saw the show on Saturday night and I thought it was absolutely phenomenal. I sat in the back row of the orchestra and could see everything just fine. I don't care what other people say, Leslie Kritzer was perfection. Critics that said her performance was overtly sexual seem to have forgotten the character. The song is "Come up to my place" She wasn't planning on playing Scrabble. Andrea Martin stole the show with her outrageous antics. I honestly think that she added an extra ten minutes to the show with all the laughs following her every word. Jessica Lee Goldyn's lack of composure during their scene was absolutely priceless. Goldyn's dancing skills are also really intense as are Tony Yazbeck's. They are the cutest couple ever and she was really sweet at the stage door. Jennifer Laura Thompson and Christian Borle were hilarious together. They just had really great chemistry and timing. Justin Bohon also did a great job complementing Kritzer's Hildy. The greatness of the orchestra can't even be put into words so I'm not even going to try. The sets and the rest of the cast were just as thrilling as the leads. I love the movie and the score and the whole production far exceeded my expectations. I can only pray for a transfer.

Updated On: 11/25/08 at 02:11 AM