"On the Town" Preview Thread — Page 14

PHillytheaterguy, the theater has elevators. Sit up high its better.

If you are worried about stairs, you have to go up a small flight to get in to the lobby from the entrance hallway.

Updated On: 10/7/14 at 11:51 AM

Holy ****. This show.. this show. My God. Absolutely fantastic. Every moment on stage was a spectacle. The costumes are stunning and bright. The singing is exciting and heartbreaking at times. I cried during Lonely Town. And I laughed at what by all rights would be dated comedy. This ensemble hit just the right notes. And it was also sexy in a fun and playful way.

The dancing- Jerry Robbins would approve. This show hits the ground running and never ever lets up.

Start polishing Tony Yazbeck's Tony right now. The gracefulness, the voice, the hot, heaving sweaty chest. He did a lot of heavy lifting in the show, and it was excellent.

Jackie Hoffman is wonderful as Madam Dilly. She takes some corny material and makes it work.

Alysha Umphress was awesome and fun. A voice for days. I get what people are saying about Megan Fairchild as Ivy, but what deficiencies she has as an actress actually work in her favor for this role. And her and Tony were very graceful, and hot.

Lots of great moments that I loved I won't spoil here, but GO SEE THIS SHOW. I also cried at the tender "Some Other Time".

As far as the sex goes- there is nothing in the text to suggest that Chip and Ozzie get laid, it was a choice for this production, and it works. Seeing Jay Armstrong Johnson in his underwear was a treat, considering I was in the 5th row.

Also, the orchestra was a phenom. A full, luscious sound.

My 88 year old uncle loved it too. He said it was very different from the original production which he had seen- much more colorful and vibrant and each was wonderful in it's on right.

This will run way past January.

lovebwy - that's awesome. What a treat to see this production with your Uncle.

Thanks guys. Once in a while I'd look over at him and he had a smile from ear to ear. He used to go to Broadway shows often until his wife died a few years ago. What an excellent show to return to.

"Is the front row too close for this? "

When are you planning to go? We got front row tix for Saturday, the 18th, the night we come in and debated on where to sit. I know that you lose the whole stage visual in a big show but we love seeing the actors up close and the orchestra so I hope not!

Saw it last Saturday matinee. I had not been that excited about seeing it since it was announced. I wasn't crazy about the 1971 or 1998 versions.

however, I was very surprised at how I LOVED IT. Yes, there are some set complaints but I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the great music, cast and choreography. This is the best OTT I have seen. Loved Alyshia Umphress and Jay Armstrong Johnson the best! Real fun chemistry.

I was in Orch Center Row K - got a ticket one hour before using a half price code at the BO.

HorseTears, thanks for the kind words on the previous page. Below are links to Robbins' bio page on Wikipedia that goes into more detail on The Fleet's In! inspiring the ballet and a page on the painting's history from an official US Navy website that confirms it was the inspiration for Fancy Free. The picture I posted was the best overall I could find but the less detailed copy below shows the sides of the painting that are cropped off in the other picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Robbins#1930s_and_40s

http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/cadmus/cadmus.htm

Eric, I too have always heard that it was Oliver Smith who suggested turning Fancy Free into a musical. Wikipedia says that it was Broadway producer/director Mary Hunter Wolf who suggested the painting to Robbins as a ballet. The controversy over the painting was widespread and helped establish Cadmus' reputation. It's often cited as one of the most famous examples of the censoring of an American work of art when the Navy had it pulled from the Corcoran show and withheld from public view for many years. There was a rumor that at one point the Secretary of the Navy or his second in command displayed the painting on the wall of his bathroom in his private residence.

Updated On: 10/7/14 at 03:41 PM

The Navy didn't commission it. But Cadmus painted it while working for the Public Works of Art Project, which was part of the WPA, so it was owned the government. The Navy's seizing it wasn't technically legal but they didn't care. Eventually it was handed over to a private club, where it hung for years. It took a lawsuit to get the club to relinquish it so it could be displayed publicly, at which point the Navy did gain proper title to it and it now hangs in the Navy museum at the Washington Navy Yard.

I love the locker room painting. Cadmus was often a very naughty boy which is probably one reason I love his work.

Updated On: 10/7/14 at 04:10 PM

Thanks PJ--that's the book I have, actually. Great read.

NoName--you're right, of course, thanks for clearing up the details.

I saw the show this last monday night and loved every fantastic dated minute of it. I laughed, I cried,I was slack jawed at the stunning dancing and lighting and costumes. In fact I can't wait to see it again.
This is the penultimate Broadway show.Add the fact that there is no overblown star in sight hogging the spotlight made it all the more joyous for me.
I howled with delight at Carried Away, got a lump in my throat at the poignantly and beautifully sung Lonely Town and was bedazzled by the Pas de Deux. And believe me the rest is is of an extraordinary high standard and hugely enjoyable as well. The audience leapt to their feet and remained cheering from the beginning of the curtain call to the very end. This is a lovingly produced and directed revival and should have a long and healthy run and if it doesn't there ain't no justice!

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Updated On: 10/8/14 at 12:29 AM

You have articulated it perfectly. I completely agree with you.

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