PASSING STRANGE- 4/5

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:05am

So I finally saw Passing Strange today and...

WOW.

Now this show isn't the best show I've ever seen. It wasn't perfect, and some of it dragged.

HOWEVER, it was the freshest, most original, and most inventive show I have seen on Broadway in a long time. It was, simply put, INCREDIBLE.

Stew had me roped in from the moment he walked on stage. He walked out and said, very jovially "What's up?" He then told us we could respond with "Nothing" or "I just saw a guy in a kilt on the street." (Which we all did, they were EVERYWHERE today!)

From then on, I was totally in love with Stew. (In a very plutonic, heterosexual way.)

Daniel Breaker was incredible as well, and though I found him inappropriately effeminate at times, it worked for the character and created great humor. His interaction with Stew was INCREDIBLE! The best moments of the show, for me, were when they interacted. (Especially at the end, I swear I was on the verge of tears.)

The supporting cast was excellent, especially DeAdre Aziza and Rebecca Naomi Jones. The confusion of the words "song" and "love" by Daniel Breaker's character was a BRILLIANT inclusion in the book. The way it was used (and I won't give it away) was excellent, and really got me going "AHAH!"

I was sitting in the front row and, thanks to a raked stage and a good deal of space, was able to see the show perfectly, and caught facial expressions that many others didn't. Chad Goodridge was practically on top of me at the beginning of the second act, which was pretty cool.

I really enjoyed Amsterdam the most out of all of the segments, I thought that the music was the best, and the moment where they revealed the light board was breathtaking. "Welcome to Amsterdam" better make it to the Tony telecast, or I'm going to be very very upset.

Overall, this was an incredible show, one that I won't forget. I hope it runs for a while, because I am thrilled for every single member of this cast. They all seem to be enjoying themselves immensely, and the show is out of this world.

A really really great show. Everyone make sure you see this if you haven't already!

P.S. When you guys saw it, did they play with the downstage keyboardist's hair throughout the show? They did it nearly constantly today, and it provided for some good humor.

P.P.S. I stopped for a video testimonial after the show, telling them how much I enjoyed it. They were asking audience members, they're putting together something. So if you see a passing strange commercial with a Jewish guy with curly brown hair in an argyle sweater, let me know!

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:12am

Oh, and for the record, Marian Seldes was there today, raving about the show.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:24am

Re: the hair thing - it's always in the drug suite, but I noticed it has been added in a place later in the show last week.

[BenKaye]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:25am

Glad to hear you enjoyed it ScaryClown. It really is an incredible show. Can't wait to see it this Sunday, as in TOMORROW!!!!

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:26am

Wow, I loved your review, SCARY....now everybody knows why some of us--BenKaye, Jaystarr, Verycuriousny, etc..., continuously post about this show! At every performance, Stew does a little something "spontaneous" onstage, which always makes it interesting to watch. The "roly-poly guy" (a critic's descrip, not mine) is quite an engaging talent, isn't he?
I'm so glad that they are doing "video testimonials" after the show..something completely new today! Maybe it's for one of those "real people" TV commercials.

[Clayford27]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:27am

I'm glad you enjoyed the show...I'm seeing it tomorrow, I'm so excited! :)

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:31am

Yeah, Stew is incredible. He is really something. I loved his story about the pretzel guy. It was both hilarious and pretty damn deep.

Also, knowing that it was his story made the show that much more rewarding. Watching him watch Daniel Breaker at the end was really emotional.

Tiny, are you an usher? You don't work right orchestra do you?

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:32am

Hey I wanna be in a video testimonial. Very glad you liked the show. HELLZ YEAH

I will now look for a curly-haired Jewish guy in an argyle sweater in online videos.

I really hope they do an Amsterdam/Keys medley at the TONYS. It's gonna be out of this ****ing world.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:32am

You know, Marian Seldes has been to the show at least 3 times already.
Cool.
P.S. What happened to the "official PS Love Thread?" Updated On: 4/6/08 at 12:32 AM

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:32am

scary, did anything cool go down during the "It's Allright" section? SO much fun.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:34am

I don't know, I couldn't tell if "It's alright" was special, but I can tell you that Stew was all over, pointing to each cast member, handing the mike off to DeAdre so she could sing, jamming. I can also tell you that I had a huge goofy smile on my face the entire time. That was by far the best part of the show.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:36am

The last time I saw PS, the "It's Alright" part of Keys was completely nuts. It was AMAZING

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:36am

I love that part.

When I was there Tuesday, Stew jumped into the audience and made the whole cast come sing to him.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:41am

Couple of nights ago he hopped into Row B, grabbed a Playbill from an audience member, flew back onstage and KILLED!!! It's ALWAYS f***ing GREAT!!

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:42am

Wow, I guess he doesn't go crazy at matinees. (But I can't really blame him.)

He held out a REALLY LONG note at the end of the show that was pretty cool. Does he usually do that?

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:46am

yes. it gives chills at times.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 12:57am

I distinctly remember that number ('caauuuse, it's my favorite of the show!) and when I caught it (March 5th @ 8:00pm), STEW was all: "Yeah, it's alright! The preacher tell me that it's alright, the tax collector says it's alright, the litlte children say it's alright, etc., etc., etc." That had me HOOKED 'cause he was SCREEEAAAAMING, and it was just ... breathtaking. For more on my thoughts ... screw my thoughts. For those who are *still* holding-out, don't be stupid, book a freakin' seat, feel the love, spread the buzz, and FIND THE REAL! tiny, Jay, guys, I think we need to press the issue here and now (not in a bad way), but really ... let it out. "How you gonna leave?" That's all I'm sayin'.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 1:22am

Well said, LimeLight..I would say, the seat pickins are very good right now..I think it's the best bargain in town, the 25.00 seats are outstanding and easily had, but if you wait until the various award noms, it might not be that easy.
Hell, even if you hate the show, which is highly unlikely, you only wasted 25 bucks.

[aliciag]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 1:36am

I'm so glad to hear another person loved the show!

I swear everytime someone mentions anything about pretzels what goes through my mind but: "and I was like, damn pretzel man." No one really gets it but that's ok.

And I was at a Wednesday matinee a few weeks ago and the "It's Allright" part was fantastic and totally rocking. There was a whole row in the back of the orchestra standing up and rocking out. I wish I could have joined but I didn't know how that would go down being in the front and all.

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 2:21am

Are you kidding, Aliciag? Stew would LOVE it if the entire place got up and rocked out. Those people in the back are the staff, understudies, producers, etc., sometimes w/the addition of standing room! I say get up, get up, get outta your seat.

[joe5]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:07am

Glad that you enjoyed it! I can't wait to see it again!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 9:12pm

Thanks for the review. I love the show!

J*