Review: Spamalot (7/21), Sweeney Todd (7/22)

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:04am

Okay, I'm back in Los Angeles, and days have passed since I saw my last few shows, but I'm still pleased to write my thoughts on them. :) So LISTEN AS I OPINE.

SPAMALOT
Understudies: Chris Hoch as Lancelot, Rick Spaans as Monk/Sir Not Appearing

What can I say about Spamalot? That show is just... spectacular. I love how the plot is so full of fluff, but it's definitely my second favorite experience in a theater (1st = being a speller in the Bee). Anywho, this show is just so, so funny, and it's easily one of my favorites. Sets are fantastic, lighting is great, and the songs are hysterical.

First, Chris Hoch was AMAZING. I saw so many similarities between him and Hank Azaria, and thought I was watching the same guy. At the stage door, he was so appreciative of everybody, and you could tell he really had a blast onstage. As with many other Broadway performers, though, boy needs a tan. Badly. Especially during "His Name Is Lancelot." Ah, he was just great.

Martin Moran played a very lovable Robin. Enjoyable. Christian Borle was hilarious, as always. Michael McGrath was great as well. Lewis Cleale as Galahad was just horrible, though. As Dennis, he was great -- as Galahad, he just bored the heck out of me. He's no Chris Seiber, I'll tell you that.

Lauren Kennedy... well, she's different. She's definitely no Sara, but we all knew that. Some of her lines were delivered fantastically, and others flopped. But she has such a different take on the part than Sara did, and I loved both. I only felt like Lauren wasn't loud enough or diva-ish. She seemed more remorseful during "Diva's Lament" than really pissed. Still great.

Harry Groener was fantastic as Arthur, though. So much better than Tim Curry. Well, anyone's better than Tim Curry. Harry can actually sing, and he doesn't ooze cockiness as Tim does. Surprisingly, Harry actually showed a breakdown of Arthur's character. I felt bad for poor Arthur.

Anyways, amazing show. Loved it. :)

SWEENEY TODD
Understudies: Elisa Winter as Johanna

Okay. I'm SURE many of you know how much I've said I hated this show. I said it's the most boring show ever. The music was horrible, the plot was confusing, the set was horrid -- I hated the whole concept of it all. Let me say that upon second viewing, however... new opinions arise.

I can't say this show was great. I mean, of the six I saw (Rent, Bee, Scoundrels, Spam, Wedding Singer), this is the lowest ranking. HOWEVER... it was... pretty... good. My God, I can't believe I just said that.

Here's the thing: it's just such a strange show. You can't compare it to anything else, ESPECIALLY not this version of it. It's so dark, and so occasionally witty, and with such strong voices from everyone. I don't know how to start this review, really.

I'll say that it was creepy. It was. The beginning with the echoes and the slamming doors, the end with the echoes and the slamming doors. It was eerily amusing. I'm definitely sure that John Doyle achieved what he was aiming for. Kudos, brotha.

The performers were excellent. I mean, I had no doubt they would be. Elisa Winter made a great Johanna -- then again, when I saw it previously (in unsavory ways... yep), I saw her as well. So I have nothing to judge Lauren on. Mano was fantastic, Alexander was hilarious, and Benjamin Magnuson was amusing. Patti was excellent. Michael and Mark, on the other hand, I found myself bothered by. Michael seemed so bored and uninterested, and not angry unless he was screaming at Mrs. Lovett. Mark just disturbed me. I can't pinpoint what it was, but I didn't like their performances at all. Maybe they were so good that I didn't like them as characters. I'm not quite sure.

The music is still boring to me, though. It's sung beautifully, and there are some songs I love ("A Little Priest", "Worst Pies in London", "Kiss Me", "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir", "Not While I'm Around"), but overall, I've always disliked the music. I'm not into the whole slowly-sung classical kind, aka all fifteen versions of "Johanna." Some of Michael's lyrics were utterly incomprehensible. I definitely think Sondheim's had better days.

As far as the plot... I couldn't help thinking that if I didn't know the story previously, I'd be confused. My best friend (new to Broadway) confirmed that. He was totally lost. Still, he said it was an 'okay' show. I agreed.

The second half of the first act was when things started to become interesting. The same went for the second half of the second act. Really, once the P man is dead, things start heating up. Then they fall again. Then they heat up again. It's choppy, and I didn't like that.

More set pieces could have been used, I think, to make it easier to understand. Lighting was great. Instruments onstage was a nice touch. Using sentence fragments now. Very long flight. Anyways, it was... better than I thought it would be. It's a shame that attendance is so low. Bah.

Updated On: 7/24/06 at 12:04 AM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:06am

Glad you had a good time! Can't wait for the Sweeney review!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:54am

I assume your reviews are from July 21st and 22nd? :P

Updated On: 7/24/06 at 12:54 AM

[C is for Company]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:16am

At least you relatively warmed up to Sweeney and gave it another viewing

[Patronus]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:21am

I'll say that it was creepy.

Not as creepy as you ranking it below The Wedding Singer.

It takes all kinds though. Glad you had a good time.
Updated On: 7/24/06 at 01:21 AM

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:25am

Oops. Yep, 7/21 and 7/22. Yeah, it was a really long flight.

And Patronus, I don't quite know how to explain it. My ranking is just of my enjoyment of it -- I, personally, enjoy the more frothy, pop-like, fun musicals. I enjoyed myself more with the energetic Wedding Singer than the dark, psychological Sweeney. Not to say that Wedding Singer ranks high on the poignancy or brilliance scale, but as far as just enjoyment, they were just far different. Hope that explains how I feel.

I really did enjoy Sweeney. My review is more of my problems with it than what I liked. But really, it IS a good show. It's just different from anything I've witnessed.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:09am

I thought Patti was out for a while or something? Or has that not happened yet?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:10am

Not yet. End of this week.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:26am

Thank you for the reviews! Two of my favorite shows and I am always eager to read reviews and hear about them