#1
Posted: 4/20/06 at 5:11pm
Having recently got back from NYC, I thought I'd post my reviews of the shows I saw while I was out there.
Hairspray - I love this show so much, and this was my fourth visit. It's still as much fun as ever, and the current cast has to be the best I've seen. Shannon Durig is sensational as Tracy, and surely must be considered for the replacement Tony award?! She looks like she's having the time of her life up on the stage, and she sings the hell out of the songs. Diana DeGarmo as Penny was great - I think I prefer Tracey Miller's take on the character, but Diana's singing was out of this world-I wasn't at all disappointed. John Pinette as Edna was hilarious, and he played the endearing side of the character beautifully. 'Timeless To Me' with Stephen DeRosa's Wilbur was one of the highlights of the show - the audience went crazy for both of them. Darlene Love - a powerhouse, she's just incredible. I really don't have a bad word to say about the show. Anyone who has seen it before, go back and see it again - you won't be disappointed.
Wicked - having heard Eden Espinosa in Brooklyn I really didn't want to see her in this show-her voice grates on me a bit, and I really feel like she shrieks. So imagine how happy I was when I arrive at the Gershwin and I saw that Saycon Sengbloh would be playing the role of Elphaba. I have seen Idina and Shoshana in this role, and Saycon gave the most exciting, heart-felt performance I have seen. Her acting was superior to both, and her singing was out of this world. 'I'm Not That Girl' was really a highlight of the show for me - she just put so much feeling into the song. And I have never been more excited about 'Defying Gravity'. She was sensational. Megan Hilty has just grown in the role of Glinda so much since I saw her in August, and she too surely must be considered for the replacement Tony Award. Jenna Leigh Green was brilliant as Nessa - she put much more character into the role than Michelle Federer, and her singing is stunning (and she was so sweet at the stage door). Derrick Williams as Fiyero made the most of his small role, as did Ben Vereen, and both played the roles to the best they possible could. They too were both great at the stage door. I do think that Wicked is a great show - it has flaws, but so do all other shows.
Tarzan - I went thinking that it would be a fun night at the theatre, and I was excited about seeing the third preview. I did enjoy parts of it - I thought some of it was amazing, and I thought some of it was some of the worst stuff I'd ever seen on stage. The opening sequence with the ship in the storm, the parents being thrown overboard, and then being swept up onto the beach was truly extraordinary - I swear I didn't blink throughout that entire scene. The first person who really stood out to me was Merle Dandridge - she gave a very moving performance, and she sings beautifully. Her rendition of 'You'll Be In My Heart' will stay in my memory for quite some time. Chester Gregory II as Terk was really great in a very weak role - his act I song 'Who Better Than Me' was one of the only new songs that stuck in my head. Josh Strickland as Tarzan was fantastic - his singing was incredible, and I really felt that he played the character well. I feel a Tony nomination would be on the cards if his role was expanded a little bit. For a show about Tarzan, he didn't have an incredibly large part. Jenn Gambatese was ok as Jane, but had some terrible songs to sing - the only song of hers that I really enjoyed was 'For The First Time' which is a second act duet with Josh. I thought this scene was nicely directed, and they both sang from the heart. Shuler Hensley was my biggest disappointment from the actors - it looked like he didn't care about the show, but to be honest, if I had to perform his role, I'd probably be exactly the same. It really is a nothing role.
The book is the show's biggest problem - it was just plain boring - the first half dragged by, and I actually enjoyed the second half more as I thought there was more of a story with the conflict between the humans and the jungle inhabitants. The new songs were really quite disappointing; Phil Collins says he has spent 3 or 4 years on the new material - it really doesn't show! I feel that this show would do well by extending the preview period so the creative team can really re-work a lot of it, including the set, which was a very disappointing Bob Crowley design (I loved his work for Mary Poppins). I want it to do well as there is a lot of talent on the stage but they're working with poor material. I wish it the best of luck as I fear that it will get ripped to shreds by the critics.
The Color Purple - I could just write about LaChanze for this review because she gave one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen on stage. However, there is so much more to talk about: Felicia Fields and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes were both outstanding ('Too Beautiful For Words' and 'What About Love?' were gut-wrenching). I think the score is great. My major criticism is that the timeline isn't always incredibly obvious-it does move very quickly. The three Church Ladies were great. I think it's a very well-conceived show, and it's bringing a different audience to the theatre which is great. I think it was my favourite of the new shows I saw.
The Wedding Singer - the new Hairspray for me. I thought it was so much fun - the music is great, the set's cartoony and quirky, and the performers worked so well together. I really liked the songs 'It's Your Wedding Day', 'Get Out Of The Dumpster', 'Saturday Night In The City' and 'It's All About The Green.' Stephen Lynch was brilliant - funny, endearing and a great singer. A lot of people have said that Laura Benanti is mis-cast, but I thought she was a great member of the cast. Funny and sweet. Richard H. Blake has a small part, but is a terrific performer. Kevin Cahoon - hilarious is all I can say. Amy Spanger and Felicia Finley were real scene-stealers. The biggest disappointment was Matthew Saldivar as Sammy - just plain boring. I think it will run for quite some time - the preview audience went wild for it.
The Pajama Game - I love Kelli O'Hara!!! Is there anything this girl cannot do? So different from The Light In The Piazza, yet still completely convincing. She'd be perfect for Mary Poppins. Harry Connick Jnr - erm, he was ok. I wasn't overwhelmed by him. His singing isn't my cup of tea, and he really isn't that great an actor in my opinion. Michael McKean was great. The only other person who really wowed me was Jennifer Cody - she's adorable. I've never seen The Pajama Game before, and thought that the score was lovely, but the book is very poor. It's a fun show, and the design, direction and choreography were, to me, spot on.
Sweeney Todd - I've never seen a production before, and it left me shaken up - it's much darker than I thought it would be. Michael Cerveris was just so powerful and menacing, but at the same time I felt sorry for his Sweeney - he was awesome. Tony Award! Patti LuPone - the day I saw it, the woman could not sing in tune, but her characterisation was also incredible. The whole cast is scarily talented. I thought, however, that Manoel Felciano had something very special.
I had an amazing time in New York, and each show had something special to offer. The Tony Awards, and success of the new shows, will be incredibly interesting to see.
Mary P x
Hairspray - I love this show so much, and this was my fourth visit. It's still as much fun as ever, and the current cast has to be the best I've seen. Shannon Durig is sensational as Tracy, and surely must be considered for the replacement Tony award?! She looks like she's having the time of her life up on the stage, and she sings the hell out of the songs. Diana DeGarmo as Penny was great - I think I prefer Tracey Miller's take on the character, but Diana's singing was out of this world-I wasn't at all disappointed. John Pinette as Edna was hilarious, and he played the endearing side of the character beautifully. 'Timeless To Me' with Stephen DeRosa's Wilbur was one of the highlights of the show - the audience went crazy for both of them. Darlene Love - a powerhouse, she's just incredible. I really don't have a bad word to say about the show. Anyone who has seen it before, go back and see it again - you won't be disappointed.
Wicked - having heard Eden Espinosa in Brooklyn I really didn't want to see her in this show-her voice grates on me a bit, and I really feel like she shrieks. So imagine how happy I was when I arrive at the Gershwin and I saw that Saycon Sengbloh would be playing the role of Elphaba. I have seen Idina and Shoshana in this role, and Saycon gave the most exciting, heart-felt performance I have seen. Her acting was superior to both, and her singing was out of this world. 'I'm Not That Girl' was really a highlight of the show for me - she just put so much feeling into the song. And I have never been more excited about 'Defying Gravity'. She was sensational. Megan Hilty has just grown in the role of Glinda so much since I saw her in August, and she too surely must be considered for the replacement Tony Award. Jenna Leigh Green was brilliant as Nessa - she put much more character into the role than Michelle Federer, and her singing is stunning (and she was so sweet at the stage door). Derrick Williams as Fiyero made the most of his small role, as did Ben Vereen, and both played the roles to the best they possible could. They too were both great at the stage door. I do think that Wicked is a great show - it has flaws, but so do all other shows.
Tarzan - I went thinking that it would be a fun night at the theatre, and I was excited about seeing the third preview. I did enjoy parts of it - I thought some of it was amazing, and I thought some of it was some of the worst stuff I'd ever seen on stage. The opening sequence with the ship in the storm, the parents being thrown overboard, and then being swept up onto the beach was truly extraordinary - I swear I didn't blink throughout that entire scene. The first person who really stood out to me was Merle Dandridge - she gave a very moving performance, and she sings beautifully. Her rendition of 'You'll Be In My Heart' will stay in my memory for quite some time. Chester Gregory II as Terk was really great in a very weak role - his act I song 'Who Better Than Me' was one of the only new songs that stuck in my head. Josh Strickland as Tarzan was fantastic - his singing was incredible, and I really felt that he played the character well. I feel a Tony nomination would be on the cards if his role was expanded a little bit. For a show about Tarzan, he didn't have an incredibly large part. Jenn Gambatese was ok as Jane, but had some terrible songs to sing - the only song of hers that I really enjoyed was 'For The First Time' which is a second act duet with Josh. I thought this scene was nicely directed, and they both sang from the heart. Shuler Hensley was my biggest disappointment from the actors - it looked like he didn't care about the show, but to be honest, if I had to perform his role, I'd probably be exactly the same. It really is a nothing role.
The book is the show's biggest problem - it was just plain boring - the first half dragged by, and I actually enjoyed the second half more as I thought there was more of a story with the conflict between the humans and the jungle inhabitants. The new songs were really quite disappointing; Phil Collins says he has spent 3 or 4 years on the new material - it really doesn't show! I feel that this show would do well by extending the preview period so the creative team can really re-work a lot of it, including the set, which was a very disappointing Bob Crowley design (I loved his work for Mary Poppins). I want it to do well as there is a lot of talent on the stage but they're working with poor material. I wish it the best of luck as I fear that it will get ripped to shreds by the critics.
The Color Purple - I could just write about LaChanze for this review because she gave one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen on stage. However, there is so much more to talk about: Felicia Fields and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes were both outstanding ('Too Beautiful For Words' and 'What About Love?' were gut-wrenching). I think the score is great. My major criticism is that the timeline isn't always incredibly obvious-it does move very quickly. The three Church Ladies were great. I think it's a very well-conceived show, and it's bringing a different audience to the theatre which is great. I think it was my favourite of the new shows I saw.
The Wedding Singer - the new Hairspray for me. I thought it was so much fun - the music is great, the set's cartoony and quirky, and the performers worked so well together. I really liked the songs 'It's Your Wedding Day', 'Get Out Of The Dumpster', 'Saturday Night In The City' and 'It's All About The Green.' Stephen Lynch was brilliant - funny, endearing and a great singer. A lot of people have said that Laura Benanti is mis-cast, but I thought she was a great member of the cast. Funny and sweet. Richard H. Blake has a small part, but is a terrific performer. Kevin Cahoon - hilarious is all I can say. Amy Spanger and Felicia Finley were real scene-stealers. The biggest disappointment was Matthew Saldivar as Sammy - just plain boring. I think it will run for quite some time - the preview audience went wild for it.
The Pajama Game - I love Kelli O'Hara!!! Is there anything this girl cannot do? So different from The Light In The Piazza, yet still completely convincing. She'd be perfect for Mary Poppins. Harry Connick Jnr - erm, he was ok. I wasn't overwhelmed by him. His singing isn't my cup of tea, and he really isn't that great an actor in my opinion. Michael McKean was great. The only other person who really wowed me was Jennifer Cody - she's adorable. I've never seen The Pajama Game before, and thought that the score was lovely, but the book is very poor. It's a fun show, and the design, direction and choreography were, to me, spot on.
Sweeney Todd - I've never seen a production before, and it left me shaken up - it's much darker than I thought it would be. Michael Cerveris was just so powerful and menacing, but at the same time I felt sorry for his Sweeney - he was awesome. Tony Award! Patti LuPone - the day I saw it, the woman could not sing in tune, but her characterisation was also incredible. The whole cast is scarily talented. I thought, however, that Manoel Felciano had something very special.
I had an amazing time in New York, and each show had something special to offer. The Tony Awards, and success of the new shows, will be incredibly interesting to see.
Mary P x
Updated On: 4/20/06 at 05:11 PM
