#1
Posted: 3/21/08 at 12:39am
Hello everyone...my marathon NY trip continues...
Passing Strange: 3/19 2:00pm
When Stew first stepped on stage he looked at the audience and asked, "This is a mother f***in Wednesday afternoon, isn't it?" I was hooked. The audience was packed and ready to go. I didn't know what to think about this show going into it; in fact someone I respect very much told me it was the worst show he has EVER seen (and he sees a lot of theater). Let me tell you, I'm a believer. I actually thought there were a lot of parallels between PS and Sunday, which I saw the night before. I believe George is looking for the "real" in his work, as much as Stew was in his. Special mention has to go to Daniel Breaker. Patti Lupone performs a 5 minute Rose's Turn...Daniel's performance is a 2 and a half hour "Rose's Turn." Brillant. Brillant. Brillant. This leads me to...
Gypsy: 3/19 8:00pm
I really enjoyed this production of Gypsy. The performances are all top notch. If Momma Was Married sounded wonderful, Gimmick was a riot and Rose's Turn an absolute joy to experience. It was the first time I had ever seen Patti, and she didn't disappoint. Laura Benanti gave a well-developed Louise, and Boyd Gaines was great as Herbie. Nice to hear such a large orchestra play the score, too. Why shouldn't they keep reviving Gypsy if it produces amazing theater? Overall I had a perfect day. Well, I had to come down sometime...
In the Heights: 3/20 8:00pm
Karen Olivio (sp?) was out, and her understudy (sorry I don't have my program in front of me) did not win me over. My friend who was with me, actually thought she was the weakest part of the show. I enjoyed Lin's raps, the costumes, set, and choreography, but the show failed to wow me in the end. I felt like they couldn't decide what/who the show was about and the first act seemed to wander. The second act was better, but I felt very little emotional attachment to the characters and what was happening to them. They were only thinly drawn, not giving the actors much to work with. My friend and I really liked the two hairdressers, and we thought Mandy Gonzalez (sp?) had a powerful voice. I just wanted a lot more from this show and it never came. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it...far from it. I just didn't think it was in the same league as the previous three shows I'd seen (Sunday, Strange and Gypsy)
Passing Strange: 3/19 2:00pm
When Stew first stepped on stage he looked at the audience and asked, "This is a mother f***in Wednesday afternoon, isn't it?" I was hooked. The audience was packed and ready to go. I didn't know what to think about this show going into it; in fact someone I respect very much told me it was the worst show he has EVER seen (and he sees a lot of theater). Let me tell you, I'm a believer. I actually thought there were a lot of parallels between PS and Sunday, which I saw the night before. I believe George is looking for the "real" in his work, as much as Stew was in his. Special mention has to go to Daniel Breaker. Patti Lupone performs a 5 minute Rose's Turn...Daniel's performance is a 2 and a half hour "Rose's Turn." Brillant. Brillant. Brillant. This leads me to...
Gypsy: 3/19 8:00pm
I really enjoyed this production of Gypsy. The performances are all top notch. If Momma Was Married sounded wonderful, Gimmick was a riot and Rose's Turn an absolute joy to experience. It was the first time I had ever seen Patti, and she didn't disappoint. Laura Benanti gave a well-developed Louise, and Boyd Gaines was great as Herbie. Nice to hear such a large orchestra play the score, too. Why shouldn't they keep reviving Gypsy if it produces amazing theater? Overall I had a perfect day. Well, I had to come down sometime...
In the Heights: 3/20 8:00pm
Karen Olivio (sp?) was out, and her understudy (sorry I don't have my program in front of me) did not win me over. My friend who was with me, actually thought she was the weakest part of the show. I enjoyed Lin's raps, the costumes, set, and choreography, but the show failed to wow me in the end. I felt like they couldn't decide what/who the show was about and the first act seemed to wander. The second act was better, but I felt very little emotional attachment to the characters and what was happening to them. They were only thinly drawn, not giving the actors much to work with. My friend and I really liked the two hairdressers, and we thought Mandy Gonzalez (sp?) had a powerful voice. I just wanted a lot more from this show and it never came. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it...far from it. I just didn't think it was in the same league as the previous three shows I'd seen (Sunday, Strange and Gypsy)
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Updated On: 3/21/08 at 12:39 AM
