Reviews: Passing Strange, In the Heights, Sunday, and some old favorites.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 10:03pm

I had the opportunity to see 9 shows for my week in the city. I saw a couple twice due to the fact that I was seeing the show for specific cast members or seeing the show before closings. I also attended some shows twice for friends. That being said, there really wasn’t too much else that I passed up to see these shows, and I was fairly pleased with my selections.

Rent (2x) – Probably the biggest disappointment of the trip. As a huge fan, I have high expectations for this show, and very few cast members met them. Declan was a fantastic Roger, and probably the strongest of the eight main cast members followed by Kenna as Joanne. Caren Lyn Manuel was the Maureen understudy on Saturday and did a good job. Kyle Post also took over for Harley in the middle of the show, and he did a really great job on the fly.

However, the show seemed to be disjointed, and the Nederlander has become a disgrace. Graffiti all over the picture walls and staff/ some cast members completely bored with the show. That being said, there is still magnificent talent on the stage in the form of some talented and involved ensemble members and of course the beautiful story. I have to agree that it is time for the show to close, and it is far from the work it used to be on the Broadway stage.

Spring Awakening (2x)- The show is in fantastic shape. I saw the show twice this week and thought it was spectacular. I think it is actually better than when I saw the show in July. Groff and Michele were fantastic, better than I've ever seen them. I felt that Blake gave a great performance as Moritz, but that his voice was weak. Emma Hunton is fantastic as Ilse and far surpasses Lauren Pritchard in vocal talent.

I also saw Murman and Socha as understudies for Thea and Martha. I felt that they were weak in these roles and the ensemble sounded empty without Lilli Cooper's beautiful voice. Matt Doyle was the understudy for Hanschen on Wednesday night, and he was fantastic.


Spamalot (2x)- This show is always fun, and I think it is in great shape. It was a treat to see Chris Sieber. He was wonderful and so funny. The reason I attended Spamalot was to see Clay, and I thought he did a good job with the role of Sir Robin. This has never been my favorite role in the show, but vocally, Clay did a wonderful job. I also think he did a good job meshing with the ensemble and great job as the various characters. As a Broadway fan, the only criticism I had was the constant reactions to what was going on onstage. I think he could have a little more variety in the reactions and tone down a few of them, but that is the only thing I think he could improve upon. He did a good job with a supporting role, and I think he pulled off the comedy nicely. This is coming from a Clay fan, but as a Clay AND Broadway fan I believe I was possibly more critical than just an average audience member attending the show.


Sunday in the Park w/ George- I saw the Sunday matinee and was in THE last row of the theatre. It was awesome to finally see a Sondheim show on Broadway, but I was not very impressed. I believe some of this might be from sitting so far away from the stage. I love the show and was so impressed when I saw it on DVD, but the only thing impressive about this production is the video projections which were quite engaging. The music was lovely, but it was a bit difficult to hear from the last row of the theatre. I noticed that several people in the balcony actually fell asleep. From my view, the performances were lacking. Jenna Russell was a toned down Bernadette Peters. I thought Daniel Evans rallied in the second act, and I really enjoyed “Art Isn’t Easy.” However, all this being said, I’m glad I can say I saw “Sunday” on Broadway.


Passing Strange- A really interesting and engaging theatrical experience. There are some catchy songs and an interesting concept for telling a story on stage. I really enjoyed it overall. I think that there are a few parts of the book that are very weak, but overall the story and themes are engaging. All of the actors were wonderful. My only complaint is how amazingly LOUD the show is. I’ve seen many “loud” shows, but this one was actually painful to listen to. I think this show would do VERY well on tour, and it is a breath of fresh air for Broadway. No one has heard of this show when I mention it to friends and family, but I think it is just as good or better than some of the "hits."


In the Heights- When I had a chance to extend my trip, I immediately obtained tickets to In the Heights. Beautiful set, amazing dancing, and lighting. A great Act 1 finale. I love the hip-hop flavor, but the songs really aren’t very catchy. I also have a problem with the book which tells so many stories that it is hard to get hooked into any of them. Nina’s storyline is the most engaging and touching, and I didn’t seem to get enough of that storyline throughout the show. I had an understudy for Vanessa, but still think that character’s storyline is extremely weak. That being said, I just like the musical in general even if it isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread. I will definitely see the show again (hopefully with a better seat), but I still see a lot of flaws for well-financed show that is on Broadway.