Show reviews--Promises Promises, ALNM, N2N

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 1:47pm

Don't think I've ever done one of these little trip wrap-ups. Guess there's a first time for everything.

Promises, Promises--9/2 8pm.

Overall, I enjoyed the show a lot, although their were some dead spots. The first act, particularly, seemed to drag. Sean Hayes was amazing and Katie Finneran definitely lived up to the hype surrounding her performance. I was grinning the whole time she was on stage.

Kristin Chenoweth...that's another story. Her acting was fine, but whether it's the arrangments or how she was directed, every single one of her numbers felt off to me. I was hoping to be blown away by "A House is Not a Home" and ended up enjoying Hayes' brief reprise later.

A Little Night Music--9/3 p.m. I loved it. My only real exposure to the show was seeing the movie on cable about 30 years ago and, of course, "Send In The Clowns." Gotta say it was awesome to finally hear that song in context. My friend Ken was with me and he said that it's a different show since Bernadette and Elaine took over...and both are very loose and very funny, soemthing I didn't quite expect since Catherine Zeta Jones just comes across, and Ken agreed with this, as "regal."

Favorite song..."You Must Meet My Wife."

Nexr To Normal: 9/4 8 pm--The show survives the cast changes quite well. Marin's voice fits the material for the most part, although I found her mouth gesticulations (can't think of a better word) annoying at times. It's still powerful stuff, beautifully performed.