#1
Posted: 12/6/14 at 6:25pm
I love(d) Broadway Musicals. That is until 1980 when the Phantoms, , The Rents (90's), Into the Heights and especially If Then bored me to tears. What did they do to my first love? The Broadway Musical.
After last years lackluster Bridges, Big Fish, and a few others, I got to a point that I didn't want to go to the theatre.
But this week. This glorious week,I caught Side Show and Honeymoon in Vegas. My faith is restored in the Broadway Musical.
Side Show. I saw it in 1997 and loathed it. My friend pushed me to see this new version and knowing how good Bill Condon is, and hearing good things about the show, I reluncantly relented.
What a surprise! While they totally missed the opportunity the first time, it is reinvented into a completely cohesive different show fleshing out the real freaks; told much clearer, and this time I really cared about the Hilton Sisters and every freak on that stage.
The changes to the characters of Buddy and Terry make all the difference in the world. Even the curtain call when the freaks are unmasked drive home that there is a living feeling person underneath the exterior facade of the freak, the gay guy, the black guy even the judgmental white guy.
What an amazing night of theatre. Go see this wonderful musical.
And don't be put off by that first misguided production.
As for Honeymoon in Vegas. What a load of fun!
And its not just fluff. It's about the fear of commitment, the fear of moving forward and being haunted by your past.
It was similar to the musicals I used to fall in love with; The How to Succeed in Businesses, Guys and Dolls, Promises Promises.
There are people on here who pick on Tony Danza because he is not the best singer but either was Rex Harrison or Lauren Bacall or Carol Channing or even Gwen Verdon. They are personalities with endearing qualities.
This is a sixties style fun musical with great costumes, great sets, hummable music and puts a smile on your face.
Thank you Musical Theatre Gods for both of these wonderful shows. I knew musical comedy lived. I just wasn't so sure.
After last years lackluster Bridges, Big Fish, and a few others, I got to a point that I didn't want to go to the theatre.
But this week. This glorious week,I caught Side Show and Honeymoon in Vegas. My faith is restored in the Broadway Musical.
Side Show. I saw it in 1997 and loathed it. My friend pushed me to see this new version and knowing how good Bill Condon is, and hearing good things about the show, I reluncantly relented.
What a surprise! While they totally missed the opportunity the first time, it is reinvented into a completely cohesive different show fleshing out the real freaks; told much clearer, and this time I really cared about the Hilton Sisters and every freak on that stage.
The changes to the characters of Buddy and Terry make all the difference in the world. Even the curtain call when the freaks are unmasked drive home that there is a living feeling person underneath the exterior facade of the freak, the gay guy, the black guy even the judgmental white guy.
What an amazing night of theatre. Go see this wonderful musical.
And don't be put off by that first misguided production.
As for Honeymoon in Vegas. What a load of fun!
And its not just fluff. It's about the fear of commitment, the fear of moving forward and being haunted by your past.
It was similar to the musicals I used to fall in love with; The How to Succeed in Businesses, Guys and Dolls, Promises Promises.
There are people on here who pick on Tony Danza because he is not the best singer but either was Rex Harrison or Lauren Bacall or Carol Channing or even Gwen Verdon. They are personalities with endearing qualities.
This is a sixties style fun musical with great costumes, great sets, hummable music and puts a smile on your face.
Thank you Musical Theatre Gods for both of these wonderful shows. I knew musical comedy lived. I just wasn't so sure.
Updated On: 12/6/14 at 06:25 PM
