Some Brief Musings from My Recent NYC Trip

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 12:12am

Just wanted to share some brief thoughts on my trip to NYC. Happy to get more specific if anyone has any questions. Saw 9 Shows in 5 Days (and boy are my eyes and ears tired!).

PROMISES, PROMISES: A flawed production but I enjoyed it more than most seem to. Ashford's direction is brisk and his choreography (sans for an uninspired "Turkey Lurkey Time") was wonderful. Sean Hayes is giving a marvelous performance and holds the audience at The Broadway in the palm of his hand. I thought his singing was superb and was fascinated by how he placed his voice throughout.

Kristin Chenoweth made for a fine enough Fran. The age wasn't the problem. My problem was that she doesn't go to the emotional places needed to make the character sympathetic. She's close, but I wish Ashford would have pushed her more. She sounds great though and it's nice for her to push herself outside of her comfort zone (even if she doesn't quite get there).

The supporting cast and hardworking chorus are superb all around. Katie Finneran deserves all the kudos she's been getting. Her scene with Hayes is the highlight of the production and Hayes really comes alive comically with her. It's also nice to see Dick Latessa back on Broadway.

AMERICAN IDIOT: I thought this was a pretentious blur. I thought the performers pushed to hard. Mayer nailed his point in over and over again. It's visually stunning to watch. I don't mind that there is no dialogue aside from Gallagher Jr's monologues but the disillusioned teenager angle never went anywhere and I didn't see any of the characters change. It all came off as a bunch of bitching and complaining to me but I could see how it would appeal to young people full of self loathing and pity.

ADDAMS FAMILY: A wasted opportunity with a game cast. Lippa's score has a couple of good songs (oddly the rewritten ones fare best). I think the main mistake was making Wednesday a teen. I always thought the fun of that character was watching a little girl to demented things. And Kyrsta Rodriguez is awful. Sad that this potential