Spring Break on Broadway. My Reviews.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:34pm

Excellent *****
Very Good ****
Good ***
Fair **
Bad *


Les Miserables

Well, since Lea Salonga just joined the show, I went to see this Victor Hugo classic. My friend fell asleep during the entire first act.
I really enjoyed the singing and acting, the musical has great music. But the timing is too slow, and I found this show almost as boring as the first time I saw it. Which means I liked it better this time around. **



The Vertical Hour

David Hare's new play about this American war correspondent-turned-Yale professor whose views and relationship get challenged during a vacation in England, was fantastic.
I feel bad for everyone involved in this play for the fact that it didn't seem to be doing as well as it should have(although the play did recoup.)
'The Blue Room' was one of my favorite plays, and now I can add this one to my list. Just brilliant. The acting was superb, Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy were thrilling. You could see Moore's tears building from the orchestra seats. She was so into it. I wonder how anyone would say her acting wasn't great. Critics need to know that she is playing a woman who is not totally connected with her emotions. The entire cast was amazing, and they had good material to work with. *****



A Chorus Line

No wonder why this musical won a Pullitzer and a Tony. This is what Broadway should be all about. Such talent on stage, this modern classic is the best musical running on Broadway right now. Charlotte D'Amboise and the rest of the cast are truly breath-taking. *****



The Apple Tree

It was clever, funny, cute, and just a great time at the theatre. Too bad that the Wickedheads invaded the house and were as annoying as always. Kristin Chenoweth was really good, although most of her jokes fell flat. But I think she was great.
Sean Palmer(Marcus, Stanford's BF in Sex and the City) played the role of the Snake, Narrator, etc. and he was brilliant. At the stage door, no one even asked him for an authograph. Kinda sad. Plus come on people! He had a recurring role in Sex and the City!!! And damn he is talented and adorable. Brian D'Arcy James was fabulous too. He carried most of the show, I thought, until the end, when Chenoweth took over the 3rd act and reminded me of the old Broadway with that fabulous number, then her attitude at the stage door was annoying, she is too full of herself, and to be honest, she is not that big of a star in my book, but again, a great performer. *****



Grey Gardens

During the 1st act I was hesitating if I really made the right choice to go and see this musical, but I wanted to see if all the buzz about Christine Ebersole was about. Act one is a little slow paced. The show has beautiful sets and music. Ebersole's singing is just heavenly, but so is her acting. She is truly a Broadway diva. Not just a star. Grey Gardens is a must see. The best acting in a musical this season. Mary Louise Wilson is brilliant as well. Best luck at the Tonys girls! ****


Curtains

The greedy producers of this show are not willing to have standing room, student rush or lottery! Yet the theatre was pretty busy last Sunday. I wanted to see this show, since Kander and Ebb composed some of my favorite musicals and in my book, they can't do wrong. I was mistaken, this show didn't work for me. *



Spring Awakening

It's hard to live up to the hype. But this great musical is just what Broadway needed. I dare to call this musical, the new "Rent", teenagers are going crazy over this new show and its rock n' roll sound. It's always a delight to see a young, talented cast. *****


All Broadway shows I've seen:


Les Miserables **
The Vertical Hour *****
A Chorus Line ******
The Apple Tree ****
Curtains *
Spring Awakening *****
Grey Gardens ****
Avenue Q **
Beauty and the Beast **
Chicago ***
Hairspray ***
Jersey Boys ***
Mamma Mia ***
Spelling Bee ***
Rent *****
Tarzan ****
Spamalot *
The Color Purple **
The Drowsy Chaperone *
The Producers *
The Lion King *
The Phantom of the Opera **
Wicked **

Updated On: 3/28/07 at 09:34 PM

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:37pm

I know it’s rude to say this, but I hate most of your opinions. Sorry.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:40pm

Not rude at all. We all have the right to an opinion, but if you want to expand, feel free to do so.

[actor]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:02pm

I completely disagree with your ratings.

My ratings:

Les Miserables ***
Wicked ****
Hairspray *
Mary Poppins *****
Lion King **
A Chorus Line ****
Company ****
Rent **
Tarzan *
The Producers *
Beauty and the Beast **
Drowsy Chaperone *****
Phantom ***
Jersey Boys **
Spamalot *

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:08pm

Disagree with most, if not all, of your opinions.

Sorry.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:09pm

I also, disagree with a lot.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:10pm

I always disagree with everything you say.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:13pm

Ah, the enthusiasm of youth! Great way to spend spring break - and fewer hangovers than Cancun.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:13pm

Ha!

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:19pm

I have to say that I disagree with many as well, although i appriciate that your opinions are well founded and explained. Thank you for your reviews!!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:20pm

"The greedy producers of this show are not willing to have standing room, student rush or lottery! Yet the theatre was pretty busy last Sunday. I wanted to see this show, since Kander and Ebb composed some of my favorite musicals and in my book, they can't do wrong. I was mistaken, this show didn't work for me."

Why didn't it work for you? And I don't see why the producers are greedy because they don't offer SRO, rush, or lottery...the show is in previews, perhaps they are waiting a bit.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:23pm

Well, no one even explained why they disagree, and the "actor" that says that disagrees, rated a lot of shows just like I did.

Updated On: 3/14/07 at 10:23 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:23pm

They're practical for not offering rush or lottery. I disagree with it, but a low price doesn't recoup an investment.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:24pm

Well, I generally, more or less, in general agree with muscle23ftl...at least the ones I've seen.

And us gym guys have to stick together!!!!!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:33pm

Very true. It sucks for us poor students/ppl, but if they gave away tickets, then no one would want to produce a show at all.


Why didn't you like "Curtains"? I don't know anything about the show, but just wondering.

I'm not sure I'd really consider "Spring Awakening" rock n' roll, but to each his own.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:38pm

Yeah why didnt you like Curtains? It seems you didn't really offer much backup to your opinion of shows you didn't like.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:42pm

I think muscle23ftl should be showing off at the beach during sping break. Just sayin'.....

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 10:57pm

Curtains takes place in 1959 at a Boston theatre where the company of a potential Broadway show becomes suspects after the show's leading lady calls it quit during the opening night curtain call. When stagestruck detective shows up, he gets as caught up in making the show a hit as in solving the murder.

That is what I read about the show, and it seemed very interesting to me, but Curtains bored me, the score was not memorable at all. I didn't even want to know who was the killer, I just wanted it to end. I was expecting something more like "Kiss of the Spider Woman", "The Rink", "Cabaret" or "Chicago" and this show is very different, you couldn't tell it was written by Kander & Ebb.

And that was the only show I disliked while in NYC, so whoever disagreed with me is saying they hated all the shows I saw basically.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:16pm

Well I think it's important going in to know that it's a "Musical Comedy." So I don't think you can go in expecting the darker moods of their earlier shows. And the marquee is a given away of the kind of light, fluffy fun it's going to be.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:28pm

True, but then again, I loved Chicago and Chicago is a comedy as well.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:55pm

I don't usually agree with muscle23 but I thought he supported his opinions well. If he didn't like something he didn't like it... no need to act like five year olds. He's not the only one who didn't like Curtains.

I agree that it's a bad idea to not offer some kind of discount price, like a lottery at least. They need to build up a fanbase for this show, or some kind of excitement. They have to get people talking. You'd think they could spare a few seats a performance for that.

Rentboy, have you listened to any rock music from the last decade or so? I'm pretty sure Spring Awakening is rock. Moreso than RENT.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:56pm

True, but then again, I loved Chicago and Chicago is a comedy as well.


Ya, a VERY dark comedy.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 4:08am

You thought Avenue Q was "fair"? Do you HAVE a sense of humor?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 9:39am

Muscle23ftl:

Thank you for these reviews...I completely agree with you on The Vertical Hour, A Chorus Line, The Apple Tree and Grey Gardens and I'm so glad you enjoyed these shows. Great hanging out with you Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday as well. Looking forward to your next trip to NYC.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 11:22am

I had such fun, I totally forgot I saw you on Thurs.