Standing Ovation at MAME

Posted: 6/8/06 at 10:02am

Saw MAME at the Kennedy Center last night It was incredible. The audience which included Senator Ted Kennedy gave the show a standing ovation. The show was fabulous. The sets were most elegant and perfect for the stage. The costumes were beautiful and the performances just outstanding. I cant think of one cast member who wasnt just so special. Mama Burnside, Beauregard, both Patricks were tops, Agnes (Emily Skinner) Gooch was wonderful, Ito ( Alan Muraoka) , Vera (Harriet Harris) gave a new take on Vera and was great, and of course MAME, (Christine Baranski) was incredible. She walks down 24 steps to join the party and continues to give the audience an evening of almost 3 hours of delicious amusement. Her take on Mame is right on and she handles the role with grace , elegance and lots of energy.

For those of you who have never seen the musical on Broadway, the production numbers such as 'Its Today", "We Need a Little Christmas" , 'MAME" and "The Man in the Moon " are tops. Christine Baranski's " If he Walked into my Life " is incredible

The book is great and a little updated from the original 40 years ago ( I did see that one) and I enjoyed this one too I had a fabulous time The production numbers are just so uplifting and the laughs are constant A good book, great songs by Jerry Herman, wonderful costumes by Greg Barnes and of course an excellent cast
Christine Baranski will be great when she arrives in New York City this summer I cant wait to see it again and again.

I can only say that having seen all the Tony Nominated musicals this year, this one would get my Tony for Best Musical New or Revival

[VanHassle]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 10:12am

I was in the audience last too! I can't say how much I enjoyed last night's performance. Christine Baranski was excellent! I'm don't want to repeat what Papacusco said, but the audience loved the show. Everyone leaving was saying how good it was. My boyfriend who went to the show with minimal expectations, and not knowing anything about Mame, was even raving about how good was.

I hope this show does go to Broadway so that more people can see Christine's outstanding performance as Mame.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 10:25am

Thank you so much for these reviews. I am so glad I bought tickets for this a while back. Only one week and two days to go!

[luvwicked]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:25pm

Two weeks for me! WOO HOO! I can't wait to see Christine, Harriet, Emily, and MAX!!!

Yay!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:35pm

let me parrot myself in saying this better come to Broadway...

[SeptemberKel]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:37pm

Thanks for the reviews! I so hope this show comes to Broadway! I really want to see it.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:52pm

Seeing it this Saturday night, and I cannot wait!

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 2:50pm

Is it more, or doesnt every show get a standing ovation nowadays?

Posted: 6/8/06 at 2:59pm

I would agree with you about standing ovations on Broadwaay but I was told by a friend who goes to Washington DC theater and Broadway that he has never seen a standing ovation in Washington DC and he said the audience was so alive and together with the play something that he said was not usual for DC audiences

I am a New Yorker so I know Broadway but i dont know DC so I take my cues from him

Show will be a smash on Broadway Cant wait to see it again

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 3:49pm

I've seen many good shows in D.C. that didn't get standing ovations.

I really hope Brantley and the other critics who were so tough on Baranski take a fresh look at this when it gets to New York. The show really didn't have time to jell by the time it got reviewed.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 4:26pm

I really enjoyed this show, and I'm not usually harsh, but did anyone else find Baranksi's Mame a tad bit affected? Mame is classy, and I felt like some of Baranski's class was almost excessive and not quite true. It's strange...at times I loved her. Her Open a New Window and Need a little Christmas gave me chills and were so utterly genuine. Her "If He Walked..." was perfection.

To me, the star was Harriet Harris. What a natural comedienne! Emily Skinner was great, the whole supporting cast was phenomeanl! And the chorus - WOW.
Very good show.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 5:59pm

I really initially wanted to be there just for the cast. But, now the show makes it just as exciting!

[Mamie]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 6:40pm

I live in DC and I've seen SO's but they don't really come that often. I've seen some incredible performances that were applauded enthusiastically, but no one stood. They do seem to happen almost all the time in NY. I've seen some pretty pathetic shows that still drew a few standers. (I always assumed they were friends of the cast.)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 9:33pm

I love it when a show gets a standing ovulation.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 9:39pm

The crowd was pretty excited when I saw it on Tuesday to include the older men sitting next to me who were literally screaming at the curtain call. The reaction was much more vocal than any other crowd I have been a part of at the Kennedy Center, which is known to cater to a certain DC population. Having seen many shows in DC, a large standing ovation is a big exception rather than the rule.

I normally don't participate in such ovations unless I am really compelled to, but this show deserved it- the whole cast was outstanding. Though I admit, Emily Skinner had something to do with my reaction- I am an incredibly biased fan but she added something to the show.

If it transfers to Broadway, I hope she considers/or is considered to play Gooch!

Updated On: 6/8/06 at 09:39 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 6/9/06 at 1:08am

I have never seen a Washington DC audience so engaged as they were for this show on May 30 (well, except for Lypsinka at the Studio Theatre. LOVE HER...and her maid). I am seeing Mame again on Saturday, June 10, so we'll see if the momentum continues. It's nice to see a DC audience "charmed" by a theatre production!

BTW, Alan Muraoka sent my daughter a personalized, autographed 8x10 with a lovely note after meeting us on May 30. He's just the sweetest guy.