"Sunday in the Park With George" 6/25 matinee review

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:33pm

One word to describe the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of SITPWG: Harmony. This is a spectacular, breathtaking re-imagination of a classic Sondheim show, IMHO. Although the second act is less than perfect, as many of Mr. Sondheim’s shows are (Into the Woods anyone?), it still is a magnificent production with a beautiful message.

Anyway, the cast was superb, top notch. The only weakness I thought was Andrew Varela as Jules/Bob Greenburg. It’s not that he was bad, it was just he could have done more with the role. By the way, when did Michael Cumpsty leave? Anyway, everyone else was phenomenal. Jenna Russell was a touching, yet very funny/lovely Dot. Her Marie reminded me of the cute grandma you wish you have. Daniel was amazing as both Georges, although I thought he smiled a tad too much in the second act. Jenna and Daniel’s chemistry was amazing. Mary Beth Peil was a lovely, touching, sentimental Old Lady, and was a good Blair. And man she is a towering presence on stage!! The rest of the cast was very good, including the Mr. and Mrs., who were hilarious!

Every cast member at the stage door was so kind. Daniel Evans was a sweetheart, as was Mary Beth Peil. I got the signatures of Daniel Evans, Jessica Molasky, Mary Beth Peil, Alison Horowitz, Brynn O’Malley, and Drew McVety. Jenna apparently rushed out, although not one person saw her leave, but oh well. All together, it was one of my favorite theatre experiences!! I love this show, and wish it wasn’t closing so soon.

Now a few Studio 54 Q’s: Does anyone know the cause of the loud rumbling that happens at 15 minute intervals during the show? I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where it was coming from. And also, has the theatre ever been restored? Because my mother and I noticed chunk of the the facade missing.

PS: I love meeting nice people at the theatre. My mother and I met these two adorable old ladies waiting to get into the theatre. Too cute! And a wonderful lady who was sitting near us talked to us and was just a doll!!

PPS: I hate when theatre is interrupted by cell phones. And although it was a very, uh mature audience (wrinkles at every turn! ), two went off during the show, as well as three watch alarms. One lady even picked up the phone during “It’s Hot Up Here”, and told people to shut up when they told her to turn it off! She continued the conversation well into act two, and the ushers did nothing.

My Pics:

Studio 54



Daniel Evans and I



Jessica Molasky and I



Mary Beth Peil and I



Brynn O’Malley and I



Anne L. Nathan and I




5 star show!!!!

Updated On: 6/25/08 at 10:33 PM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:36pm

The rumbling is the Subway, I also was weirded out by that when I saw the Apple Tree.

[sally1112]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:50pm

Great pictures. It looks like a great time.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:58pm

I think like 5 or 6 cell phones went off when I saw it the second time. It was nuts. And I'm fairly certain that most of them were from down in the orchestra and my section in the front center mezz, which were packed with the normal matinee crowd, and *not* from the large school group that was there. They were all well behaved.


Great pictures though! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[HeightOfNonchalance]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 11:03pm

What a gorgeous picture of Daniel Evans. I am so envious.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 10:31am

Thanks for the great comments, and thank you, Drunk Chita Rivera, for your explanation. It was driving me crazy! Such a great time at the theatre, you must go and see it before it closes sunday!

Also, t-shirts were 2 for 1, and the still had signed by Sondheim librettos of the show. I think they were $125 each.

And after the show, the whole cast came back out on stage in costume and took a picture with a show window card and they were all holding blue buckets. Curiouser and curiouser...

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:23pm

Yeah, when I saw the Apple Tree I was rumbling the whole time and it was loud! Where did you sit?

Anyways! That is a good Picture of Daniel, he kind of has a baby face (in a good way!) I'm so excited I am seeing it on Saturday!

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:32pm

We were third row front mezzanine center.

And Daniel is such a sweetheart! He was so nice at the stage door. Have fun Saturday!

[KimmySwimmy]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:17pm

The first time I saw Sunday in the Park with Georoge I was speechless by the end...it just took my breath away. I am going again for the third and final (so sad) time on Sunday. I've never been to a final performance of a show before and I know it will probably make me cry more than usual!

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:30pm

I'm so unbelievably sad that I can't make it to the closing, you guys have no idea. It's just such a bitch that my friend decided to get married this weekend out of all weekends, lol...

Everyone that's going, please post back here!

Really cute pics wicked_beast. Daniel is adorable and he totally does have a baby face. As does the equally lovely Alex G. :p And I agree, everyone in the cast is extremely sweet and amiable.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:41pm

Glad you loved it--I do.

only weakness I thought was Andrew Varela as Jules/Bob Greenburg. It’s not that he was bad, it was just he could have done more with the role. By the way, when did Michael Cumpsty leave?

I agree, he does so much less with Jules than Michael Cumpsty did. What happened to him? It's not common for an actor to leave during a limited run like this, is it? I mean, I know it happens, but...

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:46pm

Cumpsty was do a lot of work at Classic Stage Company, but I don't know if that's where he is at the moment. He was an excellent Jules.