#1
Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:14am
Ok, before I begin my review I would like to share some background information. I have been obsessing over this production for a year now and bought tickets for April 4th months ago. I specifically took my vacation from work around the first preview of Sweet Charity ( 4/4 – 4/8 ) so I would not have to go to work the next day. Of course, we all know what happened and the first preview was last night, April 11th. Yes, I did see last night’s first preview and I am at work right now…on four hours sleep. I am extremely tired and feel kind of sick, but last night was completely worth it. 
As soon as the orchestra began the overture, I got chills. Then, when Charlotte D’Amboise walked out on the stage, the audience went crazy…applause for at least two minutes. It was magical. Charlotte really deserved that warm welcome. And she proved herself throughout the evening.
It was fantastic seeing Janine LaManna back on stage. I loved her in Seussical and she was excellent in Sweet Charity. Kyra DaCosta was also amazing. Big Spender was extremely well done. It was similar to how it was done in Fosse. As soon as the number began, there was wild applause. The ensemble was really into it tonight. I’m sure all of them were so excited to get in front of an audience again after thinking that March 27th was their final performance. I could tell that they were really enjoying themselves.
I also really enjoyed Rich Man’s Frug. I absolutely loved all the dancing…but the costumes were kind of strange. I’m not sure how I feel about the purple feather hat that the lead girl was wearing. I know others liked it though.
The scene in Vittorio’s apartment was hilarious! I was sitting in the right orchestra row G and I had a perfect view of Charity inside Vittorio’s closet. Her comedic timing was right on. She was so funny when she was smoking in the closet and also when she hid inside the coat so Ursula couldn’t see her. Brilliant! Oh, and Vittorio’s really long red couch was absolutely hilarious and a great addition to the show.
There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This was incredible. Janine, Kyra and Charlotte worked so well together. I love the song, the dancing was great, and Kyra was so funny when she was singing about aspiring to be a hat check girl.
The elevator scene was also very funny. Denis O’Hare was over the top. He was totally freaking out in the elevator and the entire audience was cracking up. Denis and Charlotte played off of each other so well.
Unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed with The Rhythm of Life. I didn’t like the lighting and I don’t think I liked the lead singer very much. I love this song on the original recording, but I thought it lacked something last night.
Denis O’Hare’s new song was cute. I guess they just wanted to give him another song. It was called A Good Impression and also featured a quartet of street sweepers. Cute, but not very memorable.
Baby Dream Your Dream was fantastic. (Can you tell I loved Janine and Kyra?) Their voices blend well and the end of the song gave me chills. I wonder how the other two girls were. (the ones from MN and IL who were fired) From people’s reviews, they were both excellent. I wonder if we will ever find out why they were really fired. Were they upstaging Christina? Who knows.
The ferris wheel scene was so cute. I loved how Oscar was scared in the elevator and Charity was scared of heights. They were both able to comfort each other in a time of need. Too bad they didn’t end up together forever.
I’m A Brass Band was good, but I don’t know if I liked the costumes. Charlotte can really dance. I was so happy for her. She really deserved this chance. It is so sad though that they are just using her until Christina’s foot is healed.
I was glad to see that I Love to Cry at Weddings was added back into the show. Ernie Sabella really didn’t have much to do in this production, but I was glad to see he had a song.
I loved how they ended the show…with Charity’s silhouette up center stage with a red background…very powerful. During the curtain call, Charlotte got a standing ovation and tons of applause. The audience really loved her. I am definitely excited to see Christina in the role as well. I think she will do a great job, but probably not as good as Charlotte.
Of course, I waited at the stage door. I got autographs from all of the leads. Everyone was so nice, and I heard members of the ensemble saying that they were all just so happy to still be working. This whole ordeal must have been so crazy for them.
Oh, and I also brought my Carrie souvenir program, which Charlotte was happy to sign.
Some quick notes about the differences between the Boston production and the New York production: You Should See Yourself was not in Boston, but is in NY. I Love to Cry at Weddings is in the NY production, but in Boston, there was a song in that slot called If There Were More People Like You. I wonder if that song was any good. Also, Charity’s reprise at the end of the show is different. I was glad to see that Charlotte got her own playbills printed. Granted, they were in black and white, but at least they didn’t have Christina’s face on them and just have an insert for Charlotte. In Boston, all of the playbills had Christina’s face on them, even though Charlotte played Charity in the entire Boston run.
Overall, I was very impressed with the show. I already have tickets for May 7th and I can’t wait to see Christina. Thank god this production did not close in Boston!
PS: My friend, who lives in Boston saw the “final performance” on March 27th and he bought a poster and waited at the stage door and got Charlotte, Denis and Christina to sign it for me. Christina ever personalized it and wrote “To Alberto, You haven’t seen the last of me yet! Christina Applegate.” And this was before she knew the show was re-opening! The poster is not framed and hanging on my wall in my room. Thanks to Walter for thinking of me. I LOVE musical theater!!!
As soon as the orchestra began the overture, I got chills. Then, when Charlotte D’Amboise walked out on the stage, the audience went crazy…applause for at least two minutes. It was magical. Charlotte really deserved that warm welcome. And she proved herself throughout the evening.
It was fantastic seeing Janine LaManna back on stage. I loved her in Seussical and she was excellent in Sweet Charity. Kyra DaCosta was also amazing. Big Spender was extremely well done. It was similar to how it was done in Fosse. As soon as the number began, there was wild applause. The ensemble was really into it tonight. I’m sure all of them were so excited to get in front of an audience again after thinking that March 27th was their final performance. I could tell that they were really enjoying themselves.
I also really enjoyed Rich Man’s Frug. I absolutely loved all the dancing…but the costumes were kind of strange. I’m not sure how I feel about the purple feather hat that the lead girl was wearing. I know others liked it though.
The scene in Vittorio’s apartment was hilarious! I was sitting in the right orchestra row G and I had a perfect view of Charity inside Vittorio’s closet. Her comedic timing was right on. She was so funny when she was smoking in the closet and also when she hid inside the coat so Ursula couldn’t see her. Brilliant! Oh, and Vittorio’s really long red couch was absolutely hilarious and a great addition to the show.
There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This was incredible. Janine, Kyra and Charlotte worked so well together. I love the song, the dancing was great, and Kyra was so funny when she was singing about aspiring to be a hat check girl.
The elevator scene was also very funny. Denis O’Hare was over the top. He was totally freaking out in the elevator and the entire audience was cracking up. Denis and Charlotte played off of each other so well.
Unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed with The Rhythm of Life. I didn’t like the lighting and I don’t think I liked the lead singer very much. I love this song on the original recording, but I thought it lacked something last night.
Denis O’Hare’s new song was cute. I guess they just wanted to give him another song. It was called A Good Impression and also featured a quartet of street sweepers. Cute, but not very memorable.
Baby Dream Your Dream was fantastic. (Can you tell I loved Janine and Kyra?) Their voices blend well and the end of the song gave me chills. I wonder how the other two girls were. (the ones from MN and IL who were fired) From people’s reviews, they were both excellent. I wonder if we will ever find out why they were really fired. Were they upstaging Christina? Who knows.
The ferris wheel scene was so cute. I loved how Oscar was scared in the elevator and Charity was scared of heights. They were both able to comfort each other in a time of need. Too bad they didn’t end up together forever.
I’m A Brass Band was good, but I don’t know if I liked the costumes. Charlotte can really dance. I was so happy for her. She really deserved this chance. It is so sad though that they are just using her until Christina’s foot is healed.
I was glad to see that I Love to Cry at Weddings was added back into the show. Ernie Sabella really didn’t have much to do in this production, but I was glad to see he had a song.
I loved how they ended the show…with Charity’s silhouette up center stage with a red background…very powerful. During the curtain call, Charlotte got a standing ovation and tons of applause. The audience really loved her. I am definitely excited to see Christina in the role as well. I think she will do a great job, but probably not as good as Charlotte.
Of course, I waited at the stage door. I got autographs from all of the leads. Everyone was so nice, and I heard members of the ensemble saying that they were all just so happy to still be working. This whole ordeal must have been so crazy for them.
Oh, and I also brought my Carrie souvenir program, which Charlotte was happy to sign.
Some quick notes about the differences between the Boston production and the New York production: You Should See Yourself was not in Boston, but is in NY. I Love to Cry at Weddings is in the NY production, but in Boston, there was a song in that slot called If There Were More People Like You. I wonder if that song was any good. Also, Charity’s reprise at the end of the show is different. I was glad to see that Charlotte got her own playbills printed. Granted, they were in black and white, but at least they didn’t have Christina’s face on them and just have an insert for Charlotte. In Boston, all of the playbills had Christina’s face on them, even though Charlotte played Charity in the entire Boston run.
Overall, I was very impressed with the show. I already have tickets for May 7th and I can’t wait to see Christina. Thank god this production did not close in Boston!
PS: My friend, who lives in Boston saw the “final performance” on March 27th and he bought a poster and waited at the stage door and got Charlotte, Denis and Christina to sign it for me. Christina ever personalized it and wrote “To Alberto, You haven’t seen the last of me yet! Christina Applegate.” And this was before she knew the show was re-opening! The poster is not framed and hanging on my wall in my room. Thanks to Walter for thinking of me. I LOVE musical theater!!!
Updated On: 4/12/05 at 11:14 AM
