THE MOST HAPPY FELA! at Encores!- Page 2

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/2/14 at 11:16pm

Wow, that's wonderful to read! I'm looking forward to seeing it on Sunday.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/2/14 at 11:21pm

That's "Domenica" Mac! Enjoy!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 12:15am

Just bought a balcony seat for Sunday! Can't wait!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 12:18am

I really wanted to see this, but it didn't work out and I won't be going until next week. Thank you for that review, Whizzer, that sounds like a fantastic evening. It's crazy how Laura Benanti, who has been great from the beginning, is only turning in more and more brilliant performances. I'm sure this was a dream role for her too, so nice to hear that she's doing this well. They should really record this.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 12:30am

"Eric---You do realize that the OBCR is a complete recording, right? It's a triple-record set (or 2 CDs)."

I believe it still has a few cuts--not that I miss them. The JAY recording, one of their better ones IMHO, is complete, though and has some great material for Marie whose character was severely cut when they were cut.

Where is the act division now that it is in 2 acts? Anyone Can Whistle done in 2 acts also makes a very short first act the way it's usually cut.

Someone I know who has been involved in rehearsals says there are cuts to the score for the Encores, which is too bad, though I guess they're pretty minor.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 12:32am

And so pleased to read your review Whizzer--if you thought so highly of a show you love so much, it must be pretty great indeed.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 12:46am

And I won't bother to link it, but someone on another site posted Perez Hilton's "review"--he loved it, but given his vast expertise says that since Loesser wrote the book as well, it's obvious that this needs someone really funny to come in and write a "super fun" revised book and mount a Broadway production.

[indytallguy]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 3:12am

How do people feel about Row e or F in the mezzanine? That's about the best left for Sunday evening's performance.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 7:50am

Eric, I could easily be wrong, but I think all of Marie's material was recorded on the OBCR. The one scene that's not on there is Herman teaching Cleo how to put labels on the boxes. Everything else is included. (Oh, and Susan Johnson doesn't sing "bitch" during "Oooh My Feet," but just "the big son of a ________ hurts the most!")

There is some minor cutting of the book for Encores. Cleo doesn't get to spell out gnrrr and they also snipped one of the funniest exchanges during "Happy to Make Your Acquaintance," which is, "What did you do to your hair!?/I rinsed it in the Friday special."

Even with the cuts it was a perfect evening. I was listening to the OBCR while walking to work this morning and almost started crying on the street. This show overwhelms me so.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 8:27am

Was there last night, and it was a very enjoyable evening. I sat wayyyy upstairs so I missed some of the subtleties of the production, but it was brilliantly played and sung. As others have alluded, Shuler Hensley just could not hit the top quarter of his notes, which were either very thin or in an out-of-place falsetto that just did not mix with the beautiful singing elsewhere. I liked his characterization and accent, but would have loved someone who could stand up vocally to the rest of the cast.

It drags a bit in the middle of act two, and the ending shows its age, at least for me, as Tony's change (as all the last scene's developments) felt abrupt and rushed, at least to me.

The standouts for me were Armstrong and Blickenstaff. They were electric on stage together and apart, quirky comic relief and sweetness without trying too hard. I missed Sweeney at Lincoln Center but can't wait to hear Armstrong's Anthony on PBS. I always enjoyed "Big D" (Sterling Archer: "Phrasing!") when it comes on SiriusXM's On Broadway, but never knew the context. It was a showstopper and my favorite number.

Definitely worth picking up a cheap seat if you're in town.

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 8:31am

ray-andallthatjazz86, it only runs until the 6th.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 9:07am

Robert Weede, who originated the role of Tony, was a baritone with a high upper range. Those notes are more comfortable for a tenor. I would say Hensley is a baritone leaning toward bass, not tenor.

I wonder why they don't lower the keys for him. It's not unheard of. His highest notes are on Mamma, Mamma and other solos (I think he goes up to a G). But I don't think this duets with Rosabella go that high. Maybe I'm wrong.

If he can't handle an F above middle C, they should lower the keys.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 9:32am

I was way up in the balcony last night, too. Although it's a pretty high vantage point, the view is still pretty good. Loved the production, especially "Big D." Such a spirited number, with probably the best choreography of the evening. I'd never seen the show performed live, only a TV showing (was it on PBS?) many years ago. It's so heavily dramatic that the lighter moments and numbers really stand out. I hadn't remembered that the Joe character really has only one solo song, albeit with a few reprises; kind of a waste of Cheyenne Jackson. Excellent performances, especially by Laura Benanti. I thought Shuler Hensley gave Tony a lot of heart, but they should have greyed his hair. When Benanti screamed out, "old man, old man," I kept thinking that he looked only a few years older. Wonderful to hear that 38-piece orchestra! Looking forward to IRMA LA DOUCE next time.





Updated On: 4/4/14 at 09:32 AM

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 9:53am

[IMG]
Happy and a real Kuti too.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 12:52pm

Whizzer, I'm relatively new new to the score, and have never followed it with the vocal score (though my library has that so I should) so, I probably wouldn't even notice. I only recently got the JAAY "complete" recording--what I meant about Marie was the one of her songs on the Appendix of five or so songs that were cut pre the Broadway opening--it seemed to add a lot to the character musical wise, not something cut from the OBCR.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 1:03pm

Oh, I see what you meant. I don't lament any of Marie's cut material because as Cleo says, "I don't like this dame."

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 1:23pm

Ha. For a show that is just on the verge of being over-stuffed, it probably was a smart decision. (And on a random note, I'm disappointed the video clips on here don't show any of the choreography from Big D...)

[broadwaytbay]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 1:29pm

I must say Whizzer that I relish your thoughtful, illuminating reviews. I love in Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada (4 hours north of Duluth Minn) and they bring to life shows I at this point can only dream of seeing. So, not meaning to gush, I just want to extend a heartfelt thanks.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 5:15pm

I just saw that Rob Berman is conducting and not Rob Fisher. That makes me sad because I remember in some interview that Rob Fisher said that if Encores ever did MOST HAPPY FELLA he would want to come back and conduct it. Rob Fisher deserves so much credit for getting Encores up and running. It would have been nice to invite him back for this show. Plus, I think the orchestra sounds better when he conducts. There has been some sloppy playing in the last couple of years.

[yfs]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 5:50pm

Rob Fisher is next door at Carnegie doing Guys and Dolls!

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 11:18pm

I saw the show tonight. Row F Mezz is where I sat, it is a good view. I was unfamiliar with the work before seeing it. It is one of the best scores I have ever heard. And with the exception of the recent South Pacific revival at Lincoln Center, I don't think I have ever heard a score sung live better than what I heard tonight. The orchestra was amazing. I usually don't pay full price for a show ticket, but I did tonight and am very pleased that I did.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 4/4/14 at 7:17am

GUYS AND DOLLS back to back with THE MOST HAPPY FELLA: New York is a Loesser festival! This is musical heaven for anyone who loves theatre music, two of the greatest scores ever written. And excuse me, but Rob Berman does an incredible job of music directing the Encores orchestra; it has never sounded better.
And yes, it was driving me mad that someone couldn't spell TMHF correctly. This show ain't FELA!

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/4/14 at 7:53am

The New York Times gave it a rave.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/theater/the-most-happy-fella-is-revived-at-city-center.html?_r=0

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/4/14 at 10:35am

I'm seeing this on Sunday evening (row C of the Mezz); I've never seen this show before and am really looking forward to it. Between the matinee of Bridges and this in the evening, it will be a very musical Sunday!

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 4/5/14 at 1:34am

It's a weird show what with all the Italian opera influence & then the showtunes. Besides PORGY & BESS, I could also make comparisons to FANNY & OKLAHOMA (in the secondary comic Texas leads.) At times it seemed c-r-e-a-k-y/corny, but all in all I really enjoyed it & hope they record it for the future. Since I had never seen it before - I actually thought that Joe could have been shot & killed at the train station near the end of the show! Shuler did seem a bit too young for the role -but his characters badly timed accident surely supported the distance that was needed. I appreciated Laura & Jessica's legit sound that I didn't know they had.