THE NEW CENTURY is the funniest show of the season!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 12:28am

I just got back from The New Century tonight, and I have to say, it's been a while since I laughed so much during a show. It wasn't just me, but the entire audience was roaring throughout most of the show (mostly older folks of the subscriber crowd, so they especially seem to be less likely to roar).

I think the most laughs came during the first part, "Pride and Joy" featuring Linda Lavin, describing her three...err, different children. Linda plays it perfectly, and the audience responds.

There were lots of laugh in the second skit, "Mr. Charles Currently of Palm Beach" which mainly starred Peter Bartlett as...well, pretty much Albin of "La Cage Aux Folles" (as a matter of fact, he sings a bit of "I Am What I Am" as part of a 60-second montage of gay theater). Unexpected warning, there's a very quick full frontal nudity walk though during this scene (fortunately on behalf of Mike Doyle, not Peter).

After we calmed down during intermission, the laughs start up again as Jayne Houdyshell plays a midwestern woman obsessed with crafts. But it's in this scene where some heart comes out, and Jayne does a wonderful job of balancing out the laughs with the heart. Even though I spent most of the night laughing, I was moved.

The last bit involves everyone meeting up, which was funny, namely thanks to Mike Doyle, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about finding out what "The New Century" was. Regardless, the show goes out with a bang.

There's so much jokes to get you laughing, including unexpected twists of gay families, gay humor, Jewish humor, New York humor, etc. If you want a good laugh, i can't recommend THE NEW CENTURY enough.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 6:27pm

I saw the first preview and I really enjoyed it. There are SO many laughs in Linda Lavin's scene. I laughed so very hard! However, I didn't really 'get' the fourth scene with all the characters--it just sort of ended with a thud. Still, a very fun night at the theatre.