#2
Posted: 3/21/17 at 11:43pm
I'd love to hear too! I've always had a fascination with the score.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#3
Posted: 3/22/17 at 12:13am
I was there and had a great time! For such a short run, they put a lot of work into the choreography, costumes, etc. There are some very random songs ("Wood"
and situations, but it was very funny and with Cole Porter's music, you know it's going to be tuneful. My favorite performers were the girl who sang "Love for Sale" (her voice was gorgeous), the trio of ladies (great harmonies), and Foot (milked every moment).
#5
Posted: 3/22/17 at 9:33am
Was over at about 10pm, so 2 hours and 30 min. Lots of songs!
#6
Posted: 3/22/17 at 11:29pm
Oh my goodness! When they announced this season, "The New Yorkers" was the show I kind of shrugged my shoulders and said, "eh" about, but oh boy was it joyous, and how! I also think we need to start putting Encores in quotes because there was nothing "Encores-y" about this production; make no mistake, this was a FULL production. I have never seen such lavish costumes at an "Encores" before, or so many costume changes. Each number seemed to have a new wardrobe for the ENTIRE ENSEMBLE!! And props! My friend joked as we walked out of the theater that they must of spent the entire remaining balance of the NEA on this show before Trump could take it away. I mean, seriously, did this production have an out of town try-out or two???
Not only is the physical production direct-to-Broadway ready, but the cast is ready for the transfer too. I wasn't familiar with Scarlett Strallen, the wonderful leading lady, but I see in her bio that she is a two time Olivier nominee. Well, what's been the hold up getting her over to New York to start originating roles? Her acting, singing and dancing were all first-rate. Loved her. Tam Mutu, in Sky Masterson mode, totally changed my mind about him after Dr. Z.
Arnie Burton was hilarious in multiple supporting roles, and flawless delivered his rapid fire list song in act two. Kevin Chamberlin was very funny in the Durante role; Wood is truly one of the strangest production numbers I've seen. I could go on and on about the supporting cast, but each one was a gem.
The orchestra sounded extra lovely tonight. The fine musicianship always seems to be a little more sparkling when playing these old 1920/30's scores.
Perhaps what's most surprising is the show itself. Yes, they've interpolated lots of songs, as is often the thing to do with these Porter shows, but the book is very, very funny and the plot is engaging too. Why is this show not performed more often?
I'm so happy. I'm so grateful for this organization that pays so much attention to detail and puts so much care into all they do. I'm so thankful that the actors involved take the time to prepare such wonderful performances. A glorious evening and a must-see event.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#7
Posted: 3/23/17 at 2:22am
I saw it tonight and I thought it was very well done. I am not sure about a Broadway transfer but it could easily sustain some sort of limited run say at Kennedy Center and it would play very well at Regional and Dinner theatres. They pulled out all of the punches and I have to hand it to the artists who reconstructed it all from next to nothing. It encompassed the true spirt of Encores.
The evening moved along quickly given the snappy direction and the multitude of musical numbers. I thought the casting was very solid with an impressive turn by Scarlett Strallen. She was complimented quite well by the masculine and charming Tam Mutu who had a lovely voice. Cyrille Aimee performed a haunting Love For Sale with a vocal quality that evoked the time period.
If you are a musical theatre lover who also has a fondness for New York this is a worthwhile ticket purchase!!!
#8
Posted: 3/23/17 at 10:07am
I'm not sure what you guys saw. I thought the book and plot were awful-- the most Encores of any Encores show I've ever seen, so I guess if that's your thing. It was also so long.
The production was beautiful, and I thought Tam Mutu was great. But really nothing to run to, IMO.
#9
Posted: 3/23/17 at 4:34pm
#10
Posted: 3/23/17 at 6:02pm
#11
Posted: 3/23/17 at 6:45pm
Wow, what a rave from Brantley!! I'm so happy for this cast and all other involved! I must go back at least once more this weekend.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#12
Posted: 3/24/17 at 2:12am
wow you guys...wish wish wish i could be in nyc for this cole porter gem
sounds like a wonderful restoration of the musical....
best from SF and its biggest cole porter fan.....
if anyone knows of anyone capturing audio or video of this show, please pm me......
#13
Posted: 3/24/17 at 2:57am
I agree that the book was not the strongest and that is the reason why I do not think it could sustain a Broadway transfer; even though it would benefit from 42nd Street type dazzling production numbers and Star power. Musical theatre has become so much more sophisticated over the years where musical numbers further the plot and our standards have changed. But if you take the show for what it is I think the artists involved did a heck of a job with it.
#14
Posted: 3/24/17 at 12:16pm
Loved this!! A-game. Beautiful, tunefull, dazzling, funny-funny!! 'Anything Goes' and 'Kiss Me, Kate,' move over. Kudos to Ruth Williamson (great 'Physician', Arnie Burton (great "Let's Not Talk...'', Robyn Hurder (triple-t./lead potential), Eddie Korbich (mult. parts) and Cyrille Aimee (feat. vocls). Wished Kevin Chamberlin pulled off more in the Durante role and that leading lady had time period wig - but small details. Sound was supurb. The ending starting with 'Take Me Back To Manhattan' through 'I Happen To Like NY' = Love-letter to the city. I want to go back.
Updated On: 3/25/17 at 12:16 PM
#15
Posted: 3/24/17 at 11:55pm
I really liked the ending starting with Take Me back To Manhattan through I Happen To Like New York. The arrangement with the wedding bells in the finale moments gave me shivers. I likened it to the feelings evoked when seeing the city for the first time, walking into a Broadway show or strolling along commerce street or through Central Park on a fall afternoon or after the first snowfall. The feeling that there is no place like it.
#16
Posted: 3/25/17 at 10:25pm
I loved this, much better than the crap currently on Bway (such as Comet, Groundhog, Bronx Tale, etc.)
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#17
Posted: 3/25/17 at 10:41pm
Caught the matinee today and thoroughly enjoyed this. So much to love. Such clever fun and the music sublime. Several laugh out loud moments. Wish I could see this again. The costumes were gorgeous. Catch if you can.
#18
Posted: 3/26/17 at 1:52am
I wish Mutu would play Freddie (if it is in his vocal range) in the upcoming revival of My Fair Lady.
#19
Posted: 3/26/17 at 7:29pm
Well I really blew my Broadway budget all in one weekend. I saw Hello Dolly!, Sunset Boulevard and the City Center Encores! of New Yorkers in one weekend. Thoughts on all three shows here:
http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2017/03/hello-bette-goodbye-glenn-and-love-is.html
#20
Posted: 3/27/17 at 12:03am
Can't remember when I had more fun....brilliant cast....incredible music and orchestra...gorgeous costumes....I would love for this to transfer.
#21
Posted: 3/27/17 at 2:01am
The best show I've seen this season, not counting Sunset BLVD.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#22
Posted: 3/27/17 at 10:07am
Any word on a cast album? Surely they wouldn't go through the trouble of restoring a lost Cole Porter score and then let it go unrecorded again, would they?
#23
Posted: 3/27/17 at 5:02pm
It wasn't perfect but I actually enjoyed myself the entire time. Sure, the second act felt a little long because it shouldn't have taken so long to resolve those story lines but they were throwing so much at you, it was hard to be bored. It's no Kiss Me Kate, or even Anything Goes but as a little more of a revue-like show, I thought it was a lot of fun. The actors were giving it their all (minus a few exceptions). I did feel like sometimes the choreography was weak. It felt a little unfocused sometimes and like it wasn't using those dancers to their full potential. The costumes were great but I'm content with this being a short run. It should not transfer. There are a lot of shows it reminded me of but it has the most in common with the recent Holiday Inn and An American in Paris and it would get crushed. Part of its charm was knowing it was an Encores production with all the attendant challenges and effort.
#24
Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:12am
I agree with CATSNYrevival- given all the hoopla about the restored music, I'd be surprised if they don't do a cast album of this. I really wish Christian Borle's Little Me could've been preserved like that, but at least we got some quality audio of Tommy Tune in Lady Be Good...
On an unrelated note, Robyn Hurder seems to be tailor-made for these kind of shows. I remember her from Nice Work If You Can Get It!
https://newplayexchange.org/users/99643/amanda-delalla
#25
Posted: 3/27/19 at 4:04am
A cast recording has been announced, finally! Now we know why Cyrille Aimee has been in town.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Ghostlight-Records-Announces-Recording-of-NY-City-Centers-THE-NEW-YORKERS-20190326
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