Thoughts on A CATERED AFFAIR

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 11:13pm

Well, Harvey was right. I laughed, I cried, I was home by 11. Now, what to do with the rest of my Saturday night?

A CATERED AFFAIR isn't the best or worst musical ever written. I can't even call it a musical. Perhaps an operetta? A play with music? I figured this was going to be another bland downer like Light in the Piazza so I went in holding my breath.

Any other season, like next season, perhaps, it would get lost in the shuffle. A 90-minute no-dancing, no flying horses musical up against a ballet dancing kid and another big green guy? Come on. Luckily, it landed on Broadway this season, where the big green guy went bust, a bunch of mermaids drowned, and a cool, slick rebel was neither cool nor slick. No, it's up against an Hispanic gentleman rapping, a Black indie rocker, and a perky blonde on skates. And while it may not be the greatest show to hit Broadway in years, it's certainly number 2 on my list of the season (Passing Strange is #1.)

John Bucchino's score isn't one of the most memorable ones (the only song I walked out humming was "Don't Ever Stop Saying..." but I'm convinced it was because I've heard it twice a day on the radio ad nauseum for the past 3 months), but it certainly is the most emotionally effective, in terms of music and lyrics, I've heard in years (especially compared to Piazza.)
It was hard to tell where Harvey's nicely crafted book ends and Bucchino's score picked up, not sheading light on the eternal question - which comes first: the book or the score?

And while the songs weren't memorable - the delivery and motivation were. I didn't love Faith Prince - she's a great performer, arguably giving the most different performance of her career - but Aggie was just too overbearing for my taste. I really felt for Tom Wopat, who just shot to the top of my Tony pix list, and his 11 o'clock number, "I Stayed," is truly an experience to be seen. Harvey is Harvey - he gets laughs, and underneath all the croaking, there's somewhat of a good singer in there. Matt Cavenaugh, doing a great extension of his Kennedy in Grey Gardens (though this guy isn't from Boston, unfortunately), is totally wasted. Leslie Kritzer doesn't make much of a showing, either, but she's got a pretty voice.

The show's got substance. There's actually something there that makes you care for these people. It's not uninvolving or distancing. I just felt it was too slight. 90 minutes gets me to my reservations at Angus' an hour earlier, but I feel like I've just eaten half of a huge porterhouse and the waiter took the rest away. Know what I mean?

[BenKaye]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 11:19pm

Great to you that you loved the show. It really is a fantastic show. Too bad that it's not going to get a lot of awards.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 11:40pm

I agree with your comments on Tom Wopat.

If any of the actors have a shot at the Tony, it's him.

[osage08]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 11:48pm

Really random comment but I like your style of writing (yankeefan07). Whenever I try to write any sort of thoughts/ review about a show I end up rambling. Haha oh yeah and glad you liked it by the way.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 2:22am

I appreciate your review. I've been looking forward to it. I really think I'd love this show. It just seems nice and simple, and beautiful. I like that. I can't wait for the cast album, so I can hear the music. I like shows that aren't instantly hummable.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 2:33am

YES! CATERED AFFAIR IS GENIUS, COMPARED TO THE OTHER TRASH THAT'S ON BROADWAY RIGHT NOW.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 2:57am

B-E-A-UTIFUL READ, Yankee - Per usual, my friend!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 11:15am

Cheers.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 12:10pm

Is there a show curtain? Or just the wall?

[TomMonster]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 12:31pm

I love this show!!! It's better the second time.

And there is no show curtain. Yet it's quite beautiful (I won't give it away!)

[DG]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 12:37pm

"another bland downer like Light in the Piazza"

I appreciate when a writer gives me a frame of reference, so I can better understand the given perspective. This was enough to let me know I didn't need to read the rest. And honestly, I appreciate having my time saved.

[logan0215]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 12:59pm

I didn't find Piazza to be bland nor a downer. In fact, I found it to be one of the most beautiful shows and scored I've ever encountered.

Hopefully, if you're saying that Piazza is the low bar that ACA has surpassed and I find Piazza brilliant, then I'll really enjoy this show.

I'm tempted to bring my mother with me, even though I normally "test" a show out before bringing my parents, because from what I can gather from the show preview she would very much relate to a family struggling in the Bronx with a young couple wishing to be married (in essence, her life).

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 1:35pm

Has anybody seen the show through TDF? How have the seats been?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 5:55pm

I have never seen this on TDF.

*******

Yankeefan- Thanks for another great review! I am happy that you like the show too!
Too bad that I missed you by 1 performance. I will try catch you again next time!

J*
Updated On: 4/27/08 at 05:55 PM

[mc1227]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 7:38pm

Wopat's number was indeed sensational. I think I've posted before that up until that number I was wondering why he was even in this show. He and Faith Prince were absolutely wonderful and I hope at least 1 gets a Tony for their performance. I really urge people to go see this show and keep an open mind. It's not like most musicals that you have seen. Different is good!!!

[Steve2]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 8:09pm

Yankeefan007, thanks for taking the time to write! I am glad you enjoyed and looking forward to seeing this.
Updated On: 4/27/08 at 08:09 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:20pm

Any time.

'Til the next one.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 8:22am

I hope you guys are right about Wopat's Tony chances -- I'd love to see him win one.