Thoughts on my first NY Trip, and the shows I saw. (Now w/ Pics!)

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 3:57pm

Ok, I finally made to New York to see some shows, it was one of the most perfect times of my life, and I have never been so happy.

Mary Poppins

I wanted to enjoy this show, and to some extent I did. But I thought the writing had several problems that were hard to ignore. The biggest problem was with the pacing, everything in the opening parts of the first act were WAY too fast. A lot of stuff was very rushed, and I wished they had slow a few things down for character development. Especially the way Mary makes her first entrance I thought showed that they were relying too much on the fact that people had seen the movie. I must admit I had extreme doubts about Ashley Brown before I saw the show, given who produced her resume, terrible, I know. But I was very impressed with her work, and I could tell that she was working her ass off up there (But not in a bad way). I'm not sure how I felt about Jolly Holliday's place in the story, but it was a dazzling number. But I was a bit *ahem* distracted, whenever Neleus was on stage. The Being Mrs. Banks scene was one that I felt that could have been slowed down and allowed for more development. I didn't care for spoonful of sugars new place in the story, and I didn't really like the bank scene. Feed the Birds I felt was passible, kindof in the way Music of the Night was in the POTO movie. Super . . . and Temper Temper really turned things around for me though. Up to then I had been thinking, "great cast, great songs 1 / character development 0". But Super . . . was a fun delightful number, and TT was a great character number. I loved both the Act I finale and the opening parts of Act II, espcially the Brimstone and Treacle bits. Generally I felt that the second act was stonger. Although it was odd having Super and Spoonful serve as Mr. Banks touching moment songs the same way the were in the movie, when they served completely different places in the story! When Bert said "What's that thing she's always saying? A spoonful of sugar is all . . ." I was lost. The number is so much less of a plot point in the stage production, so I didn't see how it could be an emotional anchor. The end was good, but I wish Mrs. Banks had a verse or two more of Anything Can Happen. I know she had to change, but still. All in all I appriciated the show, but I just felt it could have been so much better.

P.S. NOTE TO BOB CROWLY. Stop moving the set.

I really wished he would have waited for Rebecca Luker to finish her reprise of BMB before moving the set foward, it was very distracting (There was another moment where he cut a song off in a similar fashion).

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Went to the Lincoln Center Theatre on Film and Tape archive and watched the show. Hillarious, loved it. The show got a lot stronger book-wise once Christine appeared, but the precedeing action was wonderful. Andre is now a dream role.

Grey Gardens
Wonderful. I loved both the first and second acts equally, and was suprised at how quickly they both flew by. It was both hillarious and touching. All the preformers were wonderful, and the score is one of the most refreshing I've heard in a while. I hope that we will hear many more Frankel/Korie tunes in the years to come. Amazing.

Spring Awakening
I found this show to be very affecting. The book scenes and rock songs worked together to move me in ways I didn't expect. I was touched deeply by the show, and was so glad I went. I came out feeling that the story of Melchior, Moritz, and Wendela was one of the saddest and most deserving stories to be told to me in a while. I didn't really pay that much attention to everything in the rock songs, but had it not been what it was it wouldn't have moved me so much. A very moving theatrical experience that will haunt me probably for the rest of my life.

P.S. If you happen to be in the Times Square TGI Friday's, check out the baby changing table in the men's handicapped stall. Or for women and out of towners, PM me.

The Drowsy Chaperone
This show was hillarious, fun, and had excellent points to make about theatre. I had understudies for both Man in Chair(Patrick Wetzel) and Aldolpho(Joey Sorge). Both of whom were excellent. I really liked the way Joey's Aldolpho looked physically, and he was hillarious. Wetzel played the MIC a little more sardonicly than I expected, but maybe that's just the way the role is written. I must admit it will be hard for me to ever look at Martin as the MIC, as Wetzel will always be my first and only MIC.

Dear World
The last day I was there, I walked up to see the Mark Hellinger Theatre (ie The Times Square Church). It was before services stared, so I was able to go all over the place. I got some great pictures, such a beautiful house. It was almost like being in a mosque that had been turned into a church or something. I respected what they were doing, but it was still a theatre, and I wanted it to be one again. It was amazing being there. I actually sat in the next the last seat in the next row and completely mimed it out like I was watching Angela Landsbury in Dear World (don't worry, I kept it subtle). It was like I was actually there. I have never had such a wonderful relgious experience in my life. It was a great cap to my trip.

All in all, I loved my experience in NY.

Updated On: 1/9/07 at 03:57 PM

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 4:37pm

Updated On: 1/9/07 at 04:37 PM

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 4:46pm

Updated On: 1/9/07 at 04:46 PM

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 4:52pm

Updated On: 1/9/07 at 04:52 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 4:52pm

The last time I went into the Mark Hellinger a few months ago, it was after church had ended, and I sat in the seventh row and pretended that I was at opening night of Dear World! Glad to know I'm not the only crazy Dear World fan out there...

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:01pm

Your pictures are spectacular!

I'm glad you liked Spring Awakening. Just curious, where did you find all the scrawl with the song titles?

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:10pm

I was standing right next to you at the Drowsy Chaperone stage door.

[Bal]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:34pm

Joey Sorge as Aldolpho? Really?? *squee!* I saw him as Robert Martin the first time I saw the show, and I LOVED him... I hope he gets to take over the role when Troy Britton Johnson leaves the show. I would LOVE to see his Aldolpho, to see how he makes it his own. It's hard to imagine anyone but Derrick baskin in that part.

I'm glad you had a fantastic time!!

[mijofly19]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:37pm

"It's hard to imagine anyone but Derrick baskin in that part."

You mean Danny Burstein?

[MrBundles]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:43pm

i really like your mary poppins picture

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:55pm

I think I saw you at the Grey Gardens stagedoor.

Were you there on Jan 5th?

~Jacob.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:59pm

A lot of shows! Sounds fun.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 6:06pm

I think I remember you from Spring Awakening....did you see the mat on the 6th?

[show2n2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 6:17pm

GR8 Pics. Love the GG shots.

Thnx for sharing.

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:37pm

The last time I went into the Mark Hellinger a few months ago, it was after church had ended, and I sat in the seventh row and pretended that I was at opening night of Dear World! Glad to know I'm not the only crazy Dear World fan out there...

Hell yeah. *virtual high five*

Just curious, where did you find all the scrawl with the song titles?

My handywork on the baby changing table in the TGI mens room.

I was standing right next to you at the Drowsy Chaperone stage door.

Oh yeah, I remember you.

I think I saw you at the Grey Gardens stagedoor.

Were you there on Jan 5th?
-
I think I remember you from Spring Awakening....did you see the mat on the 6th?

Yes and yes. I had no idea I was surrounded by so many BWW faces.

Updated On: 1/9/07 at 07:37 PM

[D2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 8:32pm

Are you kidding? With all the posting that goes on around here about this stagedoor and that stagedoor? I'd be surprised if there were anyone waiting at the stagedoor who wasn't a BWW member.

[Bal]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 9:12pm

Yes, I did mean Danny Burstein, I'm sorry.

Derrick Baskin? I must be high.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 9:17pm

Wait you vandalized the restroom or you found someone else's graffiti?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 10:25pm

He vandalized it, posted a picture, then posted a picture of himself.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 12:18am

I'm not sure what to say about the vandalism. I'm glad you love B'way so much, but at the same time it's just tacky and trashy and making the city look dirty.

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:41am

Yeah, it was a little stupid, what can I say?

Carried away, carried away, I get carried, yes carried away!

The thing was trashed anyway, still stupid, but yeah. Glad you like the pics!

[hygiene101]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 2:59pm

Hey, yeah, I saw you at the stagedoor of SA.

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:37pm

Julian, you should post the pictures you took at The Drowsy Chaperone stage door.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:41pm

Stupid Question:

Can you buy DVD's from the Lincoln Center Library?

[mrs felciano]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:43pm

I love Spring Awakening, but I wouldn't go scribble it somewhere. That's disrespectful.