Thoughts on my past five shows of last week. (LONG)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/26/09 at 7:54am

I was on vacation last week -- another reason it's great to be a teacher! And I was lucky enough to get into Manhattan twice: once with my kids and once with friends.

SOOOO...here are some quick thoughts on them:

With friends --

HAIR
Really wonderful. I'd seen it in the park and was tenuous about it being successful in another venue. Paulus' direction beautifully re-shaped the production successfully. I was in the front row and felt so alive throughout. What a great time. I already have front row tix again for August, but doubt I will wait that long to see it again. This could indeed be my next show that gets a high attendance record from me.

Swenson never ceases to amaze me with his connection to the piece as well as his energy. Creel was so rooted in the show, its hard to recall Groff as clearly as I thought I would. I really liked Levy's Sheila. I found her drive stronger than the park's production. Ryness and Case continue to draw me to their performances. There were additional tribe members that really got my attention, but I haven't been able to distinguish who they are by name.

I was MUCH more moved by the nudity (and no, not because of being in the front row) this time vs. the park. At the park, I rather felt like you blinked and BOOM they were all just standing there naked. At the Hirschfeld, I saw the reason for it, the connection with it. Stunning.

***********

NEXT TO NORMAL
I still have this resonating through my brain. I find it truly hard to discuss, as words seem inadequate. I will admit, that even though I saw (and enjoyed) the production at 2nd Stage...I don't have enough details in my memory to discuss the changes. I will metnion that I felt it flowed better and was much tighter on a whole. (And I in NO way miss the Cosco Song.)

Wow....is about all I can say. And I pray and hope this finds the audience to make it run for at least the summer.

***********
With the kids (8 & 12)

WICKED
I hadn't seen this since the original cast BEFORE the Tonys. I was not as impressed with it -- not by a long shot. It seemed to lack any real soul. It was just "there". It became so much more evident how weak the book actually is, and how lacking the score is of sophistication. My kids both thought this was their favorite show of the three. It was exciting to see my daughter watch it, as she's been waiting to see it so that her brother was old enough. He got pretty excited by the tie ins to Wizard of oz....andfigured some of htem out before they actually happened.

****************

SHREK
Really? I chuckled maybe 1/2 a dozen times, actually laughed once. The performances were "fine". (Haven on for Sutton) But the book, the score, the choreography? It was like watching good community theater: performing something they wrote themselves. And can ANYONE explain to me how a FAMILY show had so much unneccessary language? I am not a prude by any means...but why do the words HELL, crap and damn need to be present in a family show? Weak writing is the reason. Even my son was bothered by it.

Best part of the show was watching my daughter pluck up her courage to talk to Neil Patrick Harris sitting a few rows ahead of us. She nearly fainted when he held her hand.

*****************
STOMP

Wow, fifteen years later this is still a powerhouse, an exhilarating and innovative show. There were new pieces recently added and the cast was fresh and lively. I was truly sad to see this was over...I wanted more.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/26/09 at 12:04pm

Thanks for the reviews! I completely agree with Hair and Next to Normal. And that NPH story is adorable, thanks for sharing.