So I left off with Cellophane...
Joel's "I hope I didn't take up too much of your time" got an ironic laugh from the audience.
Caroline O'Connor did When Velma Takes the Stand. I liked her spunk as well. And a very strong request for her exit music.
Ooh, forgot that Terra C. Macleod did I know a girl.
Lynda Carter did some of Mama's funny dialogue.
Paige Davis and Kevin Richardson came on for Razzle Dazzle (at least just Kevin at the beginning). Paige was cute, a good pick to express her nervousness of the trial. I...had such hatred of the Backstreet Boys that there's no way I can unbiasly say how he did, so I will let someone else take it. I'm pretty sure he wasn't amazing or awful.
Huey Lewis then came on as Kevin stepped to the side. Umm, this was...okay, there's like 4 verses to the song right? So Kevin did the first one, Huey did the second one, then they both went on the platform where the orchestra was as Wayne came out to do the third verse, for the fourth verse they all sang together, and were joined by 3 other Billy's...I know one of them was Destan Owens. Then another Billy...I know Tom Wopat was Billy up until the trial, and then John O'Hurley was Billy during the trial...I can't remember if Tom Wopat took the very end of Razzle Dazzle, if no one did, or if someone else did. But yeah, all the Billy's with the sparkles and everything pouring down singing Razzle Dazzle was pretty impressive. They were good, all powerful.
Bianca Marroquin was Roxie during the trial. I really liked her, she had this...quirkiness to her...it fit Roxie, and made the scenes interesting and entertaining.
then Marcia Lewis Bryan did Class, and was fabulous...what a great, old edge...and...I'm not sure I know who the Velma was...shoot...help NBC! Anyway, she was good, the two of them doing great with the cynicism and negativity and such. This may be my favorite song in the show, and it didn't disappoint.
Ooh, Roy Bean's reveal as Mary was funny, as was he the rest of the night.
Umm, so as mentioned, Ashlee was Roxie when she was declared innocent, her final scene with Amos, and the first Nowadays. Like I said...she...wasn't...bad. A bit of odd excitement near the end, but she actually...didn't hurt my ears, had an edge to her voice, got the message of the song across. Not the best of the night exactly...but not bad.
Ooh, I think there was a mike problem, I was pretty sure at one point during Ashlee's song we were hearing Ann and Bebe talking backstage. Oops.
So to no one's surprise, they came on for the final Nowadays. What a treat. Huge applause. Their voices still meshed well, and they had that wonderful slightly-evil twinkle in their eyes. The little hints of dancing were also great, and well-cheered. Then they both moved offstage to appear back on for The Hot Honey Rag, and like I said, Bebe came back on stage...with Michelle DeJean. I suppose Ann had good reason for not doing it. Still would have been great to see. I feel like I might have rather seen Charlotte do with Bebe or something, not that Michelle wasn't great, but..yeah. Anyway, soo great to see Bebe do the rag. She is a really great Fosse dancer. When the dance was over, and Velma and Roxie were given flowers, Michelle went offstage to lead/drag (probably a bit of both) Ann back on to do the final dialogue with Bebe. Lots of laughter applause about how they are the perfect example of this country. And a final delectable "all that jazz."
Curtain call started with the usual ensemble cast doing their thing. Then the main characters all bowed together--the Marys, the Mamas, the Amos's, the Billys, the Velmas and Roxies together. I'm sure many pictures of them all on stage will appear.
So then the Weisslers went onstage to speak. Umm, thanked lots of people. Barry spoke first, thanking people who helped make tonight possible. Fran said she had to take some important people, including the wonderful scenic designer....couldn't remember his name.
Well, Ann got special cheers for choreographing it, and all the people who worked on the revival--costume guy, music director, Walter Bobbie, and especially the people who started it all--John and Fred and Bob. (Was Gwen said in there somewhere? Maybe Chita and Gwen? I can't remember).
Anyway, I think Bob was the last one mentioned. Of course. Appropriate.
Then if you didn't rush out, you got a very special treat. As the orchestra played the exit music, there were people hugging and such, and they left the stage one by one, and finally there were 4 actors left on the stage--Chita, Ann, Bebe and Joel. The 4 of them danced together in the center in front of the center stage exit. At one point they all danced around Joel, it was really funny, but it was basically just them all dancing together. What a scene. So appropriate. Such a great treat. All having great fun. The music stopped, we cheered one more time, and they exited.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
