Yankee's 2007 Theater Round-Up

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:43pm

Okay, a bland parody of a thread on ATC. But who knows? Someone may like it.

1. The Little Dog Laughed – Julie White makes it worthwhile.
2. The Clean House – pleasant intro to Sarah Ruhl, affecting work from Aspillaga, Tomei
3. The Scene – Only enjoyable work (ever) from Rebeck, until the last line, brilliant intro to up-and-comer Anna Camp
4. The Vertical Hour – Moore’s snore
5. Mary Poppins – too long, but then he tap dances and she flies
6. King Lear (Kline) – solid Shakespeare from Cerveris, Kline spent too much time at the gym
7. Utopia: Salvage – fitting end
8. Howard Katz – forgot about it the second it ended
9. Prelude to a Kiss – Robin Bartlett
10. Curtains – solid old fashioned musical comedy, will see it again
11. Madama Butterfly at NYCO – Marc Lamos’ beautiful production
12. Talk Radio – Schreiber’s a talent, someone ought to have told March to stay on L&O
13. Gazillion Bubble Show – “Welcome to a world of enjoyable and fantasy.”
14. The Pirate Queen – gloop, gloop
15. Moon for the Misbegotten – Moonforthemisbegottenstarringkevinspacey
16. Curtains – saw it again
17. Legally Blonde – joyful bubblegum, too bad about Laura Bell Blandy
18. Inherit the Wind – guy in monkey suit steals show. And Plummer.
19. Frost/Nixon – Langella turned me into a Nixon-sympathizer
20. Deuce – (crickets) Prompter: “It suc--” Onstage: “It sucks!”
21. Radio Golf – underrated Chisholm
22. 110 in the Shade – Lovely Audra, impressive Steggart
23. Coram Boy – WTF
24. Year of Magical Thinking – Redgrave can read the yellowpages…in my car on the way to work
25. Spelling Bee – first time seeing it, close it now
26. LoveMusik – Once was more than enough...
27. Journey’s End – Incredible Boyd Gaines Part I
28. Blackbird – Mantello directs a good one! Knocks you in the gut, incredible work from Pill and Daniels
29. Xanadu – Cancelled
30. Xanadu – Remarkable orchestrations – great Butler, dump Carpinello
31. In A Dark Dark House – A bad bad play
32. Elvis People – The King’s rolling over in his grave
33. Crazy Mary – solid Gurney, cast makes the show
34. LoveMusik - ...apparently not
35. Old Acquaintance – snore
36. Grey Gardens – lovely Ebersole, Wilson – Davie shines
37. Gypsy – LuPone as LuPone; mind-blowing Benanti, Larken; Excellent Boyd Gaines Part II
38. A Chorus Line – I….hope…I…get…it
39. Sessions – glad it was free
40. Grease – They try, they really do. Even more inconsistencies in material.
41. Boeing-Boeing – Leave it to the Brits to direct solid farce. Funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.
42. Avenue Q – Male Gary Coleman works well, Julie Atherton is the definitive Kate Monster
43. Iphigenia 2.0 – Greece + Iraq = mistake
44. Three Mo’ Tenors – nice, enjoyable concert
45. Mauritius – too many plot holes, solid cast
46. The Ritz – Mantello should have seen Boeing-Boeing. Brooks Ashmanskas and Patrick Kerr can act farce on their own.
47. Pygmalion – Gay Mays, Delightful Danes, Excellent Boyd Gaines Part III
48. The Overwhelming – overwhelming
49. Young Frankenstein – Underwhelming
50. The Receptionist – Enjoyable Houdyshell; I think I have to see it again to get it
51. Cyrano de Bergerac – gorgeous production, Kline makes up for Lear, Garner can actually act!
52. Legally Blonde – Still fun, except for Blandy – chemistry between her and Borle grown considerably
53. Drowsy Chaperone – Solid Saget, Disappointing Davi, show needs to be retired
54. Frankenstein, the musical – found out after I saw it that my grandfather had died. His funeral was more enjoyable than Frankenstein, the musical.
55. Cymbeline – Zzzzzzz
56. Make Me a Song – Cathartic – lovely performances
57. Die Mommie Die! – Charles Busch and Ashley Morris. But mostly Charles Busch.
58. The Homecoming – Raul rocks, Eve isn’t sexy enough.
59. The Seafarer – Glorious ensemble
60. Is He Dead? – Yes. But Norbert makes it worth it.
61. August: Osage County – Amy Morton is frighteningly real. Play is heart-stopping.
62. The Little Mermaid – Disjointed, uneven. Sherie rocks. Only Sherie rocks.
63. November – Lane at his finest. Mamet at his lowest.
64. The Drowsy Chaperone – Yup, time to close it.
65. The Glorious Ones – They’re not.
66. The Receptionist – NOW it makes sense. Incredible Houdyshell!

On to Farnsworth, Bronx Tale, 39 Steps, and Sunday!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:46pm

wow.. I should probably count mine too...

Coincidence ...but we were there at the same time on the following shows:

your # 29- Xanadu- cancelled
#45- Mauritius

J*
Updated On: 12/31/07 at 02:46 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:47pm

Nice list. I'm surprised you didn't see FOLLIES at Encores.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:49pm

he is not a big fan of ENCORES... oops....

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:52pm

True, I'm really not. It has to be something realllly enthralling to get me into CityCenter.

But if I have one regret of the year? It's that I missed FOLLIES.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:58pm

I only made one trip to NYC this year so I only got to see 4 Shows. But I saw
"Curtains" - Love it and will see it again.
"Fuerzabruta" - a VERY fun show and the music rocks.
"The Homecoming" - My 1st Pinter Play. Eve Best was fabulous, Raul was good but not as good as I had hoped.
"August: Osage County" - There's no place like home!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:07pm

This was the best you could come up with for moving past your "SWEENEY TANKS!" blunder?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:09pm

I stand-by everything I write.

[DirtyRottenGirl]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:15pm

This post just made my day. I love your honesty.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:17pm

That's much more mature than responding to criticism or admitting that you maybe, might have been the tiniest bit misguided in your original statements.

Anyway, carry on.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:26pm

For what little it's worth, here's my list (at least, the ones I saw in Calendar Year 2007, not the 2006-2007 season), in no particular order:
1. Love Music -- Interesting failure
2. Year of Magical Thinking -- BORING!!
3. Moon for the Misbegotten -- Best okay, Spacey uninvolving
4. Deuce -- Great to see them, but what a flimsy play!
5. Journey's End -- Wasn't as thrilled as everybody else -- the piece has too many longeurs for my taste
6. Frost/Nixon -- Okay, Sheen was underappreciated
7. Legally Blonde -- UGH
8. Curtains -- So-so. Still smarting over Pierce getting the Tony so richly deserved by Esparza
9. Talk Radio -- Loved Schreiber -- IMO opinion, should have won Best Actor Tony
10. Coast of Utopia, Parts 2 and 3 -- I just don't like Stoppard and was totally worn out by the end of Act 1, Part 3. Some fine performances (Ethan Hawke, Amy Irving especially)
11. In the Heights -- Okay, well performed, fine dancing
12. November -- I liked it.
13. Is He Dead? -- An amusing trifle, no more. Butz may end up being Lane's successor.
14. Rock 'N' Roll -- See comment Coast of Utopia.
15. The Homecoming -- Loved it, particulary Ian McShane
16. Peter and Jerry -- Not especially rewarding and Act One didn't do much of anything to enhance The Zoo Story
17. Farnworth Invention -- Playwrighting by the numbers, not sufficiently redeemed by the performances
18. August: Osage County -- Good, old-fashioned theatre. And not a mimute too long. Beautifully performed.
19. Young Frankenstein -- Disgracefully mediocre
20. The Ritz -- A bland production of a so-so play.
21. Mauritius -- Good theatre, fine performance by Bobby Cannavale
22. Encores! Gypsy -- Bravura performances by all the leads, with LuPone vocally superior to any version since Merman
23. Xanadu -- Seen it 6 times, with more visits coming. A perfect antidote to the stresses of the day-to-day.

Regret I couldn't squeeze in Cymbeline; I guess I'll get around to Seafarer, but I didn't care for it on the written page.

BTW, I LOVE the New York theatre. After 50+ years of regular attendance, one runs the risk of getting jaded. I love everybody who makes the experience of theatregoing such a rewarding part of my life. Thanks to you all!!!!!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:28pm

I will admit that my statements may have been a bit too harsh, but I do indeed stand-by them.

Carry on.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:33pm

Here's mine :

Its good that I took photos of all the shows Ive seen ( courtey of my iPhoto-unless I miss some stuff that were not labeled)

Jaystarr's 2007 Theater Round-Up
(Should I include my photos too ? )


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

1. In The Heights (1/16) LIKE IT!
2. A Chorus Line (1/17) LIKE IT!
3. The Apple Tree (1/18 LIKE IT!
4. Mary Poppins (1/19) LIKE IT!
5. The Coast of Utopia (1/20) DID NOT LIKE IT !
6. The Drowsy Chaperone (1/21) LIKE IT!
7. Journey's End (2/19) LIKE IT
8. Dinah Was (2/23) at Merrimack, MA- DID NOT LIKE IT!
9. Persephone (2/? ) Boston, MA - DID NOT LIKE IT!
10. Curtains (3/9) - LIKE IT!
11. Hairspray (3/10) -LIKE IT!
12. Les Miserables (3/10) -DID NOT LIKE IT!
13. Wicked (3/25) at Los Angeles, CA. - DID NOT LIKE IT !
14. Deuce (4/14) - DID NOT LIKE IT !
15. Some Men (3/4) - Did NOT SHOW UP!
16. Coram Boy (4/21) - DID NOT LIKE IT !
17. Legally Blonde (4/21) - DID NOT LIKE IT !
18. Love Musik (4/22) - DID NOT LIKE IT !
19. Frost/ Nixon (5/5) -LIKE IT!
20. 110 in the Shade (5/6) - LIKE IT!
21. Xanadu (5/28- cancelled
22. Xanadu (6/18 -LIKE IT!
23. Broadway Bares 17 (6/28 ) - LIKE IT!
24. Xanadu (6/23 LIKE IT !
25. The Color Purple (7/1) - LIKE IT !
26. Forbidden Broadway : The Roast of Utopia (7/4) - LIKE IT !
27. Forever Plaid (7/21) at Provincetown, MA - LIKE IT!
28. A Sophisticated Evening with Jeff Stryker (7/28 at Provincetown, MA -HATED IT!
29. 'eurydice' (8/11 - LIKE IT !
30. Old Acquiantance (8/18 - LIKE IT !
31. Xanadu (8/26) - LIKE IT!
32. Grease (9/15) - DID NOT LIKE IT !
33. The Three Musketeers (9/8 at Beverly, MA. - DID NOT LIKE IT!
34. The 39 Steps (9/9) at Boston, MA. - LIKE IT!
35. Mauritius (9/23) - LIKE IT!
36. The Ritz (10/1) -LIKE IT 1
37. Zanna Don't (10/8 at Boston, MA. - DID NOT LIKE IT!
38. Pygmalion (10/15) LIKE IT
39. Farnsworth Invention (10/20) DID NOT LIKE IT
40. Young Frankenstein (10/20) LIKE IT!
41. Forbidden Broadway : Rude Awakening (10/21) -LIKE IT
42. Cyrano de Bergerac (10/27) LIKE IT !
43. Sweeney Todd (10/31) at Boston, MA. - LIKE IT !
44. The Seafarer (11/3) good show but I DID NOT LIKE IT ! (got bored)
45. Donnie Darko (11/10) at Cambridge, MA - DID NOT LIKE IT!
46. Spain (11/18 LIKE IT!
47. Sweeney Todd (11/4) at Boston, MA -LIKE IT !
48. White Christmas (11/30) at Boston, MA - LIKE IT !
49. Rock N Roll (11/31) Did not show up (got soo tired the night before)
50. Celia (12/3) - LIKE IT !
51. The Glorious Ones (12/12) - LIKE IT !
52. Is He Dead (12/12) - Did not show up !
53. August : Osage County (12/16) - LIKE IT
54. Speech & Debate (12/23) - LIKE IT
55. Make Me A Song (12/23) -LIKE IT
56. Gone Missing (12/30) -LIKE IT !

(these ones I just found on my iPhoto - I missed it earlier- its good I have date stamp- sorry not on chronoligical order anymore)

57. Inherit the Wind (4/7) - LIKE IT!
58. Pirate Queen (4/8 - DID NOT LIKE IT!
59. Streamers (11/20) - LIKE IT !
60. The Importance of Being Earnest - DID NOT LIKE IT at Cambridge, MA
61. Well (4/6) at Boston, MA - I LIKE IT !
62. Confession of a Mormon Boy (4/29)- DID NOT LIKE IT ! at Boston, MA
63. Present Laughter (5/18 LIKE IT ! at Boston, MA
64. Talk Radio (5/5) LIKE IT !
65. The 39th Steps (10/? ) -my second time with Chris at Boston, MA

NOTE : My dates might be off a day bec. I was going by the date on my iPhoto which is the day I downloaded it on my computer-go by the date on my camera)

In bolds are my TOP 10 list of 2007

NOTE : list without the city & states denotes NYC shows

J*









Updated On: 12/31/07 at 03:33 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:34pm

A factual inaccuracy is not the same as a statement that's simply a harsh judgment.

Updated On: 12/31/07 at 03:34 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:56pm

BUMP bec. I updated mine....

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 9:00pm

It's funny because my friend spent a semester in London and all she could say was that Corom Boy was amazing and all this stuff, and then it just flopped her. Maybe it's just entirely too British, or something?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 9:20pm

And Coram Boy got respectable reviews, although nothing earth-shattering. I think not being nominated for Best Play Tony killed it. I'd gotten a ticket for a day after it closed, so I'll never know.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 9:25pm

Coram Boy was so over the top with the yelling and running around... the ending was so predictable... the boy endend up with his parents. sooo melodramatic.

The choir was over the top too... standing and singing... I wasnt impressed with the scenery neither-- too dark and bare..

There are good parts though- I like the drowing scene- the Handel's Messiah number- that's about it for me, though I heard a lot of people love it.. its just not my type of show.

I think the four nominees last year all deserved it... Coast of Utopia , The Little Dog Laughed, Frost/Nixon and August Wilson's Radio Golf (though I did not see this)

J*







Updated On: 12/31/07 at 09:25 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/1/08 at 12:36am

The woman next to me said it best: "I'd hate to have given my kid up for adoption."

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/1/08 at 3:01pm

I really wish I had seen "Little Dog Laughed." I saw a clip on THAT SITE and it was hilarious. It seemed like a worthwile night out at the theatre.