Posted: 8/9/07 at 2:40pm
It's Alive! ... and with a few tweaks, should be comercially successful when it hits the Hilton in October.
To avoid spoilers utnil later in this review, I'll start with the cast...
The cast was brilliant! Given the task of taking on such iconic roles, they surpassed my expectations and then some.
Roger Bart: Clearly the star of the show and what a performance he turns in. Tony nominatin for sure (possibly strong enough performance to say he'll win it without knowing what he's up against)He works hard and makes it look effortless.
Megan Mullally: She's perfect for this role. I don't know if her number late in act one was really necessary other than to give her another song (she really stands out in act 2). The song 'Alone' doesn't quite work like the diva number in Spamalot. Her two big numbers in Act 2 'Surprise' and 'Deep Love' were spot on and solidify her Tony nomination as well (supporting or featured actress, I think).
Sutton Foster: I think she'll be going head to head with Meagan for that Tony. She was my favorite female performer of the cast. They don't need to change a thing!
Andrea Martin: You've gotta love her. She's great and will also possibly be vying for that trophy. Considering it seemed that 90% of the audience already knew the jokes coming, she delivered each one as if they were brand new.
Christopher Fitzgerald: A most brilliant Igor! I don't know why he get's billed below Shuler Hensley other than the fact that the monster is the title character.
Fred Applegate: Much better as the Hermit than the inspector, but could use a little bit of vork.
Shuler Hensley: good monster
Spoilers ahead (maybe).
If audience reactions and excitement are any indication, then this show could possibly be a huge hit. The crowd cheered and applauded for EVERYTHING!!! Even the projection on the scrim at the beginning of the show. And they were laughing HARD at all the jokes. Often laughing before the joke because they remembered it from the movie.
The show is three hours long (and the intermission was incredibly short (10 minutes). At that point...why bother having an intermission! It's mostly this long because they leave almost nothing out from the movie and then add all the songs and production numbers. Here are some things they can cut in Act 1 to tighten it up a bit:
"Join the family business" - no need to make such a production out of that dream sequence. I think one can find about 5 minutes worth of that scene to cut.
"Alone" As much as I love Megan Mullally, that number was a little too long. I know it reminds the audience about her character, but perhaps cut it down to one verse and off she goes.
The Lab Scene was a little long and could be tightened up a bit too. Act 2 was almost flawless.
The choreography is also magnificent. Stroman still has her A-game.
The set is vunderful. Great perspective and angles. The laboratry is a grand and complex looking set piece with great special effects. Yet at times it's reigned in and its simplicity allows the cast to be the focus and spectacle ('Puttin on the Ritz'). Brilliant job.
Costumes are very good, but they are what they are, nothing over the top.
Sound design: This needs work. I couldn't hear the words in the chorus songs (and I had very good seats). It was clear it was due to the amplification system and not the cast. Hopefully they will have time to fix this.
Musical Score: Unfortunately, this was my least favorite part of the show. Considering it's done in a 30s style musical, none of the tunes were very memorable. Nor the lyrics that clever and witty. Of course there were moments of great surprise and wit. This is after all the great Mel Brooks writing, but it lacked some of the humor and spontenaeity of the lyrics in Spamalot, Avenue Q, Hairspray, or dare I say, The Producers. Many of the tunes seemed a little bit like rehashed broadway songs, yet were neither spoofs nor send-ups. Nonetheless, they were arranged perfectly and delivered well. No complaints there. The orchestrations in between numbers was great...like a film score...hmmm. The songs that stood out were 'Deep Love' executed perfectly by Megan and 'There is nothing like the Brain'
They nailed Puttin' on the Ritz. It starts small with just Frederick and the Creature then builds with the creature dancing to his own shadow (nice effect, but I won't say more). Then a dozen or so dancers all dressed like monsters join for a large tap/production ... it's Stroman at her best!
In the end, this is a great crowd pleaser and I think with some polish, it will sell a lot of tickets on Broadway. Will it have staying power like Phantom and Wicked? I doubt it, but like it's predecessor The Producers (which I seem to be one of the few people who thought it was just ok), it should have a very successful and long run and put smiles on a lot of people's faces.
My current top 10:
Spring Awakening
Wicked
Hairspray
Sweeney Todd
Spamalot
Avenue Q
Billy Elliot
Curtains
A Light in the Piazza
Kiss of the Spider Woman
