Your best and worst from this Broadway Season- Page 2

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:58am

BEST: The Norman Conquests, Exit the King, Hair, A Tale of Two Cities

WORST: Dividing the Estate, West Side Story, The Philanthropist

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:14pm

I know that this was a limited run in a non-profit theatre but I really want to put Everyday Rapture under my "best" list.

I have to go along with what everyone is saying about WSS. I hate to use the word "worst" to describe it because there were aspects of the show I did enjoy (ie Curtis/Karen). But, I recall being one of the first to cry foul over Matt's performance (and was lambasted for it! ha). I may revisit the show when Matt is not in.

[Leia947]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:17pm

Eris, I was thinking the same thing. When Matt/Josefina are gone, I may give it another try. My mother, on the other hand, was not so forgiving LOL

[saveusmike]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:20pm

Eris I agree. Matt just didnt do it for me as Tony.
This sounds stupid but I felt like I was listening to a boy band singer up there (I saw it 2 days after opening night so maybe he changed).

I tried so hard to like the show but I felt ecsepcially with Tony he was just out of place. Maybe its cause I expected so much the characters to be like the ones I grew up with from the movie. But Karen didnt dissapoint I felt she did a great job as Anita, She seemed like the only one who fit her character perfectly.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:22pm

I saw the show in DC so if he didn't change between then and opening I doubt he changed.

Matt's wedding is this weekend so we have to figure that that his standby will he on for, at least, a week.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:28pm

Eris so he wont be in this upcoming saturday?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:32pm

I googled "Matt Cavenaugh wedding" and found their wedding page. The wedding date is listed as August 23 (this Sunday). What his actual days off are I don't know. He could be out all this week to get ready for the wedding and all next for the honeymoon. Or maybe he's in this week but is out next week. There's nothing listed at broadwayunderstudies.com

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:35pm

His understudy was worse. I don't understand how people say he was good. His voice was exactly like Matt C's. A dying goat.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:40pm

Having heard Matt H's sing on numerous occasions I'm not sure if the "dying goat" comparisson quite fits.

I don't even think Matt C sounded like a dying goat. It's not that he sung poorly - he has a very lovely voice. He just couldn't seem to connect to the emotions of the songs. His Maria didn't soar the way it should. It just hung there and flittered around a bit.

Updated On: 8/17/09 at 12:40 PM

[saveusmike]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:42pm

Ah.. CS must you scare me so..ha.

I am hesitant. I am hoping a understudy would be better than Matt but I do hear conflicting things about his understudy..

Im just hoping it will be better than the last time I went..

Anyone stage door? how is everyone there?

[philly03]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:49pm

Best: A Tale of Two Cities
Worst: 13

Next to normal somewhere in the middle, speaking of overrated...!

[rjm516]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:49pm

Best musical: Next to Normal
But Best theatrical experience I've had in a long time - Norman Conquests Trilogy, all in one day. One of the best days ever.

Worst: Blithe Spirit. I was really bothered through the whole thing because it could have been much better. Whenever Angela did the crazy little dance with all the mugging for the audience and everyone screamed and cheered for it like it was genius, it was so annoying. It wasn't even funny, it was just stupid.

[Myglass989]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:08pm

Ditto the "bests" from above!

Worst: Pal Joey. WTF?!

[Eleah]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:34pm

BEST
Title of Show
Next to Normal
Norman Conquests
God of Carnage
Hair

WORST
Guys & Dolls
Rock of Ages
9 to 5
Blithe Spirit
West Side Story

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 3:50pm

The Best: Hair

Middle of the Road: Billy Elliot

The Worst: a tie
West Side Story (was bored sh*tless wanted to leave at intermission but didn't)
Next To Normal (squirmed the entire time thought my butt was growing roots wanted to leave at intermission))

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 4:12pm

Best
Mary Stuart (far above all others)
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Speed-the-Plow
God of Carnage
33 Variations

Worst
West Side Story
A Tale of Two Cities
Blithe Spirit (save for Angela)
The American Plan
To Be or Not to Be

I'd also put The Seagull and The Norman Conquests into the "wildly overrated" category, and give some off-Broadway shout-outs to Ruined and The Cherry Orchard.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 4:54pm

BEST:
Next to Normal
Speed-the-Plow
All My Sons - one of the greatest plays I've ever seen. Dianne West should've been recognized for her amazing performance.

OK:
West Side Story - Despite this productions flaws, WSS will always remain one of my favorite shows. Karen's performance was one of the best I've ever seen.

Hair - I had a lot of fun and love the music, but the plot (or lack of a plot?)didn't have a huge impact on me.

Blithe Spirit - Some parts I loved and some parts bored me a little. Christine Ebersole stole the show for me.

Guys and Dolls - I actually enjoyed this one.



WORST
Shrek - I wanted to like this so bad because I love the cast so much, but this was just bad and stupid.


The only things I have left to see from last season are Billy Elliot and 9 to 5 (and Rock of Ages if I decide to see that too). After those, I can't wait to get started on the 'o9-10 season!

[theatredorkny]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 5:02pm

Best:
Billy Elliot
9 to 5
Title of Show
Next to Normal

Worst:
Tale of Two Cities
Pal Joey
Guys and Dolls

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 6:46pm

The OP asked for the best and worst if THIS Broadway season. Yet you are all listing shows from last season.

The ONLY show to open yet this season is BURN THE FLOOR.
Here's the schedule for this season so far...

Burn the Floor Aug 2, 2009 Longacre Theatre
A Steady Rain Sep 29, 2009 Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Superior Donuts Oct 1, 2009 Music Box Theatre
Wishful Drinking Oct 4, 2009 Studio 54
Hamlet Oct 6, 2009 Broadhurst Theatre
The Royal Family Oct 8, 2009 Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Oleanna Oct 11, 2009 John Golden Theatre
Bye Bye Birdie Oct 15, 2009 Henry Miller's Theatre
Memphis Oct 19, 2009 Shubert Theatre
After Miss Julie Oct 22, 2009 American Airlines Theatre
Brighton Beach Memoirs Oct 25, 2009 Nederlander Theatre
Finian's Rainbow Oct 29, 2009 St. James Theatre
Ragtime Nov 15, 2009 Neil Simon Theatre
In the Next Room Nov 19, 2009 Lyceum Theatre
Fela! Nov 23, 2009 Eugene O'Neill Theatre
Race Dec 6, 2009 Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Broadway Bound Dec 10, 2009 Nederlander Theatre
Present Laughter Jan 21, 2010 American Airlines Theatre
Time Stands Still Jan 28, 2010 Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Spider-Man Mar 2010 Hilton Theatre
The Addams Family Apr 8, 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Collected Stories Apr 28, 2010 Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

[JillS]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 10:54pm

CyCoSpaz and Phllly - I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!

AC and TheaterDork? mmmm...not so much

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:11pm

frontrowcentre2, Really? Your just being obnoxious.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:20pm

I haven't posted in quite awhile, but I have to respond to this thread. I am shocked that West Side Story is on so many "worst" lists here. It was one of 4 productions that we saw on our last visit (the others were Hair, Billy Elliot, and Toxic Avenger) and I thought it was the best! How can anyone be a theater fan and not love this amazing score played by that orchestra, at least. PLUS, you get Dance at the Gym, America, and Cool (3 of the greatest choreographed numbers in musical theatre history), all occurring before intermission!!! It is just shocking to me that so many on here are so negative about this production. BTW, I thought Matt delivered a fine "Maria."
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I felt that this production did it justice.

(I don't have a "worst" since I enjoyed all of the shows we saw!)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 12:51am

[BEST]

The Norman Conquests
Mary Stuart
Hair
Billy Elliot
Toxic Avenger

[WORST]
God of Carnage
Speed The Plow
The Singing Forest
Prayer for My Enemy
West Side Story

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 1:30am

BEST Musicals:
Next to Normal--for its relevant subject matter and bold exploration of emotions. Also a flawless ensemble cast.
Billy Elliot---for its phenominally creative and appropriate directing and choreographic choices.

WORST Musicals:
Rock of Ages---loved the music, hated almost every other choice made in the show.
9 to 5---for putting Joe Mantello and Stephanie J. Block on my list of least favorite artists working on Broadway.
Hair---for having lots of unfocused energy.

BEST Plays:
Mary Stuart---for profound direction and masterful performances. Wow.
The Norman Conquests---for six amazing, detailed performances that made the characters real people that I feel are a part of my life.
All My Sons---for an effective concept and appropriate handling of emotion.

WORST Plays:
Blithe Spirit---for doing absolutely nothing for me. It wasn't actually all that bad, but I missed all the bad plays this season, so I needed something to put here

BEST Musical Performances:
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal---for the completely believable nuances.
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal---for pulling me into the struggle of the family.
Aaron Tveit, Next to Normal---for the generosity of his spirit that I felt emanating from him as a performer.
David Alvarez, Billy Elliot---for vomiting his soul in Electricity.
(Honorable Mentions to Gregory Jbara, Josefina Scaglione, David Bologna, Adam Chanler-Berat, Jennifer Damiano, Wesley Taylor, Lauren Molina, Haydn Gwiynne, Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy, Allie Trimm and Al Calderon)

WORST Musical Performances:
Stephanie J. Block, 9 to 5---for trying way too hard and not acting well.
Matt Cavanaugh, West Side Story---for delivering dialogue in a way that made me think he has never taken an acting class.

BEST Play Performances:
Almost too many to name. Harriet Walter, Janet McTeer, Dianne Weist, John Lithgow, Patrick Wilson, Daniel Radcliffe, Richard Griffiths, the entire cast of Norman Conquests, Chandler Williams, Angela Lansbury, Geoffrey Rush, Lauren Ambrose---all for creating thoughtful, believable, and intriguing characters on stage that made me consider my own life.

WORST Play Performances:
Susan Sarandon, Exit the King---for almost putting me to sleep. Still love her though.
Carolyn McCormack, Equus---for making me cringe in an awkward kind of way.
Kate Mulgrew, Equus---for making me wonder why she was even there.

Updated On: 8/18/09 at 01:30 AM

[BroadwayKing09]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 1:34am

Best: Hair,West Side Story,Billy Elliot, The Norman Conquest,Equus,Title of Show.

Worst:13

I havent seen the show yet but can someone please tell me what so bad about west side story? It doesnt look bad at all. Im hearing all the same stuff why it sucks, matt cant sing, josefina cant act, this and that. People are saying they prefer the original cast but most of werent even born when the original cast were on broadway. The movie version is not the original cast. Please dont take this as im trying start something with everyone cuz im honestly not. Im just saying whats on my mind.


Updated On: 8/18/09 at 01:34 AM