Yowza! Tappin' Thru Life!

[bunnie3]

Posted: 12/27/15 at 10:28pm

Holy Cow, was that PURE old timey vaudevilley entertainment, performed at 10,000%!  And that all girl band, and the after finale jam session!  Yikes, was that fun!!!  Highly recommend, but don t be hypercritical about it s old school structure  or Maurice s 100 mph storytelling.  That s what it s supposed to be.  Personality is Everything!  Still on TDF.  Sooooooo worth 32 bucks!!!

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/27/15 at 11:09pm

My friend and I took in the matinee today, and we enjoyed it very much also. It is a trip down memory lane by Maurice Hines, assisted by some up-and-coming young tap dancers. At 72, he's still got it. I did expect more tapping, but at first you get mostly singing from Hines. He's chosen songs that play a role in the narrative. It's quite touching and sentimental. I also expected more about his father, especially considering that he was part of the act of Hines, Hines & Dad. But Maurice talks more about his mother's influence in getting them started in show business. Along the way are a couple of funny anecdotes, including the story of how the young brothers came to perform a wildly inappropriate routine. And as the story progresses, racial discrimination rears its head.

 

Also, I got the feeling a couple of times that certain events were somewhat glossed over, as when Maurice talks about a rift between him and Gregory that lasted 10 years. We never really find out what caused it. But this isn't really that kind of show. 

 

Toward the second half of the show (roughly speaking; there's no intermission) we did finally get some terrific and explosive tapping, from Maurice and the Manzari brothers. I am happy to see a resurgence in tapping. It will be interesting to see how much tapping is done in Shuffle Along. 

 

And as Bunnie mentioned, the nine-woman Diva Jazz Orchestra was spectacular. We stayed after the show and listened in amazement. 

 

This is a limited run of 12 weeks at New World Stages and is directed by Jeff Calhoun.  Maurice Hines is a treasure, and it's great to watch him demonstrate his craft close up. He didn't come out after the matinee, but my friend and I chatted with the Manzari brothers, and they were just lovely. They really seemed to appreciate the enthusiasm of the audience. If you can get yourself over to New World Stages, you're in for a good time! Running time is about 90 minutes.

 

 

Updated On: 12/27/15 at 11:09 PM

[scripps]

Posted: 12/27/15 at 11:10pm

I saw this on a whim Saturday afternoon and had a great time as well. Hines is infectious and the crowd ate it up. The Divas were fab and the Manzari Brothers, WOW! 

[bunnie3]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 12:05am

Macnyc, where were you sitting?  We got really lucky with tdf and were 4th row, dead ctr.  Also spoke with the Manzari s after the show, and w/o asking, but offering to bring us back to Maurice, who was super charming.  I worked at his ill fated show, uptown it s hot about 30 yrs ago.  Maurice, at the time was livid with Frank Richs disgustingly personal attack review and retorted in the press, and vowed never to produce a show in ny.  Thank God he s back!!  I m going again wednesday!  Thanks, tdf!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 3:16pm

Seeing it tonight and am really looking forward to it.

[bunnie3]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 4:18pm

Uncageg, Make sure you stay put when the show sorta ends....don t go anywhere or you will miss the amazeballs jam session!

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 4:27pm

Yes, I agree, don't miss the band's finale!

 

Bunnie, I was in Row B, but all the way over on the left side. Still, we could see everything fine.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 4:42pm

I plan on staying. I actually know one of the girls in the band.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 4:59pm

I'm going tomorrow night. About how long is the finale after the show ends? 

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 5:01pm

I would say about 10 minutes. Plus of course you can leave any time if you have transportation to catch because the audience is half out and half in.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 10:58pm

Oh. What. A. Night! 

Mr Hines takes you on a journey thru his life. He sings songs that mark certain periods along the way. If you are looking for wall to wall tap. Not happenin'. Instead you get bits here and there for the first half hour, 45 minutes, and it weaves it's way through. And when it hits, it hits hard! The three young men onstage tonight were nothing short of brilliant. And then Mr. Hines showed you how to tap. Effortlessly. It was breathtaking.

The younger crowd may not know all of the songs he sings so therefore may not tap into how they actually move this show along. I will not give anything away but bring tissues. Not only did I well up because of stories he told of his life but tears of joy welled just watching the future, being the young tappers onstage. Not to be missed if you know who the Hines Brothers are or if you just want a fantastic night at the theatre. And yes, stay for the band's jam session after the curtain call.

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 10:58 PM

[bunnie3]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 11:03pm

I m always kinda of fearful to rave maniacally about anything, cause different people like different things, but, so happy you enjoyed!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 11:11pm

I am never fearful about raving as it is my opinoion. One I am entitled to!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 11:17pm

I heard this was amazing at Delaware Theatre Company. Hope to catch it soon. 

[bunnie3]

Posted: 12/28/15 at 11:22pm

Well, you re right basically, but because ticket prices r so high, people should take all raves and nays by published critics and ordinary people with a huge grain of salt.  As for THIS particlar show, you would have to be DEAD not to be blown away by it s pure entertainment value.  Can t wait to see it again wed.  Who s your friend in the band!  The drum solo in "Caravan"...O.M.F.G. Brilliant!  Did most of the audience stay for the dance groove after?  Btw, me too, weeping during "smile".......and yes, Hines is handing over the baton to the next generation.  Beautiful.

Updated On: 12/28/15 at 11:22 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 3:07pm

That drum solo was fabulous and I would say about 70 people stayed for the walk out concert!

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 03:07 PM

[playbill-love]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 3:13pm

Has anyone tried to rush this? I am planning on trying to see it in February and I am a TDF member, but there's of course never a guarantee it'll be available the night I have open to see it. It sounds excellent, I'm just not sure I want to pay $90 a pop for a full price ticket.

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 3:16pm

I don't know anything about rush, sorry. But the show is listed as being at the TKTS booth right now, and I would think it's likely to be there in February also. That's traditionally a time when show are hurting. It makes sense Tappin' would be available on TDF and also at the booth.

[Nattalyee]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 7:12pm

I saw this show on a whim and it was seriously AMAZING!!! It is worth every dollar. The all female Big Band, Maurice Hines, and the tap dancing brothers and sisters were FLAWLESS! 

It was awesome to see the story behind Gregory and Maurice Hines. 

 

Maurice is 72 and still dancing like he's a kid!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 10:25pm

It was a great night out. I connected to musical theatre selections (My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls) more from that side but I think I knew most of the standards as well. I'm not sure it's a great show but if you think about like those 60's style star-driven concerts it's fantastic. Maurice Hines without question has that ineffable star quality. I don't mean some kind of trite "x factor." I mean that when you watch him perform you are just very aware of the fact that you're watching someone with a special talent who has a wealth of experience. There's no "still got it." He has something you can't lose. I'm not going to pretend that at 72, he's the most remarkable singer but I think his lower register in particular sounds fantastic. And his tapping. Wow.

 

Again, I think this is more of a concert with stories than a show with a narrative but I did tear up at times. It was less the stories themselves and more the way he performed those songs. When someone is being completely honest and open with their truth it connects with you.

 

The diva band is not really populated with great singers but it doesn't matter because oh my God, the way they played those instruments. Flawless. Maurice says "girl power" a lot when the sisters come on to tap but that was a beautifully subtle statement. Just very talented musicians completely killing it... happening to all be women. Loved it.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/31/15 at 12:55am

I don't think the Diva Band was mean't to be populated with good singers. 

Updated On: 1/1/16 at 12:55 AM

[bunnie3]

Posted: 12/31/15 at 1:28am

You have a pm, unca

Updated On: 12/31/15 at 01:28 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/8/16 at 12:40am

Got it bunnie!

Nice piece on Hines in the Times:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/theater/maurice-hines-opens-his-heart-in-tappin-thru-life.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=0

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 1/8/16 at 2:56am

Seeing this tonight, super unfamiliar with the Hines brothers but enjoyed Calhouns work on Newsies, got comps so can t go too wrong, glad to see the response is positive. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/8/16 at 10:18am

Very good article, thanks for posting. Like the show, it's touching. It also helps me to understand Maurice's reticence in discussing certain things, such as the 10-year rift with his brother, Gregory. It's interesting that he didn't want to talk about it at all, and Calhoun encouraged him to add it to the show. I'm glad he did, because it belongs there.

 

I don't know where the Times writer gets the impression, however, that Maurice "taps all through the show." To me, if there is one disappointing aspect to the show it's the lack of dancing. Maybe Maurice wanted to dole out some appetizers, so that at the end, when we finally see some great tapping, we're ready. But I felt let down. I thought I was going to see lots of great tapping. The supertalented Manzari brothers were woefully underused. They should have had at least two more numbers on their own. The one they did with Maurice was very nice, but it came too late in the show.

 

When the brothers are introduced (in a manner of speaking) near the beginning of the show, Maurice sends them back off stage without a dance. That would have been an opportunity for them to "defy" him and insist on tapping. (The number is set up that the brothers want a larger role in the show, and Maurice shuts them down.) Just my humble opinion. Still, it's a show well worth seeing. Plus, as expressed before, the Diva Jazz Orchestra is worth the price of admission on its own.

Updated On: 1/8/16 at 10:18 AM