broadway ignoramus

[ugly bug]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 12:53am

I've been reading this board on and off for awhile now without ever saying anything so I thought I'd finally just make a post and say what I have been wanting to say for some time. . . If I ramble, I'm sorry. I'll try to keep it short.

I live hundreds upon hundreds of miles from Manhattan and I've only visited there once (though I want to attend FIT next fall!) so I haven't seen too many shows nor have I seen any at the Denver theatre (or I guess any theatre near me). I visited the first week of June and saw Wicked, Aida , Thoroughly Modern Millie, and A Raisin in the Sun. I didn't get to pick the shows since I was with my cousin's acting/choir group (I'm more of a fashion person myself--hence FIT--I just enjoy watching/listening to it). Anyhoo, I was wondering what OCR you more experienced theatre-goers would recommend to a Boulder hippie like myself. . .

I have Avenue Q, Urinetown, The Last Five Years (my favorite at the moment), Wicked, West Side Story, Aida, Rent, Man of la Mancha, and some compilation CD. And I know the music to Phantom, Evita, and Chicago though ma famille just has the movie soundtrack versions of those which, well, I can't stand Madonna and Renee Zelweger kinda gets on my nerves. I've heard people mention Nine, Assasins, and Sweeney Todd a lot but let's say I have only enough money to buy one CD what would you suggest? That one CD that is just unbelievably amazing. . . And could you mention the best recording in your opinion if there is a better revival cast out.

As for what I did see, I liked Wicked a lot (yes, I said a lot) and Aida was sweet (as in "aw, that's nice" not a synonym for cool). I think people are trying to take Wicked too seriously. If you want a political allegory, read the book (which I thought was alright), otherwise just enjoy the show. I can understand not liking the music but I don't think they are wanting you to leave the theatre a changed person. It's just a spectacle. As for Aida, I saw it with Deborah Cox and Will Chase. I have to admit I was a little biased towards Will Chase because his speaking voice was just so damn hot. It had a little hint of Russell Crowe in it. And that's definetly a good thing. Thoroughly Modern Millie reminded me of How to Marry a Millionaire (the movie) and I'd rather watch Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall than the Egan woman who does the Disney channel movies. I thought it was okay. And as for A Raisin in the Sun, I think it would have been much more captivating if Sean Combs role went to someone with more ability.

And now I'm rambling. . .

But just one more thing:

I think critics are being a little too harsh of The Phantom of the Opera. I liked it and I like the music and no it's not a guilty pleasure, I will proudly admit I like the damn musical. Emmy Rossum may not have an operatic voice but it's very lovely and well, so is she even if she had a deer in the headlights look on her face for the first twenty minutes of the movie that you just want to slap off. I wish Patrick Wilson showed a little more emotion on his pretty face (although he won me over every now and then and he does have a nice voice). As for the phantom himself, I think Gerard Butler was fine. I actually liked his voice and its roughness. It may not work for the Broadway production but for the sake of the movie and it's story, I don't think his voice needs to be perfect. Although, looking the way he did, he would have had NO shortage of women in his bed. And I would have gladly been one of 'em. And I know he needed to be at least attractive to have that sexual chemistry between Christine and him but he was just gorgeous! It was a little miscast in that sense because like Roger Ebert put it, no red-blooded woman would choose Raoul over the phantom. Though I have to admit, Raoul/Patrick Wilson always wins me over when he sings "All I Ask of You." Except what annoys me overall about the Phantom is that it's like the writers didn't even know where they wanted to take the show or maybe I just over-analyze but it seems so contradictory at times especially concerning the love triangle (the mouthed "I love you" at the end kinda ruined my whole theory which rendered the kiss as something only done to save her loverboy. . . even though she went in for seconds).

Alright. Well, that's about it. Wooh. I'll go back to listening to Urinetown and loving Hunter Foster's voice now. . .

[pab]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 12:59am

As for a CD, hands down my recommendation would be "Sweeney Todd".

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 12:59am

Sunday in the Park with George - OBC

or

Nine - Revival Cast w/ Antonio Banderas

Posted: 1/9/05 at 1:02am

I love Sweeney & Sunday, but for a newbie I'd recommend Dreamgirls-- the 2001 concert version (double disc). It can make a showtune lover out of anyone.....

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 1:05am

If you get Dreamgirls the OBCR is the only way to go.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 1:10am

I agree - although the concert version is complete, the performances on the OBC cannot be beat - you need to own that CD at some point. I wasn't a musical theatre lover when I got this CD - I actually was quite turned off by most of the songs. Only after I got into theatre was I able to enjoy it - so it certainly didn't turn me into a MT fan.

If you like more contemporary things, absolutely definitely get TICK TICK BOOM and TABOO (OBC) as soon as you can.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 1:21am

awww... dreamgirls... there's a concert cast? fu*k...