Warhorse (Movie) Watched this on the flight over there, loved the stage show, one of the finest shows I have seen on stage, so didn't expect the film to be much cop, I was wrong, very good and moving.
First 5 shows forced on me to see first.
Friday Evening Peter and the Starcatcher*** (Won Lottery $27) Went because of Christian Borle last show this weekend, I was very tired, so didn't see this at my best. Enjoyable and cleverly done, well staged and amazing what you can do with a piece of rope! Dull story and Christian Borle well over-rated, did he deserve his Tony? Need to see more shows this week.
Saturday Matinee The Lyons**** (Rush $27) Not a show I planned to see, but forced because of other shows already closed as this one will this weekend. I went because I have never been to the Cort Theater and Dick Latessa, good discovery, very funny show and well acted through.
Saturday Evening Evita**** (Full Price $142 + Booking Fee) Elena Rodgers is irresistible, Ricky Martin a LOT less so, completely overrated, would like to his talent is wasted if he had some in the first place, last show for him before he goes on vacation this week, wish I caught the understudy now. Elena singing Don't cry For Me Argentina sent shivers both ways down my spine. Michael Cerveris is also very good.
The Stage door for Ricky Martin, very manic and people in there hundreds waiting, once Elena gone, so was I, to stage door the Music Box for James Corden who signed and photoed with everyone, then once his duty done he was off, with guitar on his back on his BIKE.
Definitely not seeing 'Leap Of Faith', but watch this space for the two shows you mentioned Jonwo
Sunday Matinee Jesus Christ Superstar***** ($81 discount code) Last show this for Jesus at the Neil Simon this afternoon and I was glad I was glad I was on hand to catch it. Arguable one of 'The Lords' finest scores well I loved it and found that this production by Des Mcanuff production soared and should have run for much longer, I hope this production will come into a West End theatre, once the arena tour is completed. Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene and Paul Nolan as Jesus was sensational.
Sunday Evening Rock Of Ages ($90 discount code) Show I went to instead of Godspell, which has already closed, not much else around on a Sunday Evening, only other show is Chicago, but I did enjoy this, a very well put together show, that doesn't just knock the fourth wall down, but obliterated it, one of the best shows that has a pathos with the audience along with One Man, Two Guvnors.
Monday Matinee Cirque Du Soleil - Zarkana** The big top didn't exactly come to town and pitch a tent on New York village green, they instead of went for the massive Radio City which was 95% empty. I got myself a ticket from TKT's and arrived 5 minutes before the curtain and sat where I wanted, so gave myself best seats, where I had a whole aisle to myself. No wonder they have got there marching orders and I expect the Tony Awards to be back here next year. The show itself though, the Cirque does have the finest breathtaking performers in the world, but it is so dragged out to get to those great performances, with pointless music and dancing to get to those finest performers like trapeze, tightrope etc, you could catch forty winks whilst waiting, clowns don't count fortunately, they are just another yawn.
Monday Evening Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark version 2*** When I saw version 1 last year in late previews, the show went on to get labelled 'the worst Broadway show ever', which although I haven't seen that many Broadway shows, it was the worst show I have ever seen and I include the West End in this. So version 2 I was not holding much light for, but intrigued to see, expecting to still see a post 'Taymor' train wreck, where actually this show was much tighter, ore coherent and enjoyable and saved the big action to the end, instead of at he end of act 1, vast improvement.
IMHO the second worst Disney musical yet, after the cheerless 'The Little Mermaid', I cannot see what the fuss was about and even how this got nominated, is it because this was a underdog? went from rags (Papermill Theater, New Jersey to Nederlander Theater, Broadway, so really fulfilled the American dream! The show is based on a dreary book and dreary score and unfortunately the cast recording will be waiting for me when I get home courtesy of Amazon, couple of good numbers, also several promising dance routines.
Tuesday Evening Porgy and Bess***** (TKT's $71:50)
A great Gershwin musical that fully deserved their Tony win for the best revival, as did Audra Mcdonald who could be easily referred to as the best Broadway actress of a generation, she certainly knocks them out of the park with a stellar performance and not far behind her is Norm Lewis, who I am surprised hasn't won a Tony award yet, one cannot be that far away. A great revival.
Oh how I would love to see Norm and Audra in Porgy and Bess! The show looks phenomenal and the cast recording blows me away, very jealous.
Interesting to hear about newsies, but do you think that's because you're are British (well I hope you are!) and the content doesn't relate to us or just a poor show?
A very good enjoyable show, which is well put together and the context of the show is made for theatre, this must be the most romantic show on Broadway, but I didn't full for it entirely.
I get how the show won their haul of Tonys, well I understand how the show won six of them, but scratching my head how the show won best set and best lighting, I get the feeling that Tony voters just ticked the most boxes for the show it liked the most, instead of the show it genuinely thought was the best for that category.
This show reminds me very much of 'Chicago' in the context where it is cheap to stage and run, as the show is actor-musician, 10 in total I counted at the end, it is a fixed set, so no real need of many stage managers and hands, I would think this show would be a very good fit for the Aldwych or Gielgud theatre, the show would need a intimate setting than a traditional large musical house, expect this to arrive in the West End sooner than later.
Wednesday Evening Best Man****
Great play to see on Independence Day, which I did instead of going down to the Hudson to watch the fireworks. Only 4 shows running this evening, the rest of Broadway dark.
A stellar cast put together, who were all excellent, this was led by James Earl Jones, as the out going president, who was brilliant.
Interesting thoughts on Newsies, Once and The Best Man. Out of interest, could you see any of the new shows transferring to London? I think Once will, not sure on Newsies because the film isn't known to UK audiences unlike past Disney shows.
I could see Once going to a playhouse like the Noel Coward, Gielgud or at a push The Savoy.
Newsies, while I think the UK tour idea would be better could go into a smaller musical theatre like the Aldwych or Savoy but I think it's up to Disney, I imagine with the money it's making on Broadway, a national tour is all but certain but internationally, it's a much harder sell beyond North America.
While I would like Newsies to come over, I agree that it's probably won't. Disney hasn't transferred anything from Broadway since The Lion King and Mary Poppins while successful, didn't run as long compared to the Broadway production which is still running.
Jonwo- didn't Mary Tranfer from the westend to broadway?
And I think it's do successful on broadway because it's exotic to Americans where as we are quite familiar with Edwardian Britain, so it seems new and more magical?
Yes it did and the transfer was planned before they decided to close in London. A friend of mine is resident director and the plans are for it to be on Braodway for a good while yet.
Second time I have seen the show, once in London and once in New York, both with James Corden, I could easily of given this show ***** if the first halve continued in the same vain into the second halve, the second half although funny isn't a patch on the first halve. they should rename this show 'One Man, Two Guvnors and a show of two halves', although saying that the whole cast is pretty much magnificent and probably the first halve is so excellent, it is impossible to keep the momentum after the intermission.
Unplanned show as others have closed.
Thursday Evening Nice Work, If You Can Get It***
I have read a lot of hostile negativity on here and in the press about Mattew Broderick, so went to see him with an open mind and was hoping he would turn in a stellar performance, but he proved himself to be a complete 'tour-de-bore', who cannot carry a show, thank god we had the magnificent Kelli O'Hara at hand.
Agree with you on "Porgy and Bess"..it's just amazing. As an American who loves the gritty British-ness of "Billy Elliot" I'm still disappointed. That brilliant show was shut down so Ferris Bueller could be on Broadway again. Will skip "nice work" next trip to NYC.
Once's producers are trying to get going while the kettles still hot, so I wouldn't be surprised if they try to transfer the show to London within the next year or so, because come next year its buzz will be negligible since its no Mormon. Newsies on the other hand, I don't really see a transfer because as many have said before its a truly American story, and the film isn't very well know in London. Although Newsies main selling point is is choreography I don't think Newsies will be able to dance its way across the pond.
Don't skip "Nice Work!" It's hilarious-- just ignore Broderick if you don't like him much and enjoy Kelli O'Hara, and the Tony-winning performances of Judy Kaye and Michael McGrath, who are brilliant in the show. Perhaps Broderick couldn't carry the show (I didn't think he was bad, but I know others disagree), but the others more than make up for it, and there were a ton of jokes to make for a pleasant theatre experience.
Friday matinee. Anything Goes**** ($30 General Rush)
This show fell from top of my list to bottom of my list, when Sutton Foster said she was leaving recently, it would of been great to see her play Reno Sweeney again, but because of other shows closing I opted to see this again, with the generally excellent Stephanie J Block again, the performance seemed lacklustre, this may be due to the show closing on Sunday, or the cast have 5 shows in 3 days, to make up for having independence day off. A very good show still that misses that one central character, you got it..... Adam Godley.
Friday Evening Ghost**** (Finally a lottery win $25)
Sadly Cassie Levy was out, but her replacement was very good. As said on the Once thread that Ghost deserved Tonys for lighting and set at the very least. Leaving the show at the end I didn't here anyone say wonderful, but I did here 'terrific', 'extraordinary', 'fantastic', 'incredible', 'pleasant', 'remarkable', 'staggering', 'Superb' and 'how did they do that'.
Saturday Matinee Mary Poppins**** (50% off TKTs)
A very guilty pleasure, a show I saw because of others closing. A show, socre and story tailored made for stage, that's why Disney hooked up with Cameroon Mackintosh.
Saturday Evening The Columnist*** (TKT's 50% off) Another unplanned show as others have closed. Who couldn't find John Lithgow, Margaret Colin or multi Tony winner irresistible in a play that in enjoyable but equally can plod at times. Great to see the second to last performance.
Sunday Matinee A Streetcar Named Desire**** (TKT's 50% off) A very enjoyable play, iconic show that will be revived many times including the West End, as this won will at the.........
Sunday Evening The Phantom Of The Opera**** (TKT's 50% off) Broadways longest running show and most haunting, coming up to its 25th anniversary at the Majestic, a theatre it fits to perfection. IT may be possible to have a terrible time at 'The Phantom of the Opera,' but you'll have to work at it. Only a terminal prig would let the avalanche of history poison his enjoyment of this show.........
****Overview**** So I could of come earlier and seen shows that hadn't already closed, but on the other hand I wouldn't of seen the quantity of shows: 19 in 10 frantic packed days, because of America wanting to celebrate its independence, which threw up a very strange schedule and allowed me to see 2 shows everyday, I doubt anybody soon will be able to see 19 shows in 10 days, but this wasn't done by design, it was a nice surprise when so many shows became available. In the end I am glad I saw all the shows I did as I didn't see one stinker which the bottom line is the most important factor when seeing a shows in New York, as spent a lot of money. I am now back in the UK in rehab, looking at the TKT's website and debating what to see later today, but I think I will put my feet up and relax in front of television
But what Of the shows I missed that have closed:
Death of a Salesman
I love Arthur Millar, but this is the show I could really kick myself for missing this one, but | get a distinct feeling this might get revived again? Albeit with a different cast.
Leap Of Faith
I might of loved this one, on the other hand it could of been the biggest load of cows mess, which it 99% probably was. Might see it when a fringe company picks it up in the West End or see the show instead on a dodgy DVD.
Godspell Saw this production once already last time I was over, so no real shame I missed it.
How To Succeed Saw this already with Daniel Radcliffe, but would liked to of seen this again.
Venus In Fur Wanted to see this for the great write up, but gsyt a feeling this will be in the West End soon, as only a two hander, so cheap to produce.
Other Desert Cities Sounds very good and great a write up.
Priscilla With so many shows closing, I would of likely of seen this again, isn't it enshrined in theatre law, that Tony Sheldon is god? I think he is not far off.
Don't Dress For Dinner It was on the list alright.
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joined:3/26/08
Posted: 7/1/12 at 12:51am