April's Shows -- Better Late Than Never!!

Ok...quite the whirlwind of Activity.


HAIR: I am the most confident I've ever been that Hair will win for Best Revival of a Musical. Not only do the other nominations have little to write home about; but Hair is extraordinary, moving and meaningful theatrical experience. I, indeed, did see this at Central Park this past summer and had my concerns for it's success INSIDE, as I felt the setting OF the park added a beautiful dimension to the story. Any fears I had are incredibly unfounded. Diane Paulus has re-imagined the production and beautifully directed it twice! She is incredibly deserving of her Tony nomination and I am actually hoping for her to win.

Since you can see my original review, I will just talk about a few noticeable differences.

Overall, the confines of the theater actually makes the production more intimate than at the vast openness of the Central Park theater. Theo (see below) put it into fabulous terms: At the park...it was for everyone...people walking through the park, the stars, the air. The theater-setting is more selfish and more about just us. The "us" meant all of us in the theater...not the cast. The amount of cast/audience interaction is insane. I've never been more molested, toyed with and entangled at a show. The energy this young cast expends is beyond the imagination. Gym memberships are not a necessity! I was lucky enough to sit in the front row, and landed front row tix again for August during my annual pilgrimage!

Gavin Creel (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins [London]) has replaced the boy toy of B'way, Jonathan Groff as Claude, the unsure and bewildered of the "Tribe". I adore Groff and adored him in this piece, but I have to admit, Creel brought "something" to the role that I didn't even know was missing. Creel was more centered, more thoughtful. I loved everything about his performance and how beautifully he fit in with the cast. Will Swenson (who should be picking up a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor) was even better with Creel.

Caissie Levy as Sheila. There were many nay-sayers against Levy well before Hair opened on B'way. I'd never heard of her, so could care less. I loved her performance. I like the contrast she provides to the rest of the cast as the true protester...her Sheila wants to change the world. I was quite drawn to her plight.

There are a number of standouts (still from the Park's production) I'd like to mention for their unimaginable spirits and beauty, on and off stage.

Kacie Sheik -- her loopy and forlorn Jeanie is as delightful as she is. (Doesn't hurt that her brother is one of my musical idols, Duncan!)

Allison Case -- this girl is so incredibly powerful. No matter where she is on stage or what her character is doing, you cannot help but be drawn to her. She is light and beauty and emotion. I will liken her TO Jonathan Groff as being more "in the moment" than any other actors you are likely to see on a stage. I am not ashamed to admit: I got a little girl crush on Allison. I fangirl for her! (If that was too icky to read....too bad!)

Bryce Ryness -- continues his amazing portrayal of Woof. Loved him at the park, love him more now. (I cannot attest to Bryce's off stage beauty, as I haven't met him....yet.) His commitment is beautiful and you just want to be his mom. Go check out his band as well....wow! http://rynessband.com/music.html

Theo Stockman -- is a tribe member, and is glorious. Another ever present being, I found myself looking for him during the performance to "check in".

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NEXT TO NORMAL: This should be the Tony Winner for Best New Musical, but I fear it will lose to Billy Elliot. It is truly an ORIGINAL musical and thoughtful and moving and contemporary. (Look for music clips in my side bar, over there <------!!) N2N tells the story of a family riddled with problems. The most obvious is the mother's bi-polar diagnosis along with other mental issues. (To say more would require a spoiler alert!) It is heart-breaking, eye-opening, frightening and real. The cd is amazing and a constant on my playlist.

Sadly, N2N NEEDS to win the Tony to make it as a commercial success. It is not going to attract your average theater goer that thinks that have kept Phantom, Wicked and Mama Mia as long running shows. It's intellingent and sensitive, and a bit of a smack in the face with reality. The kind of show I thrive on.

Alice Ripley is a genius. If she does not win the Tony Award for Best Actress, then the Tony Awards are a total and complete sham. She is performing a tour de force. (I have no earthly idea if that spelled correctly.) The role is difficult, demanding and all encompassing. She is magnificent in all capacities.

J. Robert Spencer replaces Brian D'arcy James (now in Shrek -- more on that later) from the off b'way run. He is wonderful in his own right and worthy of his Tony nomination. I missed Brian, but that's a personal thing more than anything else.

Jenn Damiano as Natalie, the perfectionist daughter headed for trouble. Jenn made her b'way debut in Spring Awakening at 15, but left the show to pursue this role. She is outstanding. At 17, she too is nominated for a Tony Award for Supporting Actress. She is amazing, and I can only imagine what the future has in store for her.

Aaron Tveit, Gabe. Sadly, Aaron did not receive a nomination for his incredible performance in N2N. One of the few true slights in my opinion. He is ethereal and magical. (And he's phenomenal eye candy, too.)

*****

SHREK: Meh. I was disappointed. So were my kids. It was their least favorite show of our trip. I found the book as well as the music to be pedestrian. All the characters were 2-dimensional. I just wasn't made to care.

Sadly, for a family show, the language was suprisingly crude. Even my son remarked on it. It made him uncomfortable.

Sutton Foster (Fiona) is totally wasted here. Or perhaps her status at the "it" girl is fading.

Brian d'Arcy James does a great imitiation of Mike Myers, and physicalizes the part well. Big deal. I wish he'd stayed with N2N. Might Shrek end up running longer thereby providing him with a more consistent income: probably. But I wish he'd made the other choice.

Best part of the show? Neil Patrick Harris (The host of this year's Tony Awards, btw) He was sitting only a few row ahead of us. My daughter wanted to say hi, and he held her hand for a few moments (the result of an awkward failed handshake. I thought she was going to pass out! Priceless.

*****

WICKED: Then? I fell in love with this 5 years ago when I saw it with the original cast. I was not pleased when Avenue Q won the Tony award over it.

Now? It was....good. It's flaws of a weak book and lackluster character development screamed in my face. Luckily, my children where entranced...which is why I went back anyway. When my 8 year started to piece together how things were tying into The Wizard of Oz it was exhilarating! It was their favorite show. (And my son went begrudingly since it was his sister's choice.)

******

STOMP (off B'way): 15 years Stomp has been playing off b'way. It is still and amazing show full of suprises and energy and unique artistry. They are still putting in new material. We love this and would go back to see it again.

This was the first show my kids stage doored for, and I fear I have created a few monsters! They had to wait to get each performer sign their drumsticks. But they were delighted and in awe. The performers got a kick out them both.

Side note: having dinner near the theater we met Ben Baily and the crew of the Cash Cab. He was so kind to the kids. He invited them to come see and sit in the cab. They put the lights on and showed them all the cameras. We took pictures, they took pictures. My kids were in heaven!