Broadway Banter 2014: Starting off with book recommendation
Apr 20th, 2014, 05:18 AM
#41
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Howard, glad you liked After Midnight. The bit I saw online of Vanessa Williams shows a take on the songs similar to Phantasia's and looks very good.
Speaking of sitting close up for shows, which I normally love (although I've loved my After Midnight view and sound from front row mezzanine immensely both times I've seen it), I had a rather negative experience with Act One. I had chosen a seat in the fourth row, in the far right section, but just three seats off the aisle. I thought it would be wonderful. I've seen other shows in the Vivian Beaumont from there and loved them -- almost the same seat I had for South Pacific, for example. But that huge two story set left me sitting there too low and too close to see entire scenes on the upper levels. Those seats should have been marked "not full view" but they aren't. Or better yet, the set designer and director should have done much better thinking about the specific theatre and the sight lines!
But I did enjoy Act One a lot, even the long parts that became like "radio" for me.
Speaking of sitting close up for shows, which I normally love (although I've loved my After Midnight view and sound from front row mezzanine immensely both times I've seen it), I had a rather negative experience with Act One. I had chosen a seat in the fourth row, in the far right section, but just three seats off the aisle. I thought it would be wonderful. I've seen other shows in the Vivian Beaumont from there and loved them -- almost the same seat I had for South Pacific, for example. But that huge two story set left me sitting there too low and too close to see entire scenes on the upper levels. Those seats should have been marked "not full view" but they aren't. Or better yet, the set designer and director should have done much better thinking about the specific theatre and the sight lines!
But I did enjoy Act One a lot, even the long parts that became like "radio" for me.
Apr 20th, 2014, 05:41 AM
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patrick, sorry about your experience at Act One. Our seats were in the center loge, about five or six rows back and they were perfect. As you said, that same area was fine for South Pacific, so I'm not surprised that you expected the same results for this. I guess I'll have to put an asterisk next to my normal comment that there are no back sightlines at that theater....something like, "unless the show has a huge two-story set!"
PS: If you decide to see After Midnight for a third time, I'd be interested to know your reaction if you got up-close seats. While I agree with you that the center front mezzanine is the best viewing location, as I said, sitting up close for this show was a real, real plus!
PS: If you decide to see After Midnight for a third time, I'd be interested to know your reaction if you got up-close seats. While I agree with you that the center front mezzanine is the best viewing location, as I said, sitting up close for this show was a real, real plus!
Apr 20th, 2014, 05:47 AM
#43
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Incidentally, Howard, I know that we sort of disagree about the Vivian Beaumont, which I basically love as a theatre, but find to be one of the most uncomfortable ones. Again, I sat for the entire show with my knees wedged tight against the seat in front of me. The people next to me moved (or left?) at intermission, so thankfully I could sit sideways and extend my cramped legs a bit. The worst issue is that because the rows are stepped, you can't extend your legs under the seat in front of you, and as a result I find those seats even worse than most front rows of mezzanines where you can't extend your legs either, but at least rarely are my knees wedged against the wall in front of me.
Apr 20th, 2014, 06:07 AM
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patrick, we don't disagree about the Vivian Beaumont. My favorable comments are restricted solely to the sightlines. I agree that the seating comfort is not the best.
Getting back to After Midnight, we thought Vanessa Williams' best number was Zar Zuh Zaz. She looked like she really having fun. (PS: She was good in other three numbers, too!)
Getting back to After Midnight, we thought Vanessa Williams' best number was Zar Zuh Zaz. She looked like she really having fun. (PS: She was good in other three numbers, too!)
Apr 20th, 2014, 12:34 PM
#45
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah my memory fails me. Sorry. I was thinking in the past you had mentioned how comfortable the theatre it is as well and I think I went off on a tangent about the knee issue -- that was after a miserable evening watching the beautiful Light in the Piazza.
Apr 20th, 2014, 02:03 PM
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the interest of fair play, Patrick, in the past I might at some point sort of or mildly disagreed about the discomfort. But that's a thing of the past!
On the subject of seating, the Lyceum Theater (which I would guess in one of Broadway's oldest) bwhere After Midnight is playing doesn't have exactly spacious seating either.
On the subject of seating, the Lyceum Theater (which I would guess in one of Broadway's oldest) bwhere After Midnight is playing doesn't have exactly spacious seating either.
Apr 20th, 2014, 04:40 PM
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ooops, you're right, Patrick. I confused the two theaters, as I picked up tickets for The Realistic Joneses at the Lyceum yesterday right before we saw After Midnight at the Brooks Atkinson. It's the Brooks Atkinson that "doesn't have exactly spacious seating either." Sorry about that! I hope my explanation means that you are not "a little lost" any more.
Apr 21st, 2014, 05:01 AM
#49
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anxious to see what you think about The REalistic Joneses. It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea and is sometimes described as a "long" Seinfeld episode about nothing. But I enjoyed it -- more as an acting lesson than for the story (or lack of one).
Apr 21st, 2014, 05:52 AM
#50
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I saw The Bridges of Madison County on Saturday night and I was really surprised it's not doing better. The music is indeed beautiful, and Kelli O'Hara gives a wonderful performance. I found the play very moving and enjoyable, with good performances over all as well as uniformly wonderful singing. Plus, we got 6 row center seats on Saturday morning. There are still extensive discounts as well as a constant appearance on TKTS. So I can recommend it without any reservations.
Apr 25th, 2014, 05:59 AM
#51
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to give a strong recommendation to "Here Lies Love" at the Public Theater downtown, though it may be hard to still get a ticket (the play sold out in its initial run last year at the same time). It's a disco opera about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos written by David Byrne. I saw it last night (Byrne was dancing along with the rest of us). Just a note: You stand and dance throughout the performance (and sometimes even sing along) and actually have to move around the room because various stages are pushed and shoved by the crew as the play goes on. But it's only 90 minutes. The score and performances are great: Ruthie Ann Miles is a wonderful Imelda; Jose Llana is has a great voice and plays a charismatic and intense Marcos; and Conrad Ricamora plays Ninoy Aquino (husband of Cory) as a kind of Buddy Holly angel in white (and he's also very very good). And you don't expect this to happen, but there's a DJ, and he gets to come down out of the booth at the end and sing a really nice song on an acoustic guitar (so shout out to Kelvin Moon Loh). I'm not being fair to the rest of the wonderful cast, who all deserve to be mentioned because they are great.
Apr 30th, 2014, 05:36 PM
#52
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Today I had a ticket for Velocity of Autumn starring Estelle Parsons, just nominated for Best Actress Tony. But on the bus going into the city I read that the show is now closing this Sunday and that Estelle Parsons has already left the show -- my only reason to see it. So I went to the box office and got my full refund, went to TKTS and scored a half price seat to Violet starring Sutton Foster. Wonderful show. Touching, tear-jerking, rousing, and great performances all around. Nominated for best revival of a musical, although it only played off-Broadway before. Highly recommended!
May 1st, 2014, 01:21 PM
#53
May 1st, 2014, 03:03 PM
#54
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 8,219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We head for NYC tomorrow.
Friday afternoon, we'll go to TKTS (we have the time and it always reminds me of the many times I went there with my mother)--may pick a musical if one we like is available.
Saturday afternoon, we used a discount code to get tickets (1st row mezzanine) for Act One. My wonderful cousin picked up the tickets to save us the service fee and pick specific seats.
Saturday night, we're seeing my very favorite performer (Tommy Tune) at the Café Carlyle.
Sunday matinee will probably be a drama--maybe The Realistic Jones or Mothers & Sons.
Sunday evening there weren't many options, but I got discounted tickets for Buyer & Cellar; going to Greenwich Village will be something different and fun.
Friday afternoon, we'll go to TKTS (we have the time and it always reminds me of the many times I went there with my mother)--may pick a musical if one we like is available.
Saturday afternoon, we used a discount code to get tickets (1st row mezzanine) for Act One. My wonderful cousin picked up the tickets to save us the service fee and pick specific seats.
Saturday night, we're seeing my very favorite performer (Tommy Tune) at the Café Carlyle.
Sunday matinee will probably be a drama--maybe The Realistic Jones or Mothers & Sons.
Sunday evening there weren't many options, but I got discounted tickets for Buyer & Cellar; going to Greenwich Village will be something different and fun.
May 7th, 2014, 07:55 AM
#56
May 7th, 2014, 08:37 AM
#58
Would really love to see Idina in If/Then. I'd love to see Sutton Foster in anything. I saw a clip of the Janis star and it looks good. I loved Kelli O'Hara in everything I've seen her in. The Carole/Janis shows remind me of Once, which I didn't like as much as I expected. Maybe too mellow? Dunno.
May 7th, 2014, 03:08 PM
#59
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 8,219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had a fabulous weekend--lots of walking, time spent with cousins and childhood friends.
Once: got excellent seats at TKTS; 3 of us loved it, DH not so much. I say he didn't like it because he slept through much of it; he says he slept because he didn't like it.
Act One: both of us liked it very much, although I thought the middle of the 2nd act was draggy. Used a Playbill discount code
Tommy Tune: I'm completely biased, but DH thought he was great, too
Mothers & Sons: got 8th row center seats at TKTS (the new Fast Pass is great) Fabulous! We both loved it.
Buyer & Cellar: Laugh out loud funny; ordered in advance with a Playbill discount code
I love NY!
Once: got excellent seats at TKTS; 3 of us loved it, DH not so much. I say he didn't like it because he slept through much of it; he says he slept because he didn't like it.
Act One: both of us liked it very much, although I thought the middle of the 2nd act was draggy. Used a Playbill discount code
Tommy Tune: I'm completely biased, but DH thought he was great, too
Mothers & Sons: got 8th row center seats at TKTS (the new Fast Pass is great) Fabulous! We both loved it.
Buyer & Cellar: Laugh out loud funny; ordered in advance with a Playbill discount code
I love NY!
