yk

CPG, I just read the review on RED on nytimes. INterestingly, Terry Teachout from the WSJ doesn't like it as much: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...105208812.html (scroll to the bottom half)

Now I wonder if RED might be too heavy & cerebral for me; and perhaps I'd like something lighter/funnier like Lend me a Tenor.

Well, I guess I'll think about this for a little bit and also see which appeals more to DH. The advantage of Lend me a Tenor is that there are discount tickets available for the date we'll be in NYC.

HowardR

yk, I would think it would be an easy decision for your husband, as the two shows are so different, with Lend Me a Tenor being a textbook farce and Red, in your words, "heavy & cerebral."
starrs, we too are huge, huge fans of Barbara Cook and have seen her many times. Thus, a good part of our disappointment was that her participation in this show was far less than our previous experiences with seeing her. Our best "Barbara Cook experience" has to be the day we were lucky enough to attend a master class she was offering, as she gave guidance to three young singers. It was an overwhelming experience and so clearly demonstrated why we love her so much.
As for the Sondheim show, we just wish there were more "Send in the Clown"-type moments.

Centralparkgirl

yk - Maybe you should consider 'Looped.'

Saw 'The Glass Menagerie' this week. Judith Ivey's performance is amazing. I very much enjoyed this production although Act I was a bit too long (what else is new?). NY Times review below.

http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/03/2...nagerie&st=cse

starrs

HowardR, I joined a FB group and this was posted today -
http://www.nypl.org/audiovideo/maste...s-barbara-cook

HowardR

What is an FB group? I watched part of the video. I'll do the rest when I have more time. The best part of seeing her at work in a master class is that you really get to see what makes her so great. Her words to the young singers reflect her personality and how she feels every song she sings. Thanks for posting the site.

starrs

Sorry. Facebook.

starrs

Okay, HowardR, you want non-stop music? 2 dozen hits in 90 minutes? here ya go -
http://www.playbill.com/news/article...nning-March-13

LOVED Million Dollar Quartet!

Everyone is good but Lance Guest as Johnny Cash is great. I have a crush. Levi Kreis is amazing on the piano as Jerry Lee Lewis. Hunter Foster ties it together as Sam Phillips. I wasn't as impressed with Elvis or Carl Perkins. But, the show gets in my book!

"On Dec. 4, 1956," press notes state, "an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the 'Father of Rock 'n' Roll,' who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time. . . . Million Dollar Quartet captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history."

NeoPatrick

starrs, I saw Million Dollar Quartet twice in the past two years in Chicago -- with the current foursome in their roles.
I LOVED the guy playing Elvis -- because it was the early Elvis -- so quiet, so shy, and I think very good without being the usual Elvis impersonator. I loved all four of them. The only guy I wasn't crazy about was the guy who has now been replaced with Hunter Foster -- which I'm sure is much better.

But both times I saw it, it played in smaller houses and pretty much open/arena style. I'm not sure if it will play as well in a proscenium format.

yk

I see that Looped will be closing very soon.

Centralparkgirl

Yes, yk, I think Sat or Sunday is the last performance.

I saw 'When the Rain Stops Falling' over the weekend. I needed a flow chart (which was in the playbill) to keep the cast straight. Not everyone was confused, but I was.

starrs

HowardR, the Facebook group posted this today.
For you, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?


Neo, it played well in the Nederlander. I'm not sure if this makes sense, but they didn't try to "fill up" the stage (the rest of the stage = building exteriors). The set for Sun Records was off to the side a bit and other than "outside" conversation when they stepped out for a smoke, all the action happened in that small area. I was sitting close so it worked for me. I think it would work for others sitting further back the large theatre. hunter Foster was fine and I think the girl was different from the Chicago cast. The quartet was great! Really enjoyed the show completely.

jroth

Saw Red last night - I would say this is one of Broadway's really great shows. Talk about it being "heavy" - just not so. Incisive insights into Rothko's art and personality. A great drama - this is an opportunity to see what Broadway can do when it is at its best. And the acoustics in this theater are superb - every line of dialogue easily heard - and we were sitting in the first row of the mezzanine.
Re - Lend Me a Tenor. I saw the original production a number of years ago. It was nothing special then - and I suspect the same is true today. What surprised me was bringing this mediocre farce back as a revival. I thought revivals tend to be really great shows worthy of being seen again. Stuff like a Tennessee Williams, South Pacific, et al.

HowardR

The Times reviewer really panned--and I do mean "panned"--The Addams Family today.

NeoPatrick

"Re - Lend Me a Tenor. I saw the original production a number of years ago. It was nothing special then - and I suspect the same is true today. What surprised me was bringing this mediocre farce back as a revival."

jroth, I think I hear you, but there are very few people who LIKE farce who would call Lend Me a Tenor a "mediocre" one. I strongly suspect modern farce is not your thing. And no revival of this show no matter how "great" would thrill you -- as you even say it was nothing special when you saw the original -- so of course it would be silly for you to go see the revival. Many others LOVED the original, and I'm getting the impression that many more LOVE the revival -- but of course they have to really like modern farce. I've heard the same things many times about productions of Noises Off -- some people hate it and others love it, regardless of the production. The bottom line is there are people who love modern farce and there are many who don't really appreciate it. Your comment about "really great shows worthy of being seen again" seems to clearly discredit farce as NOT being a worthy form of theatre. And of course that's your prerogative.

starrs

I saw Noises Off a few years ago on Broadway. I had mixed feelings about it, although I laughed a lot and enjoyed seeing Peter Gallagher on stage. I'm not a huge fan of farce either.
I just checked to see who else was in the cast. I know Patti LuPone had moved on, but I wonder if TR Knight was there then and if that's why Katie Finneran looked familiar.

Centralparkgirl

I have a theater buff friend who loves farce and loved 'Lend Me a Tenor.' I am not a huge fan of farce and might go if I find really cheap seats. I did enjoy 'Boeing Boeing.' I thought it was done well.

Saw 'I Never Sang for My Father' last night. I hadn't seen Keir Dullea in an eternity. I never saw the original production. The end was powerful. I liked, but didn't love the play. I wanted to jump on stage and strangle the father! The cast was good and I enjoyed Marsha Mason.

doug_stallings

I saw an early preview of La Cages aux Folles on Wednesday night. It's pretty good ... certainly a crowd-pleaser. Strangely, I felt the weak link was the star, Kelsey Grammer as Georges, who didn't sing as well as I had hoped. Perhaps he'll get a little more comfortable with his performance as the show gets closer to opening. There were also some unfortunate mic problems with Douglas Hodge's Albin, and sound-design was the second weak link. His voice was garbled and sounded odd during the whole show, which is one reason I really hate all the microphones. The show is on a fairly small scale but still works, and the chorus is really great. I was in the front mezzanine and had excellent sight lines. I actually prefer that location for a busy show like this because it helps you keep the entire stage in view.

NeoPatrick

Yep, Doug -- my favorite seats for most musicals -- front row mezzanine.
I saw "this" production in London last year and thought it was excellent -- certainly way better than the big revival a couple years ago at the Marquis. Of course, Kelsy Grammar wasn't in it in London.

Centralparkgirl

Doug - glad to hear that it's pretty good.

I have tix next month and after I bought them, I got an invitation to an important family event that conflicted with the performance. Believe it or not, Telecharge changed them for me for a later date. That experience has restored my very dismal view of customer service. They were terrific.