Broadway Banter--Summer of 2010 edition!
 

Time to start a new Broadway thread.....and a good way for me to add my comments to the growing list of raves for La Cage aux Folles. It is indeed a joyous experience. My wife and I thought it was better than the original. Douglas Hodge's performance is superb...and even that word doesn't do him justice.

I'm glad you started this thread and am looking forward to the replies. My husband and I will be in NY Sept 12-19 and we're debating what shows to see. We've got tickets to A Little Night Music but would like to see at least one more and are wondering about West Side Stories (despite the lukewarm reviews) or else something completely different like Freud's Last Session or Mrs. Warren's Profession--

There are a lot of shows that haven't opened yet.

West Side Story is excellent!
You might also want to consider the revival of Driving Miss Daisy starring Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones.

Have to agree that West Side Story was great. Leonard Bernstein's score is a masterpeiece - you don't get Broadway musicals like this anymore.

Any ideas for current good broadway shows for a 10 yr old girl and her mom? She's not sheltered, lives in a city and has a teenage sister; so doesn't have to be too tame a show. West Side Story could work. Any other ideas? Thanks

Actually La Cage aux Folles could work fine, too, if it isn't too explicit. The topic is fine with us, I love a good farce and enjoyed the movies (French and American).

Just got back from our trip to NYC and other east coast cities. b We saw La Cage Aux Folles, and it was indeed excellent. Kelsey Grammar and Douglas Hodge were wonderful! Not sure a 10 year old would like it or get it. Rent the movie and see what you think, it is openly, heavily homosexually oriented.

I would recommend Billy Elliot; we though it was superb. The young men who do the lead [they rotate during the week] are absolutely amazing, as is the entire ensemble. I think your daughter would appreciate Billy Elliott way more than La Cage.

I bought La Cage tkts on line at discount; the Billy Elliott tkts were bought from a scalper outside the Times Square TKTS bldg.

"In the Heights" is excellent for a 10 yr old citu girl and mom. Wicked ofcourse is still the most popular show on Broadway but never discounted.

For a 10-year-older, I'd go with Billy Elliot or The Lion King.
Of course, there is Wicked, but since we didn't like it, I cannot in good faith recommend it. (Sorry, Starrs!)

We adored La Cage. Agree with Howard - Doug Hodge was beyond superb. He made me laugh and cry.

I think a 10 year old would like The Lion King (I enjoyed it too) I think she would love In The Heights (My fave musical until I saw La Cage). We liked Wicked, but not crazy about it as some. I liked Lion King better.

Yes Douglas Hodge was great as was the show but having said that I liked "In The Heights" even more . I think both you and the ten year old would love the dancing and singing.

I am getting very excited as I will be in NYC in December. I wonder what my chances are of getting tickets to see Al Pacino in the 'Merchant of Venice'. I have been a great fan of Al Pacino's ever since I saw him in ScarFace. And for me, seeing a play with actors that we only see on TV in Australia will be a absolutely terrific.

millie2112....Get the tickets now. Since he's only giving fewer than 100 performances), they'll be a scarce item soon. However, I'm not sure how you'd get them in Australia.

thanks HowardR, I have looked on Playbill and tickets go on sale on 21st of August. At the moment they are selling to American Express Card Holders. So I will check in a few days. I think I should just be able to go through one of the theatre sites - I will give it a go anyway.

millie, check to see whether the tickets will be sold through ticketmaster or telecharge. I recommend that way on the 21st, as the rates on the theater sites might be higher.

PS: My gut feeling is that there won't be any discounts available for that show on the theater sites (or anywhere else) that offer discounts.

I saw Memphis last month and really enjoyed it. Also, Rock of Ages is a lot of fun, but probably more for those who grew up in the 80's. And I loved Wicked!

What is "In the Heights" about?
We already saw Lion King here on the west coast.

(And seeing Al Pacino in Merchant in Venice sounds great for you. Get those tickets now!)

Any opinions out there on Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles? There are discounted tickets available for our upcoming trip in October; my husband is a huge Beatles fan, but I'd like some opinions before we commit that much money and one of our precious nights in NYC to the show. Is it just basically a concert or does it tell the story of the Beatles similar to Jersey Boys?

If you've seen it or know someone who has, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.