Broadway Banter: Time for a New One
 

And what better reason to start a new Broadway Banter than to join the list of those who rave about The Book of Mormon.We saw it today and all I can say is that it's everything you've read and heard about and then some. If anything, the realization exceeded the expectation!

I've been spending my time at the Fringe festival. Still haven't put up many reviews but so far, the ones I'd like to see a longer life for are Break, the Legend of Julie Traymore, Araby, and Bogani. Interesting ones - Bette Davis, Unsung Diva, Chasing Heaven (might have been better than I think but I fell asleep). Needs work before getting a longer life - The Seeds of Abraham. Saddest part about that one was the music was competing with and not accompanying the singers who didn't have strong voices. Each song was too long although the lyrics were way more interesting than the music.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...reviews-2.html

Maybe I"ll be awake when I return from Ann Frank tonight.

The new Season of Savings promotion is out (www.seasonofsavings.com). Don't expect bargains for the big hits, but there is a surprise or two, including a discount offer for Spiderman!

If you want to see Anything Goes, there's good news....a new discount offer for performances from September 9 thru November 10....$99 for orchestra and front mezzanine and $69 for rear mezzanine. Call 212-947-8844 or visit broadwayoffers.com and use the code AGDML810.

Saw Follies and thought it was fabulous. Could not believe that they would mount such an elaborate production for a limited run show. What a cast of performers!

Glad there's a new thread but really wish I could be saying I'm seeing something soon. I saw the trailer for the movie War Horse and was very sad to realize I'll probably see the movie before I get to see it on Broadway. I'm entranced by the puppets and really want to see it on stage -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw8ruoIqGxI


HowardR, a Spiderman discount? What's the buzz on the show after the break to rework it?

Going to see Anything Goes next Saturday. I let you know "how it goes" :-) (We wanted to see Book of Mormon, but of course, it was sold out).

As for Spiderman, all I know is that it's close to selling out each week, which means tickets are readily available. To me, the mere fact that it's offering discount tickets is, in itself, a sure sign that, while it's doing okay, it's not even close to being a blockbuster.

If the Fringe show Legend of Julie Traymore makes it to off Broadway, see it!

All Broadway shows closed due to Hurricane Irene -
http://www.playbill.com/news/article...-Also-Impacted

I saw Follies on Saturday night (along with Barbra Streisand). Lots of Broadway people were in the audience ... seems just about everyone who's not working or coming to the opening tonight. I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of the show and of Bernadette Peters, so I was inclined to like it immensely, but I was really blow away. It was a thoroughly complete and wonderful performance with some great performances from both the leads and non-leads.

The last performance I saw was the less-than-well-received revival a few years ago, and this was better ... though I must admit that show did have its moments.

If you like Broadway, this is a great show, and it's a limited run, so get tickets if they are still available. I have a feeling they won't be too long after the reviews come out.

Doug, great news, as we are seeing it this Sunday. Like you, this is one of my all-time favorites....this will be the fourth version I've seen (including the tryout in Boston many years ago).

It's going to be hard to live up to he original production!

I'll take my chances!

A little "pre-Broadway" banter...last night I saw Diane Paulus' production of "Porgy and Bess", with Audra McDonald which is running at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA before it comes to Broadway in December. This is the production which caused Stephen Sondheim to send a nasty letter to the NYTimes, panning the changes Paulus had made.

I think Sondheim was a little unfair since he hadn't actually seen the production yet, and because it wasn't finalized. Its true, she changed the ending a little bit, but I don't think it is an outrageous change.

Overall, I loved the production. Audra McDonald is as wonderful as the reviewers said. But I also thought the rest of the cast was fantastic. Norm Lewis as Porgy is good, though not as good as everyone else. To me the big surprise was David Allen Grier as the drug dealer, Sporting Life. This role was played by Cab Calloway back in 1952 (opposite Leontyne Price!), and Grier seemed to be channeling Cab when he sang "It Ain't Necessarily So". I think that was my favorite part of the show.

I'll be curious to see how it changes when it moves to Broadway. The set was a bit spare, and the orchestra too small but those may both be because of the small scale of the ART.

I will say it was awesome to pay $65 for the best seats in the house! Its going to cost lots more to see this in New York.

Thanks for the review of Porgy and Bess.
I just have one disagreement with you on your posting: I don't think Sondheim's letter was nasty. I can understand some people feeling that it unfair, yes, but not nasty. He did make some valid points....and from what I've read since, at least one or two of the changes he criticized were put back to their original status in the show.

Point taken Howard. So I went back to the times to reread what he wrote, and if not nasty, perhaps harsh is a better word? He certainly takes Paulus and McDonald to task. And I agree, some of his criticisms seem warranted.

I do believe they reversed some of the changes. Whether they thought better of it because of what Sondheim wrote or because it simply didn't work, I don't know.

Yes, "harsh" is a better description than "nasty"!

"Whether they thought better of it because of what Sondheim wrote or because it simply didn't work, I don't know." It's pretty much the same. Part of Sondheim's reasoning was that many of the changes wouldn't work!

Doug was so right about Follies. It was great.....dazzling and brilliant are the first words that come to mind. Run, don't walk, to get tickets.
When it was over, we were ready to sit through it again. It was that good!
And, yes, Doug, it did live up to--if not surpass--the original!

Saw Relatively Speaking - (3) 1-act comedies - in previews recently. Of the 3, really enjoyed Woody Allen's the most.
Worth seeing if one is interested in humor with some
interesting viewpoints thrown in.

Billy Elliot has announced a January 8 closing. So, if you want to see one of the best shows on Broadway, you've only got 3 months to do it. Discount tickets are available at both broadwaybox.com and playbill.com.

Saw Follies over the weekend. All I can say is wow! My son gushed over it, and I probably wouldn't have gone out of my way to get tickets otherwise. I was amazed by the concept of the show altogether, especially the second act. The performances were great, particularly Bernadette Peters the night we went, though I have heard that Jan Maxwell has stolen the show other nights. Danny Burstein was great, and I loved his Follies number (especially the girls!). And Ron Raines - he sounded to me like Robert Preston, or is my memory a little off? I need to see it again - heard that it will run into January? It's so much more complex than the typical musical, I think it would hold up under multiple viewings.

Welcome to the "We Think Follies Is Great" Club! Taking nothing away from Jan Maxwell, the performance of Bernadette Peters that you witnessed occurs every night, based my experience and that of others. From one who has seen Follies several times over the years, I can assure that it holds up well under multiple viewings. You heard right: The show closes in January....in the middle of the month, I think.

I'm so looking forward to seeing Billy Elliot at the end of the month. I'm also thrilled that I booked tickets before I heard about it closing. Would hate to have missed it!

I also have tickets for Seminar with Alan Rickman (preview) the same weekend.

Considering a trifecta if I can get tickets for Follies!

HowardR, I'm not surprised to hear your praise of Bernadette Peters - I thought that, in addition to her obvious talents, her diminutive size really contributed to her ability to convey that character. Especially in her final number, she just seemed so small and alone on the stage, that it really pulled it all together.

sassycat, you're making me jealous, hope you enjoy all those shows.

By the way sassycat, we got our tickets for Follies at the TKTS booth downtown, 40% off on a Friday.

smetz, thanks for the tip!
We would need Saturday matinee tickets for Follies. I've never experienced back to back Broadway shows before. Is there such a thing as Broadway burnout? Too much of a good thing?

I'll have to put it to the vote (DD and DH are coming too).

For a Saturday matinee, I don't think the odds are that great for a Follies ticket, as that is one of the most popular performances. If you really want to see the show, I'd get the tickets in advance using the broadwaybox or playbill discount offer.
Additional comment about Bernadette Peters' performance: In all previous versions of the show, to me the Phyllis character (played by Jan Maxwell in this production) slightly dominates the show simply because it's a somewhat showier role. Again, not taking anything away from Jan Maxwell's performance, this time Bernadette Peters is so strong that her character definitely dominates.

HowardR, good point about getting tickets in advance. I don't think we would even have the time to queue at TKTS but it's a moot point as DH says 2 shows are enough for him.

We are going to see War Horse in Dec. I had to pay FULL price, but I really wanted to see it.
I am looking for other must sees or almost must sees.

Judyrem, my must sees would be Follies and Billy Elliot. Both shows close in January. I'm not sure if there'll be discount offers for either of them in December. But, both are worth full price! Next in line down the list would be Other Desert Cities and Anything Goes.

Thanks Howard. We saw Billy Elliot last year, but I will look up Follies.
I was thinking of On a Clear Day, the Addams family?

I didn't like On a Clear Day the first time around ( some wonderful music/real lousy story), so I plan to skip it this time. As for The Addams Family, I haven't seen it, but from all feedback I've gotten, I strongly lean to the the four shows I mentioned rather than that one.

Just saw Chinglish tonight -- really funny and fun! I missed some because I was tired. You must be awake enough to read the titles....

Thanks Howard for the info. No to Addams Family.
I really LOVE Harry Connick Jr. :-)
Any other recs?
I would like to do 3 shows.

Hey, if you like Harry Connick, Jr., then I guess you should see On a Clear Day. Hey, even if it's not that great, you'll at least be spending time with him!
As for other recommendations and if you're interested in a non-musical, then I repeat the mention of Other Desert Cities.
May I assume that Follies has made your final list?

Howard, for sure. 2 hours with Harry crooning "on a clear day"...be still my heart. :-)
Yes, Follies is on my list.
Thanks, you are a dear.

There are discounts on Broadway Box for Anything Goes, for orchestra/front mezzanine and rear mezzanine. Just wondering what rear mezzanine would be like. Is it better to front up with the extra dollars and go further forward? These tickets are going to be a Christmas for DD. SIL is getting Porgy & Bess tickets. Actually I will end up buying two tickets for each one, so I guess they are combined presents!!!

Obviously, the better the seats, the better the viewing. Still, the theater where Anything Goes is playing is fairly small, and the viewing from the center of the rear mezzanine is fine.....and I speak from experience, as that's exactly where we sat for the show!

A word of advice: If you want to see The Book of Mormon, plan on getting tickets well in advance. It's been reported that the show has an advance of $39 million, which translates into more than a half year of sold-out performances. Of course, if you're willing to spend the big bucks on premium tickets, you can probably do better!