On Thursday Night, I had a cocktail and dragged myself over to BAM (The Brooklyn Academy of Music) to see Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands. I personally think that Bourne is one of the amazing choreographer's in the theater today. Swan Lake blew me away. Mary Poppins was creative. I went into this show assuming that I was going to be awed by the uniqueness of this choreographers imagination, especially with such a crazy idea. Well, I have learned the lesson never to assume.
While the costumes were creative, the sets very Tim Burton, the choreography was well. simple. boring. and not creative at all. It was like Ballet for well... children. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. Bourne was in the audience in a little box, and at the end of the show he was applauding and nodding with approval like his cast, led by Sam Archer, had just done something amazing.
I wish I could sit here and make fun of this show for hours, but I really can't. Cause I will just get sad, and I have cookies that I need to bake, which let me tell you is twice as entertaining as this show was.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
A Wednesday
Well, today was an adventure. Two shows, which is always a blast. The first one made history, and the second one, well has history of it's own.
Today for the first time in my history of attending theatrical events in New York. I walked out of a show. The Merry Wives of Windsor at Theater Row performed by the Oberon Theater Company is simply the most boring painful theatrical experience ever. DEAR GOD! I can't write about cause I only lasted 41 minutes, and that was pushing it.
Tonight, I went back to revisit Chicago for a third time. Tonight, it was the best it has ever been, and for one reason - BEBE! She was great loved her, every fucking second of her. However, I was annoyed by the fact that I had to continuously nail the woman whose leg was over my armature, since she was snoring so loud. I bought an autographed cast poster to support BCEFA, which will be hanging right next to my poster for "The Children" a show near and dear to mine and Gina's heart, it was the first show I ever had my name in the playbill for, and it was the first show I threw up afterwards. (There was a party people, and let me tell you it was wicked fabulous.)
Oh and one more note I am currently reading the works of Gustavo Ott for Hartford Stage, and I am absolutely in love. So find him love him and cherish him.
That's all.
Today for the first time in my history of attending theatrical events in New York. I walked out of a show. The Merry Wives of Windsor at Theater Row performed by the Oberon Theater Company is simply the most boring painful theatrical experience ever. DEAR GOD! I can't write about cause I only lasted 41 minutes, and that was pushing it.
Tonight, I went back to revisit Chicago for a third time. Tonight, it was the best it has ever been, and for one reason - BEBE! She was great loved her, every fucking second of her. However, I was annoyed by the fact that I had to continuously nail the woman whose leg was over my armature, since she was snoring so loud. I bought an autographed cast poster to support BCEFA, which will be hanging right next to my poster for "The Children" a show near and dear to mine and Gina's heart, it was the first show I ever had my name in the playbill for, and it was the first show I threw up afterwards. (There was a party people, and let me tell you it was wicked fabulous.)
Oh and one more note I am currently reading the works of Gustavo Ott for Hartford Stage, and I am absolutely in love. So find him love him and cherish him.
That's all.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Grey Gardens
So Last November, I decided that it would be a great time to visit Grey Gardens. I had bought a ticket to it while it was at Playwright's Horizon, but couldn't bear the rain anymore so I decided not to go thinking it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Oh, what little I did know.
"Somewhere in Athens, there's a pedastal missing it's statue." This is stated in beginning of the first act by George Gould Strong, I believe that he was talking about Christine Ebersole. There are really no words to describe Ebersole's performance. I think that all the critics have used up the words that even begin to describe what she does on the Walter Kerr Theater's stage. I am not even going to try.
I want to sit here and rant about Grey Gardens. I absolutely loved it, from the moment moment of Five Fifteen to Two Peas in a Pod. However, Erin Davies never really launches, the book isn't exactly astounding ( as much as I love Doug Wright), and there are really no catchy tunes in the first act. This is what I wrote in November, however, now that I have the soundtrack on non-stop repeat in my car 24/7 I am addicted to two numbers in the first act. I plan on revisitng the show sometime this spring to reconsider my thoughts on the book.
It is quotes though like, "That's Grey Gardens for you, those outside clammering to get in, and those inside dying to get out." -Gould that really make me question whether or not this book has some qualitiy to it.
The moment of the first act for me comes at the end of it, when Ebersole sings Will You?. The song is angelic, perfect and solidifies her performance in the first act.
While Act 1 is definitely the weaker act, Act 2 is pretty much amazing. Ebersole and Wilson take on the characters perfectly. Physically, emotionally, and vocally they are on key. My one complaint, and it may have just happened that night was that Wilson needed to carry her voice into the songs.
When the songs Around the World and Another Winter in a Summer Town take over the second act, it becomes so clear why Ebersole is considered to be so amazing in these roles. Her voice is divine. Once again though, I am going to stop myself before I start raving. Since it is almost to hard to describe.
I guess I should have just said this.
If you havent been to the Walter Kerr theater recently. You need to get your shit together, and get over there ASAP! This show exemplifies why America is the home of the musical and puts Ebersole right up there with Merman, Martin, Lansbury, and other.
Go. Seriously. www.telecharge.com
"Somewhere in Athens, there's a pedastal missing it's statue." This is stated in beginning of the first act by George Gould Strong, I believe that he was talking about Christine Ebersole. There are really no words to describe Ebersole's performance. I think that all the critics have used up the words that even begin to describe what she does on the Walter Kerr Theater's stage. I am not even going to try.
I want to sit here and rant about Grey Gardens. I absolutely loved it, from the moment moment of Five Fifteen to Two Peas in a Pod. However, Erin Davies never really launches, the book isn't exactly astounding ( as much as I love Doug Wright), and there are really no catchy tunes in the first act. This is what I wrote in November, however, now that I have the soundtrack on non-stop repeat in my car 24/7 I am addicted to two numbers in the first act. I plan on revisitng the show sometime this spring to reconsider my thoughts on the book.
It is quotes though like, "That's Grey Gardens for you, those outside clammering to get in, and those inside dying to get out." -Gould that really make me question whether or not this book has some qualitiy to it.
The moment of the first act for me comes at the end of it, when Ebersole sings Will You?. The song is angelic, perfect and solidifies her performance in the first act.
While Act 1 is definitely the weaker act, Act 2 is pretty much amazing. Ebersole and Wilson take on the characters perfectly. Physically, emotionally, and vocally they are on key. My one complaint, and it may have just happened that night was that Wilson needed to carry her voice into the songs.
When the songs Around the World and Another Winter in a Summer Town take over the second act, it becomes so clear why Ebersole is considered to be so amazing in these roles. Her voice is divine. Once again though, I am going to stop myself before I start raving. Since it is almost to hard to describe.
I guess I should have just said this.
If you havent been to the Walter Kerr theater recently. You need to get your shit together, and get over there ASAP! This show exemplifies why America is the home of the musical and puts Ebersole right up there with Merman, Martin, Lansbury, and other.
Go. Seriously. www.telecharge.com
Martin Short
So, I saw this show in November, and it isn't exactly fresh in my mind, but since I am on spring break and I have a pile of Playbill's on my desk. I decided it was time to reach into my archives and start throwing out my opinion on some of these shows.
Martin Short: Fame Is Me will be touring I think I heard. So therefore. Here is what I think you should know before it hits the road.
The first thing that comes to mind as I look back and try to remember Martin Short are the jokes that made the afternoon performance absolutely hilarious.
"My wife told me if you need nightly stroken - do a one man show." This along with jokes like, "Did you hear abou the blind prostititue? You had to hand it to her," develop the basis for Short's vulgar jokes. You will be laughing non-stop. His fellow cast members, who just like Short continuously are taking on new characters provide hilarious sketches dealing with theater ledgends Tommy Tune and Bob Fosse. It was their use of pop culture and celebrity impersonations of Jona Rivers, Rene Zellweger, Jodie Foster, and Sarah Jessica Parker that had me nearly doubling over laughing. However, the highlight of the evening, and one of the sad subtractions from the tour I am sure was the celebrity guest. The afternoon I was there Diane Keaton was in the audience, and boy does that girl know how to wear a carpet bag well. Seeing her interact with Mr. Glick (one of Short's personas) was the moment of the night. The one question that stuck out to me was the following: "Ms. Keaton with all the wisdom you have shared through your movies.. If Lincoln was alive today would he be pleased with his tunnel?"
One of the show's stronger points is the obvious influence of Scott Whitman (the director) and Marc Shaiman (involved with the music). The two who are part of the team of masterminds behind the hit musical Hairspray bring the show together. It is their clever lyrics that make the show so hilarious.
Although there were some lighting problems throughout the performance, when you get to the end and the closing number happens, members of the audience were standing, and I assume all had enjoyed what was one hell of a parody of a show.
Martin Short: Fame Is Me will be touring I think I heard. So therefore. Here is what I think you should know before it hits the road.
The first thing that comes to mind as I look back and try to remember Martin Short are the jokes that made the afternoon performance absolutely hilarious.
"My wife told me if you need nightly stroken - do a one man show." This along with jokes like, "Did you hear abou the blind prostititue? You had to hand it to her," develop the basis for Short's vulgar jokes. You will be laughing non-stop. His fellow cast members, who just like Short continuously are taking on new characters provide hilarious sketches dealing with theater ledgends Tommy Tune and Bob Fosse. It was their use of pop culture and celebrity impersonations of Jona Rivers, Rene Zellweger, Jodie Foster, and Sarah Jessica Parker that had me nearly doubling over laughing. However, the highlight of the evening, and one of the sad subtractions from the tour I am sure was the celebrity guest. The afternoon I was there Diane Keaton was in the audience, and boy does that girl know how to wear a carpet bag well. Seeing her interact with Mr. Glick (one of Short's personas) was the moment of the night. The one question that stuck out to me was the following: "Ms. Keaton with all the wisdom you have shared through your movies.. If Lincoln was alive today would he be pleased with his tunnel?"
One of the show's stronger points is the obvious influence of Scott Whitman (the director) and Marc Shaiman (involved with the music). The two who are part of the team of masterminds behind the hit musical Hairspray bring the show together. It is their clever lyrics that make the show so hilarious.
Although there were some lighting problems throughout the performance, when you get to the end and the closing number happens, members of the audience were standing, and I assume all had enjoyed what was one hell of a parody of a show.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The Future of Theater
As someone who really doesn't want the art of theater go to hell, I would just like to say two things - 1. Reality Shows are not the best way to cast people. 2. Don't use "wiki" technology to allow the hold world to help you write your script. www.livingscript.com DEAR GOD, has it really come to this.
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