Curtains - Preview

Curtains
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 8pm
Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles

WOW!! I just got back from this amazing show. David Hyde Pierce stars in this Kander & Ebb murder mystery that's headed for Broadway. He and Debra Monk really bring it home in this production. The story weaves around and the songs seem frivolous at some points, but on the whole it's a fun night at the theatre. My only complaint is the lack of harmony at some points. There's a great quartet number the second song in called "What Kind of Man?" The writers and producers of this show-within-a-show are complaining about theatre critics. It's a hilarious number, but they're all singing in unison. Annoying!!
The way that the show stands right now, we were leaving the theatre at 10:45pm, a 2 3/4 hour show with intermission. They could probably stand to lose a few minutes in some of the bigger numbers like "Thataway!" at the end of Act I or "In the Same Boat" towards the end of Act II.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. There's a theme these days of making fun of theatre within a show. Spamalot and Drowsy Chaperone come to mind and this show fits right in with that. There are moments of side-splitting humor and the show stopping numbers do, in fact, stop the show.
If you get a chance to see this show, take it. It's amazing and will probably last quite a while on the great white way.

Tom Jones

Tom Jones
Friday, July 21, 2006 8:30pm
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Ok, so my friend and I have decided to see all the great names before they die. The first on our whirlwind objective was Neil Diamond. We went with another friend to Staples Center and had a great time!! What a fun concert that was!!
So, here is the next one on our Catch the Legends tour - Tom Jones.
We went to dinner first at Hollywood and Highland and then walked up to the Hollywood Bowl. It really isn't a very long walk and she works close to it all, so we just parked at her job. Of course, when you're going to the Bowl you have to bring at least a bottle of wine.
So, we had a great dinner that involved some Cosmopolitans, and then strolled up to the Bowl. Our seats were towards the center, but pretty far up. We were in section N2 if you're familiar. There was a group of four ladies in front of us that were young and seemed to really be up for a party. We had a lot of fun with these girls. We all stood up and danced during some numbers, but everyone around us just sat there and were kind of duds. We were determined to have a fun time.
The opening act was the Pete Escovado Orchestra. They were very good and energizing and then...about two songs in...here comes.....SHEILA E!! We were floored!! This is her family. Her dad and brothers. So they all played another few songs and we just loved it. She and her familly are phenominal.
Then there was an intermission and then the reason we all came....TOM JONES!!!
He was exactly like you'd expect him to be. I was a bit disappointed at the length of the show. He should've been the whole thing, but he was amazing. There were a few ladies that had made and enormous pair of thong underwear. It was hilarious to watch them walk this down to the stage.
We really had a great time. I probably wouldn't mind still seeing him again when he returns to Vegas. I'm curious to see his normal show that has made him such a phenomenon.
Another legend seen!

Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin
Saturday, July 22, 2006 8pm
Copley Symphony Hall, San Diego

This was a great night. The only problem was that the show started 1/2 hour late and then, because Kathy is so popular, they added a second show at 10:30pm. So, when 10 o'clock came around they shut down Kathy in order to get the second group of people in. I suppose that her style of comedy doesn't lend itself to being precise about the clock. Each story probably takes a different amount of time every night. The bummer part is that it feels like she could just go and go for hours and then when the end of the show comes around it's not her that's putting a stop to it, it's some outside force. You walk out feeling gyped of that one more story.
It was a hilarious evening, though. I just love her comedy and her reality show is so funny/sad. She's really put her life out there and I suppose that's what's so engaging. She talked about Ryan Seacrest, going on the View, Clay Aiken, so much that I can't remember. I just sat there laughing my head off the whole time.
If Kathy's coming to your town, go see her. You won't regret it!!

The Sisters Rosensweig

The Sisters Rosensweig
Saturday, July 22, 2006 2pm
The Old Globe, San Diego

This was a very good play. The author, Wendy Wasserstein, actually died last year, so it was very nice to be able to see one of her most popular productions. She actually won a Pulizter Prize for another play called The Heidi Chronicles.
The Sisters Rosensweig is about these three sisters that meet up at one of their homes. One is a very successful banker, one is a homemaker who gives advice on the radio, and the last is a world traveler who is having a relationship with a gentleman who appears to be bi-sexual.
It's a very funny, well-written story that is thoroughly engaging.
This production stars Janet Zarish, Deirdre Lovejoy, & Jackie Hoffman as the three sisters. They do a wonderful job portraying these strong women. We truly feel their history together.
The Old Globe is a beautiful theatre. If you haven't seen a production here I highly recommend it. Every show that I've seen there has been of the highest quality. A lot of shows do their pre-Broadway run there. I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chita Rivera, and The Times They are A-Changin'.

Burleigh Grime$

Burleigh Grime$
Sunday, July 16th, 7pm
New York City

Burleigh Grimes was playing at the New World Theater on 50th in NYC. The performance that I saw was the final one for this off-Broadway production. Kelly Sullivan was in for Nancy Anderson as the Wife/Coffee Girl/Dancer.
The cast includes Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me), Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives), James Badge Dale (The Departed), and Ashley Williams (How I Met Your Mother). I thought that since all these stars were on television that the show had a good chance of being fairly decent. Oh well, I suppose the fact that they're all supporting players in their various roles should've tipped me off.

Wendie was essentially the same person she was on Just Shoot Me. A selfish, cold, bitchy business-woman trying to get ahead. In this production she is a TV news reporter with her own Stock Market show. Her character is in cahoots with Mark Moses' character (Burleigh Grimes) and they wheel and deal and manipulate the stock market to their advantage on a daily basis. Mark did a great job as the cold-hearted Wall Street tycoon who throws dead sardines off the coast of some far-off country in order to make people think that it's an El Nino year...thus making the cost of fish go down and chicken go up.
Ashley and James were fine, but they weren't on stage enough. I could've taken a lot more of these two. More of their back grounds. More of their conflicts.
John LaVelle and Jason Antoon played Burleigh Grimes' flunkies Buck and Hap. John had a great Jim Carey impression going for pretty much the whole show. It was hilarious and a little freaky. Jason was great as the calm, cool, collected guy with no morals to mess up what he needs to get done. The two of them were really funny as they improv-ed through a few places. Whether or not it was actually improvisation, it felt like it, so that was refreshing.
The music was fantastic. The composer was another reason that I thought this show might have a chance. David Yazbek has done some great work, most recently composing the music for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. His addition to this production was wonderful. Extremely percussive, the music gave the show a heart-beat.
I suppose that Wall Street just isn't an excellent back-drop for a play. When all was said and done there was just too much business and not enough connection. There wasn't anyone on stage that you were rooting for. As one character began to become enduring they turned around and conformed to the back-stabbing ways of the rest of them.

Shining City

Shining City
Sunday, July 16, 2:00pm
New York City

I was fortunate enough to see the final performance of this wonderful production. It starred Brian F. O'Byrne, Oliver Platt, Martha Plimpton, and Peter Scanavino.

The story takes us to Brian's apartment that he just got. He starting as a therapist and is first client is Oliver Platt's character. He shares that he's seeing is departed wife in his home and it is freaking him out. He's left and has begun staying at a Bed and Breakfast just to get away. He really breaks down and does a marvelous job of conveying how torn apart he is about all this. Brian consoles him and reassures him that he'll get through it.
In the next scene we see Martha's character arriving at his apartment and we learn that he's married and has a newborn child. He's moved them into his brother's home and has taken this apartment for himself. They fight and we learn that he was formerly a priest but left to marry her. She worked to put him through school and he became a therapist. There's no resolution to the scene and when she leaves we don't know if their relationship will make it or not.
Then Oliver comes back and has another session. Time has passed and he appears much more relaxed about the process of coming to this man's apartment and talking about his issues. He delves into a huge story about this woman that he met at a party and the failed attempt at having an affair. It's quite detailed and lasts for about 30 minutes. Oliver Platt is amazing and the time flys by as he tells us the story of this lovely woman who brought excitement into his drab life.
In the next scene Brian brings Peter into the apartment and we ascertain that he has brought home a prostitute to perhaps answer some questions about his sexuality. It's all extremely awkward and the scene ends as Brian breaks down and the two actors begin to dance together.
In the final scene Oliver returns once again to the apartment and Brian is obviously packed up and leaving. Oliver brought a gift to say thank you, a Tiffany lamp, and we learn that he's moved out of his home and has purchased an apartment. The place was really too big anyway. Brian's character is returning to his wife and child and seems also to be on a healthy road to life. If you haven't seen this play yet, I suggest you know move on to the next entry, for I'm about to spoil the ending. As Oliver leaves the apartment the door is open and there's a good-bye sequence. When Brian closes the door, standing there in the red coat that her husband bought her, is the ghost of Oliver's wife. It is an absolutely shocking moment!! The adrenalene races through your system and the show is over. What a feeling!!

I would reccommend this show to anyone, not just for the jolt at the end, but for the experience of watching these professional actors display their craft. Oliver Platt is amazing as he tells the story of his affair. Brian brings you to tears as he wades through all his confusion. Martha floors you with her passion and fire, and Peter truly shows you a slice of someone that you've never before come in contact with. An amazing production.

The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone
Saturday, July 15, 2006 8pm
Marquis Theatre, New York City

This is a production that I had seen while it was in Los Angeles doing it's try-out. I really enjoyed the show and my only complaint was that it was too short. Well, they apparently felt the same way and added two numbers for the Broadway run.
This was really a fun night. Originally I had purchased a great seat for myself kind of center and back a ways, then when I went to get a ticket for my father the only thing that was kind of good was a second row seat towards the far right. So, since I had seen it I let my dad take the better, farthur away seat, and I sat down nice and close. Well, he loved it! It really is a great, fun, entertaining show. A throw back to older musicals, but since the whole thing is really a flashback there's room for present day commentary. It's hilarious.
There are some big name stars in this show. Sutton Foster and Georgia Engel are probably the most recognizable names. Sutton has starred in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Little Women in recent Broadway history. People remember Georgia Engel from the Mary Tyler Moore show. She's amazing up there giving it all she's got. So cute. Bob Martin stars and also wrote the show, Beth Leavel won a Tony for her portrayal of the Drowsy Chaperone, and Danny Burstein is hilarious as Aldolpho.
This show will probably run for a long time, and then tour also. They won a Tony for Book of a Musical, Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, and Best Costume Design of a Musical. Quite impressive! Thoroughly enjoyable and worth the trip to the theatre.

The Lieutenant of Inishmore

The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Saturday, July 15, 2006 2pm
Lyceum Theatre, New York City

This was a very memorable time at the theatre. It's kind of an absurd story about these guys in Ireland. Their boss went away and they were put in charge of his cat. The whole show opens with these two guys standing there staring at the dead cat on their kitchen table trying to grasp the reality that the cat is dead. There was an old lady up in the balcony with me who yelled to her friend, 'Did they forget their lines?' That cracked me up.
I don't want to spoil this show for anyone, but it's quite bloody and dark. It definitely pulls you in, though. Kind of like when you're driving by a car accident and you can't help yourself, you just have to stare. You have to know what is going to happen to these characters and how it will all turn out. It's great theatre.

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd
Friday, July 14, 2006 8pm
Eugene O'Neill, New York City

This was my absolute favorite show of my New York City trip this year!! Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris were AMAZING!! Their voices just soared and they are wonderful actors, which these roles definitely need to make it believeable.
Besides how phenominal the cast was as individuals, what's impressive is how they all worked together as a whole. It was really a sight to see and hear the quality level of these musicians and performers. This music is not simple...it's Sondheim!! Everyone had it memorized, except for the piano at the back of the stage that had music. There were about four cast members that weaved on and off of the piano bench during the coarse of the show. It was so impressive!!
Two cellos, Bass, Piano, Trumpet, Clarinet, Percussion, Guitar, Violin, & Accordian. That's the basic configuration, but during the show someone also plays the flute for quite a while and Patti LuPone pulls out the tuba. It's so wonderful. I'm sure it took quite a while to pare down the orchestration and figure out who would play what on which instrument in order to move the show along.
I stayed afterwards and got their signatures. Everyone came out and were so nice. There was one guy who played the part of Judge Turpin who sneeked through when Manoel Feliciano came out, but otherwise everyone was amazing.
In the performance I saw, Bejamin Eakeley was in for Alexander Gemignani in the role of the Beadle. He did a really good job and was SO nice when he came to the stage door. He really took his time and spoke with everyone who was standing out there. He asked questions and was truly engaging. I suppose that's one way to make yourself memorable when you're trying to break into this business. The only other actor that I've seen act in a similar manner is George Jbarra in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. In contrast, when Patti LuPone came out she was nice and signed everyone's Playbills and posed for pictures, but there was no chatting or small talk. In fact, since I really didn't have any extra requests of her, she just signed my Playbill and moved on without comment. I totally understand and don't think she's being rude by any means.
I think I was the most impressed with Donna Lynne Champlin. She was the unspoken and understated leader of the whole show. She started the production with a breath and caught my attention for the rest of the show. As they were up there I was thinking that in order for this group to be together someone has to be the leader. The choreography is so understated and deliberate. It truly is an innovative show. Go see it!!

Tarzan

Tarzan
Thursday, July 13, 2006 8pm
Richard Rogers Theatre, New York City

Well....this was fine, but it can't even compare to Beauty & the Beast or The Lion King. Disney has set such high standards in the past that this show is a bit of a dud.
Part of the problem is that Phil Collins only wrote a few songs in the movie. So, those songs are great and memorable, but the new songs written for the production need getting used to. They're probably fine, but not memorable. I'll probably buy the OCR since I saw the show, but walking out of the theatre was a let down.
They convert the stage into this big green box and people bungee out of all these hidden openings to simulate swinging through the jungle. A good idea, but it limits the rest of the show and gives them a significant challenge to make it look like they're not just staying in the same square of the jungle. They do everything they can, including openings in the floor and such, but it falls short.
The opening sequence is quite stunning and I suppose I would reccomend seeing the show in general, but don't anticipate greatness. It's just a fun night out and the kids will love it.

The Color Purple

The Color Purple
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8pm
Broadway Theatre, New York City

This show was so much better than I anticipated it would be. First of all, let me say, the story of The Color Purple is horrible. It's basically about this girl who is raped by her father at a young age. She has two children and they get taken away from her along with her sister. Her father then sends her off to get married and basically be a slave and raise this man's children and run his house. It's just heart-breaking.
The production is very well done. The sets, costumes, and talent is more than worthy of the Broadway stage.
I really loved the trio of women who sort of acted as narrators. They connected the story together and really added a great touch. They were also a nice release since the intensity of the show has the potential to overwhelm. They are extremely animated and add a lot to the show.
LaChanze takes the role that Whoopi Goldberg did in the movie version. She is absolutely extraordinary. I can't imagine doing that show every night. It's extremely impressive.
There is also a scene where they're envisioning what it's like in Africa. It turns out that LaChanze's character's sister was taken in by the minister and they've gone there as missionaries. She's reading her letters and the stage transforms. The dance that happens is absolutely beautiful. The dancers really give their all. It's awesome.
The best part is the ending. It's so triumphant. The whole place is just a wash of emotion and excitement. It's that great feeling of overcoming adversity. Having these insurmountable problems in front of you and finding a way to conquer them. It's very inspiring.
I have a feeling that this show is going to run for a very long time. You leave the theatre three feet off the ground.

The History Boys

The History Boys
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 2pm
Broadhurst Theatre, New York City

I really don't remember why I chose to see this show. Luckily for me it won a Tony for Best Play this year. I was excited to hear that as I didn't choose to see The Jersey Boys which won for Best Musical.
The show is about these kids who are studying for their entrance exams into college. There is a professor who all the guys like. He's very creative and free flowing with his teaching method. The kicker is, the boys take rides on his motorcycle and he fondles them while they're riding. So, of course, there's a huge controversy and I don't want to spoil it for anyone since there's a movie coming out.
The guys who were performing were really great. One kid actually played the piano on stage sporadically through the show. Also, a few times, another guy sang along with him. They were very good.
The story is a bit off-putting, but it isn't blatant and is actually pretty realistic in the way that the story plays out.

Faith Healer

Faith Healer
July 11, 2006 8pm
Booth Theatre, New York City

Faith Healer was the first show I saw on my New York City trip. It stars Ralph Feines, Cherry Jones, and Ian McDairmid. All three of these actors are absolutely amazing. I had seen Cherry the year before in Doubt. She won a Tony for best actress in a play in 2005. Ian McDairmid won a Tony for best featured actor in a play in 2006.
The show was a series of monologues. Extremely impressive as these actors are just by themselves on stage relating this story to the audience.
They were very creative about how they changed scenes also. There's a huge white curtain that they project a scene onto. It travels across the stage and by the time the curtain has made it's trip, the set has changed behind it and the next actor is ready to go. It's a very creative and seamless way to make the transitions.
It was a great night. My Dad and I went to a wonderful place for dinner that I forget the name of. Perhaps when I search through my papers I'll find the business card for it. I do remember that I had veal and mushrooms that was amazing. My Dad was very impressed with the quality of food that he got. He's never been to NYC before and this was a great start to his trip.
There was also a very nice lady and her sister who sat next to me. She was pretty chatty and reminded me a lot of my aunt. Just comfortable to talk with anyone who happens to be around. Typical New York. I love it!!