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Post by mamaleh on May 31, 2012 8:41:56 GMT -5
Saw THE COLUMNIST last night. John Lithgow is a dynamo as the famed DC power player-columnist Joseph Alsop, showing everything from a bare bottom (thankfully only fleetingly) to moving dramatic depth as what he sees as hopes for the future vanish. He's Tony-nominated--and deservedly so--but most everyone thinks Philip Seymour Hoffman has it in the bag for DEATH OF A SALESMAN.
Speaking of bags, while in the theater district last night, I found myself walking a few feet from an anonymous Andrew Garfield (Biff in SALESMAN), who was sporting expensive-looking shades (hey, Spidey pays) and carrying a small shopping bag. Perhaps he won't be able to walk the streets unrecognized after the latest Spidey movie released.
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Post by njr on May 31, 2012 16:08:52 GMT -5
Ellen, you have the best luck of anyone running into famous people! LOL!
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Post by foxie on May 31, 2012 16:48:54 GMT -5
Glad u r on Ellen!
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Post by mamaleh on May 31, 2012 20:21:47 GMT -5
Back atcha, Carol.
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 1, 2012 8:42:48 GMT -5
Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES, the (in)famous PHANTOM sequel, never quite reached our shores, but beginning June 2 PBS is broadcasting a performance captured live in Oz. In the NYC metro area its initial showing is scheduled for this Sunday, June 3, 12:30 p.m. on WNET-Channel 13. I heard it improved greatly in its Australian run.
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Post by hu4601 on Jun 2, 2012 4:18:57 GMT -5
I saw it in Melbourne late last year. Enjoyed it, but not as much as the original. The sets and costumes were outstanding and were the highlights for me,with no particular performer standing out. Whilst I love most of the songs from the original POTO, only one song "Till I hear you sing again" has stayed in my memory.
Cheers.
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jo
Ensemble
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Post by jo on Jun 2, 2012 7:35:02 GMT -5
I sent for a copy of Love Never Dies but Amazon can't get it to me till end of the month.
But I wonder if ALW's plans to stage it on Broadway may still happen. It is ironic that the setting of the sequel is in New York City but it has not found its footing there.
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jan
Wannabe
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Post by jan on Jun 2, 2012 18:50:24 GMT -5
I have the CD of the London version and the DVD of the Melb production, also having seen it live twice. In my opinion, the story lacks the intricacy and depth of POTO, however as in a previous post, the sets, costumes and special effects were superb. I love the music and singing on the CD, with Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess at the helm. I felt the leads in the Melb, whilst having good voices, were stilted and at times their diction esp. Christine, difficult to understand. I thought "Raoul" the best in the Melb perf. The DVD I have found is somewhat "dark" and I tried to lighten it using contrast and brightness however I will be keen to hear what others think. My favourite song is "Till I Hear You Sing" (Phantom) however "Love Never Dies" (Christine) is also beautiful. I recall Dame Kiri te Kanawa singing the first version at ALW's 50th birthday concert and thinking I can't wait for this musical. The final lyrics are quite different. There are many other songs I really enjoy too. I hope it is a positive experience for those who see it and I do hope some day it makes it's way to the Broadway and Toronto stage as previously planned.  |
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 3, 2012 23:25:53 GMT -5
DVR'd LOVE NEVER DIES because I knew I'd get back from the Celebrate Israel parade after the local PBS showing. I just finished watching it. Agreed about "'Til I Hear You Sing" being one of the few memorable songs from the show. The production looked lavish, but the book was a bit jejeune. I did not expect that ending--don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but was that the original ending in London?
Also, couldn't get over how much Maria Mercedes as Mme. Giry sounded like Patti LuPone! Anyone else notice that? Or is that just me?
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Post by Jamie on Jun 5, 2012 13:57:59 GMT -5
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Post by njr on Jun 5, 2012 20:14:37 GMT -5
I was on a cruise in Feb and Hairspray was one of the shows! (Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas) |
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jo
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Post by jo on Jun 5, 2012 22:58:57 GMT -5
I did see Hairspray on its original run ( 2003?) -- with Harvey, Marissa Janet, Matt Morrison and all the other cast members whose names escape me. I had also seen it in the movie incarnation with John Travolta. But my favorite has to be Michael Ball's interpretation of Dame Edna at the West End - he won an Olivier for it |
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Post by broadwaygal on Jun 5, 2012 23:52:19 GMT -5
Hairspray is one of my all-time favorite shows! And I loved the film as well. We took a friend
who was visiting from Australia (!) a few years ago to see the show. It was his first Broadway show, and a perfect introduction to Broadway!
Cheryl
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Post by broadwaygal on Jun 6, 2012 0:07:44 GMT -5
Ellen, we saw THE COLUMNIST a few weeks ago, and loved it! Another brilliant performance by John Lithgow. He is so versatile, he can play just about anything. I completely believed his
portrayal of Joseph Alsop, who was one of the most influential writers of the time. And notice who's theater it's in? LOL! It couldn't be more appropriate. And even more appropriate, we were
with a friend who is also a career journalist who worked alongside Mr. Friedman for many years!
Cheryl
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 15, 2012 6:51:48 GMT -5
Caught up with THE BEST MAN, which I know several of you have already seen. Very entertaining, full of crackling, witty dialogue splendidly delivered by James Earl Jones (who steals the show), John Larroquette, Angela Lansbury in the role I remember so vividly played by Ann Southern in the movie, Eric McCormack et. al. Some have said Candice Bergen was flat in this, but I thought she excellently conveyed the essence of a diffident woman oh-so-carefully trying to figure out the next step in her life. Three acts went by in a flash. The cast is partially changing in July, most notably with John Stamos replacing Eric M.
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Post by carouselkathy on Jun 15, 2012 8:50:37 GMT -5
Ellen,
Hope this one tours to L.A. Would love to see it!
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 15, 2012 11:18:28 GMT -5
Cheryl, I noticed last evening that a character in THE BEST MAN refers to Joseph Alsop. Six degrees, LOL. Glad you enjoyed Lithgow in THE COLUMNIST, too.
Kathy, I haven't heard anything about a BEST MAN tour, but with the right cast, I bet it would be popular, especially in an election year. I don't know whether the same big marquee names would tour, but maybe comparable.
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Post by perry on Jun 19, 2012 18:51:57 GMT -5
I have tix for 4000 miles and One Man Two GUv'nors next week......I've already invested (WOW, premium seating for One Man on a Sat night was $ 250/ticket!) so please, please, tell me it was good...or don't say anything. I WANTED to book a musical, but couldn't persuade husband that there was anything he hadn't seen before in one iteration or other, or that wasn't for families. He skews....mature. I wish the FOllies revival were available; neither of us has ever seen it on stage and ever having read the script and owning several albums, it's just not even close to seeing it as it is meant to be seen. As ANY musical is meant to be seen. Still, I'm really glad I have an illicit DVD copy of a live performance of ....... Hugh in....... . Well, you all know.
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 20, 2012 10:01:05 GMT -5
If you like British humor you will LOVE One Man Two Guvs.
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Post by broadwaygal on Jun 25, 2012 1:40:46 GMT -5
Went to the closing night performance of Godspell which was incredible. A very exciting closing night. The audience and the cast were so full of energy and enthusiasm for this show. We sat
next to Hunter Parrish, from the original cast of this production (he was replaced by Corbin Bleu)
and also chatted with the director, Daniel Goldstein. But more importantly, I met
Stephen Schwartz and as I mentioned in the Houdini thread, I told him how thrilled I am
that he and Hugh are doing this show together, and he confirmed that he will be working with
Hugh tomorrow!
Cheryl
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 25, 2012 8:48:14 GMT -5
Cheryl, thanks for the insider update. Really excited that HOUDINI is moving forward, even if it's a bit down the road (2014).
I've read on theater boards that Corbin "bleu" Parrish out of the water. Was CB really significantly better in the role? I remember seeing Parrish as a replacement for the better (IMHO) Jonathan Groff in SPRING AWAKENING, so I'm curious.
Of course, if you can't publicly reveal your opinion, I'll understand.
Ellen
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Post by broadwaygal on Jun 25, 2012 22:24:05 GMT -5
Hunter was quite good, but I liked Corbin even better. Also, I only saw Hunter early on, during previews. Corbin added a lot of warmth and vulnerability to the role.
It was a wonderful production, and I'm sure Stephen Schwartz was very pleased with it.
Cheryl
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jo
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Post by jo on Jun 26, 2012 3:18:28 GMT -5
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Post by carouselkathy on Jul 18, 2012 23:15:01 GMT -5
Just watched a very enjoyable special about Carol Channing on Showtime. It will air several times. Look for CAROL CHANNING, LARGER THAN LIFE. It' very touching.
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Post by mamaleh on Jul 31, 2012 0:06:30 GMT -5
Got comps to the new play directed and co-written by Woody Harrelson, A BULLET FOR ADOLPH, now previewing at the New World. Didn't expect much and was happily surprised. It's a deft, clever and extremely ably performed farce set in Texas in the early '80s., a period when Harrelson and co-playwright Frankie Hyman worked construction jobs like the main characters in the piece. The scene stealer for me was a character named Clint, an is-he-or-isn't-he junior clone of the late Paul Lynde, who is a scream. It's fairly difficult to sustain farce for nearly two and a half hours, but Harrelson seems to have pulled it off. No, it's not Feydeau by any means, but I enjoyed it, and the audience exploded with laughter numerous times. This one could turn out to be a real crowd pleaser.
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