Theater Opinions/Commentary

[ruby]

Mar 4, 2020 18:21:54 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

Mar 4, 2020 15:17:04 GMT -5 ruby said:

. I've always liked "Roses," especially so when HJ threw it in for only one performance of his Toronto one-man show tryout in Toronto back in 2011.

A friend recorded all of his SF one man shows. It’s a real treasure trove of hughness. The clip I still play regularly is I Won’t Send You Roses. He does it so beautifully.

I remember his heartfelt rendition. But did HJ sing it in San Francisco? I attended the first (if I recall correctly) week of SF performances and don’t recall his including that song, only that one time in Toronto. Did he perform it during the later perfs in SF? At the first perf in Toronto he said something about Patrick V. introducing him to the song earlier that day during rehearsals. He liked it and was still learning it, but would be singing it only that evening. Or am I misremembering?

Ellen

I have no clear memory of the location of the one time he sang the song as I was at both runs too. I don’t think this friend did the Toronto shows though which is why I used that as my guide. I guess I see too much HJ if they all blend over time.

[mamaleh]

Interesting update on the Len Cariou-HARRY TOWNSEND'S LAST STAND saga: although he reportedly quit and the play was ready to close, a press release this morning indicates Cariou has seemingly changed his mind (legal advice?) and has agreed to work with a new co-performer (David Lansbury, who happens to be Angela Lansbury's nephew), and tickets are now on sale through April 5.

pagesix.com/2020/03/04/theater-legend-len-cariou-rejoins-show-after-abruptly-quitting/

Ellen

[jo]

Hugh recommends seeing WEST SIDE STORY --

www.instagram.com/stories/thehughjackman/

[mamaleh]

Just before the stage shutdown, I squeezed in a few shows:

DRIFT, Off-Broadway at the New World complex, was of interest basically because it stars Joe Pantoliano (aka Joey Pants), whose performances I've admired on film for many years. It's a very physical production about down on their luck, blue-collar brothers in conflict amidst a 1950s Brooklyn setting. It was on very deep discount with few attendees, so I doubt it will be back after stage performances resume. There is much tumbling about during fight scenes, which made me a bit skittish inasmuch as I was in the first row while the combatants on stage nearly fell onto the audience.

After numerous tries, I finally won the lottery to the Westside Theater's revival of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. I had seen the original in late 1982 when I was expecting my son, and this production is just as campy and fun as that earlier gem. Gideon Glick does a great job as protagonist Seymour, the schlumpy quasi-hero whose botanical find proves problematical, to say the least. He has a beautiful singing voice, to boot. Tammy Blanchard's Audrey s seems directed to play her as half-drunk, which was puzzling to me. But the scene stealer is Christian Borle as the sadistic dentist and several other memorable characters. I hope this production reopens; it's a true winner.

I very much enjoyed THE PERPLEXED at Manhattan Theatre Club's City Center downstairs theater. It's a witty, literate comedy set in an elaborate drawing room/library of a vast Upper West Side apartment during the wedding of a bride and groom whose respective families have had troubles dealing with each other in the past. Margaret Colin, Frank Wood and Gregg Edelman head a very talented cast.

I've seen other productions of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? but the one that was in previews at the Booth Theater before the shutdown is probably the best of them. Laurie Metcalf is amazing as the slaternly, drunken Martha and Rupert Everett very much her equal as her bitter husband George, a low-level professor at a small college founded by Martha's father. My lottery-win seat was first row center, enabling a fantastic view of the often very funny and histrionic goings-on as the older couple welcome their guests, a new addition to the faculty (Russell Tovey) and his timid wife (Patsy Ferran). Very much recommended; hopefully it will reopen when Broadway does.

And the next evening, Broadway and Off-B'way went dark. Let's hope this health crisis ends sooner rather than later, with everything going back to normal.

Ellen

[jo]

I've seen other productions of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? but the one that was in previews at the Booth Theater before the shutdown is probably the best of them. Laurie Metcalf is amazing as the slaternly, drunken Martha and Rupert Everett very much her equal as her bitter husband George, a low-level professor at a small college founded by Martha's father. My lottery-win seat was first row center, enabling a fantastic view of the often very funny and histrionic goings-on as the older couple welcome their guests, a new addition to the faculty (Russell Tovey) and his timid wife (Patsy Ferran). Very much recommended; hopefully it will reopen when Broadway does.

Ellen,

Thanks. I did see the movie way back when.

There is news that Actors Equity has signed agreements to allow streaming (VOD) under certain conditions. Hopefully, this is one show that can be preserved/filmed and allowed to be seen on a streaming platform.


Jo