suefb
Auditioning
Posts: 228
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Post by suefb on Feb 26, 2015 10:47:55 GMT -5
Jake Cannavale was very impressive on his one season of Nurse Jackie, playing the addict son of his father's character. Must be interesting to be able to chat with these people. AND be inadvertently forced to eavesdrop.  I assume Rose Byrne will be working with Hugh on Apocalypse. (woops, I see Jo beat me to the punch on that one. Of course!) |
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Post by mamaleh on Feb 26, 2015 12:31:48 GMT -5
Jo, we all know you are a world-class punch-beater.  I don't have Showtime, so I wasn't familiar with his being on NURSE JACKIE. I just looked up a few things and learned Jake's mom is Jenny Lumet, daughter of famed late director Sidney Lumet. Quite a lineage there. Ellen |
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Post by foxie on Feb 26, 2015 16:43:09 GMT -5
I got to Telly u James Moyer who was the standin was extraordinary I can't imagine Gallagher being as good!!!
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Post by mamaleh on Feb 27, 2015 10:54:49 GMT -5
Moye usually plays upstart producer Max Jacobs, once Oscar's protege, now his rival in OTTC. I'll bet he didn't figure to go on for the male lead so early in the run.
Ellen
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Post by foxie on Feb 27, 2015 22:18:47 GMT -5
Right Ellen excuse my spellcheck but he was incredible! I see Gallagher still isn't back!
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Post by mamaleh on Mar 25, 2015 8:00:30 GMT -5
Gallagher was out again last night, after recording the original cast album yesterday.
Recent wrap-up: A DELICATE BALANCE (now closed) is an Edward Albee play I'd never seen performed. John Lithgow, Glenn Close, Lindsay Duncan and Martha Plimpton performed ably, but some of the dramatic tension somehow petered out shortly after midway in the play. I wish I'd seen Elaine Stritch in a long-ago production as the boozy sister, now played by Duncan. Still, it was worth seeing.
Trekked up to the Paper Mill Playhouse to see a show that may or may not be coming to Broadway: Disney's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. I must confess to never having seen the animated version that came out in the '90s, so the score was entirely new to me. I read that additional songs were created for the stage version, anyway. I liked some of the score: "The Bells of Notre Dame," "Sanctuary" and "Hell Fire," but most of the power ballads--though beautifully sung by Michael Arden as Quasimodo, the hunchback--sounded too similar to each other. The choreography was meh. For me, Patrick Page stole the show as the evil Frollo. His booming bass voice has enough power and gravity to lift any show to new heights. His "Hell Fire" still runs through my head. I'd see it again only to catch Page once more on "fire."
PAINT YOUR WAGON (now closed) ran only for 5 days at City Center Encores! but was a joy to behold--or more appropriately, hear. The score is an underappreciated gem, with such numbers as "They Call the Wind Maria," "I Talk to the Trees" and two delightful character number for the teen daughter of the lead miner, "What's Going on Here?" and "How Can I Wait?" Both were delivered beautifully by Alexandra Socha, whom I'd seen last year in FUN HOME down at the Public Theater. Keith Carradine made a likable semi-scoundrel of a gold miner.
THE NETHER, Off-Broadway, paints a dark picture of a future in which the virtual has esentially replaced the real. People spend much of their lives in The Nether, which is like the Internet on steroids. In that vast realm, they can play out their darkest fanstasies without consequences--or can they? A policewoman investigates and finds out that may not be so. It's a well-written play but has some disturbing images, especially those concerning child abuse.
iOW@ (IOWA), at Playwrights Horizons, is an absurdist satire of--again--the Internet and how it creates false images that the gullible can easily succumb to. It's supposedly a musical but one so atonal that it seemed more like a surreal play with phrases recited with background music. Even given its drawbacks, I found much of it very funny, fueled by the highly comic performances of Karyn Quackenbush and Annie McNamara.
SKYLIGHT was a big hit in London. It stars Bill Nighy as a 60-something restaurant chain owner who resumes an affair with 20-something teacher Carey Mulligan, whom he and his (now late) wife took in as an 18-year-old. Yes, there's an ick factor. There's some sparkling dialogue but I don't see why it's such a huge hit. It was OK, nothing more. And I'm a big fan of Nighy's.
Last night I caught the second preview of what I think is going to be the next big hit musical comedy on Broadway: SOMETHING ROTTEN. It's probably best described as SPAMALOT meets THE BOOK OF MORMON with old-fashioned shtick, theater-insider references and jokes, and big musical numbers, many of which are instantly memorable. Brian d'Arcy James and John Cariani are the Bottom brothers in 1595 England, seething with jealousy because of that upstart Shakespeare, who acts like a preening rock god. (Shakespeare is hilariously enacted as a Mick Jagger type by Christian Borle, for whom I predict a Tony.) So the brothers set out to create a new art form: the musical. It's all sublimely silly, and I had a great time.
Ellen
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suefb
Auditioning
Posts: 228
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Post by suefb on Mar 25, 2015 8:39:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the roundup, Ellen! I've lost track of Broadway a bit now that Hugh isn't there. Heh. I'm surprised about the just OK-ness of Skylight, which was the talk of London and also got a rave from Hugh, as I recall. Maybe it doesn't translate well to US audiences. I'm curious to hear more about iOW@, is it about Iowa in some way? I guess I can look it up, but it sounds a bit like the quirky different sort of thing our local playhouse puts on every couple of years. They hand out surveys asking for suggestions for the following season, so I like to have something a little interesting and different to put on there. Besides The Boy From Oz, lol. |
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jo
Ensemble
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Post by jo on Mar 25, 2015 8:40:47 GMT -5
SOMETHING ROTTEN sounds sophomoric and delightful. I saw Spamalot and Book of Mormon early in their runs. Wasn't Christian Borle in the early run of Spamalot?
Is the title derived from the famous line of Shakespeare about " something's rotten in the state of Denmark"?
Will this musical compete with "Hamilton" for Tony honors?
JO
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Post by mamaleh on Mar 25, 2015 9:54:05 GMT -5
Maybe my demurs about SKYLIGHT issue from my vantage point. I sat in the second-to-last row. Nighy, much as I like him, has a habit of dropping his voice at the end of each phrase/sentence, so I -- and many people around me -- didn't hear key pieces of dialogue clearly. Mulligan was better on that count. The acting was quite good, but I just couldn't get into it as some, I guess.
iOW@ refers to the state where the daffy heroine's fiance lives and where she ends up along with the other "sister wives."
Yes, the title of SOMETHING ROTTEN does indeed refer to Hamlet, which the Bottom brothers execute as "Omelette." (You have to see the riotous egg number.) Not kidding. Funny as the evening was, I don't think anything can beat HAMILTON*, not even FUN HOME, which I saw downtown last year and loved.
*next season
Ellen
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Post by foxie on Mar 25, 2015 14:11:17 GMT -5
Gallagher sure isn't a Hugh!!!
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jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,439
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Post by jo on Mar 25, 2015 18:06:52 GMT -5
Oops, I forgot that Hamilton has been re-scheduled to open next season, not in time for this year's TONYs.
Jo
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 3, 2015 9:06:52 GMT -5
Saw Cush Jumbo's (Hugh's THE RIVER co-star) show, JOSEPHINE AND I, about the amazing life of Josephine Baker. It's a mesmerizing 90 minutes performed with loads of energy and passion by the very multi-talented Cush. She was nominated for a Lortel Award (for Off-B'way excellence) yesterday in the category of Best Solo Show. I hope she wins or at least ties with the equally nimble and wonderful Jim Dale.
Ellen
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Post by foxie on Apr 13, 2015 9:48:05 GMT -5
Sounds great!
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 13, 2015 10:54:14 GMT -5
JOSEPHINE AND I finished its limited run April 5, I think. Recently caught one of the last performances of PLACEBO, a comedy-drama at Playwrights Horizons starring Carrie Coon, whom I greatly remember as Honey, the young wife, in the most recent revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and was very effective as Ben Affleck's sister in the GONE GIRL movie. PLACEBO concerned a young scientist's research about a female "Viagra"-type pill and the how her professional life impacts--not usually for the better--her private relationships. THE AUDIENCE was absorbing, funny, touching and illuminating. Helen Mirren is truly a marvel, playing Queen Elizabeth at various points in her "audiences" with 12 different prime ministers of England. I thought she had plumbed the depths and nuances of the character in the film THE QUEEN, but she brings out new aspects of that remarkable woman on stage. The coronation scene that closes Act I is a stunner. I also loved the scenes of her beloved Welsh corgis racing across the stage. Can a Tony go to a cute dog? Highly recommended. Ellen |
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jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,439
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Post by jo on Apr 13, 2015 21:11:17 GMT -5
Maybe this is an epilogue for THE AUDIENCE At the Oliviers, the best new play award went to KING CHARLES III -- a story of what happens when the current Prince Charles ascends to the throne. I have no idea what happens to Queen Elizabeth II. It seems that a lot of new work regularly springs up in the UK when it comes to new plays. Jo |
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Post by foxie on Apr 14, 2015 7:05:28 GMT -5
Going to see The King and I tomorrow!
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 14, 2015 12:34:30 GMT -5
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Post by foxie on Apr 14, 2015 15:46:22 GMT -5
Thanks would we walk down Broadway to get to LC?
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 14, 2015 20:44:49 GMT -5
If you want to walk, you could walk up either 8th or 9th Ave. Or you could take the number 1 train from Times Square to 66th St.
Enjoy!
Ellen
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 15, 2015 7:35:10 GMT -5
By now, everyone has probably heard that Jake Gyllenhaal will be making his musical theater debut in a City Center Encores!-Off Center summer presentation of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. When I read this, I had two Hugh-related thoughts: If an equally A-list movie star and sometime theater actor can do a three-performance Encores! show, why can't Hugh? I do wonder if he's ever been approached by City Center in that regard. Second, it's my theory that Hugh has made it safe, acceptable and even desirable for movie actors--such as Jake and Chris Pine--to appear in more stage/musical vehicles. Hugh's influence has been put to fine use.
By the way, I have two extra tickets for Gyllenhaal's debut. There are only three performances, largely sold out. I have two Row F balcony center tix, $34 each, for the sold-out perf on Thurs, July 2, 7:30 p.m. City Center is on W. 55th St., between 7th and 6th Avenues. Most workplaces are closed the next day in celebration of the July 4 holiday weekend. PM me if you're interested.
Ellen
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Post by foxie on Apr 16, 2015 16:34:57 GMT -5
Ok I will tell u what I thought of The King and I before the reviews come out tonite!!Overall I loved it the music is wonderful Kelli Ohara is wonderful the lady who played Tuptim was they were all wonderful except the male lead. He played his part very well but u couldn't understand him!I asked everyone around me no one could understand him I can't figure out why the producers haven't realized that!I am sure he is a great guy and I liked him but missed half of what he said- also I think the play with in the play was too long- the first half was incredible u could barely breath it was so good but after the intermission not as good. The set is incredible!orchestra out of this world-it was very emotional everyone was tearing!!and this is stupid but I didn't know how sad the ending was but Kelli Ohara what a fight withKristin Chenowith for the Tony!!!ok enough can't wait till tomorrow to see what they say!!
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Post by JH4HJ on Apr 16, 2015 22:55:33 GMT -5
Ok I will tell u what I thought of The King and I before the reviews come out tonite!!Overall I loved it the music is wonderful Kelli Ohara is wonderful the lady who played Tuptim was they were all wonderful except the male lead. He played his part very well but u couldn't understand him!I asked everyone around me no one could understand him I can't figure out why the producers haven't realized that!I am sure he is a great guy and I liked him but missed half of what he said- also I think the play with in the play was too long- the first half was incredible u could barely breath it was so good but after the intermission not as good. The set is incredible!orchestra out of this world-it was very emotional everyone was tearing!!and this is stupid but I didn't know how sad the ending was but Kelli Ohara what a fight withKristin Chenowith for the Tony!!!ok enough can't wait till tomorrow to see what they say!! No way. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that Helen Mirren blows away all competitors. |
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jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,439
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Post by jo on Apr 16, 2015 23:29:19 GMT -5
Is there supposed to be two categories for acting honors? One for musicals ( new and revival) and one for straight plays ( new and revival)?
Jo
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Post by carouselkathy on Apr 17, 2015 0:09:28 GMT -5
There are separate acting awards for performances in plays and musicals. I saw THE KING & I three times and it was glorious. This may finally earn Kelli her Tony. The reviews are in, and they too are glorious. As for Ken Watanabe, his portrayal of the king was touching and realistic. The real king of Siam would have struggled with English as he was learning a new language and trying to understand western ways. I thought he was something wonderful.
Helen Mirren and Kelli Ohara are not in the same category.
Revivals:
ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY was fun, and Kristin was cute, but I don't see how the Tonys can overlook the depth and complexity of THE KING & I. I actually cried when I read Brantley's great review tonight. I also laughed at his review of FINDING NEVERLAND. I left at intermission. What a mess!
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Post by foxie on Apr 17, 2015 5:32:40 GMT -5
Well the reviews are in and they are fantastic I have never seen reviews so good and they all agree with me that u can't understand the King but they are working with his English but the play is adored!!!
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I assume Rose Byrne will be working with Hugh on Apocalypse.
