Anything Goes

Magnet #1292 - Anything Goes

I love musicals. That's right. I said it. The classic ones. The revivals. The ones where I know the songbook. Something like Anything Goes.

In a word? Amazing.

Seriously. I loved it so very, very much. I can't say it enough.

Sutton Foster was amazing, Joel Grey was terrific, and OMG, Kelly Bishop (aka Emily Gilmore) was awesome. And the rest of the cast? Fanfreakin'tastic.

Cole Porter music and lyrics meant I knew half the words to all the songs because they're standards we've all grown up with.

The story went fast and the jokes were classically timed, even the deadpan ba-dum-bump moments were funny.

The set design was incredible, only to be outdone by the wonderful costumes.

But my goodness, the big Anything Goes tap number before the intermission? Astounding. I totally wanted to jump to my feet and tap my way down the aisles, says the girl who used to wear her church shoes for the tap numbers during Lawrence Welk.

For a few hours while the lights were down, I was reminded yet again, that it's entirely possible that I was born in the wrong decade. On top of that, everything - from the costumes, life on a transatlantic ship, references to Cunards, to celebrities aboard ship - about the show could have come straight out of the Seaport Museum's DECOdence S.S. Normandie exhibit.

Folks, I cannot stress this enough - if you come to NY or if you see any Broadway show this year, Anything Goes should be that show. It truly is Broadway at its best.

How to Succeed

Magnet #1215 - How to Succeed

In a word: delightful.

I've mentioned before that every so often I have to remind myself to take advantage of this town and everything Broadway has to offer, so last month (pre-Tonys, thank goodness), I went to Playbill for their discounts, and decided to hit up How to Succeed.

I can honestly say it's been a while since I've had so much fun watching a show - especially given my reactions to Spider-Man and HAIR and American Idiot. (On Broadway, I mean - seeing David and Catherine in the West End last week doesn't count.)

Mind you, I can't stand the actual storyline of How to Succeed, because it really does cut a little too close to the buffoonery of Corporate America, but once I let that go, I was fine.

The Mod set design was well lush, and the fantastic cast (including the awesome John Larroquette) were outfitted in gorgeous costumes. As with Mad Men, the costumes made me feel as though I born a few decades too late. And the big production numbers were incredible - totally old-school Broadway musicals, and so much fun.

Finally, and here's the biggest surprise for me tonight - little Daniel Radcliffe, with the American accent so good I forgot he was a Brit (take notes, David Tennant), makes a terrific song-and-dance man. Something that - even after I saw him on the Tonys - I was worried about, having heard about the song-and-dance lessons he's had to take. Well, they totally took, because he was a pleasure to watch. Small in stature, but great presence on stage.

It was like...magic.

Words by Rice, building by Piano

Magnet #1050 - Times Square/42nd Street

I once fell into the N/R/W/Q subway tracks in the Times Square/42nd Street station. This is not that magnetpost.

I'm just using it for today, because I just got back from Times Square, and seeing the Sir Tim Rice and Friends performance.

I've been looking forward to this event, mostly because of my obsession with watching all of those (very late to the U.S.) BBC/BBC-A, Andrew Lloyd Webber reality shows casting parts in the West End's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sound of Music, then Wizard of Oz, and now Oliver! So when I didn't see any of Rice's work with ALW on the program, I was a little sad.

But, it was quickly explained by the funnier than I'd have expected Tim Rice, that the evening was being devoted not so much to him, but to Disney on Broadway's songbook. Being a Disney fan, color me sooo not disappointed!

And it was so much fun!

After Sir Tim did a tongue-in-cheek reading of all the not-so-great NYTs reviews of Disney shows, we were treated to fantastic numbers sung by seven original cast members of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, AIDA, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and King David (which you've likely never heard of, but the two numbers from it were fabulous, so I hope we will hear of them again).

The first song was Be Our Guest, and all I could think of was that it sure did not sound like when my sisters and I play Wii Disney Sing It. And for the whole song, all I could think was man, I bet that dude would rock out on Wii. What? It's true.

From then on, it was quite amazing watching these Disney vets as they performed their songs without sets, without costumes, with a two-piece musical accompaniment...and still they managed to place us in every single show. Maybe because it was on such a small stage, and we were all so close up, but it was truly uncanny how I felt like I was watching Belle and Mary Poppins and Rafiki and Ariel, and shoot, even Tarzan. In street clothes.

And now I finally understand what ALW and all the judges were trying to teach all those reality contestants - how to act out a song, feel the emotions, connect with the words. I had pooh-poohed that criticism, before but honestly, I got a little goosebumpy listening to several of the songs tonight. I guess that's how the pros do it.

But wait. There's more!

Last week, I used a magnetquote by architect Renzo Piano, where I surprised myself with all of the Piano museums/additions I'd been to. Tonight's NYTs Arts & Leisure Weekend event was held at TimesCenter, at Piano's New York Times building just off of Times Square.

I've been to TimesCenter before, but hadn't realized just how ingeniously multi-use they've managed to make this building. While I was sitting in the audience of a state-of-the-art, 378-seat auditorium, through the stage backdrop glass, I was able to see New York Times employees leave their office space across the indoor courtyard, dinner patrons dining at the gorgeous Montenapo Restaurant, and a chick shopping at supercool Muji.

All that, and, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the incredible performances of Sir Tim Rice's merry band of friends.

Pretty. Damn. Cool.

Age of Aquariwhat?

Magnet #804 - HAIR

Of course, I had to buy this magnet - I'm glad the Broadway shows are starting to see the importance of good merchandise. Heh.

A friend of mine was kind enough to comp me tickets to see HAIR (thank you, thank you!), so another friend and I went to go see it. Which is why I feel a little tempered in my not-really-a review magnetpost.

Here's the thing. As a production? Freakin' awesome. The stage direction and the art direction and the costumes were amazing. The performances were superb. And the running out in the crowds (which lost some of its magic, the more times they did it) was so much fun - though I'm glad I was in a middle seat, so no flower child got into my hair - literally. The finale was superb, with the crowds being invited on stage. Freakin' amazing.

The show itself, however - soooo not my cuppa. I think my problem is that actual story itself - or, lack thereof. It just took too long to actually gel into a real storyline. And then, I didn't really give a hoot about the characters. I didn't even cry when one of the major characters bit it.

My story problems were probably exacerbated by the fact that I didn't agree with any of the politics of the show. I full on admit it, if I lived back in the 60s and 70s (or, ok, been of high school and young adult age), I totally have been a square. I'm totally a square now, and it's 2010 - so it's no wonder why this show pulled on every one of my conservative heartstrings and pet peeves.

Yet again, I'm on the fence for some of it - because I didn't give a hoot about the crazy flower child songs, or the pseudo-copulation, or the full frontal nudity. That part was actually kinda fun. But, when it started in with its political statements on war and drugs and protesting, I just couldn't hang.

Seriously, I wanted to grab every American flag they were prancing around with, and fold it properly. I wanted to grab every draft card they were burning, and send them off to war. Or sure, Canada, as long as they were out of my sight. I wanted to grab every joint in their hands, and give them to Nancy Reagan.

I know it's cool to be anti-war and anti-American and pro-drugs and free love, but c'mon, enough's enough already.

Good gravy, I'm a 90-year-old biddy, in a mid-30s body. Oiy.

eta:
Oh! The other thing that's a little sad - I don't watch American Idol, so I haven't a clue who that lead guy is on the magnet. But, from what I understand, I should have been OMG, OMG, OMG, over this guy in front of us?

Brand new day in New Jersey

Magnet #417 - The Toxic Avenger Musical

I was luckily enough to get a great seat to The Toxic Avenger Musical last week, where I picked up this keychain magnet.

I'd never seen the 80s movie, so I went in completely blind. All I knew, was that it was supposed to be funny and campy. And it was. Hilariously so.

From the moment the story opens in Tromaville, NJ, you're just not allowed to rest. The story was totally fast-paced, you don't stop head-bopping and toe-tapping until the end. I swear, it's a good several hours before the songs leave your head.

I had thought of giving ya'll a rundown of the characters, but then I realized there were just too many memorable ones. The actors were superb - and with only five people playing all the roles, that's saying something. That's all I'm going to say, without giving away the game. Dudes. I can't even imagine the quick changes and in general running around backstage. Bravo.

I'll come right out and say it. I love a boy with a guitar - bass, electric, acoustic. Doesn't matter. I love a boy with a guitar. Always have (see: Ode to John Taylor). The band was super awesome, the songs were terrific, and they totally rocked the house (which I can say with a straight face, given the 80s vibe overall).

The set design? The production itself? FanTASTic. I guess on so small a stage (at the New World Stages - I think I saw Braveheart there back in the day), you need to be superinventive. Dang, did these guys make the most of that stage - up to and including the vertical real estate as well. Amazing. And just damned clever.

So, what didn't I like? It's nitpicky, silly relating only to me, stuff.

Remember, I was a romance editor, so I was never sold on the love story.

And, well, there's a reason that I don't watch any of the CSIs. A reason why I totally look away during about 25% of Bones. I was sitting so close (in an already tight theatre), that I could see every little gross dangly thing hanging from Toxie's body. Ewwwww. Makeup/costuming - well done, you!

Also, while I loved the loud music, I winced every time Toxie growled. He was too loud.

Finally, I was a little put off by the violence and implied violence. But, that's me. I get upset when people raise their voice. Don't get me wrong - some of it was hysterically funny, ripping off of limbs and whatnot. Some of it was just too over the top.

I know! I'm like the oldest mid-30s chick you ever did meet!

I'll tell you one thing, though - the little boy seated beside me enjoyed the hell out of the show.

As did I.

I will say that one thing pissed me off more than anything...New World Stages are so close, that the audience is literally looking up actors' noses. (In fact, the little boy told his dad that Toxie was still breathing, when he wasn't supposed to be.) But, during the pivotal moment at the end, where the Sarah has Toxie lying in her arms, and all eyes were at stage center, like 2 feet from the edge - some jackass in the middle of the 2nd row stood up, and excused himself.

I gasped aloud at the utter rudeness of it, as did many others. Seriously, I wanted to smack that guy. But you know what? The two actors, particularly blind Sarah, handled it well - they didn't miss a beat. So, bravo, Sarah and Toxie. Bravo.

Anyway, definitely check out the show, but go to the bathroom first. Don't want to pee in your pants from laughter.

What? It's a blogreview, man, not the New York Times. I'll tell it like it is, thank you.