Well, I've beamed back from Broadway via Amtrak (which was shockingly on time) where I cafe-ed, shopped, dined, and Sondheim-ed! It was standing room only at the Hudson Theatre at the Wednesday night performance of Merrily We Roll Along...and they've finally FIXED that damn show. Jonathan Groff was excellent in the lead role, the pace and plot "management" were spot on, and I couldn't find much to complain about. Daniel Radcliffe, described as "humble" by the NY Times playing the role of Charlie Kringas, was a little under-played. I thought he could have made the character bigger (not Broadway bigger, I mean, thankfully he didn't overact). I just didn't feel much of a stage presence, with the exception of his big SONG: "Franklin Shepard, Inc." But his is not the star part. The focus is on Jonathan, and he was superb, as was Lindsay Mendez as Mary. The set was boring, only occasionally tweaked from scene to scene, but the costumes were time-sensitive and fun, there seemed to be none of the what-year-is-it-now confusion of the original production, and it had just the right amount of editing. (Thank the Gods of Editing!)
Lindsay Mendez, Katie Rose Clarke, Jonathan Groff, and Daniel Radcliffe
The audience was young and nuts. They "ovated", they screamed, they laughed at the drop of a hat. Hey, it's Sondheim. You're supposed to be restrained/ambivalent/aloof/and a little snobby, right? You're not here for Wicked.
OTHERWISE, all went super well...from the on-time trains, the new OMNY facet of subwaying (all it takes is a tap!), the Italian food, bagels, limoncello, vintage shops, annnnd the Museum of Broadway. I was a bit hesitant to go to this place (45th and 7th), thinking it might be chock-full of tourists, but was surprised to find it mostly empty of bridge and tunnellers, and full of gorgeous original costumes, playbills, and Broadway history. Go! Cuz it's fun.
Costumes from the "One" number of A Chorus Line...
Anyway, I am back and this Sunday will be an All Things French Edition, because it was a quick and easy thing to produce, a labor of amour. For the rest of March, you can look forward to hearing the new Merrily cast recording (hopefully!), a St. Patrick's Celebration, and Spppprrriiiiiinnnng! In that order. A bientot, til dimanche!
I Love Paris (Tatiana Eva-Marie and The Avalon Jazz Band, I Wish You Love)
Paris Holds The Key (To Your Heart)(Derek Klena, John Bolton, Christy Altomare, Anastasia)
You're In Paris (Susan Watson, Ben Franklin In Paris)
Paris Loves Lovers (Don Ameche, Hildegard Neff, Silk Stockings)
I Got Rhythm (Gene Kelly, Ensemble, An American In Paris)
Stairway To Paradise (Georges Guetary, An American In Paris)
Tra La La (Gene Kelly, Oscar Levant, An American In Paris)
Paris La Nuit/Selavy (Charlelie Couture, The Moderns)
La Valse d'Amelie (Instrumental, Amelie From Montmartre)
Parlez-Moi D'Amour (Lucienne Boyer, The Moderns)
Sous Le Ciel De Paris (Yves Montand)
Paris Original (Bonnie Scott, Ensemble, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying)
Madeleine (Elly Stone, Mort Shuman, Ensemble, Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris)
The Last Time I Saw Paris (Noel Coward)
Paris Sera Toujours Paris (Maurice Chevalier)
April In Paris (Doris Day)
King's Can Can (Instrumental, Victor Victoria)
C'est Magnifique (Sutton Foster, Take Me To The World)
Valse Millieu (Clive Revill, Irma La Douce)
In Paris And In Love (David Atkinson, Zizi Jeanmaire, The Girl In Pink Tights)
Paris Is Paris Again (Corey Cott, Howard McGillin, Steffanie Leigh, Gigi)
Dada Je Suis (Charlelie Couture, The Moderns)
Padam Padam (Edith Piaf)
Hier Encour (Charles Aznavour)
Si Tu N'Etais Pas La (Frehel)
La La La (Noelle Adam, Al Epstein, No Strings)
I Love Paris (Frank Sinatra, Maurice Chevalier, Can-Can)
For Me Formidable (Charles Aznavour)
C'est Si Bon (Eartha Kitt)
Paris Through The Window (Lonny Price, Jeff Blumenkrantz, David Hibbard, A Class Act)
Carousel (Elly Stone, Ensemble, Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris)
Les Jours Tristes (Instrumental, Amelie)
Zou Bisou Bisou (Emilia Mitiku)
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