A Christmas Story
Posted: December 24, 2013 Filed under: Comedy, Musical, Off-Broadway | Tags: achristmasstory, bbgun, danlauria, leglamp, madisonsquaregarden, pasekandpaul, ralphie, review, tour, youllshootyoureyeout Leave a comment
Part of me feels like I should watch A Christmas Story the movie before reviewing A Christmas Story: The Musical. Yup, it’s true – I have never seen this iconic Christmas film. And not because I’m Jewish I might add; we used to watch It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas (we’ve since moved on to Love Actually). And even though A Christmas Story was always on TV, I never wanted to start in the middle. So now I have finally seen it – set to song and dance!
For those of you that don’t know, A Christmas Story came to Broadway last season, nabbed a few Tony nominations (Best Musical, Book, and Score), and has been touring around the country. It is now in the middle of a sit-down (a longer tour stop) at the Madison Square Garden theatre. And let me digress for a second here: Madison Square Garden is inSANE. I had never been inside (well, except maybe once as a kid), but it was like an amusement park. Our bags were checked, our persons frisked, we went up escalators galore, and encountered the enormous box office where they asked if I was picking up tickets for the musical or the Rangers game. The theatre itself has something like 5,000 seats! To top it off, they were selling cotton candy, crackerjacks, and popcorn as if we were at a baseball game. This place is quite the attraction.
But anyway, back on topic, Becca. On the whole, A Christmas Story is a jolly evening at the theatre. While not a perfect show, it’s definitely solid – directed by John Rando (Tony winner for Urinetown), with smart musical numbers, a talented cast, and a cutesy book. The kids in the audience were having a blast, and you can hear everyone enjoying lines or scenes before they even happen because they already know the story. Matt and I, however, were in the minority. We didn’t know what was in The Old Man’s special delivery crate marked Fragile or whether Ralphie would get the BB-gun for Christmas, so it was fun to see a new story.
The strongest part of the show is the score. As I mentioned in my Dogfight post last week, Pasek and Paul are where it’s at. These guys know how to write. Some highlights include: the opening, “It All Comes Down to Christmas”; The Old Man’s big song and dance number, “A Major Award,” featuring none other than a leg lamp kick line; and “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out,” the big speakeasy tap number in Act II, which was featured on the Tony Awards last summer. And starring in that number as Miss Shields is Caroline O’Connor, all you Moulin Rouge fans out there! Not to mention the ridiculously talented tapping child, Luke Spring.
While the book is endearing, the musical is maybe 15 minutes too long, and there were a few things that let me down. I wanted Mother (Erin Dilly) to get an opportunity to let loose. The writers very much embrace the times here (the 1940s), and her two songs are the beautiful ballads about being a mother. But The Old Man (John Bolton) gets to go nuts with his award song. Also, Matt and I couldn’t figure out his character. One moment he seems pretty dumb, the next he’s cussing up a storm (albeit it’s fake cursing; is it like that in the movie?), then he’s got this mean streak that scares the kids. Nonetheless, it was a very funny performance by Bolton.
Mainly, what didn’t work for me was the narration led by Dan Lauria. This convention slowed things down. I’ve been told there is also a narrator figure in the film. Is it a voiceover? Perhaps it works better, but here he wanders around the stage like Ralphie’s odd shadow, interrupting the action to tell us things we already know. The role doesn’t particularly add to the material until the very end when he is able to articulate something young Ralphie cannot.
I do wish I could have seen this when it was on Broadway in a more intimate house. Never thought I would call Broadway intimate, but man, the theatre is so large I felt miles away from the performers. But I would venture to say that if you’re a fan of the film, you’ll be a fan of the musical. If anything, you can always count on the handful of heartwarming moments that bring a tear to the eye. And ain’t that what Christmas musicals are for?
A Christmas Story: The Musical
Written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Joseph Robinette, Directed by John Rando
Madison Square Garden the Theater through December 29th
Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg
Pictured: Noah Baird, Erin Dilly, John Bolton and Jake Lucas
You Should Be Listening To: Dogfight
Posted: December 17, 2013 Filed under: Drama, Musical, Off-Broadway, You Should Be Listening To... | Tags: benjpasek, dereklena, dogfight, firstdatelastnight, justinpaul, lindsaymendez, pasekandpaul, secondstage, wicked, youshouldbelisteningto Leave a comment
In the summer of 2012 there was a musical called Dogfight at Second Stage. Based on the movie starring Lili Taylor and River Phoenix, the show didn’t completely work as a whole, but there was plenty to be positive about. With great performances by Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena (now co-starring as Elphaba and Fiyero in Wicked), Dogfight also featured a new and delightful score by Pasek and Paul. Haven’t heard of them? You will soon.
This young composing team out of University of Michigan has already been making quite a mark. I unfortunately missed their Broadway debut last year with A Christmas Story, for which they received a Tony nomination for Best Score, but luckily, it is back for the holiday season at Madison Square Garden (review coming soon!). Their songs were also featured on Smash (albeit I never made it past episode 3, wah wah). Or perhaps I once forced you to listen to the gorgeousness that is this song. Did you click? You’d best click.
Although Dogfight didn’t make the biggest splash Off-Broadway, the album, released last May, definitely got some well-deserved buzz. Do yourself a favor, look up the show on Spotify, and enjoy the beautiful melodies and tight harmonies. The song on repeat for me? First Date/Last Night. I also love Mendez’s pipes on Before It’s Over. Other catchy tunes include Some Kinda Time, Hometown Hero’s Ticker Tape Parade, Pretty Funny, and Dogfight featuring Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford who is currently bringing in the laughs at Kinky Boots.
I look forward to hearing what Pasek and Paul write next.
Dogfight
Written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Peter Duchan, Directed by Joe Mantello
Second Stage Theatre
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus
Pictured: Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena
On the Horizon: IF/THEN
Posted: December 13, 2013 Filed under: Broadway, Musical, On the Horizon | Tags: anthonyrapp, brianyorkey, idinamenzel, if/then, michaelgreif, nexttonormal, onthehorizon, rent, titleofshow, tomkitt 6 Comments
It’s another new feature! “On the Horizon” posts will focus on shows that are making their way to Broadway in the upcoming season(s).
IF/THEN recently finished up its run in Washington, DC at The National Theatre and isn’t coming to the Great White Way for another several months (March 2014), but I can’t help but be excited about the possibilities!
First, you’ve got this creative team: composer Tom Kitt and book/lyrics writer Brian Yorkey (the Tony-winning writing team of Next to Normal) and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. Second, the show stars Tony winner Idina Menzel and features Anthony Rapp, James Snyder, LaChanze, Jenn Colella, and more. Third, and possibly most important, it’s Brand. New. Material.
This is so rare nowadays in the musical world it makes my heart hurt a little. Yes, yes, musicals based on movies can be hits (Kinky Boots, Matilda) and even some jukebox musicals make a huge splash (Jersey Boys), but to quote [title of show]: “Original on Broadway? Baby, that is risky!”
I can tell you that this audio clip got me excited about it. And, well, that’s all I really know. The basic premise is that a woman in her 40s (Menzel) is entering a new phase of her life in New York City and getting a chance at a fresh start.
Who knows? Maybe it will crash and burn, but what can I say? I’m excited to support the risk-takers out there and see something new.
IF/THEN
Written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Directed by Michael Greif
Richard Rodgers Theatre, first preview March 5th
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus
Pictured: Idina Menzel
Twelfth Night
Posted: December 11, 2013 Filed under: Broadway, Comedy, Revival, Shakespeare | Tags: allmale, billyshakes, boeingboeing, elizabethan, globe, littleredswell, macbeth, markrylance, rep, review, richardiii, shakespeare, stratforduponavon, tonyaward, twelfthnight, williamshakespeare Leave a comment
I’m honestly tempted to have this review simply state: what an effin’ blast…but I have too many other things to say.
This is how it’s done people. What a delight this production is. Brought over from Shakespeare’s Globe, Twelfth Night is in rep with Richard III through February. Both productions are being presented in the original Elizabethan style. There is on-stage seating resembling the levels of the Globe, period costumes and corsets, and most noticeably, an all-male cast. And although I haven’t seen Richard yet (review to come in January), I have a hunch that if it’s anything like Twelfth Night, neither is to be missed this Broadway season.
My good friend Courtney was my theatre pal for the evening. Oh! Would you look at that? She also happens to have a kick-ass blog! Anyway, we haven’t stopped talking about the show. The actors are excellent across the board and are a hoot to watch because it’s clear they’re having so much fun. And after sitting through Macbeth a few weeks ago listening to actors who don’t have a handle on the language, what a pleasure it is to hear Shakespeare’s words spoken the way they were meant to be spoken. Every single person up on that stage knows what they are doing, and as a result, every single word is brought to life. The poetry pours out of the lines, and there is a sense of great clarity surrounding each scene. Guys, even Ben Brantley and I agree: “They let the language lead them to the characters. Because they know what they’re saying — and where what they’re saying comes from — we do, too.” If I had to pick from his entire canon, I would say Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespeare play. I’ve seen three different productions (including Shakespeare in the Park and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon), plus the film, and even so, I still heard lines in new ways. I got to discover the comedy and wit of this piece all over again.
And don’t even get me started on Mark Rylance. This man, I mean, I can barely talk about it. Ever since I first laid eyes on his work in the farce Boeing Boeing, for which he won a Tony Award and gave THIS brilliant acceptance speech, I have not missed a show of his in New York. He starred in Le Bête and Jerusalem (for which he won his second Tony), and now he is back for these two Shakespeare plays. I look forward to seeing his Richard in January; in Twelfth, he takes on the beautiful, somber yet sassy Olivia.
Watching Mark Rylance is the equivalent of taking an acting class (read a great Q&A here). Never have I seen an actor discover on the line more. For you non-theatre folk out there, in Shakespeare, actors are encouraged to discover/have the new thought/get the idea/change tactics as they speak (“on the line”). However, many actors react and then speak when in fact the words are there to help them. Every word that comes out of Rylance’s mouth is a true discovery. It is so clear that you can catch shifts within him from syllable to syllable. Each moment is a surprise for him and therefore us. Okay, okay, I’ll stop gushing now. Go see him.
What more is there to say really? I could bore you with details or recap the story, but I don’t think it’s necessary. What counts is that Courtney and I were equally blown away (along with everyone else I’ve talked to). The direction is effortless and the acting organic. The characters and inner-relationships are incredibly well-developed. And it may have a running time of 2 hours and 50 minutes, but it never feels like it.
Oh, and those of you out there afraid of Shakespeare plays for fear that you won’t understand, this is the one to see. Billy would be proud.
Twelfe Night, Or What You Will
Written by William Shakespeare, Directed by Tim Carroll
Belasco Theatre through February 16th
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus
Pictured: Samuel Barnett and Mark Rylance
You Should Be Listening To: Frozen
Posted: December 9, 2013 Filed under: Comedy, Movie, Musical, You Should Be Listening To... | Tags: anna, avenueq, bookofmormon, disney, elsa, findingnemo, frozen, idinamenzel, jonathangroff, joshgad, kristenbell, letitgo, olaf, review, robertlopez, santinofontana, youshouldbelisteningto 3 Comments
Yes, a new feature! Huzzah! This newly-formed category entitled “You Should Be Listening To” is basically where I tell you about what cast album I’m currently obsessed with, which brings me to our first edition…
Have you seen Frozen yet? It’s the new animated Disney film featuring actual, real voice talent. Unheard of I know. Where’s Russell Crowe as Prince Hans, right? The singers get to speak the roles, too. Crazy talk! The movie broke all kinds of records over Thanksgiving. It grossed $67.4 million over the 3-day weekend, making it the largest opening for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film. It was also the second overall highest in sales for the 5-day weekend after Catching Fire.
The movie is cute and endearing, but what I’m really posting (aka obsessing) about is the music. The nine songs are written by Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez. You know Robert Lopez’s music if you’re a fan of Avenue Q or The Book of Mormon. The husband-and-wife writing team also penned Finding Nemo – The Musical (now playing at Animal Kingdom!).
So not only do you have Broadway-caliber writers, but as I said above, the characters are voiced by real Broadway talent, many of whom are Tony nominees. The cast includes Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Santino Fontana (this collection of videos is also worth your time), Idina Menzel, and Kristen Bell. I mean, come ON. And yes! Even Kristen Bell was on Broadway (like in the flop, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)!
Now, my roommate and I are obsessed with all of the songs so go Spotify the soundtrack after you see it. The collection is great. There’s the classic “Be Our Guest”-style group number (“Fixer Upper”), the hopeful ingénue’s number (“For the First Time in Forever”), and the hilarious sidekick tune (“In Summer”). The only crime is Groff doesn’t get a full song. What is that about?
But let me highlight two of the songs. The love song is called “Love Is an Open Door” and is sung by Bell and Fontana. It’s so adorably peppy, full of clever lyrics and melodic surprises, and also manages to poke fun at the form at the same time. Then there is the big power ballad “Let It Go” sung by Menzel. The roomie and I first got a preview of this when we were down in Disney World in November. At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom, there was this epic light show projected on Cinderella’s castle, and we got to see a 30-second preview of this song. I was particularly tickled to hear Idina’s voice ringing out across Disney. She’s come so far!
Now what I’d love to do is link all of these songs so you can hear them, but I’d rather you go check out the movie. I’ll give you one though. I leave you with Let It Go!
Becca on Broadway 