Guess we don't have to make that NYC trip after all

In a season of Chicago theater that included oddities such as Pinkalicious, Colin Quinn and Love, Lost and What I Wore, I was scared and excited to hear what Broadway in Chicago might bring to the table this time.  I was wishing for two things that I knew would be touring:  Sister Act, American Idiot, and Book of Mormon.  Mainly Book of Mormon.  


In fact the night before, Val and I were discussing an upcoming trip to NYC for the sole reason of seeing this production.  Which at earliest was going to be April, considering all other tickets were gone.  The following morning I'm on my Twitter feed and see a breaking news announcement.  I couldn't believe it.  Chicago got Book of Mormon to start the second leg of their tours!  Thank goodness we didn't book that trip.  Though April 2012 is closer than December of 2012, but I'll take it!


The following day, BIC decided to announce their spring season of shows.  And I read the article and finished thinking about when I wrote that we were no longer BIC subscribers (which we aren't) but now, we might have to be again.  Here's what Chicago can look forward to for the Spring 2012 season:


American Idiot 
Bring It On
Fela!

along with:
South Pacific
In the Heights
Mamma Mia
Riverdance
Cats
Jersey Boys


And then Book of Mormon for the holiday season.  American Idiot I've been wanting to see just for something different in the Broadway world besides remakes of old shows.  And being a Green Day listener since 'Dookie' I tend to listen to their newer albums.  The first time I heard American Idiot, I thought it was quite powerful, so I wasn't surprised when it took to the stage.  It wasn't something I was going to make a trip for, but now that it will be here, that's easy!  


Fela! always has sounded fun, emotional and powerful.  Though most of what I've seen was on TV, I think it will be enjoyable.  Bring It On, well, this one I'm not sure of.  The movie I adore in all it's cheesy campy style.  The musical?  I'm not sold, but I won't turn it down.  I kind of want to down a bottle of wine before hand to make it funny.  But who knows?  On it's own it might be.  Also, seeing the cheer-leading competition going on on stage could be interesting, right?  Well, we'll see!


The latter shows, are some I'm not enthused about but there's only one I don't want to see and that's Cats.  But then I think, am I a bad theater goer since I've never seen it's stage production and only viewed it on DVD?  I loathe that music though, and the whole concept seems silly.  So I suppose, if it's in the package, fine, I'll suffer through, but let's hope it doesn't come to that.  In The Heights is one I would like to see the most.  Lin-Manuel is brilliant (as seen with his fine writing below for the 2011 Tony Awards, NPH's great rap written on the fly) and this show looks edgy and gritty with well written music.  

So Chicago, which show(s) are you most looking forward to?  Of course everyone in the Theater Loop is abuzz about Book of Mormon.  Heck, we're getting 15 of our closest friends to get the earliest tickets available I think!  But, do you agree that this Spring season makes up for the Fall of 2011?  Though....I will miss those awesome Bank of America seats we had when we canceled our subscription....*sigh*

Company on Screen

There are magical times when you just wish something you saw live was on film.  For instance, I've adored Rent forever and wished that I could just pop in the DVD to watch it whenever I wanted.  And then the movie came out and I took that back (blech!).  Rent I can see again and again and that way it's special every time I see it.  


But a couple of months ago, we took a weekend trip to see a show of a lifetime.  Something that would never happen again.  And they filmed all four performances of it!  Meaning we get to see it again in our city!  So we marked the date and bought the tickets.  As there were only four shows of it at the New York Philharmonic, there are only four showings of it in theaters as well.  

This was an interesting experience though.  I didn't know quite what to expect.  And largely in part to Company's performance on the Tonys the weekend before, the shows had sold out in Chicago.  So we decided, best not take any chances and get there early.  And when we arrived about an hour before showtime, a line had already formed!  Dedicated fans.  

Inside it was an older crowd, though by eavesdropping on conversations, all huge fans of musical theater.  I'm assume these are the same people that come for the Metropolitan Opera showings that they do in the theaters now.  A way for people that can't jump on a plane in a gut decision and see a show in NYC.  I think myself and my wife, and a coworker and her roommate were the youngest ones in the theater.  


Annoyance and hilarity ensued when a disgruntled gentleman tried to get the gentleman that were first in line to move so he could sit with his date.  He left the theater, only to come back to announce that "the assholes won today!" with an embarrassed date off to the side.  Only to be followed up with the queenie-ist of voices going, "what we'd miss? was there a fight?!" and laughter was had to break that short tension.  I hope that woman left that guy, cause, yeesh, anger issues!


So not knowing what to expect, the lights went down and clapping began!  The only time I've ever been in a movie theater and people clapped was when I've been at a premiere or something nerdy on opening weekend like X-Men, Batman or Harry Potter.  


And the funny thing was, the clapping continued!  Throughout the movie, just as you would in the Philharmonic itself  these audience members clapped after every number!  It was adorable.  And I wish that the magnificent actors that were in this show could have seen/heard this.  

All-in-all, seeing this on screen was amazing.  It sank in halfway through while staring at Neil Patrick Harris, someone I have adored since childhood, that we *saw* this.  In person.  How privileged do I feel?  How lucky am I?  And how amazing was it that I got to share it with friends that didn't get to jump on a plane to New York?  I really love that they released this into theaters, and I hope the response was great around the US.  


And please, please, please come out on DVD because I will watch it again and again and again.
And there's two more showings this weekend of Company.  If you can make it (and if it's not sold out) go see it!  It's one of the most hilarious shows with incredible people.  You won't be sorry.

Next to Normal (minus one star)

Whoops!  In the whirlwind of summer beginning and us going to the Kentucky Derby, I forgot about Next to Normal.  One of the primary reasons we purchased season tickets with Broadway in Chicago.  


After watching it nominated for 11 Tony's in 2009 and winning three of them, we knew this is one that we would jump on if it came to Chicago.  I mean, it also won the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for Drama making it the eight musical to ever be given that award, the previous winner (and my personal favorite) was in 1996 when Rent was given the prize.

We were tickled when Broadway in Chicago announced that Alice Ripley was going to be continuing her role as Diana Goodman.  She won a Tony for playing this part - and she was coming with the touring show!  Super exciting   


Until......*cue the foreshadowing music*  .....because nothing can ever be perfect.


We enter the Bank of America theater, nab our Playbills, sit down in our seats (complete with an annoying paper stickered to them reminding us to renew our subscription yeah no and read all about that HERE) opened them up and CRAP.  The dreaded piece of white paper falls out into our laps.  "Alice Ripley will not be in this performance".  Well that's just lovely.  And she didn't perform what seems like 5 performances that week, with no explanation.  Nothing.  Usually you get something - and she performed some charity event or whatever on Belmont a couple of days later, but couldn't show up to the shows.  Hope she's okay, but don't keep toting that a super star of Broadway is going to be in something and then she doesn't even show up!


Moving on.....this show was incredible minus Alice Ripley.  It has a three tiered set that moves and changes colors based on what's going on.  The actors were all fantastic.  Ms Ripley's understudy was even quite good - though I felt bad for her when there was clapping at the very beginning that ceased as soon as they saw it wasn't the star they were looking for.  

It's hard to write a review about this show though because there are plot twists in it that I don't want to give away.  I'll just say this though.  There are few shows that I don't know the storyline of, and maybe because this one was a newer show and all I knew was the soundtrack - I don't know.  But during the birthday cake scene I had an "OMG I had no idea that's what was going on!!!" moment.  Something huge that I never knew and never realized from listening to the soundtrack.  



This show is intense and highly depressing, but very reflective.  It's not afraid to show a modern family.  People have issues.  Families help each other out.  Love is still possible.  Next to Normal deserves all the praise and awards it's received.  See it if you can and hopefully you'll get to see Alice Ripley.


I know a ton of my friends and followers saw this show - what did you think?  Did you enjoy it even without Alice Ripley as Diana Goodman?

Company in New York City

No words can describe what Company was.  This is a show that hasn't fully settled in my mind the enormity of what I experienced.  It was in a word:  Perfect.

It was just announced that it will be in theaters starting June 15th, 2011, and if your theater houses it, do yourself a favor and see it.  I will even though I saw it live, and I probably will go more than once.  If it comes out on DVD (oh please, oh please, oh please) I will pre-order it and watch it yet again.  This show made me smile.  It made me think.  I laughed and in the end I sobbed.  

First off, I wish I had bought the Doogie Howser shirt in the NBC store beforehand and worn it but thought it wouldn't be appropriate.  Until Val pointed out to me the girl that had a sweatshirt that stated on the front "Legend-- wait for it..." and on the back "...-dary!".  Neil Patrick Harris fans a many.

Neil Patrick Harris got mad cheers as soon as he stepped out onto the stage.  To be expected.  And as soon as his mouth opened I got chills.  I've watched him since I was young and followed him throughout his career including musical which includes Rent, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, and that glorious episode of Glee directed by the amazing Joss Whedon.  NPH was exactly what I had hoped, but didn't want to get those hopes up too high.  I hung on to every word and he was a perfect Robert - though weird to see him play a part so parallel to the Barney Stinson character on "How I Met Your Mother".  

Stephen Colbert was the one that most critics and fans alike were flocking to this show for.  Sure, he had a musical Christmas Special (A Colbert Christmas:  The Greatest Gift of All) but can he hack it on stage?  Oh, and how he did.  The comedic timing with him Neil Patrick Harris and Martha Plimpton (who played his wife) was excellent.  And the "karate" moves along with some other acrobatics were not only great, but just too funny.  

Another plus for us was Christina Hendricks.  Being the Mad Men fans (and lover of her *ahem* assets) this last minute addition just sealed the deal that we made the right decision in our slight second choice of buying these tickets and booking a flight to New York City.  She played one of the three women that Robert is dating, a stewardess that's kinda ditsy.  She was great, and who knew she could sing?  Plus watching hers and NPH's clothes coming off was quite the bonus....oh, to be that silk sheet......on a nerdy note: Joss Whedon-verse's collided with those two.  NPH being in several of Joss's works and Hendricks in two episodes on the short-lived but still loved, Firefly.

Some other notables would be Katie Finneran who got the daunting task of singing "Getting Married Today" (the Sondheim-like song of extremely fast talking lyrics).  Anika Noni Rose (otherwise known as the Dreamgirl who's name you didn't know from the movie) was amazing with "Another Hundred People".  And then Craig Bierko was a surprise to us of how good he was - a glance at the Playbill helped us realize he actually won a Tony for Music Man - so that answered that.  And then of course Patti Lupone who's "Ladies Who Lunch" was flawless - down to slinging her martini on the front row of the audience.

In the end it was the most perfect show I've seen in my life.  I'm not quite sure how any show, if any show, will ever live up to it.  Though it was cruddy to be in NYC for about 48 hours or so, it was worth it every cent and every minute.  Come on June 15th!  

Oh!  And also, as a bonus to our Company weekend - we upped the ante on the Neil Patrick Harris love fest and went and visited McGee's Pub - apparently this is the bar that Maclaren's on "How I Met Your Mother" is based off of.  We found nice people watching the Yankees versus Red Sox game and made ourselves right at home! 

*note most of these pictures are not my own - I'm sure you can tell which ones! *wink*  They're in fact from HERE and by the NY Philharmonic themselves. 

Has there been one show or event that's changed your life?  I heard of someone proposing right after the show to their significant other - I think that's definitely one to remember!

What do all these people have in common?

B

We'll be seeing them in Company with New York's Philharmonic on Saturday!!


Here's a fascinating article about how everyone is rehearsing without being in the same space:
HERE
and HERE is a slideshow of the above people rehearsing.  *dream cast* 

As soon as Neil Patrick Harris walks on stage I just may faint.  And Stephen Colbert. And Christina Hendricks.  


I cannot wait to report back on this one.  


Who would you fly anywhere in the country or world to see perform in person?

Hair and Merchant of Venice

I'm going to make these next two quick, because one, there's not much to say, and the other we didn't come back after intermission.  So yeah, not so good. 

First off Hair - this was one of the list I wouldn't have purchased if we didn't have season tickets.  I saw the movie back in college and was not impressed at all.  I know some of the music.  I know my ex-hippie mom adores it.  That was about it.

But hey - it could be fun right?  

And it was.  

But.

The audience was the fun part for me actually.  Seeing these ladies around my parents age having a blast, wearing old rock band shirts, and basically they would be dancing in the aisles if the ushers allowed them too.  

Otherwise, the sound was off and I couldn't understand a lot of the lyrics.  The story is a bit lame.  The whole thing, audience included, reminded me of Rock of Ages.  So I can say I saw it, and I don't need to see it again.

The following weekend we saw The Mechant of Venice which was brought to us by Theater for a New Audience.  Updating old shit basically.  And it's still shit to say the least.  

I loathe this theater (Bank of America Theater) with a passion - but too bad since there's three shows being put in here this season - so this was the first one.  Our seats were cheaper and much better than the last time we were here for Rock of Ages.  Note to people going to this theater - even in the first row of the dress circle you cannot see the entire stage.  So our new seats are first row balcony.  And though STEEP you can finally see everything!  

This show is throwing around the name F. Murray Abraham like crazy.  He looks familiar....not *too* familiar....I had to have IMDB help me out on that one.  Oh, he was Noah in Muppets From Space.  Okay.  That's about all I know of him.

In short this was weird.  I know the story having studied Shakespeare for many years in college and high school.  Merchant is not one of my favorite plays to begin with.  And so with this one, it's taking place in a Wall Street setting and instead of three coffins to choose from it's three MacBooks.  Ummm....no.

Not to mention we could not hear ANYTHING coming out of the actors mouths.  And Mr. Abraham was the worst.  I think they weren't miked and for that large of a theater that was unacceptable.  Every time they turned their backs to the audience there was practically silence.  And you could tell every time a joke happened, the main floor would crack up while upstairs it was silent.

Needless to say we left at intermission.  I bitched to Broadway in Chicago on Twitter.  They contacted me.  I emailed them.  They found my wife's phone number (I would assume through our season ticket information) and called her.  I left a message regarding this and got no answer in return.  I didn't want anything out of it to be clear, I just hope they got my email and phone message so that perhaps they could make sure this won't happen again.  

It was a sad two shows though.  A waste of time and money.  

Next week we hit up New York to catch these fine folks in Company at the NY Philharmonic:

Neil Patrick Harris

Patti Lupone

Christina Hendricks

Stephen Colbert

Martha Plimpton

Jon Cryer

etc, etc, etc......

So hopefully that will make up for all the short falling as of late from Chicago's offerings.  

Has there been a show, concert, or anything you paid a lot of money to see and left early?  Movie even?  

Breast in Show

Yeah, you read that title right - so already you're off to a good start!  I'm going off my order of shows we've seen so far this year to skip ahead to this one since the run is almost over.   

GayCo Productions is a not for profit ensemble whose sketch comedy reviews have gay and lesbian themes.  I hadn't heard of them until it seemed like every other member of pH Productions starting getting in.  This was our first show of GayCo's to see and based on this one, we'll definitely be back.


It's $15 for an hour long show.  It's held in what can only be described as the basement of the Apollo Theater (current home of Million Dollar Quartet).  I had no clue there was a downstairs!  And after a few lost looks and going back up to use the restroom we settled in our chairs.  


It's an intimate feel, which I always adore.  A few rows of chairs, a small bar and just a simple stage, with a single curtain draping the back, and a guy on a keyboard.  Simplicity at it's finest.  


The ladies in Breast in Show are hilarious to say the least.  There's scenes that everyone will connect to gay/straight - I mean, *everyone* has dated before.  It's the same for all!  A scene about a woman who's no longer with her partner trying to get food stamps for her child, and the welfare office just can't understand.  A scene with Dora and Diego that left me scratching my head a bit.  Lesbian computer nerds which always gets me hot!  


Before the show, the audience members were given papers to write sentences on that could or could not be used in part of the show.  They were cut into strips and then the improv magic began!  The ladies got the strips of paper to miraculously fit in with the tale of mother and daughter!  Improv never ceases to amaze me - I have no clue how they think that fast.


It made fun of stereotypes.  It was charming.  It was hilarious.  And in the very end scene, it was messy (I won't give it away).  I highly, highly recommend this show to everyone if you get a chance.  It's on through April 10th and plays only on Sundays at 7pm.  Take your girlfriends and laugh together.  It's the best medicine there is.

And with that, we're no longer subscribers

There was an amazing feeling I had when this current season was announced for Broadway in Chicago.  It was "we HAVE to see all these shows!"  And the most affordable rate was through becoming a subscriber.  So we finally did what I had always dreamed of, we bought our own seats.  I look at those seats now, and on first Saturdays of a show for 3 hours those seats are ours.  There's a wee bit of pride in helping out the arts when you think of that.  


But in the blink of reading an article, the decision was made to cancel those wonderful seats.  Seriously BIC, I'm starting to realize your ploy of grabbing money now.  


The line up for next season is as follows:
West Side Story
Love, Loss and What I Wore
Ann:  An Affectionate Portriat of Ann Richards
Memphis
Donny & Marie:  A Christmas in Chicago
La Cage Aux Folles
Come Fly Away
With off-season specials of:
Chicago
Mary Poppins
Rock of Ages 
Fiddler on the Roof
The Addams Family


In the season line up there are only two shows I want to see out of seven.  I think the Donny & Marie being forced in there is the kicker for me.  No thank you.  And Ann Richards?  That couldn't have been traded out for something else?  I think that Broadway in Chicago is just catering to their older clientele with half of this listing.  Who I'm sure pays the most in tickets, so who can blame them in the end.  


Then there's the weird off-season shows.  Four of the five have been here in the past two years already.  Addams Family bombed not in sales but in reviews, and now Bebe Newirth and Nathan Lane won't be in there.  Rock of Ages I just saw in October.  Fiddler, just here.  Mary Poppins, just here and extended it's stay.  And then there's Chicago, which is here for the first time in a bit.  Oh, but wait....only for ONE week.


So after one email to my wife with this list she sent back the "should we even bother" message.  My answer and she agrees is "NO".  We will spend our money buying better seats to West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles and Chicago at least.  Maybe a Memphis or Mary Poppins if money and time allows.  


Also, this way we'll be able to hold on to more money for smaller theater shows going on around the city that are different and new.  With so many show touring across the nation and the world, we bring back things that we just had in our great city.  


I'm disappointed to say the least.  I really did feel prideful in those first Saturday seats.  And maybe others looked at last season and said "snore" while I jumped up and down.  And now this season they're happy.  


What do you guys think?  Do I have the wrong mind set?  Should we be able to trade out shows if there are some we absolutely do not want to see?

Chicago (the show not the city) For One Week

Figures right after my post about what Broadway in Chicago has announced so far and my thoughts on it, they go and add another one.  I see how it is.  This is what I get for hating on your precious 'Merchant of Venice' on Twitter right?  *wink*

Anywho, announced today is that Chicago will be making a one week stop in Chicago.  It's been here numerous times (for obvious reasons) and I have yet to see it live on stage.  I love the music and adored the movie, and cannot wait to see what 'Cell Block Tango' looks like live!

The only casting announcement so far has been the part of Billy Flynn, who will be played by John O'Hurley.  I would say mostly known for Mr. Peterman on Seinfeld.  I loved him in my favorite episode of The X-Files, 'The Post-Modern Prometheus'.  To me, he's too old, but I'm sure he'll pull it off!

Great addition BIC!  Hope we can get tickets to this extremely short run!

Looking Ahead: Broadway in Chicago's next season

As I continue through the past few weeks of Broadway in Chicago's current season on this blog, you'll begin to realize we didn't like as many shows as we've liked.  Or actually, that's basing it on loving Next to Normal in April - because they can't screw that up, right?  Eek!  


Considering the lack of thrill we've gotten from the offerings we're in the consideration process for next season, which should be announced here pretty soon.  We've had gut reactions and then some that we've come around to eventually.  In the end I think it's going to be the combination of the season package that will decide it for us.  


So here's what they're offering after this season, so far:


Beauty and the Beast

Now this has been announced forever, so I'm thinking it's just for the holiday tourist season and probably won't be part of our season tickets package.  I saw this back in.....wow....1996 I think, in London.  It was a birthday present from my grandmother.  I got all dressed up for the theater in London, took what at that time was one of my very few cab rides, and felt magical about to see my favorite Disney movie on stage in real life.  


Now this is one of my favorite shows to memory.  The song 'Home' is original to the show and one of the best songs.  The costumes were breathtaking and the songs sounded fantastic.  How many times have I seen this movie, and then this show makes me cry at the end!?  Crazy talk.  So in the end, this is one we might/might not pick up.  I would watch it again, but I'm not sure Val cares too much for it.  So check as "maybe" for now.


West Side Story

YES.  This is one that ever since we moved to Chicago that we've been saying "if that comes here, we're going to it", and then here it is.  I'm pleasantly surprised by the controversy of some of the lines being in Spanish.  Scandalousness!  Whatever.  People get over it, they were Puerto Ricans!  But whatever helps them sell tickets....anyways, this is a definite yes for our ticket holdings.








Love, Loss & What I Wore

First thought about title?  Straight chicks.  Then saw logo?  Straight chicks.  And then read the descriptions about women and their relationships etc....sounds a bit better, but I don't think I'm the audience they're trying to reach.  As a lesbian, who was always a tomboy anyways throughout life, I didn't have too much love and loss, and I care less about fashion!  For me it's tank tops and flip flops all the way!  So the verdict?  Pass.




Ann: An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards

As someone who grew up in Texas, I know who Ann Richards is.  Unlike the lady in the bathroom during Les Miserables when we were talking about next season ("WHO?!"  was the response I got upon telling her the show).  Now, don't get me wrong, Ann Richards was a great woman and a great asset to Texas at the time.  An entire show dedicated to her.  I'm on the fence about that one.






Memphis

2010 Tony Winner for best show.  The plot and such doesn't interest me much, but it's supposedly good?  Though in my opinion it was slim pickings for this years Tony's.  The song they play everywhere (I'm not sure the name) has that "Na na na na na na-na na" line in it that goes FOREVER.  If it's part of the package, sure why not?  If not, I don't know if I'll make an effort to see it.










Come Fly Away

*snore*














Have you seen any of these shows?  Love em or hate em?  Feedback before we throw down money is appreciated! :)

Working the Musical

 When we were debating the package deals for becoming subscribers with Broadway in Chicago, one thing that was making us hold off was this show.  What was it?  It sounds old.  Out of date I bet.  But Stephen Schwartz did the music.  Crud.  Fine.  We'll deal if we don't like it.

Also, I had no idea about the Broadway Playhouse Theater.  I read up about it and it sounded like a nice little theater right off the Magnificent Mile.  I got the CD from the library since it looked like all copies of it in any form of media had been discontinued.  And then I proceeded to NEVER listen to it.  And I'm so glad I didn't because this was a pleasant surprise from a show!

The tagline of Working is "The perfect musical for everyone who has ever worked a day in their lives".  And this is so true.  There are countless characters that are portrayed by the six actors on stage, beginning with someone everyone recognizes, the McDonald's clerk.

The premise of Working comes from the Pulitzer Prize winning author and Chicago radio broadcaster, Studs Terkel.  Back in the 1970's he asked many people one simple question:  "What kind of work do you do?"  The variety of answers make you feel happy for some, sad and shameful for others, but most importantly it makes you think about your own life, and your own job.  Does "work" mean just your job to you?  Or is there more to it than that?  I love how this show really touched me in numerous different ways.

Before the actual show though you have to take in the Broadway Playhouse Theater.  It's amazing.  I love smaller venues - sometimes the larger ones aren't so good for shows with spoken parts in them.  And sometimes the acoustics are even bad for music.  But here it was crystal clear.  The seats were comfy and the spacing was just right that there was no bobbing of heads this way and that to be able to see the scene taking place.  The set was fascinating to watch.  Yes, I said *watch*.  It was divided up into 6 cubes that showed the behind the scenes of the actors and actresses getting ready for the show.  Also, the person that does the audio for the beginning of the show was in plain sight and we got to hear her announcements to lights, sound and cast which was neat to me because I love seeing and hearing the stuff you don't normally get to.

The show was approximately 90 minutes long and no intermission.  Which was perfect.  It moved very quickly between the characters.  We saw a trucker.  We heard a hooker sing about how her life is.  A fireman in distress about what he sees day in and day out.  A housewife (which I cringed every time I heard this term, but it was done in the 80's) sang about how she has no friends and her life is dull and never for herself.  An older teacher that couldn't connect with her kids anymore - so she use to love teaching and now loathes it and it scared of her children.  A 19 year old graduate that has a fresh new business degree and thinks he's going to conquer the world - but we all know how that turns out for most of them!  One I really loved was the older waitress.  Picture that older lady that's in the diner you love - her attitude is always chipper, she's always prompt, she's seen it all in there, and nothing will get her down!  This was someone I think about when I enter a place like IHOP such as the Bagel or Melrose Diner here in Chicago.  How does she maintain that attitude?  I would HATE doing this and she looks content.  Oh, and this "older" lady, does the splits at the end.  She's that good of a waitress!

The cast was phenomenal to say the least.  Barbara Robertson, would played the parts such as the teacher and waitress, was a hoot and can play any age young or old!  E. Faye Butler can move and be sexy and belt out those numbers.  One of the most moving numbers was by Gene Weygandt, who Chicago remembers are the Wizard in Chicago's run of Wicked.  He played a retiree who most definitely was regretting the decision of quitting work, something we all supposedly long for one day.  Basically he lost his wife, his friends, and frankly his reason for living.  And then we all wanted to go visit our grandparents after that!  Amazing job.

To sum up, this is the show I could have cared less about and it's the one I've enjoyed from this season's run the most.  From the theater itself, the premise of it, the cast, and the way it still makes me think about it at least 3-4 times a week while I'm in my own job or observing the workings of others.  I hope this goes somewhere because with our economy and job losses lately, it is as relevant today as it was 24 years ago when it first hit Broadway.

Les Miserable (for the second and last time)

When Val and I first started dating, she treated me to Les Miserables at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts in Houston, Texas.  I was ecstatic.  This was a show I dreamed of seeing for ever and now I finally get to see it and how this moving circle thing with people walking on it works....


I also didn't know and/or realize this would be the beginning of a long, long list of shows that Val and I would end up seeing in our lives together.  


Now back in Houston I left feeling, in a word, "meh" about the whole experience.  But then again, I've hated the acoustics in that theater (don't get me started about the 2nd time I saw Rent and couldn't even hear the first act) so I wasn't surprised.  


So when we heard that Les Mis was coming to Chicago, we bought the season ticket package and were off!  It was the first show of the new season!

this was taken leaving Wicked 2 months before

So we were off with some high hopes of seeing this epic show in a new light.  I read about how it's been redone for the 25th Anniversary.  The turning center of the stage is gone.  There's new stage scenery and some new technology?  I'm interested!


Unfortunately though, we left with the same "meh" feeling once more.  I think that was the last chance I'm giving Les Miserables on stage.  Though the music continues to move me.  I think we just haven't seen any strong individuals in this show.  No one's voice is carrying the way that they use to in the Les Mis shows of old (and on CDs) so our expectations are high.  As an ensemble though the weight that the songs have is amazing.  

Luckily we knew the lyrics because some of them ended up getting lost for whatever reason.  Muffled sounds.  So weird in such a great theater!  Valjean was just a loud singer.  Nothing to write home about.  Fantine made me cringe at times.  Éponine was actually one of my favorites. And then later on the train ride home we had a laugh about how the auditions must be for Young Cossette.  The child's voice almost sounds recorded because no matter what production you're seeing 'Castle on a Cloud' sounds *exactly* the same!  


The changes I happened to like while Val did not.  The lack of the moving stage didn't bother me too much.  Now there's a screen behind them showing a road (or sewer etc) and the perception of it makes it seem like they're actually moving.  The sewer scene made me slightly nauseous even with how it made my sense feel like I was watching a movie!  Also, *SPOILER ALERT* for the death of Javier, that was much better than the actor jumping off the "bridge" and down the stage hole below.  He is now hoisted and hovers flailing his arms and legs while the scene moves behind him quickly giving the illusion of falling down.  It was beautiful (I guess as suicide can be?) and that image has still stuck with me.  


Also of course, the epic battle scene (or as I like to call it "EVERYONE DIES!!!").  They really make you feel like you're behind the barricade with them.  Feel every loud gun shot and feel for every fallen solider.  

All-in-all I'm very happy we tried again.  Oddly enough though the new Les Miserables in Concert was on WTTW when we got home off the train and we ended up watching most of that for the rest of the evening.  Now THAT is what the singing in our show should have sounded like!!  Besides Nick Jonas that is.  Talk about one of these things is not like the other.  His voice does NOT carry with the power in everyone else's.  Kinda feel for the guy.....


What are your experiences with Les Miserables?  Have you seen the updated version?  Like it or loathe it?