Tom Daniels and Greg Gilman
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---- 2024 Broadway: Tom Daniels and Greg Gilman |
Hello Friends and Family, Here is another record of our annual trip to Broadway. We are Tom Daniels [Oakland] and, Greg Gilman [Palm Springs] . This is Tom’s 12th year and Greg’s 10th year. The shows are reviewed by Greg. Tom adds photos and generates this e-mailing. If you’d like to be removed from the list, no worries. Please let Tom know so he can delete your e-mail address! As usual, our first full day in New York is a busy one. By 10:00 AM we make the rounds of the box offices to find the best seats. One of us is unnatually tall and requests an aisle seat. We bought 2 shows months ago and will get the rest this morning. With tickets in hand, we have 2 shows today! |
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---- 2:00 pm Wed Apr 24- Back to the Future “The Musical” Welcome back to Broadway 2024. Today’s date is April 25. This is the date when all of the “Broadway” shows must officially open in order to qualify for the 77th Tony Awards 2024. What this means is that as many as 16 shows have just gone from previews to officially opening, and frozen in time. This also means that the “vulture” reviewers can swoop down upon a show and give their highly self promoting opinions which can make or break the success of a show—sometimes completely devastating a production if the “word of mouth” is not favorable. I, (your own personal “vulture”,) do not have that power, so never fear. I will always try to find something good about a show to compensate for the exorbitant amount of money that we spend for the tickets.
As you know these annual trips to New York that Tom and I endure are designed to spread Culture and Artistic Merit to the Academic study of “The THEATRE.” But sometimes we just want to have some fun and stimulation. Sometimes we just want to see the progress that is being made to bring CGI to the stage to attract the non-theater crowd to the magic of live theater. Our first show is just that: “Back to the Future-The Musical.” I am assuming that everyone will have seen the movie(s) and have an idea of the plot: Mad inventor rigs a “DeLorean” to travel back through time where Marty McFly almost has an affair with his mother thereby cancelling his own existence in the future. (That old Chestnut.) Well, that’s what happens here, too—only with music!
This production was put together for the West End crowd in London where it was a huge success. Some of the great music which was written for the movie is used, including the spectacular overture by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. However, whenever a musical dance number starts, the momentum of the story falls flat and dancing girls appear for no real reason, except for that it’s a “Musical.” And in England, is that what they think musicals are?
But now let’s get to the good part. The real star of the show is the DeLorean, and the completely electrified proscenium which encompasses most of the theater. With constantly moving lights and projections which come from who knows where you are surrounded with stimulation. When the DeLorean is in flight you are seeing a live car at full speed maneuvering the dangerous speeds and curves into the future. Of course, what you are seeing are the background projections flying by with the car turning on the stage. Then you have a loud explosion, and it all disappears. It is very effective.
The sound effects are deafening to the point of piercing your very being. This is what you came for. This is seeing what can be done live in front of you which takes you on the same ride as in a movie. This is what the entire audience of children have come to see; and they scream and scream right along with the explosions. This is what you paid the big bucks for. One could ask oneself if this takes it so far that the children do not realize that this is THEATRE, not an amusement park ride. Will this magic stay with them and encourage them to make THEATRE a part of their future? One must hope that it sticks with them just as Mary Martin flying around the stage in Peter Pan did for me at age 8 or 9. I don’t know. I think of that line of Yogi Berra: “The Future isn’t what it used to be.”
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I hope you are having a great time! Your emails are always enjoyable! Mark C. Thanks for this. I enjoy all vicariously. Tell Greg hi for us! Dianne. H Yay! I’m seeing this play May 23 Thank you! Michael B. Thanks, Tom, for keeping me on this list and for your photos. Thanks, Greg, for your reviews--fun reads. Hope to join you guys next year. Leroy C. YEA! More Boardway reviews! I am delighted to still be on your list. I am still seeing shows through you. My hubby has Alzheimer's so my chances of ever seeing a live play again are minimal. Keep them coming. And you guys have a wonderful time. Not only with seeing plays but in having the fun NYC experience. Paula A. Hey Tom (and Greg) I've read both reviews. So well written and documented! I love the dichotomy of the two plays you saw yesterday - from fantastic light shows to heartbreaking pathos. A little bit of me feels like I'm there with you - and I wish I were ��. Barbara F. Tom, I just want to thank you �� for the reviews… Melanie your Ww friend ������
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Thx Tom and Greg, We always enjoy the reviews and, please, keep us on your list! Have a great time… Mike and Barbara C. Tom, I just want to thank you �� for the reviews… Melanie your Ww friend ������ love being on your list! Have fun....have you seen Kimberly Akimbo? saw that and Doubt in March..... xo Terri and Laurie So by saying nothing I take it you guys really didnt care for this? No Tony noms for the car? Kevin W. Tom/Greg: Thoroughly delightful to receive the what I assume will be daily chronicles of your trip. Greg, love your observations and the writing. Tom, thanks for technical acumen. Enjoy your stay, fellows. Hope to see you both in the desert soon. Ken C. Great pictures! Looks like a fun play! Have fun! Rick G. Oh Goodie, I cannot wait to read your reviews and comments. This one sounds like a "downer" but with Jessica Lang in it and the other superbe actors, it must have been very well performed. I have forwarded it off to my friend, Judy Hodges, who loves getting them as well. I will include her email so that you might put her on your mailing list. Hope you are finding NYC weather agreeable. Keep those fabulous reviews and pictures coming! Much love to you all, Noreen M. |
---- 7:00 pm Wed Apr 24 - Mother Play -A play in Five Evictions A new play which opens today, April 25. (We saw the very last “preview” last night.) Written by Paula Vogel, a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright (How I learned to drive.) And directed by Tina Landau who has written and directed many original works for Broadway. Produced by the Second Stage Theater. Starring: Celia Keenan-Bolger (Tony for “To Kill a Mockingbird”), Jim Parsons (The Boys in the Band, The Big Bang Theory) and Jessica Lange (Tony Award, 2 Oscars, 3 Emmies, etc.)
The playwright Paula Vogel has written a story from her own life about her mother and her brother. The time spans from when the kids were pre-adolescents over several decades. At the start we have a bare stage where young Martha (Celia) explains about the furniture being on casters to make it easier to pack and un-pack. Carl (Jim) is a few years older than Martha and is the studious child. They both are used to the fact that they will be moving soon, again. It seems that their father has left them and their mother Phyllis (Jessica.) She is forced to raise them as a single mother without any financial support from the father who has found another younger wife.
As time and evictions go on, we learn that Phyllis is an alcoholic and has difficulty keeping work. Martha, the daughter, is struggling to be noticed by her mother, but always seems to be overshadowed by Carl who is his mother’s favorite. The relationship between the brother and sister is solid and necessary to help them survive the mother’s behavior. As more time goes on, we see the young people develop more of their characters, and we see Martha pulling further away from the mother because the mother sees only her ex-husband in her. As for Carl, he is becoming more outgoing, and impressed by culture and fashion—but still favored by the mother because he shows the “class” that she has always aspired to.
As time goes on we see what the mother hasn’t seen and Carl comes out as gay. Perhaps she saw it too, but it is not what she would want others to know about her and her family. She refuses to accept it, and will not see him as her son anymore. He moves out, and Martha is not to see him anymore. Time passes again, and we move into the era of AIDS. Efforts are made to forgive, but the mother is unable to see herself in this position. Soon, Martha also realizes that she is a lesbian, and is also sent away. You can see where this story is headed. Themes of loneliness, shame, forgiveness, betrayal etc. are all experienced surrounded by the idea of EVICTION. What make this play a bit different from other “MOTHER” plays in that this was written by a woman, directed by a woman and is seen through the eyes of a woman. I cannot say how the pain is any worse as seen by a woman because these are universal struggles. We are taken all the way to the end of the mother’s days in a “care facility” where much is forgotten by her, but not by Martha (Paula Vogel) who has gone on to write her story in the form of this play about her mother.
Needless to say the performances are extremely strong, with powerful silences which say so much. There are some humourous moments, fortunately. All three of the actors are superb. Let’s see what the “Vultures” say about this production. We will learn in the newspapers tomorrow morning.
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What a great trip. I’m going to Croatia on Sunday - back May 22. Enjoy your Broadway shows! Hi to Greg. Eric S. Oh goody! More news from people who actually travel to other places! Love, Nancy D. I’m guessing you liked this production ? XOXO Mary F. What fun plays you are seeing! Thank you for sharing. you are such a good writer I feel like I am there with you. Paula A. |
But what did you think of it!? Swoon for Sondheim Kevin W. I'm so glad you got to see this. I envy you. Barbara F. Great review! Thanks! Noreen M. Tom and Greg, Thanks for the reviews and pics. I especially appreciated the questions raised in the Back to the Future review. Dancing Girls? Gleeps! as my grandmother used to say. I couldn't tell whether you liked the Mother play or not. I'll look for the official vulture take on it in the Times. Sondheim, it seems, has triumphed once more. Well, like Proud Mary, or Old Man River, may you both just keep on rollin' along! Cheers, Charles B. |
---- 7:00 PM Thu Apr 25 - Merrily we Roll Along Early in 1980 Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim found a 1934 play by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart called Merrily We Roll Along. It was a play about friendship between 3 friends over the course of 20 years. It fascinated Sondheim because it told the story in reverse. The story starts as a friendship at its lowest and most bitter point, and makes its way back to when they were young and full of new ideas for the future. This sort of approach was what Sondheim and his mind of complex puzzles needed to set it all to music. He took the basic idea and created Franklin Shepard, a talented composer of musicals who over the course of 20 years abandons his calling to pursue a big time Hollywood career.
His best friend Charley Kringas, a lyricist and playwright continues to work with Franklin until his Hollywood ambition takes him away from his true gift of music composing. The third friend, Mary Flynn, a novelist, a journalist and eventually a critic is the glue that holds the friendship together until she realizes that her friendship for Franklin turns to a painful love as she watches him marry and divorce and marry again.
The original production in 1981 was a chaotic mess. The story was set to go between 1980 back to 1957 Hal Prince and Sondheim wanted to maintain the freshness and youth of friendship, and hired actors who were teenagers and in their early 20’s to portray the various periods of their relationships. Wanting to keep the storyline simple they also chose to have them wear t-shirts and sweat shirts with only their character’s name on them. This confused the audience as many of the themes were adult and they couldn’t follow the storyline in its reverse telling. The show closed after 16 performances, but not before they could make an Original Cast Album. Sondheim’s brilliant score lived in the minds of many directors, and several attempts were made to make the storyline work, both in England and in the US. It took 41 years for the puzzle parts to come together and finally make the Broadway Smash that it should have been all along. This production beautifully cast stars Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Spring Awakening, Glee, etc.) as Franklin Shepard; Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, Equus, How to Succeed in Business, etc.) as Charley Kringus; and Lindsay Mendez (Tony award Carousel, Wicked, etc.) as Mary Flynn. This trio of singers and particularly talented actors were able to convey not only the freshness of youth, true friendship but also the bitterness and heartbreak of adulthood.
The story un-weaves a complicated relationship back to struggling artists who are full of enthusiasm and naïve youth with the confidence that they have in each other to succeed in the world. We are taken back to the moment when they meet each other on the roof of a building in NYC and happen to observe Sputnik triggering a dream and new direction in their lives singing “Our Time.” It is a happy moment full of hope, but unfortunately we, as the audience know better. The perfect complex contradiction that Sondheim loves to create which leaves us pondering.
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---- 7:00 PM Fri Apr 25 - Appropriate (But first: A note to my faithful readers) I, (Greg), have received some feedback asking; “Yes, but did you like it?” I suppose I have been subtle about my enthusiasm. People like things for different reasons. Each of the shows, so far, has been so different that my reasons vary according to the show: • “Back to the Future” was a thrill to watch for technical reasons. That’s why I wanted to see that show all along. I knew what to expect from the story, but wanted to be surprised by what can be done on stage. I liked it for that reason. • “Mother Play- A play in five Evictions” was an unknown except for the actors. I was excited to see all three: Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jim Parsons and, of course, Jessica Lane. They were not a disappointment. Stronger actors cannot be found. The storyline between parents and children, unfortunately, is familiar to the stage (and perhaps) real life. I know life is hard. I was honored to see the performances. (On a side note, the seats at the Hayes Theatre are perhaps the unkindest torture that can be afflicted on a person who is paying too much money to sit in them. During the play I had to leave my orchestra seat and climb to the back of the balcony so I could stand up to watch the end.) Acting? Yes! Seats? NO!! • It almost is not necessary to ask about “Merrily We Roll Along.” I have been a Sondheim fan since I attended my first Sondheim show “A Little Night Music” in 1973. I am completely familiar with all of the music down to the detailed orchestrations. This production of “Merrily…” turns out to be the definitive example of what Sondheim had in mind. The cast was brilliant, (and lovable.) They portrayed true friends from beginning to end (or should I say" from the end to the beginning") even though the end was catastrophic, which made it even more poignant. Yes. I loved it, and everyone should see these actors. ============================================= This brings us to: Appropriate The first question usually asked is: Is that Appropriate the adj? or Appropriate the verb? The answer is “Yes.” The first performance of “Appropriate” by Branden Jacobs Jenkins was in 2013. Several productions around the country, and off Broadway brought much attention to this dark comedy/drama. Finally it opened December of 2023 at the Hayes Theater (Yes…with the painful seats) where the run was so popular that they extended and moved to The Belasco Theater where it is having sold out performances (and the seats are more comfortable.)
The cast is lead by Sarah Paulson (Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe winner) and Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Scenes from a Marriage, Ratched, etc.) The entire cast moved to the new location except that Elle Fanning was replaced by Ella Beatty (Julliard-trained daughter of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.)
The story follows the extremely dysfunctional Lafayette family who has returned to the plantation house in Arkansas after the death of their father. Each of the family members: Toni (Paulson) with son Rhys; Bo (Stoll) with wife and 2 kids; Frank (Michael Esper) with ditzy girlfriend River (Beatty) have ulterior motives about the inheritance which, of course, has nothing to do with MONEY.
The father, a hoarder, has left the enormous plantation with the two-story living room just loaded with junk: books, lamps, mismatched furniture and piles of memorabilia which the family must sort through. While they are sorting they basically tear each other apart with the memory of each other’s mistakes in the past, when they stumble across a photo album which shocks them. Here are photos of lynchings and bodies of black workers which they try not to attribute to the father. Each of the players has a dark period in their past which pours out in painful episodes: lies, rape, affairs, pedophiles, racism, anti-semitism and even the house has a secret with two grave yards on the property.
The set is magnificent with its ornate living room covered in piles of the past. The lighting is superb with each scene ending with a white flash punctuating the event uncovered. And the ending is a strong illustration how toxic the house and all of the people in it have become.
The play should be outstanding except for one big problem. The actors are all professionals, but have lost the ability to project the dialogue. Only Sarah Paulson can be understood. When she sits and speaks to one of the family members the only person you hear is her. You notice the mouths are moving in response, but you cannot hear the words. Perhaps they have been performing so many times that they no longer are aware of their volume. Perhaps the director has not been there recently to remind them that they must be heard in order to succeed in their portrayal. Thank goodness for the fighting scenes because at least then you hear their voices. This annoyance affected my overall appreciation of this play. Our seats were in the orchestra, and I can only feel sorry for the audience members who were up in the balconies. Could it be only me? Could I be losing my hearing? Maybe, but this wasn’t my first play. A very important part of the success of this show was missing.
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| Hi gentlemen, just a note to say how I so enjoy reading your theater reviews. Your commentary is witty and intelligent, as well as thoughtful and insightful. You guys seem to do every year what I wish I could: go to lots of plays. I really enjoy seeing love shows, but alas, I'm afraid annual trips to Broadway are outside of our budget. So I have to live vicariously through your experiences. Thank you so much for sharing. Chris J. | Sounds wonderful, I nearly needed a hanky just looking at the photos and reading your review. Leroy C What a beautifully written capture of this work. Many thanks. Thank you, Gregory, for a wide-screen assessment of the many aspects of the play. My hearing issues would completely influence my rating of the play. Wish I’d seen it. (Merrily) Sylvia K. Am I the only person in the world not to have seen the movie???? (Notebook) Or know the story??? Your review hit home as I am now caretaker for my husband with Alzheimer's. A once smart vibrant person. I know you guys are having a good time. Do it while you can!! Paula A |
---- 2:00 PM Sat Apr 26 - The Notebook (the musical) Joining the Book to Movie to Musical succession which has been feeding Broadway of late is the famous novel by Nicholas Sparks “The Notebook.” There is hardly a movie fan who hasn’t seen this Nick Cassavetes romance/drama starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner and Gena Rowlands about the joy of everlasting love and the heart break of dementia. Much of the success of the Kleenex Company is due to this tearjerker. This movie could produce a tear to a glass eye! (But in a nice way.)
This story has now been brought to Broadway set to music. We still have the younger couple: lumberyard worker Noah and rich girl Allie who instantly fall in love; but we also have Middle Noah and Middle Allie, and older Noah and older Allie. Three of the same couple who tell the story of “boy meets girl,” boy separated from girl because of social status, and ultimately man and wife together for 60 years until dementia wipes away most of Allie’s memory, but not Noah’s.
This time, in order to convey the universality of love and emotion, the three couples do not resemble each other, but are played by actors of different races. Young Noah and Middle Noah are white, and older Noah, the story teller, is black. It is the reverse for our Allie’s. For the audience member who has not done a bit of research into this production, it can be confusing at first, but soon you become accustomed to the characters. In many cases all three couples move in and out of scenes together and not in any chronological order. There is never doubt that the couple gets together, as the story in the notebook is being read by older Noah to older Allie in an effort to rekindle her memory. The production values are beautifully detailed. In the movie an indelible image is the couple embracing for the first time in a downpour. We also see the young couple wading in a pond with flowing water. Water seems to be a theme all the way to the end when we are wiping away our tears. (I believe it is only coincidental that his name is Noah.) The magic of Broadway is that there seems to be an inexhaustible source of great actors who can act and sing beautifully. This is certainly the case here.
The cast is beautiful and can successfully sing in alarmingly high voices. The music is so melodically orchestrated that rather than songs you will carry with you, they are left in the theater as an underscore to create the mood to the telling of the story. All of this is to say that the production is predictable as it evokes the appropriate feelings.
The book for the musical was even written by Bekah Brunstetter who wrote the television series “This is Us.” However, this is NOT to say that the deep feelings of love and the cruel memory loss from dementia is not something that shouldn’t be brought to our attention as a reality of life. These are human feelings. So, I, too sat with my Kleenex trying not to judge those who couldn’t be moved by this love story. (Well, I TRY not to judge.)
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Regarding Appropriate - Please tell Greg it would be appropriate to have STAGE ACTORS AND NOT TV CELEBRITIES on a Broadway stage! Thank you for your review! Tom and Greg, Thank you so much for sharing your always fantastic Broadway trip with us. Love seeing the photo stills and fabulous reviews worthy of publication. Hope you two had fun in the city and had fabulous NYC sex in a pool of beautiful people. Kevin Kevin W.
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Hi Tom, Thanks for your email! Your insights on the shows you saw during your NYC visit were really interesting. I appreciate your review of "Water for Elephants" and how it managed to receive 7 nominations. It's always great to hear about what's happening in the theatre world. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. Hope to catch some of the shows you mentioned if I ever make it to NYC myself. Best regards, Rosemary J. |
---- 8:00 PM Sat Apr 26 - Hells Kitchen, A new musical on Broadway!
“A love story between a mother and a daughter…the experience of growing up in New York City, really chasing a dream, trying to find who you are, discovering your identity and really following your heart.” These are the words of Alicia Keys, the 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, producer, New York Times best selling author, etc., etc. describing her semi-autobiographical musical production which has made it to Broadway, just a few doors down from where she grew up—in Hell’s Kitchen.
Broadway has been producing a series of plays which are now classified as “Juke Box Musicals” incorporating sometimes familiar music associated with a performer into a biographical storyline: “MJ” Michael Jackson, “Cher Show” Cher, “A Beautiful Noise” Neil Diamond and others. With all of Alicia Keys successes it’s understandable that part of her life would fit beautifully into a musical. Last year the show was produced off Broadway, and in April moved to the Shubert Theatre with the original cast of singers, dancers, musicians and production team. The same director of “The Notebook” directed “Hell’s Kitchen” running simultaneously within a few doors of each other.
For the multi-talented artist that Keys is, you would imagine that she was able to cast only the best of performers. The young girl Ali (Maleah Joi Moon) who plays a 17 year old, IS 17 years old, and “this girl’s on Fire!” She was a Disney talent find, and a triple threat. The mother Jersey, is played by Shoshana Bean who has been working on Broadway for years.
The character of Davis, the estranged father is Brandon Victor Dixon, who sings and plays the piano like nobody’s business!
And the woman who plays Ali’s piano teacher Miss Liza Jane, is Kecia Lewis who is celebrating 40 years in the entertainment industry, starting at 18 with the original “Dreamgirls.” Watch for these actors to receive Tony nominations on April 30th for their brilliant work.
The rest of the cast are young dancers and singers whose energy levels provide the electricity to light up the entire stage. The new style of dancing is very athletic and sometimes takes away from the storyline, but never fails to impress. The music consists of some of the best-known works of Alicia Keys, including some new material written for the show. Although the story doesn’t follow Alicia Keys’ real life completely, we have the Mother/Daughter conflict and the love successfully portrayed, and Ali has begun to chase her dream. This should be considered another feather on the already multi-plumed bonnet worn by Alicia Keys.
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---- 3:00 PM Sun Apr 27 - The Great Gatsby--The Musical The Great Gatsby – With apologies to the F. Scott Fitzgerald scholars of “The Great Gatsby” I proceed. I needed a refresher course on the reasons why we are to study this all-important story.
We are to learn about metaphors and symbolism. We are to discuss the morality of the 1920’s. Societal norms are to be reflected upon. The American spirit and will to reinvent ourselves is a driving theme. This and more is all well and good. But I’m afraid the “MUSICAL” version would not make our English teachers very happy. For me it all boils down to “New Money” vs. “Old Money.”
We begin without any back story by meeting Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest who is a new bond salesman in New York in search of a place to live. He finds an unbelievable opportunity to rent a cottage on Long Island for next to nothing, and he jumps at the offer. Nick is going to be our observer and narrator.
It seems that the cottage is on the property of a Jay Gatsby (“new money”) who has a fabulous mansion overlooking a mysterious green light across the Long Island Sound. Gatsby’s mansion seems to be in constant party mode with people who are enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Gatsby without really ever seeing him.
Eva Noblezada as Daisy Buchanan and Jeremy Jordan as Jay Gatsby at the mansion. It just so happens (surprise!) that Nick is the cousin of Daisy Buchanan, married to “old money” Tom Buchanan who live at the villa with the green light on the dock across the sound. He pays them a visit and discovers their posh lifestyle which usually excludes the likes of Nick Carraway. Meanwhile Nick is summoned to the mansion of Jay Gatsby for an unknown reason. For those of you who somewhat remember the story know that Gatsby who had neither “New” or “Old “money, but NO money, fell in love with Daisy shortly before leaving to go to war. Much of the story revolves around Gatsby trying to make enough money to win respectability and the love of Daisy.
This is where Nick comes in. He is to have a “tea party” at the cottage and invite his cousin Daisy, so that they can get back together again. I am not going to retell the whole story, but suffice it to say that the story of the “Great Gatsby” is an all out tragedy where the “Musical” is full of dancing, frivolity, drinking and murder. It has all the trappings of the original story but has a little trouble putting it all together. Almost everyone is a horrible person who has lost their morals, judgement, fidelity and common sense, but the music plays on.
The sets are magnificent examples of Art Deco splendor. The scenic and projection design is by Paul Tate DePoo III, (such a fun name) and are worthy of all of the attention that they are receiving. The lighting is magical and creates the appropriate mystery that is needed. The choreography is suitable for the 1920’s. Costumes are gold and shimmering and people look fabulous. There are even 2 cars on this stage: yellow and blue. Eat your heart out "Back to the Future".
The cast is lead by Jeremy Jordan who has become Broadway’s sweetheart. He is attractive and has a booming stage voice. He has faithful fans around the country because of his cabaret shows worldwide. Those fans hoot and holler when he sings. Daisy is played by Eva Noblezada who has received a couple of Tony nominations: Hadestown and Miss Saigon. Nick Carraway is played by Noah J. Ricketts who received a lot of attention from his role in “Fellow Travelers.” The rest of the cast is well put together impressive singers and actors.
With all of this talent, I am trying to decide what it is that didn’t quite work for me. Perhaps it is because it can’t quite decide if it’s a comedy or a drama. You spend time with people who are miserable examples of humanity who are cruel to each other, and not in a funny way. I feel guilty because of the extreme talent it takes to put together a spectacle like this to say nothing of the money. Could it be that F. Scott Fitzgerald really didn’t want people to dance and sing to his brutal comment about America? Perhaps. I did not leave the theater humming to the music. I left the theater humming to the magnificent scenery, instead.
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---- 7:00 PM Tue Apr 27 - Water for Elephants We are now down to the last play of our NYC visit. While we were here, 30 April, the nominations for the Tony Awards were announced. Some of the shows we saw have been nominated: Appropriate, Mother Play, Hell’s Kitchen, Merrily We Roll Along, and our last show Water For Elephants. All in all, the nominations were brutal when you consider the number of shows that opened. It seems that the shows that opened in the last few weeks seemed to take the attention of the voters. A few that have closed already did get some attention. However, there were some financially risky shows which got very little or no recognition. Perhaps there were too many shows opening all at once for the ticket-buyers to possibly support. There were 15 brand new ones and yet “The Lion King,” “Wicked” and “Hamilton” are still the highest grossers on Broadway. These new ones will have a struggle to survive. This brings us to “Water for Elephants.” It did manage to receive 7 nominations but with some of the reviewers that was a bit of a surprise. Everyone’s favorite critique Rex Reed (now 85 ) said that with “The Notebook” he thought that he had seen the worst of 2024. But after seeing “Water for Elephants” he said that he was wrong. Well, that was Rex Reed, who has made a career on being blunt and controversial. He was wrong.
This show is another Book to Movie to Musical endeavor. A young veterinarian student during the Great Depression had a tragedy occur where both his parents were killed in a car crash. This left him without a home. He hit the road by jumping the first train he could find. It happened to be a Circus train. He talked his way into a job caring for the animals who were mistreated because of the money situation.
Of course he falls in love with one of the performers who happens to be the wife of the brutal owner. The story revolves around the 3 way love/hate relationship, and, of course, an elephant. It is true that the cast is very capable and talented, but no one sticks out who carries the heavy load of elevating the storyline.
There are extremely talented acrobats who have come from “Cirque du Soleil” and dancers who execute amazing routines. The animals are puppets which do convey the nature of the animals but not to the magic accomplishment of “The Lion King”, "War Horse" or "Life of Pi", for example. The music and lyrics are quite easy to like, and are written by PIGPEN THEATRE CO, who apparently, as a band, have released several albums of folk tunes. Choreography and scenic design are wonderful, however only convey a partial picture of the dramatic story taking place.
All in all, it was a pleasant evening at the theatre, and nowhere near a waste of time. But not the blockbuster needed to promise a long future on Broadway.
Thank you all for your comments about the shows. It is always a treat to see what the new Broadway season provides. The Broadway Industry doesn’t really have the attention of the country. It is a rather specialized group of fans and community. But for well over 100 years it has been the heartbeat, the history and the rhythm of New York City. Live theater will always be an important artistic experience. Combining man’s need to express him/herself by painting, dance, architecture, writing, music and the visual arts it happens to be the medium that displays them all at the same time. Hopefully, we'll see you all next year. |
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Thanks again to both of you for taking the time to give me, and others, vicarious enjoyment of live Broadway theater. Leroy C Bravo - loved all the reviews !!!!! Terri C. Thank you for your wonderful emails. I appreciated your thoughtful and well written observations. Todd H Thank you for sharing these well written and interesting observations about the plays. I love reading these email. Pauline R. I always love receiving these, thank you for taking the time to write these again this year!! Kate O Great recaps......wish I could see one(?). Luv ya..... Linda D. |
Dear Tom and Greg, Thanks for taking us along on another memorable Broadway experience. We so enjoy the wonderful pictures and commentary. How exciting to be there for the Tony nomination announcements. For some reason we did not receive installment #7. We are currently in Japan, so maybe transmission was somehow garbled. Again, thanks for including us ~ we really appreciate it. Safe travels home. Warmest regards, David and Rolf Tom, I recently re-read The Great Gatsby and found it wanting. Not at all what I remembered at first reading lo those many years ago. Enjoyed the review of the musical. Always get a vicarious kick out of your annual treks to New York. Love, Sylvia S. |
---- Hudson Theater Tour This morning we were up early to get the day going. At our hotel we have little coupons for breakfast. We can choose between a nice $6.50 fixed price breakfast or a “Grab and Go” and we can choose between 3 restaurants (2 of which are in our hotel and one is next door.) This morning we were rushed so we opted for the GnG and it was nice. I had an egg sandwich on a roll. Greg had the granola parfait. Then we rushed off to meet friend Jeff who had flown all night from Phoenix. Jeff had reserved a helicopter shuttle from JFK to 30th St at the Hudson River but because of the visit of POTUS to NYC, that air service was cancelled. Our meeting place was for the Hudson Theater at 10:00 AM, at 44th Street and 7th Avenue. The tour of this historic theater was led by Tim Dolan and was quite nice.
At the turn of the prior century, the theaters moved from around 34th Street (Herald Square) up to 42 Street (Time Square). The Hudson Theater was built in 1903 and retains most of the decorations from that period. We learned lots of details of theater in addition to the building, the stars, the staging, etc. The signature hexagon shape is found all over. The Harris family were the owners of this theater. They were in Paris in 1912 and booked a return to NY on the Titanic. Only the wife survived. She went on to run this theater, and a couple others … for decades. At the tour's end, we entered a VIP lounge on the mezzanine level. Here we found there was an apartment on the top floors over our heads. It had been rented out and when the theater changed hands, the tenant refused to be bought out and stayed (for decades). This ended up saving the theater from being torn down. Now it has historic preservation status and won’t be torn down.
---- 911 Memorial/World Trade Center Visit
The building is named for billionaire Ronald Perelman, who donated $75 million to its construction
Most of the activities take place several stories below ground. The Oculus has 12 subway lines, the World Trade Center PATH station, and the Westfield World Trade Center mall. It also provides access to the entire 16-acre World Trade Center campus.
---- Back at Time Square
I had a big cup of M&Ms personalized.
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I’m jealous. Paz y Amor, Annette Amelia O. Oh, I like the reviews, but this is always my favorite part. Makes me feel like I’ve been along on the trip. Thanks for including me Tom and I hope you had fun! See you soon. Nick V.
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Pants on fire! Sheila D. Nice finish, Tom. Leroy C. Tom, Thank you for your emails, I’m loving them�� Melanie D. Hope you told Tim about our cousin Bessie Waldo Daniels Allison who went down on the Titanic! Ha ha terry Sent from my iPad. Terry D. |
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