There's No Business Like Show Business- Broadway, West End, and Other Theater

[peibeck]

I do think it might be a little small in terms of scope and feel to become a lasting classic. I think it would be a worthy Best Musical winner, but I can easily see a musical that feels bigger taking that award whether it is better or not.

Sometimes smaller show underdogs win. "Avenue Q," "Kimberly Akimbo," "A Strange Loop," "A Band's Visit" all come to mind, and many of those are pretty recent.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Sometimes smaller show underdogs win. "Avenue Q," "Kimberly Akimbo," "A Strange Loop," "A Band's Visit" all come to mind, and many of those are pretty recent.

I'm not sure I agree that Avenue Q is similar. It does have more of a vibe with the others you listed, though. We'll have to see what else comes up and what is good.

 

[peibeck]

I'm not sure I agree that Avenue Q is similar. It does have more of a vibe with the others you listed, though. We'll have to see what else comes up and what is good.

I just remember "Avenue Q" toppling "Wicked" and how that seemed quite a huge deal at the time because road producers were flipping on how a small, "naughty" show with cursing puppets was going to play across middle America. (And theater subscriptions were flagging at the time.)

 

[manhn]

I saw the pro shot of Come From Away and have rewatched it several times since. I think it’d make a great FD? Loved it!

 

[Orm Irian]

Sometimes smaller show underdogs win. "Avenue Q," "Kimberly Akimbo," "A Strange Loop," "A Band's Visit" all come to mind, and many of those are pretty recent.

Also A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder! Now there's an OBC recording an ice dance team should skate their FD to...

Something theatrical that I thought would never happen is happening next year: Hadestown is coming to Australia! With Christine Anu playing Hermes, oh my. I've already bought my ticket and will take flying long weekend to Melbourne in May to see it (it won't come to my home town, as the one stage that could accommodate it will be out of commission for an auditorium revamp).

 

[peibeck]

Also A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder! Now there's an OBC recording an ice dance team should skate their FD to...

Something theatrical that I thought would never happen is happening next year: Hadestown is coming to Australia! With Christine Anu playing Hermes, oh my. I've already bought my ticket and will take flying long weekend to Melbourne in May to see it (it won't come to my home town, as the one stage that could accommodate it will be out of commission for an auditorium revamp).

I have to say "Gentleman's Guide" was not only a GREAT musical score, but also very under-rated. It did last about two-and-a-half years on Broadway, but it needed two of those to finally break even, even through the production's budget was a moderate (for a Broadway musical) $7.5M.

I hope you enjoy "Hadestown," I loved the touring production I saw, but the friend who I saw it with was a bit upset with how sad it was. I had to remind him it's based on a Greek tragedy!!!

 

[Wyliefan]

I LOVED Gentleman's Guide!

 

[canbelto]

So tonight I saw my first ever live Gypsy. I have seen the movie and also listened to several soundtracks, but a live Gypsy is always a special event.

Overall, I loved it! What a great musical! It was three hours long but never felt long. The book just carries you along and there's never a dull moment. There are also no small roles in Gypsy -- everyone is a real character and three dimensional. So I loved, loved, loved seeing it live.

I thought Audra was vocally incredible. I've listened to Ethel Merman and Patti Lupone and the other belters and while Audra does have a different vocal production, she now belts a lot more than she seemed to in early previews (there were a few recordings floating around). What's more, her vocal production seems more ... idk, Great Depression era? Remember Jeanette MacDonald and those operetta-ish stars? She truly throws herself into the role, and was crying real tears in "Rose's Turn." "Rose's Turn" predictably brought down the house, and earned her a standing O. But "Small World" was really touching.

With that being said, I thought second act Audra was stronger than first act. I thought Audra played Rose too crazy from the start. She seemed deranged from her entrance. I've come across quite a few real-life Mama Roses and what they all have in common is a kind of surface charm. Like they're just so fun and charming UNTIL you don't agree that their little darlings are STARS. I would have liked Audra to dial down the crazy a little. I also didn't agree to dressing Audra in dowdy church dresses from the beginning. Isn't Rose supposed to be a fairly attractive young single mom at the beginning of the musical?

The other weakness I thought was Joy Woods as Louise. I thought she was good as the shy wallflower, but I didn't buy her transfromation into burlesque star who has expensive tastes. Her final confrontation with Mama Rose fell a little flat.

I liked the more hopeful ending. I understand that in some revivals Louise completely severs ties with Rose. In this version she doesn't.

I really loved Jordan Tyson (June). The way she grimaced while dancing the excruciatingly bad numbers was both funny and sad. I thought making June the light-skinned sister was pretty clever. And Danny Burstein did his usual great job as Herbie, although if there's one character I think is boring, it's Herbie. The three strippers were hilarious, especially Lesli Margherita.

The sets were okay -- kind of simple, relied on a few backdrop flats, but fluid and you always understood what was happening. I also enjoyed Camille A. Brown's choreo, although I would have liked to see Jerome Robbins' originals.

So overall, great time. Warning: the Majestic is EXTREMELY hot. I am someone who is always cold, and I was sweating throughout.