What did I do the night before Hurricane Irene? I took in a Broadway show of course. I've been putting this one off as long as humanely possible, because everything I've seen about this show has made me not want to see it. The clips and song performances have been terrible or mediocre at best. Word of mouth has been the same. So, needless to say I went in with the absolute lowest of expectations.
I can now say that Catch me if you can is one of the worst 5 Broadway Musicals I have ever seen. Let's start with what is good though. The music is actually pretty good. By music, I mean the the notes without words (The lyrics are laughable). Marc Shaiman is an extremely talented composer and he has written some wonderfully tuneful melodies for this show.
The next best thing about Catch me if you can is Terrence McNallys book. It's no Master Class or Kiss of the spider woman that is for sure, but he did the best he could with what was available to him. You can tell that some of the songs were written before the book, and he was basically told "ok make these fit into the scene" and he did what he could.
Norbert Leo Butz is doing the same thing with Agent Carl Hanratty (played memorably on film by Tom Hanks). Norbert doesn't completely erase the memory of Tom Hanks performance, but he does succeed in making you accept him in the role. Also, he does very well with his material, adding a bit of fine acting to some terrible songs.
Tom Wopat and Kerry Butler also shine as Frank Sr. and Brenda, respectively. The rest of the supporting cast is doing their best. Where Catch me if you can fails miserably is with Frank William Abignale Jr. which is pretty disappointing considering the entire show is about him.
From the very beginning Frank Jr. is portrayed as a thieving, conniving, womanizing playboy who just did all this for kicks and pussy, pardon my language. This makes the character exceptionally unlikeable. It does not help that his songs are the worst in the show, and that he is constantly surrounded by a bevy of long legged show girls who do not add to the plot in any way. There is very little vulnerability written into the character, which makes him seem inhuman. On top of that, as played by Aaron Tveit, the character is extremely one dimensional.
Unfortunately this musical is based on very familiar source material. Whereas the film presented the story of a kid whose family was so torn apart that he ran away from it, and entered into a life of crime at first out of necessity, and continued because he was convinced it was the only way to save the family he held so dear, which eventually led to his capture, the musical sacrifices all of this human drama and family relationship for catchy tunes that do not fit into the story or advance the plot in any way.
The most enjoyable moment of the show comes late in act II when Brenda is given a wonderful solo, which is preceded and followed by two very well written scenes, and the one and only good song given to Frank Jr. This 20 minutes of good musical theater comes 2 hours in and 20 minutes before the curtain comes down.
Catch me if you can is closing Sunday Sept 4th at The Neil Simon Theater. The same day as Master Class. The play Master Class is for more enjoyable, and far more musical than Catch me if you can. Don't waste your money on Catch me.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Master Class
Maria Callas was a larger than life performer and a larger than life person in her real life. Her talent is considered by many to be unparalleled and her story is a matter of intrigue for opera buffs and regular people alike. Terrence McNally has crafted a masterpiece of a play that gives a shadow of what this woman must have been like, and what made her Maria Callas. Master Class is currently in revival at The Friedman Theater on Broadway under the auspices of Manhattan Theater Club. Tyne Daly is the current link in the chain of wonderful actresses who have played this role in this play.
Ms. Daly commands the stage completely as anyone playing Maria Callas must hope to do. Her Bravura is completely natural. There is absolutely nothing put upon about it. Not only is she over the top in every way that she should be, but she is also at times extremely funny, tender, warm, and vulnerable. Tyne Daly is giving a master class in acting in a play that happens to be titled Master Class.
Her supporting cast suits her just fine. All three students due what their characters are intended to do. The tenor has the strongest voice of all three students, and when he sings it is truly magnificent. Sierra Boggess is recreating the role that won Audra McDonald her second of four Tony Awards. I didn't see miss McDonald in the role, but she must have given a mighty fine performance to have won a Tony for such a small role. Miss. Boggess does fine in the part, but no better then fine.
Overall this is a stunning play that is receiving a first rate Broadway revival with a tremendous star in the role. It only plays until Sept 4th, 2011 so I URGE you to see it if you are in the New York area. You will be completely mesmerized from start to finish.
Ms. Daly commands the stage completely as anyone playing Maria Callas must hope to do. Her Bravura is completely natural. There is absolutely nothing put upon about it. Not only is she over the top in every way that she should be, but she is also at times extremely funny, tender, warm, and vulnerable. Tyne Daly is giving a master class in acting in a play that happens to be titled Master Class.
Her supporting cast suits her just fine. All three students due what their characters are intended to do. The tenor has the strongest voice of all three students, and when he sings it is truly magnificent. Sierra Boggess is recreating the role that won Audra McDonald her second of four Tony Awards. I didn't see miss McDonald in the role, but she must have given a mighty fine performance to have won a Tony for such a small role. Miss. Boggess does fine in the part, but no better then fine.
Overall this is a stunning play that is receiving a first rate Broadway revival with a tremendous star in the role. It only plays until Sept 4th, 2011 so I URGE you to see it if you are in the New York area. You will be completely mesmerized from start to finish.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
All New People
In the opening moments of Zach Braff's (yes that Zach Braff) new dark comedy, Charlie is about to hang himself to the sounds of Celtic rock music. He is suddenly interrupted (rudely, divinely?) by Emma, a real estate agent who is set to show the beach house that Charlie has chosen for his final act to clients who have not yet arrived. From here we begin a journey that brings us to destinations both funny and tragic.
The play shifts it's moods quickly being insanely funny at one moment and incredibly dark and serious the next. Actually, even the comedy is mostly dark and quirky. Two other characters enter the mix, a former drama teacher/drug dealer turned firefighter/drug dealer named Myron and an Escort named Kim. Each of these characters serves a purpose, for the most part, and also bring a bit of brevity to the situation at hand (Charlies impending suicide).
All New People has a double meaning. At first one believes that it refers to the fact that these complete strangers have entered Charlies life at the moment when he had intended to end it. Late in the second half of the intermissionless play however, a small, almost lost moment occurs that sheds a different light.
Braffs text is very good. He has crafted a very interesting story, and drawn characters that are real and three dimensional. The play is a little bit uneven and could use with a some tightening here and there. The play utilizes a device of showing flashbacks on a screen while the actors freeze. Some of these things are very funny, but they slow the action of the play and none of the information that is revealed in the flashbacks is of any importance to the action, and if it is, it is repeated anyhow for the benefit of the other characters who don't know what happened in the flashback, rendering them a waste of time.
The actors populating All New People are quite good for the most part. Justin Bartha tends to get a bit manic to the point of being unbelievable, but he is most effective when he calms down and allows Charlie to be amused by his surroundings. As Emma, Krysten Ritter is at first a bit phony and hard to understand, but as the play warms up so does she. Though she has difficulty selling an abrupt shift toward the end of the play.
David Wilson Barnes does the best at showcasing his characters changes in disposition. He has the ability to portray Myron's arrogance as well as his underlying vulnerability and need for love and acceptance by those around him. As Kim Anna Camp has the most difficult job because her character has the least substance of all four in the play. She does tremendously well at giver Kim a lack of intelligence but at the same time making her sweet, naive, and ultimately very believable. Hers are some of the funniest lines of the play.
All New People closes at Second Stage theater on Sunday August 14th, 2011, but I'm sure it will be a very popular piece in regional theaters. There is also the distinct possibility that it could resurface on Broadway in the coming season, as there are many houses open. Either way, if you can get to second stage by Sunday, or if you find it playing at a theater near you, check it out. You will have a good time.
The play shifts it's moods quickly being insanely funny at one moment and incredibly dark and serious the next. Actually, even the comedy is mostly dark and quirky. Two other characters enter the mix, a former drama teacher/drug dealer turned firefighter/drug dealer named Myron and an Escort named Kim. Each of these characters serves a purpose, for the most part, and also bring a bit of brevity to the situation at hand (Charlies impending suicide).
All New People has a double meaning. At first one believes that it refers to the fact that these complete strangers have entered Charlies life at the moment when he had intended to end it. Late in the second half of the intermissionless play however, a small, almost lost moment occurs that sheds a different light.
Braffs text is very good. He has crafted a very interesting story, and drawn characters that are real and three dimensional. The play is a little bit uneven and could use with a some tightening here and there. The play utilizes a device of showing flashbacks on a screen while the actors freeze. Some of these things are very funny, but they slow the action of the play and none of the information that is revealed in the flashbacks is of any importance to the action, and if it is, it is repeated anyhow for the benefit of the other characters who don't know what happened in the flashback, rendering them a waste of time.
The actors populating All New People are quite good for the most part. Justin Bartha tends to get a bit manic to the point of being unbelievable, but he is most effective when he calms down and allows Charlie to be amused by his surroundings. As Emma, Krysten Ritter is at first a bit phony and hard to understand, but as the play warms up so does she. Though she has difficulty selling an abrupt shift toward the end of the play.
David Wilson Barnes does the best at showcasing his characters changes in disposition. He has the ability to portray Myron's arrogance as well as his underlying vulnerability and need for love and acceptance by those around him. As Kim Anna Camp has the most difficult job because her character has the least substance of all four in the play. She does tremendously well at giver Kim a lack of intelligence but at the same time making her sweet, naive, and ultimately very believable. Hers are some of the funniest lines of the play.
All New People closes at Second Stage theater on Sunday August 14th, 2011, but I'm sure it will be a very popular piece in regional theaters. There is also the distinct possibility that it could resurface on Broadway in the coming season, as there are many houses open. Either way, if you can get to second stage by Sunday, or if you find it playing at a theater near you, check it out. You will have a good time.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
There have been many films translated to the stage over the years with varying degrees of success. The Producers, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot, were all hits while Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Crybaby, Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity to name a few didn't cut the muster. Similarly, there have been many Jukebox musicals over the years, Jersey Boys, and Mamma Mia! being the only two notable success stories, Baby, It's you!, Good Vibrations, All Shook Up, Come Fly Away, Ring of Fire, In My Life, Lennon, and the list goes on, didn't make it.
And now we have Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which is both based on a film (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) AND a Jukebox musical. I'm happy to say that this "Genre splicing" show is, for the most part, a great success!
The story concerns three Drag Queens, or rather two Drag Queens and one Transsexual, who go on a bus trip across Australia from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at the casino there. Along the way they encounter all manner of locals and all many different forms of Adventure; Comedy, and Disco ensues.
Let's start with the music. It's wonderful. The song choices are all the most toe tapping tunes from the 70's and 80's. It's impossible to not hum along if not sing along to the score because it's just too damn catchy. Not to mention that each number is a complete visual and aural spectacle! I tell you, you haven't seen anything until you've seen Drag Queens dressed as cup-cakes singing and dancing to MacArthur Park.
The songs aren't always perfectly fit into the story, but once again, you are so distracted by the spectacle that you don't really care. It's not until you've left the theater and the sugar coma wears off that you realise you've had desert for dinner.
The cast is wonderful. The ensemble of both men and women (my Grandmother kept leaning over to ask which was which) sings and dances up a storm. The Three Divas shake the rafters with their voices as they descend and ascend from them. Nick Adams was out at the performance I saw, but Will Swenson and Tony Sheldon are an absolute joy to watch and have such great chemistry together.
The sets, costumes, and lighting are fantastic. Every time a new costume comes out, it's like being at a dinner party where each course is even more decadent than the last. The choreography is also enjoyable. Not every member of the cast is a diva dancer, but the choreography is so lively that you would never guess it.
In terms of book, there isn't much of one. What is there is pretty well written. It's been a long time since I've seen the source material, but I did notice some things were missing (such as Bernadette's explanation of certain life choices) that I missed. Also, the film uses a unique sort of flash back story telling process that isn't really possible on stage, but most of the information revealed about the characters in those moments has been lost.
Like any musical, Priscilla has her faults. She is not perfect, but she is still utterly fabulous~! I would recommend this show to anyone who wants to go to the theater and have a wonderful time. I wouldn't bring children under 13 because the F word quota is a little high for the under 13's in my opinion. There is also some sexual humor as well. It's all in good clean fun though! And as the song says, Girls just wanna have fun! And at Priscilla Queen of the Desert they certainly will!
And now we have Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which is both based on a film (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) AND a Jukebox musical. I'm happy to say that this "Genre splicing" show is, for the most part, a great success!
The story concerns three Drag Queens, or rather two Drag Queens and one Transsexual, who go on a bus trip across Australia from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at the casino there. Along the way they encounter all manner of locals and all many different forms of Adventure; Comedy, and Disco ensues.
Let's start with the music. It's wonderful. The song choices are all the most toe tapping tunes from the 70's and 80's. It's impossible to not hum along if not sing along to the score because it's just too damn catchy. Not to mention that each number is a complete visual and aural spectacle! I tell you, you haven't seen anything until you've seen Drag Queens dressed as cup-cakes singing and dancing to MacArthur Park.
The songs aren't always perfectly fit into the story, but once again, you are so distracted by the spectacle that you don't really care. It's not until you've left the theater and the sugar coma wears off that you realise you've had desert for dinner.
The cast is wonderful. The ensemble of both men and women (my Grandmother kept leaning over to ask which was which) sings and dances up a storm. The Three Divas shake the rafters with their voices as they descend and ascend from them. Nick Adams was out at the performance I saw, but Will Swenson and Tony Sheldon are an absolute joy to watch and have such great chemistry together.
The sets, costumes, and lighting are fantastic. Every time a new costume comes out, it's like being at a dinner party where each course is even more decadent than the last. The choreography is also enjoyable. Not every member of the cast is a diva dancer, but the choreography is so lively that you would never guess it.
In terms of book, there isn't much of one. What is there is pretty well written. It's been a long time since I've seen the source material, but I did notice some things were missing (such as Bernadette's explanation of certain life choices) that I missed. Also, the film uses a unique sort of flash back story telling process that isn't really possible on stage, but most of the information revealed about the characters in those moments has been lost.
Like any musical, Priscilla has her faults. She is not perfect, but she is still utterly fabulous~! I would recommend this show to anyone who wants to go to the theater and have a wonderful time. I wouldn't bring children under 13 because the F word quota is a little high for the under 13's in my opinion. There is also some sexual humor as well. It's all in good clean fun though! And as the song says, Girls just wanna have fun! And at Priscilla Queen of the Desert they certainly will!
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