I know what you're thinking. Christmas was over a month ago. You are correct, it was, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is long gone. As I explained in my last blog, I took about two months off from writing so I have a lot of shows to catch up on. One of them the Christmas show.
The first time I saw The Radio City Christmas Spectacular I was 10 years old. It was December of 1994. The show was a full two act, nearly two hour and forty five minute extravaganza. My memories of that first encounter are quite grand. This year, I wanted to experience that thrill of Christmas again so I took (dragged) my husband to this years show.
Some things never change. The Radio City Christmas show isn't one of them. This years show (the show changes roughly every four years) is both high tech and nostalgic. The Rockettes are truly a sight to behold. Their synchronicity is astounding. No matter how many times you may have seen the Toy Soldier routine on TV it's utterly remarkable live on stage. The Living Nativity is also a very powerful moment in the show.
To appeal to a new younger generation, the newest incarnation features moments in 3D where the audience is required to put on glasses. One of these moments is a sequence called Santa's video game, which actually isn't as bad as I had thought that it would be. Over all the 3D cheapens the show. Isn't live theater supposed to be in 3D anyhow?
Overall I'm glad that we went to see the show because it was a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit. In addition to being more "hi tech" this version of the show is a lean 90 minutes or so without any intermission. I wouldn't see the show every year, but I'm sure some time in the next decade I'll get a whiff of nostalgia again and beg my husband to take me back to see The Radio City Christmas Show.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Patti LuPone and Mandi Patinkin: An Evening
Before I get into telling you all what I think about this show, I have to apologize because it's been a LONG time since I have updated this blog. People have been asking me, and it's not that I haven't been seeing shows (that would be the day!). The end of 2011 was just very busy for me and I couldn't find time (and motivation) to write. I promise to do better in the future! That being said, here goes.
There is absolutely no denying that Patti LuPone and Mandi Patinkin are both legends of the theater. While Ms. LuPone has been a constant presence on the Broadway stage in recent years, it has not been since 2001's The Wild Party (Lachiusa) that Mr. Patinkin has graced a Broadway stage. (solo concerts don't count IMHO).
The show begins as a song cycle, a character piece with very little dialogue that chronicles a relationship from it's early stages on. All of Act I follows in this pattern. As an audience member I found this to be a bit odd, because I wasn't prepared for it. (The relationship, or ships perhaps, are not that of the two legends) These are two characters that we are seeing meet, get involved, and have a relationship together. Once you get past the awkwardness of this initial premise (I fount it awkward, others may not) you can pretty much enjoy the first act.
It is in the second act however that Patti and Mandy appear before us as themselves. This is where the show got exciting for me personally. Mandy gives a very passionate speech about the first time he met Patti, and how they've remained friends for decades. This is followed by a fantastic performance of Oh, What a Circus and then (and then!) Don't Cry for me Argentina.
The show overall is enjoyable if you are a true fan of either (or both) of these, as I have said, legendary performers. The casual theatergoer may not enjoy the show so much. There are some wonderful moments in both acts, but as I have said Act II is where the money is in my opinion.
Unfortunately this show has closed it's Broadway run at the Barrymore theater but it IS touring the USA and may be coming to a theater near you soon. If you enjoy Patti and or Mandi, and would like to spend an evening with them at the theater, than you shouldn't miss this show.
And for the record, No lines from The Princess Bride are heard during the evening.
There is absolutely no denying that Patti LuPone and Mandi Patinkin are both legends of the theater. While Ms. LuPone has been a constant presence on the Broadway stage in recent years, it has not been since 2001's The Wild Party (Lachiusa) that Mr. Patinkin has graced a Broadway stage. (solo concerts don't count IMHO).
The show begins as a song cycle, a character piece with very little dialogue that chronicles a relationship from it's early stages on. All of Act I follows in this pattern. As an audience member I found this to be a bit odd, because I wasn't prepared for it. (The relationship, or ships perhaps, are not that of the two legends) These are two characters that we are seeing meet, get involved, and have a relationship together. Once you get past the awkwardness of this initial premise (I fount it awkward, others may not) you can pretty much enjoy the first act.
It is in the second act however that Patti and Mandy appear before us as themselves. This is where the show got exciting for me personally. Mandy gives a very passionate speech about the first time he met Patti, and how they've remained friends for decades. This is followed by a fantastic performance of Oh, What a Circus and then (and then!) Don't Cry for me Argentina.
The show overall is enjoyable if you are a true fan of either (or both) of these, as I have said, legendary performers. The casual theatergoer may not enjoy the show so much. There are some wonderful moments in both acts, but as I have said Act II is where the money is in my opinion.
Unfortunately this show has closed it's Broadway run at the Barrymore theater but it IS touring the USA and may be coming to a theater near you soon. If you enjoy Patti and or Mandi, and would like to spend an evening with them at the theater, than you shouldn't miss this show.
And for the record, No lines from The Princess Bride are heard during the evening.
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