Mmmm Broadway. I’ve been making out like a bandit with the free tickets again lately. God it’s good to be a theater slut. I’m going to tell you about them in the hopes that maybe you’re planning a trip to NYC where you’ll work me (and some shows) into your itinerary.
Last Wednesday I scored an invite to the dress rehearsal for Anything Goes. I love dress rehearsals. Everyone there is somehow tied to the show or the industry, so it’s the kindest, most supportive, most energetic audience a cast could possibly have. Each time a new dancer comes on stage, you can hear a chorus of shouts from a different cluster of people in the audience. And when they finish one of those full-cast tap-dancing show-stopping numbers? The whole house is on their feet whooping and hollering and screaming out the name of whoever they are there to support. It’s almost more magical than the show itself. God I love theater and the community around it.
Also? I love Sutton Foster. In ways that I’m not quite comfortable admitting to myself or discussing in public forum quite yet. But watch this and tell me you don’t feel the same way. She tap dances her brains out for six and a half minutes and THEN belts. *swoon*
Then I had the chance to see Tennessee Williams’ The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore with Olympia Dukakis. As I’ve mentioned before, I try not to say bad things about theater. So I guess I better keep my commentary short. But for the record? Nothing makes me battier than inconsistent Southern accents. *takes a moment to remember Driving Miss Daisy, shudders* Olympia, I saw Steel Magnolias. I know you can do one. Now giddyup, damnit.
And last night I saw a preview of Catch Me if You Can. Our seats were in the second row, so honestly I’m having a hard time remembering anything other than the white lace thongs the dancers wore under their nurse costumes in the hospital number. I haven’t spent that much time with ladies gyrating crotches since I worked in Heavy Metal. (I really wish there was a video I could include here for your viewing pleasure, but I can’t seem to find one.)
The cast is stupendous. I mean, I’ll always love Luke Duke and not just because he paused in his flirting with twenty-something dancers to give my mom a big soggy smooch and pose for a photo a few years back. But it certainly doesn’t hurt. The adorable Aaron Tevit could sing the Rod Stewart catalog and I’d probably still swoon. And Norbert? Well, I have to admit I was nervous to see his name on the marquis. I still haven’t fully forgiven him for that Enron monstrosity. But last night he was fantastic. And now I remember why I used to like him.
The set? Awesome. The choreography? Solid! The acting? Hells yes. The songs? Meh.
Actually the songs weren’t SO bad. But the lyrics? Woof.
I know, bad Elly. What happened to being nice? But you can’t put the words “I’ll be your alibi, baby” into a song and except me to be ok with it. That is unless your Ke$ha or Rhianna. But, call me crazy, I expect the Broadway bar to be set a smidge higher.
Regardless of the somewhat inconsistent material, the cast saved it. Each time I cringed at a horrible line like “Mount Rushmore, someone climb up there and tell them boys a joke,” a parade of rhinestone crusted leotard crotches immediately stormed the stage and flashed before my eyes. Somebody on that creative team is a master with smoke and mirrors and managed to keep the production eye-popping and toe-tapping…two of my favorite things in a musical.
As I told my date at the completion of the show, that cast sung and danced the SHIT out of that musical…there was just some serious shit to be sung and danced out of it.
So should you see it? Yeah, I think so. Who doesn’t like jazz hands and glittery crotches? Terrorists, that’s who. Also there was one male dancer with thighs only slightly larger than my entire body. Frankly you should go see the show just to watch his pants try and hold it together because yum. Now should you expect to see a revival of this show in thirty or forty years? Not so much. But that’s all the more reason to come see it now. I’ll meet you for a slice of cheesecake afterward.
Oh my, I’m having *very* impure thoughts about Mr. Kingsberry.
Glad you had a good time, girlfriend.~
I’d have a better time atop that thigh.
White lace thongs, nurse costumes, ladies gyrating crotches and no invite OR video. My vagina is deeply disappointed 🙁
Well I certainly didn’t expect your vagina to be shallowly disappointed.
My vagina’s not shallow! (It’s deeper than you think)
“Jazz Hands and Glittery Crotches” is coincidentally the name of my new band!
More cow bell!
I wish one of these times you could tuck me in your satchel and bring me along to all these glorious broadway happenings.
No one appreciates the heavily muscled legs of a dancer like I do.
You know, the train from DC is pretty breezy…
I love jazz hands and glittery crotches! Throw in cheesecake and it’s an orgy!…I mean party.
It’s a party.
I’m so close yet so far away from Broadway. Not in the acting or talented sense…oh, you know what I mean.
…and now I want cheesecake. Again.
I was second row for “Closer” (with Natasha Richardson) years ago when I was visiting NYC. Does everyone spit when they talk that much on stage? The front row looked like they thought they were at a Gallagher show!
The short answer? Yes. Spit galore. And quite a few melons, coincidentally.
Sigh. I’d kill to see a Broadway show. Our Opra House has a decent production from time to time, but of course it’s not the same thing. I mean…glittery crotches? Definite Win.
Next production, just sit yourself in the front row with a can of spray glitter and make your own happiness.
White lace thongs? Glittery crotches? Oooo, I’d want front row seats to those productions.
It’s all fun and games ’til you get a rhinestone in your eye. Or teeth.
You’re making me wanna shuffle off to Buffalo for the rest of the day. I’ll be working on my time step later.
i’m down with a parade of rhinestone crusted leotard crotches. who isn’t?
Crisis averted. We can now rest assured you aren’t a terrorist.
When I eventually do start putting my passport to use, I do intend to visit NYC & Broadway. I’ll be sure to check you for the reviews then too.
I bet you’ve got mad jazz hand skills, don’t you?
The thigh guy vision kind of scares me.. But, damn. Jealous. You should just SEE the seagulls out by me… Now that’s some entaatainment.
In about three months time, we’ll all be wicked jealous of where you are, pookie.
Terrorists hate glittery crotches. Jerks.
Saw “Book of Mormon” last weekend. It is freaking awesome. Highly recommend.
On my top 5 list! I just have to figure out who to sleep with over there…
I wonder sometimes if Ke$ha forgets to shower every day.
You can’t get her wet or feed her after midnight.
Woo Hoo I can watch this one (do little dance of joy, with jazz hands and tap shoes). Gosh I want a pair of taps shoes, not to dance, as I dance like a rock, but just to tap around the house. They are such happy shoes.
I bet you rock when you dance. I rock when I watch the news. Back and forth. While muttering. But that’s another story.
Yum is right. So, ok, a show $9,534.00 followed by cheesecake $25.50 with Elly….priceless. I can be there by 3.
I’m so going to have to pick up a slice of cheesecake today, aren’t I?
I’m insanely jealous. I think I’m hyperventilating. Or else I have cat fur in my throat.