cavo's corner

✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Twenty-Nine…

Last night @TGH3RD surprised me with tickets to see the hit revival, Promises, Promises, which stars Broadway vet Kristen Chenoweth and in his Broadway debut, Sean Hayes, of Will & Grace fame. Running for just over two hours and forty-five minutes, (including a fifteen minute intermission) I can honestly say that time flew by. The audience of the Broadway Theatre was transported back to a simpler and much funner time - the Sixties!

Many people are calling this musical the Mad Men of Broadway. I love Mad Men — it’s one of my favorite television shows — but aside from both stories taking place in New York City in the 1960s, there aren’t many other similarities. Oh, the adultery, but that’s it. 

The story is one that we all know. Slightly Nerdy Boy falls in love with Unattainable Girl who doesn’t even know his name. Unattainable girl is having an illicit affair with Slightly Nerdy Boy’s boss. Slightly Nerdy Boy grants his boss permission to use his bachelor pad to host his trysts with Unattainable Girl, although he doesn’t know who his boss’ mistress is. So on and so forth…

The boss turns out to be a jerk, (surprise, surprise) or a “cad” in sixties-speak, and the Unattainable Girl is knocked down a couple of pegs and suddenly becomes attainable. Slightly Nerdy Boy makes his move, they sing, and live happily ever after. Curtain.

I am a hopeless romantic, therefore, naturally I loved every minute. The music is by Burt Bacharach, so it’s safe to say that you’ve heard at least one of his songs before. Ms. Chenoweth killed it with her rendition of “I Say a Little Prayer,” and to see the two leads sing “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” featuring Chenoweth on guitar, was simply magical.

This show is one that everyone should see — but they better do it fast! Both of the leads (who make the show) have only signed on for limited runs. Chenoweth is already set to appear on “Glee” very shortly. See it with them while you still can!!

✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Twenty-Five…

✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Twenty-Four…

The story of Looped is a sad one. After just 27 previews and 25 regular performances, the producers decided to close the show due to poor ticket sales. Valerie Harper, AKA Rhoda from “The Mary Tyler More Show,” starred as the original Hollywood bad girl, Tallulah Bankhead, in this very witty comedy. Unfortunately, not many contemporaries (including myself, at first) know who Tallulah Bankhead was. I’m sure the same number of people don’t know who Valarie Harper is, ether. 

Allegedly, Looped is based on a true story, taking place in the summer of 1965 when and highly inebriated and coked-out Tallulah Bankhead took nearly eight hours to dub or “loop” a single line of dialogue from her final feature film, Die! Die! My Darling! (Click HERE to watch the actual scene. It occurs at 4:45. In the end, the dialogue wasn’t even synced up to Tallulah’s mouth! It was a voice over! What a waste of time!!) “And so, Patricia, that diluted reverend has, in literal affect, banned me from the church.” That’s a memorable one, right there! Am I right? 

Valerie Harper was phenomenal; absolutely brilliant. The only piece of work that I could compare her portrayal of Tallulah Bankhead to was the the episode of “The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour,” in which Bankhead guest-starred. I thought it was spot on. After time, Tallulah Bankhead’s image became more of a characterture than anything else, making her a fun and outrageous character on which to base a play.

The production was okay. Harper eclipsed her co-stars Brian Hutchison and Danny Miller. There was a rushed and tedious subplot about one of the men being gay. I mean, okay, I get it — it’s Broadway. But I feel like these playwrights are pulling at strings to try and incorporate the gay theme. The set was very innovative. In the end, though, the dialogue was nothing more than infamous Bankhead one-liners strung together for two hours. I’m sorry that the play did not appeal to a larger audience, because it was pretty funny. 

Spotted in the audience: Judith Light.

✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Twenty-Two

So, let’s get one thing straight: Rock of Ages is actually pretty good. I know, I know… I can’t believe that I feel that way, but I can’t lie. I am a self-proclaimed fan of “jukebox musicals” — I loved Jersey Boys, and American Idiot. Even Movin’ Out was pretty good. But I hate the 80s, I hate hair bands and I pretty much thought I’d hate this show. Don’t get me wrong, I’d never actually pay for tickets to see Rock of Ages, but I did get a pair comped through work and happily, albeit reluctantly, attended.

If the producers were going for trashy when designing the interior of the theatre, they achieved that vision with honors. I mean, have you ever been to a Broadway show that had beer vendors patrolling the aisles? Didn’t think so. Unless, of course, you’ve seen this show.

Upon entering the theatre, the ushers hand you, along with your Playbill, one official Rock of Ages “lighter.”

Not only useful for holding up during those power-ballads, (“Don’t Stop Believing”), these fun little gadgets help you read your Playbill in the dimly lit theatre.

I definitely recommend the show. If you’re into serious theatre, this probably isn’t the best show for you. But, if you want a distraction for a couple of hours, the experience is well worth it. And, some of the best performances come from your fellow audience members, who, at my show, looked like they were all from Staten Island and had a penchant for aerosol hairspray.   

✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Twenty-One…

Initially, when my brother had asked for tickets to A Little Night Music for Christmas, I expressed little desire to see the show myself. I really hate “Send in the Clowns,” so I thought: what’s the point? Then as time went on, I began to hear all of the wonderful reviews, in particular (surprisingly enough) for Catherine Zita-Jones. 

Jones’ appearance in A Little Night Music marked her Broadway debut. Playing the daughter of seasoned stage and television star, Angela Landsbury, the cast ran the gamut of skill and ability. Aside from the big-named talent, the lesser known principles and ensemble were really quite remarkable.

I was not familiar with the story of the show, but as it turned out, the plot is very cute. It’s not terribly deep or profound, but it is poignant in the sense that it focuses on the importance of love and how each of the characters interpret “love.” Relationships are forged amongst the oddest and obvious pairings.

The set was really quite wonderful as was the choreography. I was, however, a little disappointed with the music — this is a Sondheim show, after all! There really aren’t any ‘take-away’ songs that you leave the theatre humming. Only one large, ensemble piece which is hardly a ‘show-stopper.’ The only song that most people know from this musical is “Send in the Clowns,” (which I have already voiced my disdain for), and it’s placement in the show is very random.

It was a very enjoyable show, but I don’t think it has the staying power that a show like Phantom or Le Miz enjoyed. When the big names’ contracts expire, that’s when the expiration date will be stamped on the marquis.