SUMMER SNAPSHOTS: NYC, WASHINGTON, MINNEAPOLIS, STORRS (WHERE?) AND CHICAGO - Summer, 2014 - Part 1

SUMMER SNAPSHOTS: NYC, WASHINGTON, MINNEAPOLIS, STORRS (WHERE?) AND CHICAGO - Summer, 2014 - Part 1

Here's what we did during our summer vacation!  Two classic musicals in much-heralded regional productions, one far more successful than the other, some tryout action, a bit of summer stock, a historic Tony-winning performance, one of the most terrible times I've had in nearly fifty years of going to the theatre and some really first rate playwriting. A very good summer, indeed.

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL -  Circle in the Square Theatre, New York

Note: In honor of Pride Month, Playbill replaced it's traditional, iconic yellow banner color with a rainbow color scheme. Very cool indeed, Playbill!!

June, 2014. Audra. Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. There is a reason why she has won the Tony Award in every female acting category. There is a reason why she has won the most acting Tony Awards. That reason is talent. An abundance of it that she generously shares with us and those privileged to work with her. A stunning tour-de-force, brave and fearless. The magnificent Billie Holiday must be smiling at this glorious tribute to her genius. Thrilling.

CASA VALENTINA - Friedman Theatre (MTC), New York

June, 2014. Harvey Fierstein's stunning, thought-provoking and provocative new play certainly has the laughs you'd expect, but also has an edge, sharp and incisive, that gives the play it's soul. Flawless in direction and design, the outstanding ensemble cast of John Cullum, Mare Winningham, Gabriel Ebert, Tom McGowan, Patrick Page, Larry Pine, Nick Westrate, Reed Birney and Lisa Emery, brought these imperfect human beings thrillingly to life. Bob needs to direct this. I would return to acting to be in this.

THE CITY OF CONVERSATION - Mitzi Newhouse Theatre (Lincoln Center), New York

Stunning graphic work.

June, 2014. The City of Conversation by Anthony Giardina and directed to perfection by Doug Hughes had a scenic design by the inestimable John Lee Beatty that gave me shivers of pleasure when the real wood pocket doors made an appearance and starred the equally inestimable Jan Maxwell in a performance of depth and subtlety that proved once again that she is one of our finest actors. A smart, classy play of ideas and frequent bracing humor, this was a true theatrical treat, especially for this unrepentant liberal Democrat.

SIDE SHOW - Eisenhower Theatre, Washington, D.C.

June, 2014. Side Show didn't even last three months when it played on Broadway in 1997-1998. Seventeen years have passed since that too-short run and in that time, it's achieved somewhat of a cult status. And perhaps for good reason. The story of the Hilton sisters is a terrific story and the score is pretty damn wonderful. The Kennedy Center does not skimp when it comes to production values and the show was a visual treat. Leads Erin Davie and Emily Padgett were simply sensational as were Matthew Hydzik and Ryan Silverman as the men in their lives. The sound needs tweaking and hopefully David St. Louis will get his voice back. This was the third preview, but I foresee a hit for the Kennedy Center. (Update: on its way to Broadway's St. James with performances starting late October, 2014!) 

THE LAST SHIP - Bank of America Theatre (Shubert Theatre), Chicago

July, 2014. In it's pre-Broadway tryout, the John Logan/Brian Yorkey/Sting musical The Last Ship is a flawed, yet very promising new production that offers a stunning scenic design, a solid and often very funny book and a score that has moments of incredible beauty. The Geordie accents need to be lightened up a bit, especially during the musical numbers. Either that or some of the actors really need to concentrate on good diction. There were numbers where I understood very little of what was sung. People, you have body mics. There is absolutely no need for sloppy diction. There are two extraneous numbers that are meant to be comic, but, for me at least, seemed out of place. What truly concerns me, however, is that I found the secondary/supporting characters (Father O'Brien, Jackie White and Peggy White) far more interesting than the leading characters and that makes the show off-kilter. That's not a judgment on the competent performances of leads Michael Esper or Rachel Tucker, but I just didn't find either of them especially dynamic in performance and I just didn't care much about their characters. Kudos to Jimmy Nail (Jackie), Sally Ann Triplett (Peggy), Aaron Lazar (Arthur, the closest thing this show had to a villain) and especially the redoubtable Fred Applegate in the show's best performance as Father O'Brien. And though I couldn't quite shake the "Billy Elliott" feel that crept in every now and then, I quite enjoyed my time in the shipyards and streets of Wallsend and hope the creators continue to polish this potential jewel of a show.

Stay tuned for Part 2! Summer stock! Regional musicals! Horrible experience. Part 2 coming in a few days!!!

© 2014 Jeffrey Geddes