Shows from September 2011 to Present Part 5

9. Wicked – January 25, 2012

            I guess many of you readers know that one of my favorite shows of all time is WICKED.  I have seen it 6 times in which I think it is refreshing to see new people in the main parts.  Other people will think it sickening to see a show so many times and get jealous.  You should do it how I see it (see below).    It was special because my friend, who came with me, just saw it for the first time that day. 

Based on the 1995 novel Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, long before a little girl named Dorothy dropped in the land of OZ, two unlikely friends forced as college roommates become best friends. One girl, Elphaba (Jackie Burns), is born with emerald green skin that is misunderstood, an outcast and shunned by everyone.  The other girl, Galinda ((later Glinda) played by Chandra Lee Schwartz) is blonde, ambitious and very popular.  These two friends as we suspect will grow up to become The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.  We also find out how the scarecrow, tin man and the cowardly lion all came to be, the real truth about the Wizard of Oz and so many other things for those who watched The Wizard of Oz will figure out where things fall into place in Wicked.   

This show never gets old.  Its family friendly and mostly everyone can relate to the topics of friendship, love, etc.  It was my 6^th time seeing the show (I know I am crazy).  From the first notes of the opening, to the high rising Act 1 finale “Defying Gravity”, there is a lot to love in Wicked (Thank you Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holtzman). 

            The cast is really good in their own way.  I was excited to see Jackie Burns playing Elphaba ever since I heard she was going to play this part.  I have seen her in the ensemble of HAIR and listened to her sing as one of the girls who sing “Black Boys”.  She really is a star in the making.  Her vocals in songs such as “The Wizard and I”, “Defying Gravity” and “No Good Deed” are OUTSTANDING!  Chandra Lee Schwartz takes a different approach to the role of Galinda/ Glinda because it is a little different from the other actresses who I have seen play the part but it is good and very funny.  The chemistry that Burns and Schwartz have is very believable and anyone who plays these parts has to have chemistry that is able to make us believe they are friends in real life and onstage.     Richard H. Blake plays Fiyero, a prince who is the object of the eyes of both Elphaba and Glinda’s eyes.  He and Burns have some steamy chemistry especially in the song “As Long As You’re Mine”.  Tom McGowan is a really good Wizard of Oz and plays it like an old fashioned vaudeville performer and he plays everyone off.  Randy Danson’s performance as Madame Morrible (the headmistress of Shiz University where the story begins) may take some time to get used to.  Jenny Fellner is fabulous as Elphaba’s wheelchair bound sister Nessarose.  Taylor Trench was adorable as Boq (The day before was his first show) so my friend and I saw his 2^nd show.  

Wicked currently plays eight times a week at the Gershwin Theater located on 222 West 51st Street.  If you want a chance to see the show up close and cheap, there is a way.  Two hours and half hours prior before each performance (you may want to check for performance schedules since they may change during the holidays), you can sign up for one or two tickets with their $26.50 ticket lottery in front of the Gershwin Theater.  Thirty minutes later, when they start calling the names, you must be present at the Gershwin Theatre in case they call you because if you are not, they are not going to wait for you.  If you do get called, you must have cash and a valid ID (a student ID counts as well).  When you leave the theatre, consider going back again.  It is Wicked good!

10. Anything Goes - February 12, 2012

            This next show is an old timer classic and a classic for the youngsters to enjoy.  It is the 2011 Tony Award Winning Revival of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes.  After seeing most of the TV performances promoting the show (especially their title song), I knew it was a hit and wanted to see it. 

            Anything Goes takes place in the 1920’s aboard the ship, the S.S. American sailing from New York to London.  Billy Crocker (Bill English), a Wall Street Broker is in love with debutante Hope Harcourt (Erin Mackey).  His boss Elisha Whitney (John McMartin) is sailing to London on the S.S. American to prepare a business deal.  Billy sneaks on the ship to try to follow Hope (who is engaged at this point) to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Robert Petkoff) by her mother Evangeline (Julie Halston).  Billy has to make several ways and disguises to win Hope with the help of his friend, evangelist turned night club singer Reno Sweeny (2011 Tony Award Winner Sutton Foster) and gangsters with whom he gets mixed up with, Moonface Martin aka Public Enemy Number 13 (Joel Grey) and Erma (Jessica Stone).

            Over all, I thought the production was really good.  I really enjoyed the production numbers because there was amazing dancing from jazz, to ballroom, tap, etc done to this timeless music thank to Tony Winning director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall.  I was in the first row and I felt like I was in a sea of old people.  Obviously the show and songs were popular back in the day.  Also want to point out Laura Osnes (original Hope Harcourt in this revival and Tony Nominee for Bonnie and Clyde) was sitting in the front row but a section over a few seats away from me.  There was a certain point during intermission that an elderly woman sitting next to me had to yell at the young girl sitting behind me (who was a fan of Sutton Foster) telling her not to  yell, it was not a rock concert and she made that girl cry.  Very unpleasant behavior between generation gaps especially when you are like me and have to be next to the conflict.  It made me very uncomfortable for the rest of intermission in the beginning of the Act 2.  The woman did apologize though. 

            The cast as ensemble is fantastic in every way possible.  Sutton Foster deserved her Tony for her performance as Reno Sweeny.  I enjoy how her character interacts with every character and having that relationship with that person.  Her acting, singing and dancing are star quality.  Her dancing is phenomenal because she is with the ensemble doing kicks and turns and leading the cast in an 8 minute long tap dance to the title song.  Joel Grey as Moonface Martin brings old classic theatre charm with good comic timing especially it shows during in the song “Friendship” with Sutton (You can catch her on TV in the ABC Family show “Bunheads”).  John McMartin, Jessica Stone and Julie Halston are three great comic geniuses.  Bill English is a wonderful leading man with good looks and a wonderful voice.  Erin Mackey (a former Glinda of Broadway’s Wicked) really makes a good ingénue as Hope Harcourt.  Her acting, singing and dancing were spot on.  Robert Petkoff (of the recent Broadway revival of Ragtime which I watched) is enjoyable to watch as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.  I really enjoyed his performance of “Gypsy in Me” and his comic timing is perfect.  

Anything Goes just finished its engagement at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (located on 124 West 43rd Street) on July 8, 2012.  I feel this was an old fashioned show that managed to bring some old classic songs to back to Broadway.