Shows from September 2011 to Present Part 13

25. Once – September 9, 2012

            Sometimes a show stuns you automatically and there are some that will leave a bad taste in your mouth.  Then there are shows where at first glance you may not want to see but may leave you in surprise.  This was the day of the Broadway on Broadway concert out on Times Square which meant the perfect time to score rush tickets for a Broadway show.  Everyone will be out watching the show which means less people on the rush line.  I was on the rush line with my mom and my friend for a show called Once which won recently won 8 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical.  It was never on my radar but since it won the Tony, let’s see what it’s about. 

            Based on the movie of the same name, Once tells the story of Guy (2012 Tony Winner Steve Kazee) is an Irish singer and songwriter who spends his days fixing vacuums in the Dublin shop he runs with his father, and his nights playing his music in local pubs. He is on the verge of giving up music altogether when a Czech immigrant, “Girl,” (2012 Tony Nominee Cristin Milioti) walks into the bar, hears him play and refuses to let him abandon his guitar. As it turns out, she has a broken vacuum cleaner, Guy repairs it, and she pays him in music on a piano she plays in a record shop. Over the course of a week, Girl convinces Guy to believe in the power of his music and his love for the woman who inspired his songs. They scrape together money to record a demo album with a motley crew of bar friends, and their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful—but very complicated—love story.

            This was one of those shows I did not expect to see.  It was never on my list.  The music most of which was from the movie including “Falling Slowly” sounds beautiful.  It may be a simple story but it was good.  The set was a bar with moving set pieces.  Simple.  Also, the preshow was interesting as the stage was used as a bar for the audience for them to go get drinks before the show and at intermission while cast member played songs. 

            The cast I can say are quadruple threats.  They are acting, singing, dancing and a part of the orchestra.  Steve Kazee was equal parts of funny and drama.  You feel for him.  Now I know why he got the Tony.  Cristin Milioti gives an emotional performance of confusion before facing reality and the realization of friendship. 

            It’s an interesting concept.  Maybe hard for the younger teens but for older teens and adults who will appreciate it.  You will get a simple story with beautiful music. 

26. Ragtime – November 18, 2012 – FSF Community Theatre Group

            Community Theatre groups have mixed responses depending on the person.  I have never seen anything outside of Broadway in my own state besides high school productions.  With a good friend of mine cast in a community production of the musical, Ragtime done by the FSF (Free Synagogue of Flushing) Community Theatre Group, I knew I had to come out to support her.  In a small Synagogue in Flushing (Free Synagogue of Flushing) I was able to catch this production of Stephen Flaherty and Lyn Ahrens’ musical, Ragtime. 

             Based on the E.L. Doctorow novel of the same name, Ragtime is set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, where it weaves together three distinctly American tales -- that of a stifled upper-class wife (Amanda Doria), a determined Jewish immigrant (Scott Palma) and a daring young Harlem musician (Rodney Singleton) -- united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future.

            I never saw a community theater production but I wanted to go to support my Broadway loving friend (actually I knew another friend of hers that was also in the cast who I met at Hair).  Even better was that it was Ragtime, which I saw the revival on Broadway at the last preview before opening night.  A show that I was familiar with.  I was bit skeptical before the show started was how they were going to do the show on a small stage with a large cast (since Ragtime has a huge diverse as New York itself cast of principals, ensemble, children).  It actually worked despite the large scale of how the show is normally staged.  The cast was great and it made me think that Ragtime is a good choice for community theatre when you want to do something traditional but in the realm of new musical.