I really didn’t want to see Once Upon a Mattress. What I really wanted to see was the “dream casting” that pitted Jackie Hoffman (Princess Winifred) and John “Lypsinka” Epperson (Queen Aggravain) together. I wanted to see this. But the problem was I had to sit through almost two hours of Once Upon a Mattress to get to this. It really wasn’t a bad production. Most of it felt like a very competent college production of Once Upon the Mattress that roped in two gay icons of the stage – – Hoffman and Lypsinka. If only there had been more of them and less of the rest. Continue reading Once Upon a Mattress→
Sitting in the FRONT row of Broadway’s Chicago AND the ladysitting right behind you in the second row has on a god-awful noisy, loud, tinkling, clinking, chiming, binging, banging, ringing put-a-bullet-in-your-head bracelet and she waves and waves her hand. She waves and waves her hand and welcomes parade goers with her hand, and says good-bye to cruise ships with this hand and waves and waves and waves. Continue reading Death and the Jingle Bell Bracelet Lady→
Although I do not know all of the words to any ONE song in Chicago, I certainly know some of the words to most songs – – and none of this gets in my way of singing the complete score as I pack my way back to LGA and to Jacksonville. How can Chicago ever be a bad choice? – even if they kept the curtain closed and just played the music, most of us would be more then happy to sit there for two hours and silently sing along. Continue reading Chicago – My Head is Full of Songs→
I am bringing people to the theatre who have not been to Broadway before and I was looking for the perfect show. Chicago was the choice. Although I saw it years and years ago just as Ann Rainken was leaving the show, I so remember the good time feeling at the end of the show and the rush of energy as you followed the music from the theatre to the street. However, I do feel a bit odd about this choice. As what I would consider, a well seasoned NewYork theatre goer, I feel just a tad embarrassed about this choice. Continue reading Chicago – again?→
Birthday weekend is over and four more shows are done and gone. A terrific friend and I had a terrific time watching The Christians, Cloud Nine, Fool for Love, and King Charles III. As I was leaving the theatre after the last of the four shows, I overheard some of the obviously native New Yorkers claim how their theatre going experience has been a bit tiring, a bit predictable, a bit inconvenient – – what with crowds and parking, you know.
And I thought politely, “Shut the f*** up. You have no idea what a privilege it is to have this be your regular experience! And again with great deference and respect, “Shut the f*** up.
Back to NYC in early November for more NYC lovin’ . Till then, please check out my back-to-work teaching theatre website: www.theatreclassaddict.com
