Tag: theatre-2004

Avenue Q and Tony Observations

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Well, Avenue Q won the Tony’s for Best Musical, Book, and Score. Its nice to see that the Tony voters weren’t staid, for how else could a musical about people whose lives suck, and that centers around Internet P O R N win. Safe would have been to vote for Wicked (which was also an excellent musical, and it got me to read the wonderful book by Greg McGuire). I’m looking forward to both coming to Los Angeles.

As for other Tony observations:

  • Hugh Jackman did a good job as host, but his trying to get Sarah Jessica Parker to dance was painful to watch (and didn’t she remember having danced on Broadway in Once Upon a Mattress). We still had the Janet Jackson effect, as SJP was worried about a wardrobe malfunction (of course, never mind the fact that over half the audience was hoping it was Jackman’s wardrobe that would malfunction).
  • It was nice to see Phylicia Rashad win. I saw her in Blue at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2002, and it was great.
  • When will producers learn to pick good selections to showcase their shows? Fiddler‘s was a pastiche; Wonderful Town made me less interested in the show (and there are good numbers in that show); Caroline, or Change didn’t draw me in. For Wicked, I would have shown something that showcased both actresses better, perhaps What is this Feeling?. On the other hand, the numbers from Boy from Oz, Assassins, and Avenue Q were showstoppers, and made one want to see the shows.
  • It was nice to seem them include a clip from the Deaf West production of Big River. I had heard they were cutting the show from the telecast, so the inclusion was good.
  • The best play winner (I Am My Own Wife) sounds interesting. 40 different roles?
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For Those Who Like Wisteria and Sunshine

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

[Disclaimer: Although this is dated Saturday evening, I’m really writing this Sunday morning. I often do this for the late night entries, so if the tense gets screwed up, that’s why]

Today has been pretty good, although it ended with one of the headaches I often had. I have to remember to keep Excedrin with me.

During the day, I went to the barber (and am no longer quite so shaggy), filed all my Temple paperwork (so that I can transfer it easier), and updated my master calendar. In particular, I added dates for the Concerts in the Park that VCC [May 27 Update: The link now works] sponsors. These are free Sunday afternoon concerts that are held in Warner Park in Woodland Hills. The three that were of potential interest to me were: July 11, Preservation Hall Jazz Band; July 18, Young Dubliners; and August 29, Glenn Yarbrough and the Folk Reunion. For sure, I know we’ll make it for Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Dixieland can be fun, even if you can’t cakewalk.

This evening, we went to the Pasadena Playhouse and saw Enchanted April [review]. I’d recommend folks to go see this, but it closes Sunday night. This is the story of four women who rent a castle in Italy, filled with wisteria, for a month in April, shortly after the “Great War”. During the month, their dour rain-wearied British souls become re-enchanted, and you see each rediscover the enchantment within themselves. A very good play, with some excellent actors and actresses. My wife liked Chris Conner, who played Anthony Wilding, the castle owner; I liked Nancy Bell (who played Lotty Wilton) and Monette Magrath (who played Lady Caroline). Next up on the Playhouse schedule is a musical: 110 in the Shade, with music from the folks that did The Fantastics and I Do! I Do!.

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Urine Good Company

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Little Sally: What kind of musical is this?! The good guys finally take over and then everything starts falling apart.

Officer Lockstock: Like I said, Little Sally. This isn’t a happy musical.

Little Sally: But the music’s so happy!

Officer Lockstock: Yes, Little Sally. Yes it is.

[…]

Little Sally: I don’t think too many people are going to come see this musical, Officer Lockstock.

Officer Lockstock: Why do you say that, Little Sally? Don’t you think people want to be told that their way of life is unsustainable?

Little Sally: That, and the title’s awful.

Officer Lockstock: I suppose you’re right, Little Sally. I do suppose you’re right.

[Lyrics quoted for review purposes]

Today, we went to go see Urinetown. Ignore the bad name, and go see Urinetown while you can. It is one of the funniest musicals I’ve seen in ages, with obvious parodies of other musicals, great acting, and one of the most satirical and sardonic books I’ve seen in ages. For those not familiar with the story, simply put, it is a classic love story about a boy and a girl, fighting injustice in an town whose bladders and pocketbooks are oppressed.

If you’re not in Los Angeles, and the tour comes your way, go see it.

BTW, this was my first time at the Wilshire Theatre. Really good sight lines; much better than the Pantages.

We went to the Grove for dinner afterwards. This was my first time there since they’ve redone it. At least the Farmers Market core is still there, but the Grove itself is overpriced (a few good stores). It’s fun for the people watching, but unless you’ve got extra cash, you can likely do better elsewhere. They do have an interesting replica Gilmore Gas station, but the buyer for the Farmer’s Market store needs to learn history. He/She has it stocked with Route 66 merchandise, but Route 66 ran along Santa Monica Blvd, not Beverly or 3rd.

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Speaking About Theatre…

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

What a contrast. Yesterday, I noted the $80 tickets at the Pantages Theatre. Today, I received my renewal invoice for the Pasadena Playhouse. Seventh row orchestra, Saturday night…. $447.50 for 6 shows x 2 tickets… including one of my favorite musicals, Purlie! They are also bringing in a pre-Broadway musical for Play 6 this year. This is theatre as it should be!

[Disclaimer: We’ve been season subscribers at the Playhouse since 1986. We just missed seeing Mail 🙁 , our first play was “Down an Alley Filled With Cats”.]

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Ticket Prices

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

This is my summer for purchasing tickets to shows. This is because, in addition to my known quantities the Pasadena Playhouse and the Cabrillo Music Theatre, there are quite a few number of good other musicals coming to town: Urinetown, Thoroughly Modern Mille, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hairspray.

We’re going to see Urinetown on Sunday, and had I been on livejournal back when I bought tickets, you would have seen a rant similar to Nicole‘s regarding the scalping practice of TicketMonster. I’m buying three $55 seats, so why are you adding $8.25 per ticket, plus an additional $11 handling charge. At least the Ahamanson Theatre is more reasonable. Oh well, that’s in the past.

In any case, my wife went down yesterday to the Pantages Theatre to buy the tickets for Hairspray at the box office. $0.50 parking is a much better handling charge! In any case, she got us three seats, 3rd row mezzanine. Frigging $80 per ticket! For a Saturday Matinee, no less!

$80!!!

[Yes, I know I might be able to score a half-price ticket. But for shows I really want to see I prefer to be conservative, and buy the tickets up front. I may try for a half-er for Little Shop.]

Now I see why I stay with the Pasadena Playhouse (about $45 per ticket, Orchestra) or Cabrillo Music Theatre ($11, front of the top balcony). I remember when I was in college going through the Mutual Agency at UCLA (about $3 handling) to buy Orchestra tickets at the Dorothy Chandler ($27 per). $80!! How are we ever going to get folks to discover the art form that is the Broadway musical? I propose that ticket prices such as these are what leads us to such mediocre but crowd pleasing entertainment as Moving On and Mamma Mia.

Sigh. I hate to see what the ticket prices will be when Wicked or Avenue Q come to town.

Daniel

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