Had a list of 10 shows I wanted to catch but time allowed for 5, loved one, hated one and liked three - here is the breakdown in the order in which I saw them:
BULLETS OVER BROADWAY:
Jesus, what a let down. One of the biggest disappointments in recent memory. Aside from a terrific performance by the tremendous Betsy Wolfe, I remember little from this vapid, humorless and flat show. The characters were all stock types we have seen before many times (and have certainly been better performed) and not a single number came close to stopping the show. I think I had a slight giggle at an indecent Irving Berlin joke towards the end of the show but by then I was begging for the damn thing to be over. I wish it luck. It will need it.
ACT ONE:
While I was far from bored and found the story engaging, the show could have been trimmed by 30 minutes and lost nothing. Loved Tony Shaloub as Kaufmann and in fact, liked the cast as a whole. The design was also terrific. Still, I would have enjoyed a little less of it.
IF/THEN:
What was that I was saying about judicious cuts?....too late, I guess. While the show has it's charms, the novelty of the plot wears thin after an hour and you stop caring about what is happening in either story. Had this been one-act and 90 minutes, I might have stayed a bit more engaged. Enjoyed Idina as well as La Chanze who all but steals the show. Felt the lyrics were stronger than the score and couldn't help but think that this will be another "Next To Normal" for me: a show with a score that serves the piece but not one that I remember after the show ends or that I would bother buying a CD of.
BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY:
Not everyone's cup of tea but, for me, a deeply moving and beautifully crafted show. LOVED the score and the performances. I sincerely hope this is Ms O'Hara's year. Having seen so many disappointments in New York and London this past year, it was wonderful to finally leave a theatre feeling thoroughly satisfied and elated.
VIOLET:
I wish I could say I loved it but frankly I thought it was just good, not great. I cannot fault the performances and Sutton is amazing, but....it seemed to lag quite a lot. Perhaps VIOLET is not the strongest material to begin with, despite a more than serviceable score. The direction felt a bit clunky but then again, it is an early preview. I know they have already shortened it but.....can't help but think trimming 10 more minutes might help?
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