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| PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT | |
| Posted by: hugoP 12:39 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| The Transport Group Theatre Company held a benefit celebrating the 50 anniversary year of PROMISES PROMISES. They did a wonderful concert event at Merkin Concert Hall. SRO...very enthusiastic....details below....but first, noteworthy that the significantly-sized (and talented) cast and orchestra DONATED their time to this event. Here's how they approached the concert: performers got one or two numbers as one of the characters (there were, for example, 7 different actors singing lead "Chuck Baxter"; 3 different--actually FOUR-- Fran Kubeliks; 2 Sheldrakes). Our narrators/commentators for the evening were original cast members Margo Sappington (primary dancer and one of Michael Bennett's assistants on the show...and an honored performer/choreographer/director in her own right) and JIll O'Hara (the original Fran). They shared key plot points between numbers...and, more importantly, really good stuff about how the show came together-- largely on the road. My take on the performances: Santino Fontana-- who just blew me away in HELLO DOLLY -- was a great Chuck on SHE LIKES BASKETBALL and I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN with Jessica Fontana; also loved Marc Kudisch (a lovely WANTING THINGS), Ali Stroker (a fierce KNOWING WHEN TO LEAVE), and a tumultuous TURKEY LURKEY TIME (danced and sung with exuberance by Lauren Blackman, Julia Harnett and Skye Mattox). But everyone was at least good-- and everyone else was great. O'Hara was a surprise pick to do WHOEVER YOU ARE, I LOVE YOU and she was absolutely the sentimental favorite. Donna Lynne Champlin and John Cariani did a hilarious A FACT CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL THING-- Champlin reminded me of Madeline Kahn (!) and both she and Cariani deserve to be paired again in a full-length musical. Orchestra was powerful and really presented that score with more energy and depth than I have ever heard. Backup singers made a big impression--they were great. Show itself is more problematic than ever-- a wink-and-nod adultery-is-hilarious and exploiting-your-secretary-is-a-fun-game. The crowd pleasing (but you'll hate yourself in the morning) WHERE CAN YOU TAKE A GIRL? worked again tonight-- well sung and troublesome. That score works like a charm (for me, at least) so I just wallowed in hearing it again, so richly presented. Congratulations though on a great night....and thank you to that stage filled with generous, talented, passionate, funny pros. It was a great night. |
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| re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT | |
| Posted by: aislestorm 11:01 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - hugoP 12:39 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| It was a spectacular evening, indeed. When those first notes came from that stage orchestra I was back in OBCR heaven. "Promises, Promises" was the second musical I saw on Broadway back in high school. and I wore out two albums and an 8 track playing that recording. I had tears in my eyes during that perfect overture.. I wish I had stayed to talk to Jill O'Hara. I would have asked her why she disappeared after that show, her second and last on Broadway. Because she sounded great last night. And was beautiful. |
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| re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT | |
| Posted by: duckylittledictum 09:57 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - hugoP 12:39 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Agree that it was a major treat. Having seen the original, I recall thinking at the time that Jerry Orbach gave one of the greatest musical theater performances I had ever seen. Time hasn't changed that assessment. Would love to see a recreation of his "Basketball" number. I remember it being a showstopper, but details are fuzzy 50 years later. | |
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| re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT | |
| Posted by: lowwriter 10:23 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - duckylittledictum 09:57 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Orbach was amazing. I know Santino could be equally wonderful if they did a full production with him. I didn't think Sean Hayes was up to the task and if I recall correctly Ashford ruined the number by having dancers join Hayes for Basketball. But then Ashford also ruined Turkey Lurkey Time. At Encores I don't remember how Martin Short did the song but he was good as Chuck. And Rob Marshall did fine with Turkey Lurkey. |
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| re: the fantastic PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert last night | |
| Posted by: seeseveryshow 09:50 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - hugoP 12:39 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| If ever they decide to revive the show, Santino Fontana seems a worthy successor to Jerry Orbach in the leading role of Chuck Baxter. As you point out, Fontana, who will be starring in the title role of the Broadway bound TOOTSIE in Chicago this fall, was one of seven performers last night taking turns playing Baxter. We also had three Fran's (four if you include Jill O'Hara), two Sheldrakes (Kudisch and Tally Sessions), but only one doctor (Michael Winther). The evening was altogether a great success. Kudos to all involved. Among the many recognizable faces in the audience, I saw several ATC chatters including NY209 (Pat) and Michael Portantiere. two slight questions - 1. In "Turkey Lurkey" which seemed otherwise to mimic the original choreography, why did they omit the iconic alternating arm flapping that comes near the very end of the number? 2. Why was Kudisch directed to stand sideways to the audience when he did his number? Looking forward to all of Transport Theater Company's upcoming productions. |
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| re: the fantastic PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert last night | |
| Posted by: newyork293 07:14 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: the fantastic PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert last night - seeseveryshow 09:50 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Great show and glorious sounding orchestra. It was wonderful to hear the score performed by such talented singers and musicians. Nice chatting with seeseveryshow. Also saw Susan Haskins of Theater Talk at intermission. It was a very enjoyable evening. | |
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| re: the fantastic PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert last night | |
| Last Edit: lowwriter 10:27 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| Posted by: lowwriter 10:26 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: the fantastic PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert last night - seeseveryshow 09:50 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Kudisch singing sideways was odd! And you're right, I'm not sure why the dancers didn't flap their arms during Turkey Lurkey. Man of La Mancha was also worthwhile but the evening went on forever because of too much commentary and the singers were drowned out by the orchestra though it was smaller. |
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| re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT | |
| Posted by: lowwriter 01:18 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - hugoP 12:39 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| This was a terrific concert and was much better organized than the previous Man of La Mancha concert. I agree with all your comments and also was in showtune heaven hearing the Jonathan Tunick orchestrations performed so splendidly. The backup singers also did a fine job. Besides the singers you mentioned I thought Hannah Corneau and Michael Lowney were very good singing You'll Think of Someone. The one song that seemed terribly dated was Where Can You Take a Girl which mysteriously wasn't listed in the program. Otherwise the songs have held up well. I got to talk to Jill O'Hara afterwards. I told her how the show was a big favorite of mine when I saw it growing up. And how touching it was to her sing again tonight. She grabbed my hand to thank me for coming. I never imagined that I would get to relive my experience of seeing the show 50 years ago by hearing her sing tonight. |
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| re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT | |
| Posted by: hugoP 07:03 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - lowwriter 01:18 am EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| agree about how wonderful Corneau and Lowney were-- I should have given them a shout-out, too. I also felt that is was odd that WHERE CAN YOU TAKE A GIRL wasn't listed...and agree it was dated (I meantioned in my post that it was somewhat cringe-worthy...but I still got a kick out of the performance)> Fantastic that you got to meet O'Hara....and got to relive a beautiful memory. My Broadway-going started in the mid-1970s so there were lots of original productions that I wished I had seen (also: FOLLIES, COMPANY, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, HAIR, et al) |
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