| 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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| Previous: | re: The show's design arc helped the ending feel earned (maybe). - mikem 12:51 pm EDT 06/26/18 |
| Next: | re: PROMISES PROMISES Benefit Concert TONIGHT - aislestorm 11:01 am EDT 06/26/18 |
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