Nevermore - 1/28/15

Nevermore is an off Broadway show at New World Stages that explores the hard life of poet and author, Edgar Allen Poe. Though New York Times gave it a close to raving review, my opinions differ completely than some of those who have seen the show before me.

Hate is a strong word and totally not the word that I would use to describe how I feel about this show. However, dislike is quite valid. I'm an avid lover of literature and some of my favorite poetry is by Edgar Allen Poe. But this show did not do him justice.

If you're going to see the show, please make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Edgar Allen Poe. The entire time I was watching the show, I was wanting more to happen. I was yearning for symbolism and metaphors before realizing that I was probably missing a lot of references because I haven't read his works in so long. Most of the music is very diabolical, which I loved. It was all written in tritone and it was enjoyable. But the actor playing Edgar Allen Poe did not do a very good job vocally. His voice was very feminine and it was the last thing I was expecting Poe to sound like. Another issue with casting would be that all of the women in the show looked the same. It was a little hard to keep up with the storyline (besides being disinterested) because I kept forgetting who was who. I did enjoy the costumes, but I couldn't decipher different characters. Definitely a poor choice.

In terms of the show itself, it reminded me a lot of the play Machinal. The story's are incredibly different; however, the precision and the synchronized movements reminded me of the other machine-like play. Another difference between the two is that I actually enjoyed Machinal. 

Lastly, I understand that Off Broadway shows don't have as much of an income as shows that are on Broadway, but this show's use of minimalism just didn't work. In shows like A Chorus Line the minimal set works, but for this show, I just wanted something more. I don't think the addition of a set would improve my opinion of the performance; however, I think it would definitely add something auspicious. 

Overall, this show may be other people's cup of tea, but it didn't have enough honey and sugar for me. Okay- that was corny. But seriously, I know a lot of people who absolutely loved this show. However in my opinion, it would probably be the last thing I recommend in terms of shows this Broadway/Off Broadway season, this would probably be the last show I recommend.

You Can't Take It With You - 11/8/14

You Can't Take It With You is a comedic revival that shows you the true meaning of family and love. Through it's quirky characters, the audience is able to see a true example of perfect comedic timing. This show was one that I wasn't too determined to see; however, I was proven wrong by it's magnificent direction and actors. It was truly a wonderful piece of theatre.


If you saw The Addam's Family musical and loved it, you're going to love this show. Why? Because the story lines are very similar. Girl likes guy, girl has weird family, guy doesn't care, and so on. However, the way that this show was performed had a true, authentic feel rather than the bizarre charisma that The Addam's Family exerts. Both are extremely remarkable works of art, but in my opinion, You Can't Take It With You is a lot better.


I'm not saying my school is the best, nor am I doing any self promotion, but I am saying it does train actors to entertain to their full extent. Of course, I am referring to the wonderful Annaleigh Ashford who plays "Essie". I saw Ashford in Kinky Boots back in January 2014 and I immediately thought that she was a hit. She's beautiful, she's talented, and she's absolutely hilarious. Her performance of Essie was truly incredible. Then there was Rose Byrne. Mostly renowned for her role Helen in Bridesmaids, this Australian native took on the role of Alice. It's always wonderful to see a foreign actor completely master an American accent, which is what Byrne did. I knew that she was Australian prior to the show, but if I hadn't, I would've been convinced. Byrne can definitely be considered a seasoned actress. The role of Alice definitely required an immense amount of emotional recall as well as an even balance of comedy, which Byrne pretty much epitomized. When you see the actress in Bridesmaids, you're not experiencing Byrne's full potential. It's usually like that when you're watching a film. Theatre captures someone's full potential, which is one of the reasons that I adore it so much. Of course some of the credit for these wonderful actors must go to the director, Scott Ellis, for truly recognizing those comedic moments. But a show would be nothing without it's actors.


And of course, the actors would be no where without the script! I was pretty familiar with the show's text before, and honestly I wasn't a fan. Sometimes, you need to see things come to life before you fully appreciate them, and that was the case for me in regards to this show. When I read it, I thought it was missing something. That something is the comedy moments found in the subtext. I loved this adaptation because all of the actors really understood their surroundings. They understood what they wanted, their place in society, their place in the house, etc. All of the characters were very well developed and entertaining. Often in straight plays, two hours of dialogue can get monotonous and tedious. Especially in this production which holds three acts and two intermissions. Yet I can proudly say I did not find myself bored one bit. Every moment I was in that theatre, I was entertained.


Furthermore, I would definitely recommend this show to anyone. It is family friendly, it's funny, it's warm-hearted, and it has some of the best acting on Broadway right now. However, you have to hurry because it is closing on February 22nd! I would suggest that you try doing student rush. It's cheap and usually empty. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the show!


5 out of 5 rikdastars


Until next time!
-Rikki

On The Town - 9/27/14 & 10/9/14

On The Town is a wonderful musical comedy that was just recently revived at the Lyric Theatre. The current production has caused lots of controversy as to whether or not it is true to the original script and does it do the script justice being a show that has a very specific time period. However, I really enjoyed the production both the first and second time I saw it. The first time I saw it, I was sitting in the balcony all the way in the back of the theatre while the second time I saw it, I was second row right in the middle of the action. Each time allowed me to see different aspects of the production and definitely helped me develop a deeper understanding of the musical as a whole.

The first thing I noticed while sitting down in the theatre was the big American flag. I thought that was definitely different, since most shows have the set on stage before the show begins. The show had a lot of different sets. I’m never usually a fan of several set changes, but for some reason I didn’t mind it during this show. I don’t think there is any other way to do the show without a certain amount of set changes. My favorite set was what seemed to be the Downtown Seaport where they had the Staten Island ferry in the back (also known as my hometown). For a borough that always seems to be deemed as forgotten, it still made its appearance in this fantastic revival. I also really like how they created Times Square and Coney Island on stage. The interpretations may not be exactly what the attractions look like, but the colossal amount of colors and lights made the entire set pleasing to the eye. They looked even more incredible from the back of the theatre when I got to see everything in perspective. Even during the huge dream dance break there was an array of different sets. From a wrestling rink to a ballroom, everything was absolutely stunning and really complemented the actors on stage.

Going into On The Town, I didn’t know anything about the story but I did know a good portion of the music. I feel that knowing the music really made me enjoy the play more. Especially “I Can Cook Too”. I used that song for a couple of auditions through the last couple of years without knowing the context behind the song or why it was being sung (which is a super awful thing to do for an audition, but it worked out in the end). Seeing the production, I now know a lot about the context of the song. It made me love the song even more, and it can definitely improve my performance during auditions. Along the lines of context in songs, I also knew the song “New York New York”. I actually really hated it. Living in New York my entire life, any song that has to do with New York always annoys me. It’s not necessarily the song itself that annoy me, but the character(s) that are singing it are usually people who have never been to New York before and are basking in the glory of all of the beloved attractions (also known as tourists). However, seeing the sailors singing it and learning why they were singing it really helped me gain appreciation for the song. It was actually really cute. These three sailors had one day to explore the city before they go back to the navy and they are just so excited to see what lies ahead of them. It really sets up the concept of the entire show. As an audience, we don’t know what is going to happen, but we are aware of the setting and the time period just by the first 10-15 minutes of the show. Seeing this number from the back of the theatre, I was a little disappointed. I feel that the Lyric theatre, which is also known as the Hilton Theatre or the Apollo Theatre, was a little too big for this production. I didn’t really realize how intimate On The Town was until I sat second row. The acting is just phenomenal, and you don’t really get to see that when sitting all the way in the back. In fact, when I was in the back I kept getting confused as to which sailor was which. Tony Yazbeck who played Gabey and Clyde Alves who played Ozzie look kind of similar so it was hard to determine who was who during some portion of the show. However, once the relationships with the ladies started to begin, I then distinguished one from another.

On the topic of the women, I want to talk about my favorite- Hildy. I saw the show with a bunch of my friends and the minute Hildy came on stage, they all went, “Rikki- this is you.” That is exactly the type of role I love playing. Hildy was everything that a character role should be- funny, sexy, vulnerable, and engaging. To me, albeit Gabey was the main character, Hildy stole the show. There have only been 2 other revivals of On The Town, on Broadway and off Broadway, and both have failed. I’m not necessarily trying to say that their casting of Hildy is the reason why, but I really think Alysha Umphress stole the show. Umphress can be previously seen in American Idiot and Bring It On!; however,  it’s clear that On The Town is really giving her recognition. From the first moment she stepped on stage, she took control of the scene. “Come Up To My Place” is probably my favorite song in the entire show. I really love how it’s so challenging. Not only are the notes hard to hit, but as a performer, you have to focus on timing, dialogue, blocking, acting, and singing all while performing. Yes, this can be applied to every number in a Broadway show but I just think this song is particularly challenging and that Jay Armstrong Johnson and Alysha Umphress did a fantastic job. Going on in Hildy’s endeavors, when we finally see her in her apartment, I feel that we are seeing another side of Hildy. Its kind of Hildy’s way of saying, “I am more than my occupation. I have a life too.” As the scene continues, it eventually evolves into the song, “I Can Cook Too.” What a wonderful song is epitomize Hildy’s character. There is so much subtext behind this song. The song isn’t really about Hildy cooking; it’s about her proving that she is the perfect woman. After “I Can Cook Too,” Hildy and Chip’s relationship becomes a lot stronger (and it’s not because they have sex directly after). It then becomes less about “what are we going to do while you’re here?” and more about “what are we going to do when you’re gone?”

The second act of On The Town provokes a lot more emotions than the first one does. The first act deals with coming to New York, while the second act deals with leaving New York. With Gabey down in the dumps and all of the other couples coming to the realization that they will have to split soon, it really injects an immense amount of pathos to the audience. However, there are several moments that still make the audience roar with laughter. For example, Jackie Hoffman’s nightclub impersonations were hilarious. Not only was she a fantastic Maude P. Dilly, but she also brought the house down with Diana Dream and Dolores Dolores. I always think it’s really important for an actor to be able to play several roles and be seasoned, and Jackie Hoffman represents this perfectly. However, on the topic of a more emotional second act, the song “Some Other Time” always evokes tears from the audience. It’s just really sad. You watched these people fall in love for an hour and now they can’t be together because the guys are going back to the Navy. I know the play is a comedy, but the end of the show is quite sad if you think about it. After the day is done, these guys are being shipped back to wherever they’re fighting next. It’s very probable that they’ll never see the ladies again. And the saddest part to me is how they’re replaced so easily. I feel as though the audience feels the ending is very happy because there are three new guys having a new beginning and they’re ambitious to see what lies ahead. But I don’t see it as very happy. Besides the fact that the guys will never see the girls again, the new guys might go through the exact same thing and have to leave their ladies as well. It’s the same cycle over and over again, resulting in sadness and replacements. I think that’s the one thing I don’t really like about the show. For a light comedy, it has such a dark background.

Alas, we come to the end. Hildy, Ivy and Claire were three totally different girls who all fell in love. They all came from different occupations and background, yet, they all somehow found each other in the same predicament. Part of me was a little disappointed that these girls fell in love in less than 24 hours, but I guess that factor really enhances the theme. Through watching the play, I realized that the main theme was that love is unpredictable and spontaneous and you can’t control desire. No matter how long or short it takes to fall in love, it’s still love. A little corny (well, a lot corny), but what do you expect from a 1940’s musical? I think On The Town perfectly depicts its time period. From the style of dance, the songs, and the witty, comical characters, On The Town represents the love and compassion of the 1940’s as well as the dark essence that surrounds it. Moreover, I definitely had a helluva time seeing On The Town each time and I would definitely do it all over again.


5 out of 5 rikdastars

Until next time!
-Rikki

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Andrew Rannells) - 9/21/14

If you're into great music and comedy, Hedwig is the show for you to see. This show is about Hedwig, a German performer, and how his transformation from man to woman didn't go as expected, leaving him with an "angry inch". The audience is able to see how it was affected the character in a very comedic, yet vulnerable way. The revival has housed many stars to play the role of Hedwig, and has several more lined up to pass the theoretical Hedwig torch. However, I saw Tony winner (and Marymount Manhattan alumni) Andrew Rannells who I thought was absolutely incredible.


Walking into the theatre you're already entertained. There's music blasting in the theatre. One of my friends had told me previously that the music playing was from the show. If she hadn't told me, I would've never known. The thing about Hedwig is that the music doesn't follow the classic "musical theatre" sound. It very much resembles a lot of classic rock. It puts you in the right state of mind for the show.


I sat in the very last row (poor college student=cheap tickets), but I had a great seat. I was able to see every single detail on the stage. The only thing that I was unable to witness was when Hedwig went off the stage during "Sugar Daddy" and interacted with the audience. I could see it to a certain extent if I really bent over, but after a while it gets a little annoying. But it's okay because he's not offstage for such a large amount of time. However, I only knew what happened when he went offstage because one of my friends had seen the show several times before. Therefore, I don't know would've felt if I was totally clueless as to what was going on.


One thing that I must say negatively about the show is that the sound was a bit overbearing. Sometimes it was hard to hear what the actors were singing or what they were saying because the band was just so loud. I'm not sure if that was because I was in the last row and the speakers were there or if it was a general issue, but it did obstruct my experience a tad. Not much, but it was a big issue. I still enjoyed the performance, though.


Something about the show that the actor that plays Hedwig ultimately plays two roles- the protagonist and the antagonist. Granted, you don't see him as the antagonist much and only really hear him, but that is another challenge for the actor- creating an invisible character. I don't want to spoil much about the show because it is one that I would suggest you see, but there is another concert being performed by the antagonist at the Belasco theatre (might sound peculiar, but you have to see it to believe it I guess!). Andrew Rannells did an extraordinary job of creating an invisible character that had so much affect on him. As an actor, sometimes the most important characters in the show are the ones you don't see or hear. You have to imagine them and create an entire story for them as well as your relationship with them. I believed every moment of Rannell's story.


Enough about Andrew Rannells, let's talk about Lena Hall. First of all, wow. Her character's progression was incredible. I was so surprised at how things turned out between Hedwig and Yitzhak. Anyways, Lena Hall did an incredible job of understanding the role of Yitzhak and how the character impacted Hedwig. In a way, Yitzhak was very much the motivation for Hedwig. Albeit he was his trusty assistant, Yitzhak made Hedwig determined to perform in fear that Hedwig would turn out like Yitzhak in the end. Without Yitzhak, Hedwig would be nowhere. I thought of Yitzhak, symbolically, as the wig on top of the protagonists head.

Overall, I really enjoyed Hedwig and I would recommend it to anyone. It's relatively family friendly and will definitely make you both laugh and cry. It's another type of theatre that makes you feel something powerful, which is extremely important to me when seeing a show. I'm looking forward to seeing the next couple of Hedwigs rock the show!

5 out of 5 rikdastars

Until next time!
-Rikki

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime - 9/17/14

The beloved children's book was turned into a Broadway play this fall when this show hit New York City. The story of a boy with a brilliant mind who is determined to figure out who killed a neighborhood dog currently has audience raving. Lets just say, if this show doesn't win any Tony's this June, I'll be extremely surprised.

I went into the show with no knowledge of what it was about. The only thing I was absolutely positive about was that it was based off of a book. Being that it was a children's book originally, I assumed it was going to be quite childish. Walking into the theatre and seeing the grid-like set, I knew I was ready for something special.

One aspect that I absolutely adored about the show was the set. It wasn't very complex to build; however, it represented a very complex idea. The set was supposed to mirror the mind of the protagonist, Christopher, on his endeavor. The stage had several boxes and was set up like a grid. The lighting designers did an excellent job with this show. There were several times where there were numbers on the set, or certain visuals, that helped you understand both the show more as well as Christopher as a character. The immense illusion to numbers and calculations reminded me of the play, "Machinal" in which the entire play was very precise and statistical to correspond with the overarching theme of machines. Even if the play doesn't win the Tony for "Best Play" or "Best Actor", it definitely deserves to win for lighting and set. It was genius.

My favorite aspect of the show? Simple: Alex Sharp. This new name to the Broadway community graduated from Juliard College not too long ago and is now the topic of several conversations. His performance of the character Christopher was absolutely phenomenal. It was clear he did his research on the disability he had as well as the book in general. I always have so much respect for an actor who can play a character with a disability and make it believable, and Sharp definitely did so. He evoked such pathos from the audience and definitely gave them a reason to come to the theatre and spend their money. And apart from being a fantastic actor, Sharp was an even better person. Meeting him at the stage door was an absolute pleasure. The man is extraordinarily humble and you can just tell he loves meeting his fans and being onstage. As an aspiring actress, it's wonderful to see another actor so happy and in such a good place in their life.

Overall, I can genuinely say I have no complaints about this show. I walked away from the theater feeling more intelligent and more fulfilled than I did previously. It's another one of those shows that makes you feel something post performance. I predict this show running for a very long time being that it is so popular among the Broadway community currently. I can't wait to see it be nominated and win Tony's.

5 out of 5 rikdastars.

Until next time!
-Rikki

Les Miserables - 9/6/14

Les Miserables- the story that started with a loaf of bread. As ludicrous as it sounds, it's the truth. However, on a more serious note, Les Mis is a timeless musical that always brings the audience to their feet (after they've just cried their eyes out 6 times). Recently, it has been of popular demand after the 25th anniversary, the movie, and of course- the revival.

I did the show during my freshman year of high school and being in the production truly made me realize how beautiful the story is. I mean it's got everything- love, loss, family, enemies, war, etcetera. Sure it might be a little lengthy and the fact that it's an operetta might agitate you, but in summary, Les Mis is a beautiful constructed show and being in it was an honor. That being said, until I had the chance to see the revival I had never actually seen a professional production of the show. I had seen my own and the anniversaries and some stuff on YouTube, but to experience it live (and first row) was something extraordinary.

Rush tickets are really such a wonderful concept. The people around my roommate and I (whom shared the experience with me) probably thought we paid hundreds of dollars for our seats in row AA, when in reality, we paid only $37 and had the same experience as they did. If you live in New York or somewhere near by and have the opportunity to rush a show, I strongly recommend you act upon it.

Even from the sound of the overture, you get chills. The thing about Les Mis is that from the first note of the first song, you know you're in for something special. The music is so menacing and dark and it's so intriguing. One thing about Les Mis that always interested me was that it was a huge book made into a revolutionary musical. The music and the lyrics were all written around the text. I know a lot of modern musicals and plays are like this (eg- Spring Awakening, Curious Incident, etc), but what's so special about Les Mis is that it's an operetta which means that there is no dialogue. They had to incorporate the text into the music which is probably super hard but they obviously did an excellent job.

Let me start by saying the acting was amazing. A lot of the times in Broadway revivals, actors try their best to impersonate the actors that previously played the role before them. In this show, that was not the case. Each actor played their role wonderfully with the exception of one: Nikki M. James. I always hate saying that an actor is horrible, but I really thought James was terrible. She has a truly beautiful voice; however, it is not an Eponine voice. It has nothing to do with the way she sounds or looks, but it was her acting that really destroyed her performance for me. Eponine is a poor girl that's hopelessly in love with a boy who doesn't lover her back. She goes through hell just to be with him- breaks rules, goes against her will, and ends up dying because she wanted to fight with him. So why would Nikki M. James play the role so.. flirty? That's really the only word that I could give her performance. She played Eponine like a modern day girl flirting with a guy. I understand that in context, Eponine is trying to win Marius over. But she isn't trying to have sex with him right then and there. She's not seducing him! And of course, there was On My Own- one of the most iconic songs in all of Broadway history (also one of the most overdone and mundane songs, but still holds the title). So many people have mastered performing the song in both singing and acting, when Nikki M. James couldn't even do both. Okay, that's a little harmful. She sang the song fine and hit all of the notes, but it was just boring. Like, there was nothing there besides a voice. The staging was so monotonous. She literally just stood on the stage a sang. She didn't move one bit. I don't know if that was her idea or the directors, but I thought it was awful. And the acting was just.. nothing. There was nothing there. She held a straight face and sang the song. Moreover, all I'm saying is that when it was announced that she was leaving the show, I was not surprised nor unhappy.

The thing I loved the most was that this revival truly stayed true to the original script. It's very common for revivals to take certain things out and even make new additions, for example Side Show added a bunch of new music for the 2014 revival (I'll review that one soon). But as someone who happens to know Les Mis extraordinarily well, everything was there where it was supposed to be which was truly wonderful.

Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed this production of Les Mis. It was both heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time, just like it was supposed to be. It was everything I thought it would be and more. Even with Nikki M. James, I still managed to enjoy the show and I still manage to cry. Victor Hugo would've been proud.

4 out of 5 rikdastars.

Until next time!

-Rikki

Phantom of the Opera - 8/30/14

If you're a theatre kid, chances are you sang the title of this blog post in your head (or if you're like me, you sang it out loud). And if you're not a theatre kid, you probably think I'm insane for saying so.

Well without further ado, here's my review of the infamous Phantom of the Opera.

Phantom explores the ever so intangible love triangle that never fails to bring audiences to tears. When the Phantom of the Opera suddenly captures performer Christine Daae, her partner, Raoul is determined to save her. The show follows an operetta structure; however, is not considered to be an opera and is deemed as a musical. It is widely known to be the most popular musical on Broadway at the moment and currently holds the title for Broadway's longest running musical (27 years).

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this show wasn't my favorite. I know, I know. It's an extraordinarily unpopular opinion. Phantom has beautiful songs and amazing actors, but it's just the story that doesn't really touch me too much. It's a lovely story, but watching it for two hours kind of bored me. If it wasn't for being in the presence of Norm Lewis and being incredibly familiar with the music, I probably would've really disliked it. You'll learn from me that my favorite types of musicals are the ones where there's a big dance number, a large ensemble, and a quirky leading couple. Phantom had none of those. That doesn't make it a bad musical, though. In fact, I would recommend Phantom to anyone. I really think that Phantom is a show for everyone- it just wasn't my favorite.

However, Norm Lewis was incredible. I mean I've heard him sing before (Les Mis anniversary, Porgy and Bess, etc), but hearing the man sing in the same room as me is a dream. I'm serious, if you get the chance to see Norm Lewis live- take it. It's an unforgettable experience. Lewis was better than the cast recording and holds the title of the first "African American Phantom". I've seen a lot of videos of other Phantoms and I think it is safe for me to say Norm Lewis is my favorite and probably the best one out there. Lewis came to my school for a Q&A not too long ago and said that the Phantom was his dream role and he can't believe he's living his dream (Lewis). It is so visible through his performance that Norm Lewis is doing what he loves with people that he loves. He also made sure to tell us that it is not all rainbows and butterflies playing the Phantom. Doing it eight times a week is physically and emotionally draining and it's hard not to call out for a day and let the understudy go on. For me as an aspiring Broadway actress, that was like fuel. I love hearing about the challenges of the show on and offstage. That is what inspires me to keep going. Even with all of the challenges of being the Phantom, you can tell Norm Lewis truly loves his job which is wonderful to hear as both an audience member and an actor.

The music, of course, was outstanding. Majority of you are probably familiar with at least one of the songs. And if you're not, then familiarize yourself! You don't have to love theatre to appreciate beautiful music. Just like I don't have to absolutely love the show to appreciate it's quality. The band was amazing. I used to be a band kid back in middle school and ever since then I've been obsessed with hearing Broadway cast bands. If a band can give me the chills, it's a good band. I clearly remember getting the chills more than once during Phantom (and rightfully so).

In context what I'm trying to say is that Phantom really was wonderful, it just wasn't my favorite. However, I strongly recommend it to you all. It's a beautiful piece of theatre that let's you appreciate a different type of show tunes as well as witness a beautiful love story.

3 out of 5 rikdastars

Until next time!
-Rikki