“The Critics Corner”
If you have been reading my posts you know that Jac and I went into the big city last night for dinner and a show……….First the dinner. We went to our usual haunt, Orso, which is a relatively small Italian restaurant, right on the edge of the theater district. The place was packed, and celebs were on tap. Woody Allen held court at one table with Marlo Thomas and her husband Phil Donahue, while at another table, Eisner, can’t remember his first name, the ex head of Disney held court at another table…………always fun to see the famous and infamous. I did “The Donahue Show” twice, but I guess he forgot! LOL. Since the show started at 8pm [on Tuesdays many shows start at 7pm] we had lots of time to sit and have a leisurely dinner. Jac had spent the day in the city doing many errands, so she regaled me with her tales of the city. She found the city basically the same….but changed……and not for the better. That seems to be the way these days….lots of changes going on….some small…some big….. but few for the better. I have to say I like the city the way it used to be……………………I digress……………
“BULLETS OVER BROADWAY”……………we had great seats….first row center mezzanine. The word around town is this is a great show….a sure thing….The movie was fabulous and Woody’s bringing it to Broadway with a terrific cast and Susan Stroman [not sure of the spelling]…fabulous music from the past that works with the story line……..how can it miss???? So…..the theater was packed and word was out….Woody was in the house!…..While there were some good moments…..great costumes…….the chorus girls were fabulous, and the actor who played “Cheech” stood out…..for Jac and I……….for most of the show…….. they were shooting BLANKS!!!……How could this be…..was it just us??? Are we so jaded and critical???? At intermission we looked at each other….and new….neither one of us was overwhelmed. No one around us was really discussing the show….no oooohs and aaaahs. Half way through the intermission a very well dressed older gentleman came back from the mens room and sat down right behind us next to his very elegant wife. He proceeded to tell her the scuttle butt in the mens room was they were giving the first half a C – C plus…..I felt vindicated…We started to speak with the couple about our disappointment in the show and before you new it the immediately group around us chimed in also agreeing……..Moral of the story……there is no such thing…..as a SURE THING!………….I can’t put my finger on why it didn’t work for me and I’m sure there were many who loved it, but I have seen many many musicals, and I know a dud when I see one…..but then again WE didn’t like “Kinky Boots”…..certainly in the minority…..For “Kinky Boots” I felt I had seen that story done many times before and done much better…….I guess after loving the movie Bullets Over Broadway so much, this was just a big let down. The movie was just so much better on every level. This should have been great and it just wasn’t………………………………………………………………………………
For my money the BEST thing on Broadway is definitely………” A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER”……….and we have seen just about everything that has opened on Broadway……..Everyone I know who has seen it has absolutely LOVED it……………….A surprise for me was “The Bridges of Madison County”. I wasn’t expecting much, but was I surprised how much I loved it. The music score is the best of the season. One word of advise….if you see it bring plenty of tissues!……….. Unfortunately, when the Tony Awards are given I think they will go to “Bullets”……………I hope I’m wrong…………….that’s it from the “Critics Corner”.
