Goodbye RENT

The producers of long time running Broadway musical RENT announced today that they will be closing their doors June 1, 2008.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=24337

I can't way I am shocked, but it does hit a certain spot in my heart. The grosses have sucked, casts second rate, etc. But this was the show that turned me onto the love of musicals. I saw it for my 16th birthday and it opened my eyes to so many things. I thought I lead a rebellious life since a smoke cigarettes, drank beer, swore, and was just general "bad ass". Of course this was in suburbia, that didn't register back then. But I saw this show and was exposed to this notion of this disease AIDS. Oh so you aren't supposed to not just have unprotected sex so you didn't get pregnant but now there are diseases. The show itself isn't the greatest thing and is not for everyone. There are major plot holes and cheesy cliches but the underlying themes of strength, love, friendship, and survival still ring true.

I haven't decided if I am going to see it again, having seen it four times this summer. Having seen the emotion in that room the last night of The Return with Adam & Anthony, I don't know if I want to replace that memory. We'll see.

Seeing this does make me sad though:
http://www.siteforrent.com/

Books I Have Read

On going list of books I've read (bold ones are the most recent)

A Lion Among Men: Volume Three in the Wicked Years - Gregory Maguire
Angels & Demons – Dan Brown
Angels in America: Part One: Millennium Approaches - Tony Kushner
Angels in America: Part Two: Perestroika - Tony Kushner
Broadway Nights: A Romp of Life, Love, and Musical Theatre - Seth Rudetsky
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguire

Dark Lover - A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood #1- J.R. Ward

Darkly Dreaming Dexter – Jeff Lindsay
Dork Whore: My Travels Through Asia as a Twenty-Year-Old Pseudo-Virgin – Iris Bahr
How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, & Musical Theater – Marc Acito
Inherit the Wind – Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee
Invisible: A Novel - Paul Auster
Judge & Jury – James Patterson
Lady Q - The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen - Reymundo Sanches & Sonia Rodriguez
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – J.R. Tolkien
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – J.R. Tolkien
Lover Eternal - A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood #2- J.R. Ward

Marley & Me – John Grogan
Middlesex: A Novel - Jeffrey Eugenides
Mirror, Mirror - Gregory Maguire
Mistress Shakespeare: A Novel – Karen Harper
Orpheus Descending – Tennessee Willaims
Our Town – Thorton Wilder
Outliers: The Story of Success – Malcolm Gladwell
Palo Alto: Stories - James Franco
Period of Adjustment – Tennessee Williams
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
Ragtime – E.L. Doctrow
Son of a Witch: Volume Two in the Wicked Years  – Gregory Maguire
Speak of the Devil: A Novel of Suspense - Richard Hawke
Spring’s Awakening – Frank Wedekind
State of Fear – Michael Crichton
Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee - Noralee Frankel
Suddenly Last Summer – Tennessee Williams
Summer and Smoke - Tennessee Williams
Sundays at Tiffanys - James Patterson
Supernatural: Nevermore - Keith R.A. DeCandido
The Columnist – Jeffery Frank
The DaVinci Code – Dan Brown
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson
The Glass Menagerie –Tennessee Williams
The Hobbit – J.R. Tolkien
The Homecoming - Harold Pinter
The Ice Queen – Alice Hoffman
The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown
The Jester – James Patterson
The Magicians - Lev Grossman
The Matchmaker - Thorton Wilder
The Mephisto Club - Tess Gerritsen
The Most Evil Secret Societies in History – Shelley Klein
The Normal Heart - Larry Kramer
The Pact - Jodi Piccult
The Phantom of Manhattan - Frederick Forsyth
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
The Princess Bride – William Goldman
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe
The Time Travelers Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
The Q Guide to Broadway – Seth Rudetsky
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening & The Struggle – L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Fury & Dark Reunion – L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Return Vol 1: Nightfall – L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Return Vol 2: Shadow Souls - L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #1: Origins - L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #2: Bloodlust
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
Twilight Series – Stephanie Meyer
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
Waking Up - Joe Traum
Water for Elephants: A Novel - Sara Gruen
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire
Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical RENT – Anthony Rapp
You’ve Been Warned – James Patterson

Alex Cross Series – James Patterson
Along Came a Spider
Kiss the Girls
Jack & Jill
Cat and Mouse
Pop Goes the Weasel
Roses are Red
Violets Are Blue
Four Blind Mice
The Big Bad Wolf
London Bridges
Mary, Mary
Cross
Double Cross
Cross Country
I, Alex Cross

John Grisham Collection
A Time to Kill
The Firm
The Pelican Brief
The Client
The Chamber
The Rainmaker
The Runaway Jury
The Partner
The Street Lawyer
The Testament
The Brethren
The Summons
The King of Torts
The Last Juror
The Broker
The Appeal
The Associate
The Confession
A Painted House
Skipping Christmas
Bleachers
Playing for Pizza
The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
Ford County

Sookie Stackhouse Series

Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 1) - Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2) - Charlaine Harris
Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3) - Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4) - Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5) - Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6) - Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7) - Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8) - Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 9) - Charlaine Harris

Michael Connelly Books
Echo Park - Michael Connelly

The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly

The Lincoln Lawyer – Michael Connelly

The Poet - Michael Connelly
The Narrows - Michael Connelly
The Scarecrow - Michael Connelly
The Reversal - Micahel Connelly
Crime Beat - A Decade of Covering Cops and Killers - Michael Connelly

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire

Review - The Homecoming - 1/31/2008

The Homecoming

Cort Theatre

138 W 48^th Street

Sunday 1/13/08 – 3:00PM

The Homecoming is a famous dark play written by legend Harold Pinter. I had no prior exposure to him before hearing about this show coming to broadway. When it was announced I ebayed a copy of the play and read it on the plane to Vegas. It is a short work and I had it read in less than an hour. I started out enjoying it but then it took too many sub contextual turns and never really wrapped itself off. I am all for twisted and dark pieces, but I need an underlying and consistent plot to really dive in. Maybe it is my lack of knowledge or readings of great works, but I am trying. Here is my understanding of the plot. The story takes place in London England circa 1960-1970. The main characters Max (father – Ian McShane famous for Deadwood series on HBO), Sam (Max’s brother – Michael McKean famous for many TV shows, Saturday Night Live, and Spinal Tap movies), Lenny (Max’s middle son – Raul Esparza), Teddy (Max’s Eldest Son – James Frain), Joey (Max’s youngest son - Gareth Saxe), and Ruth (Teddy’s wife – Eve Best). Eldest son Teddy and his wife Ruth come back to England for a surprise family visit. The family does not know he is married, so this has caused a shock. Max plays almost an impotent type man trying to still play the macho patriarch of the family. Lenny’s occupation is not exactly clear until the end of the play, and Joey is a budding boxer. Most of the story I guess revolves the power struggle and role sexuality plays in a circle of people - the need for dominance. The most open ended question is whether Ruth is being controlled, or actually the manipulator. But are these strong men really that vulnerable to be so easily controlled by feminine sexual appeal? There are many “WTF” moments whether via plot or sheet shock at the staging, which isn’t a bad thing, but the show just ends so abruptly. I’m sure there are many papers, reviews, critiques on the inner workings of the show, and delves into these questions, but I still don’t get it. But maybe that is how it is supposed to be; leaving it undefined and open for interpretation.

Performances were excellent from the whole cast. Actually a little scary how close they were to how I imagined them to be when reading the play originally. I don’t know if it was my previous interest in Raul’s theater credits, but it was so hard to keep his character in focus. I’m not faulting him for this, but his London accent was scarily similar to the one used in Taboo, and I have been on a Taboo kick lately. Any moment I was waiting for him to come out dressed in drag. The character was a bit too lovable in my opinion, strange as it may seem. I always thought you would want to be sickened in a way by Lenny in a way, but Raul came off sort of friendly. Eve Best took a bit to warm up too, but she came up punching at the end of Act 2.

After the show, we were able to take pictures and briefly speak to James, Ian, Michael, and Raul. They were very nice and patient. Michael actually asked if I had read the play and I was all excited to actually engage in conversation about it, when someone he knew popped out of no where and stole his attention, boo! However, he remember he promised us pictures and after his conversation ended came right over to us. That was very kind.

Review - Young Frankenstein - 12/7/2007

Young Frankenstein

Hilton Theatre

213 W 42^nd Street

Friday December 7, 2007 – 8:00PM

I had purchased these tickets the day they went on public sale I think in July, figuring the craze for tickets would be similar to how it is. We had center balcony seats and they were really not that bad, very roomy. The Hilton Theatre itself is very beautiful and big.

The show itself was good, not great but not bad. I don’t think it would get the whipping it does if it is not the “successor” of The Producers. In The Producers, the cheap lines and gags just kind of flowed and you didn’t notice them, but in YF they are very blatant- funny, but blatant. The songs were cute but not exactly catching. Sets were great and performances were excellent. Roger Bart was good as Frederick, and I can definitely see Hunter Foster filling this role after Roger and Sutton leave the show. Megan has a definite stage presence but I feel was wasted in the possibilities she could have brought to the show. The stand out for me was Christopher Fitzgerald as Igor. He just blew me away in every thing he did, small or big as part of the role.

After the show, a friend who works for the show was able to bring us backstage which was just incredible! Finally, the whole process was sort of brought full circle for me. I got to see dressing rooms, wig rooms, costume rooms, green rooms, backstage, props, set pieces, and even got to walk across the stage and look out towards the empty theater. What an incredible feeling!! The way they maneuver the sets and store them is amazing. So much goes on to put on the 2 hour show you see that one never sees or even thinks about.

Overall a cute show that I was glad I got to see. It will be around a while, but I don’t think it will reach cult status like The Producers or even the original YF film.

Review - Frankenstein - 11/12/2007

Frankenstein

37 Arts

450 West 37^th Street

Sunday November 11, 2007 3:00PM

Frankenstein was a concept musical based on the actual novel by Mary Shelley. The story of Victor Frankenstein and his struggle to contain the creature he brought to life, and the horror it inflicts on his life. This a dark story of cat and mouse. There had already been a concept album for the show previously, however I do not know if there was ever an actual staging until this. It obviously is a very rough sell to begin with and the critics did not help it much.

Overall the book and lyrics were a very big downfall of this show. It started off very slow and was honestly the first time I considered just closing my eyelids. The send of Act 1 and Act 2 picked up the pace a bit to make it tolerable. I felt so bad to think this way because the performers were excellent. They made the most of the material given to them. I will give them and A for effort because I can’t see this material as a musical at all, but they did what they could. The songs were forgettable but the stage design and direction was very interesting. I liked their use of projection screens and the stair cases.

Hunter Foster gave a great take on the troubled genius Dr. Victor Frankenstein. He was rarely off stage and didn’t have easy songs but he pressed on with great ability. He and Steve Blanchard worked well as master/creation. Steve had the most of a role to work with and played it very well. Not monster or animated, but as a disfigured, tortured, angry man that you were scared of yet felt for. It was a very physical role as well as vocally strong. His naked abdominal section wasn’t exactly a bad thing either.

I’m glad I was able to catch this show, even if for the sole fact to add it to my ever growing love of Hunter. Even if I do not thoroughly enjoy a show, I am glad to take the chance and explore other mediums and subject matter.

Review - RENT - 10/7/07

RENT

Nederlander Theatre

10/7/07 - 7:00 pm

This days seemed like it would never get here, but then seemed to come way too soon once it arrived. The last performance of Adam & Anthony in RENT (well so they say right now at least, lol, never rule anything out!). The theater was packed, and it was odd knowing so many people there. Everywhere I turned was a familiar face, whether I knew them personally or not. It really helped set to mood to see so many other exciting faces.

When Adam & Anthony first came out onto stage there was a few minute deafening standing ovation. It was so sweet to see them fighting back emotions, but I totally felt bad for how awkward it must have been. The show itself can't really be commented on any further than I already have in the last three reviews. They were just down right amazing. Performances that left me, of all people, speechless. The only difference in the flawless performance was the obvious emotional effect from it being the last show. A lot of added hugging, joking, and lots of tears. And I think for the first time ever, they had cast members bow by themselves. Usually it is a strict ensemble piece with no one being more important than the other. Well after the first cast bow, Adam & Anthony came out by themselves to more deafening cheering. They hugged and cried, and it was a really sweet moment I am glad I got to witness.

I am unlike others in my thinking of the future. I am so happy and blessed to have witnessed this return, having never seen the OBC in the mid 90's, and being a large fan of Adam's. But I don't feel like it is the close to my RENT chapter. I don't think anyone can live up to this, but I want to see them try. I want to eventually see the new Roger/Mark combo, and even if they suck, see the new interpretation.

Another interesting tidbit was that Christopher Hanke was sitting two rows ahead of me at the performance. Chris is the former Mark that left when Anthony returned. I unfortunately never caught his performance but I heard many good things about it. I couldn't help but study his reactions to the performance. I would love to know what was going on in his mind. Here he is watching the original play the part, two months after that was him on stage. At points in the show he was cheering probably the loudest in the audience, which was really cool to see him still care about the show/cast. I think experiences like this, and seeing the real Jerry at the closing performance of Grey Gardens, are my favorite parts of theater experience. It makes it real.

I had only seen RENT live once before this summer, and it was already deeply embedded into my heart, flaws and all. Now I saw it four (suprisingly only four, I am proud of myself) more times in two months, and I still love it as much if not more. Now though I can go back to seeing other shows.

Thank you boys for many great memories!

Oh and to comment on a few cast changes: Rodney Hicks as Benny is a great addition. D'Monroe grew on me by the third performance, but he was too rushed. Rodney adds a great fresh breath and more toned down approach to the role. Tonya Dixon is back in the role of Joanne. Maybe if I had seen her before Merle I would have enjoyed it more, but that role is forever tainted by Merle's amazingness! She wasn't bad, but no Merle. Troy Horne added a bit more to my Collins appreciation since the last time as well.

Review - Speech & Debate - 10/7/07

Speech & Debate

Black Box Theatre

10/7/07 – 2:30 pm

Speech & Debate was the introductory show for the new “Roundabout Underground” initiative. The goal is to “cultivate new works by emerging playwrights by giving them the opportunity to debut their plays as full scale productions the nurturing environment…”, as per the program. I didn’t know anything about the show, but was looking for something to do while waiting to see RENT in the evening.

You enter the theater via elevator and walk into a funky trendy lobby area. It has a small snack stand, a few couches, and tables. The theater itself is just a simple room. There are about 65 office type chairs assembled in rows and an aisle down the middle. There is no stage and the set is just a few feet away from you. Definitely an adjustment from seeing shows in large broadway houses. It was a simple classroom setting. It is a 4 person cast, and all scene changes are used with the same props, similar to how the tables in RENT are used for various scenes.

Essentially, the show is about a few different themes such as sexual abuse, personal acceptance, and social acceptance. It is the typical teen angst type show. There are three main students and an adult who serves as the teacher and reporter. The show starts showing a mock AIM conversation between the teenager on stage (later learned to be Howie played by Gideon Glick of Spring Awakening fame) and an obviously older man, trying to solicit a get together. Soloman is an uptight wannabe journalist. He starts out by vehemently trying to convince the student advisor to let him write on controversial issues such as abortion, and the recent scandal of the mayor propositioning young boys. He is turned down and seeks other avenues. Diwata is a teenage thespian who has a pod cast for her drunken gripes. Sarah Steele is definitely an up and comer after seeing this performance.

All three characters are strangers and have their own personal problem/agendas, but come together with the common goal of getting out the story of their predator drama teacher. While each is using it as personal gain, they end up caring for each others plights. They definitely tackle some common but still taboo topics, which is brave.

The show itself was very good for being a first production. It runs about two hours with no intermission. My body was achy and I want to stand by the middle, so an intermission is needed, but I can’t picture where they can safely stop the show for it, without taking you too far out of the story. But other than the achy feelings, I didn’t realize I was sitting there for two hours. It kept my attention. I can see some areas definitely needing work, but like I said, for a first time production it was very good. I hope it continues to be developed and moves ahead, along with the cast who were superb. I also look forward to seeing other initiatives from the Roundabout Underground program.