Steve On Broadway (SOB)

How The Grinch Stole The Reviews

How The Grinch Stole The Reviews

Maybe it's because it's officially considered more a return engagement than an outright revival, or perhaps it's because the real news surrounding the show today is that it will be the first to be struck by striking stagehands at 11 am this morning. Whatever the case, reviews for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas are virtually non-existent this morning.

The musical -- based on the work by Theodor S. Giesel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) and featuring a book by Timothy Mason, along with the score he co-wrote with Mel Marvin -- opened last evening at the St. James Theatre, one of the venues impacted by the strike.

Deeming it "A tasty morsel of a show for families," Joe Dziemianowicz of New York's Daily News offers the one and only review I could find today: "[N]o one could play it better than Patrick Page. He's got the perfect multicolored voice and mannerisms, and he knows how thick to layer on the ham to make the Grinch come vividly alive. He lifts every scene. Staged by director Matt August and Jack O'Brien, who conceived the show, The Grinch is small-scale in length (85 minutes, no intermission) and ambition. It actually plays better at the more intimate St. James than it did at the hulking Hilton Theatre. Otherwise, the show is similar to last year's run."

If the strike is successfully resolved sooner than later, I plan to take in one of those 11 am performances over the next couple weeks and provide my own SOB Review.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

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Related Stories:
Stealing Away A Second Opening Night (November 9, 2007)
A Broadway Stagehands Strike Appears Imminent (November 9, 2007)
End Of Plank For Pirate Queen? (May 18, 2007)
Grinches Are Few Among Critics (November 9, 2006)
Grinch Brings Early Christmas To Broadway (November 8, 2006)

Labels: Broadway, Critics' Capsule, Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Musical, Revival, Strike

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Saturday, November 10, 2007