Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Is It Just Me, Or... (Part III)

Is It Just Me, Or... (Part III)

...Wouldn't it have been more appropriate for Matthew Warchus' upcoming Broadway transfer of the British sex farce Boeing-Boeing to be staged at the American Airlines Theatre over the Longacre? After all, the airline was the sponsor of the recently departed West End revival. I'm psyched that Christine Baranski will be joining Mark Rylance, and the possibility that Sarah Jessica Parker may be added the cast has me salivating.

...What happened to all those people barely one year ago who were sounding the deathknell for the play? With seven new plays currently kicking around the Broadway stage, coupled with a dearth of new musicals, the 2007-08 Theatrical Season must be the year that the straight play made its official comeback. As I said a year ago: "Personally, I believe everything is rather cyclical. And working in plays' favor is the simple cost factor, along with the wellspring of excellent playwrights out there today, as well as so many thriving, vital theatre companies where plays rule the roost. I’m confident they'll always have a place, even on Broadway."

...When all is said and done, haven't critics been a little over the top in their criticism for Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein? I mean, I totally understand the venom directed toward Brooks' rather unorthodox practices, but when all is said and done, the show itself is actually better than OK, even if we don't have a clue what its weekly grosses are. But here's a news flash -- remember those $450 seats? I played around on Ticketmaster and found that I could get a second row center orchestra mid-week seat for just $130.

...Was there really any doubt that both Deanna Dunagan and Amy Morton would each be eligible for the Best Actress in a Play Tony for their breathtaking work in August: Osage County? I know some folks I respect had expressed doubt that the lesser known Dunagan could be nominated in the category, but the Tony Committee has ruled that they both are. Now the question will be, "Which one will actually win the prize?"

...Don't London's theatre offerings sound tantalizing this year? Despite what the West End Whingers might think, there's plenty to have those of us on this side of the pond wistfully looking at their offerings. Just ask Rocco at What's Good/What Blows. I'm pondering an April visit myself.

...Do you wonder when stage musical adaptations of films will ever end now that Shrek The Musical is a go for later this year?

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II) (February 21, 2007)
Is It Just Me, Or... (June 14, 2006)

Labels: August Osage County, Boeing-Boeing, Broadway, Is It Just Me, London, Musical, Play, Shrek The Musical, West End Whingers, What', Young Frankenstein

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, January 22, 2008 6 comments

Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II)

Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II)

...Do we really need a sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera? I thought Cats were supposed to have nine lives, but isn't two phantoms one too many? What can Sir Andrew possibly do for an encore? Implode the opera house? You can weigh in via the new SOB Poll found on the right-hand side of the site.


...Wasn't it a relief that temperatures finally began to warm up and inspire more people to go to the theatre last week? And how about Spring Awakening's amazing bump up at the box office! Not only has the tuner finally scored a capacity of over 90%, but it's also among the top five Broadway shows in that category. The great word of mouth is finally catching up with the show.

...Isn't the prurient interest in all things Daniel Radcliffe just a little bit unseemly for someone who's still 17 years of age? If I have to see one more picture of his bare bum, I'm going to turn myself in. With talk that his full frontal turn in Equus might transfer to the States, hopefully Radcliffe will have the temerity to first celebrate a birthday before an official Broadway mounting.


...Don't all those Olivier Awards for Sunday In The Park With George make you wish that its Broadway transfer were sooner than later? And wasn't it amazing how two Tony Award-winning Best Musicals -- Avenue Q and Monty Python's Spamalot -- were snubbed in honor of Caroline, Or Change, which despite being Tony-nommed, it ultimately lost to Avenue Q.


...Can the already announced Xanadu musical really find the appropriate mix of tongue-in-chic relevance with Kristen Bell, now that Jane Krakowski won't be riding her roller skates across a Broadway stage this spring? Thankfully, we can still see the latter on "30 Rock" -- arguably the most hilarious show on television.

...Isn't Rocco at What's Good/What Blows In New York Theatre just about the funniest theatre blogger around? Today's entry on "What My Mom Says About..." is priceless. Rocco, I think our mothers would get along just fine (and by the way, that's a great wide-eyed photo, presumably of you!).


...Why do directors and/or producers think that a novel winning formula for one show will work for another? John Doyle has already been burned for attempting to parlay his success from Sweeney Todd in requiring his actors to double as musicians one too many times (read: Barnum) even after the novelty wore off with critics via Company. But now, Doug Hughes appears to be copying Spring Awakening's unique onstage audience seating formula for his upcoming revival of Inherit The Wind. Still, I guess it would be rather cool to be able to say you were on stage with Brian Dennehy, Christopher Plummer and Denis O'Hare, now wouldn't it?

Tell me what you think!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
Is It Just Me, Or... (June 24, 2006)

Labels: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Box Office, Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe, Equus, Inherit The Wind, Is It Just Me, John Doyle, SOB Poll, Spring Awakening, The Phantom Of The Opera

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, February 21, 2007 7 comments