Saturday, May 24, 2008

SOB's Best Of 2007-08: Best Special Theatrical Events

SOB's Best Of 2007-08: Best Special Theatrical Events

In addition to all musicals and plays I've taken in during the 2007-08 Theatrical Season, there are a number of concerts, readings, individual performances and spectacular stagings that defied narrowly-defined categories. Since the Tony Awards define those types of shows as "Special Theatrical Events" (even though there are no nominees in that category this year), I do the same.

In my personal "5 Best" list of the greatest special theatrical events of the past year, you'll notice a vast and eclectic array of acclaimed talent and showmanship. Here's the list:

5 - Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY)

Unapologetically celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular practically dared the kid-at-heart in everyone to come out. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in style, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular offered a dazzling 90-minute variety show that simply refused to slow down. With one old-fashioned magical moment after another, it managed to make me feel like a kid again, and was a welcome respite from the nasty scrooges one long New York block away responsible for keeping the stagehands strike going. At the famed music hall, however, it was peace on earth and jingle all the way.

4 - Jon Stewart (Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN)

He may be America's premier purveyor of "fake" news, but comedian Jon Stewart and his uniformly funny stand-up routine were 100% genuine and clearly from the heart. Stewart delivered an authentic 95-minute performance with incredible humanity and compassion. In essence, he has become a de facto "Every Man" for our 21st Century. Stewart wisely used his stage performance to burnish his growing reputation as America's most articulate, thoughtful and stimulating humorist since the days of Will Rogers. With a certifiably hopeful eye on the future, Stewart's routine made me stand up... and cheer.

3 - Maria Friedman: Re-arranged (Menier Chocolate Factory, London, United Kingdom)

The British have their own national treasure in Maria Friedman, an amazing pillar of fortitude and grace. Headlining her own triumphant show Maria Friedman: Re-arranged, the actress/singer provided a series of fully-realized vignettes, masterfully telling complete stories through her expressive eyes and beautiful voice. The remarkable fervent clarity with which Friedman comported herself on each and every song left me on quite an emotional high.

2 -Euan Morton: Here And Now (The Oak Room, The Algonquin Hotel, New York, NY)

The incredible musical instrument known as Euan Morton took to The Algonquin Hotel's intimate Oak Room Cabaret for a brief cabaret stint giving smart New Yorkers (and others) a first hand opportunity to be charmed by this delightful golden-throated tenor. In his Oak Room appearance, he effortlessly belted out tune after tune, reaching every note with incredible ease and precision. Morton offered an eclectic mix that flowed perfectly, whether he was breathing new life into gorgeous old standards like George Gershwin's classic "Someone To Watch Over Me" or offering his own fresh interpretations on more contemporary tunes like Roy Orbison's giddily romantic "You Got It," and Paul Simon's haunting "American Tune." Morton displayed a healthy dose of self-effacing humor, along with friendly and witty repartee with his audience. His performance brought a huge smile to my face.

1 - The Beatles Love (Love Theatre, Mirage, Las Vegas, NV)

Although it had premiered one year before I saw it, the excellent The Beatles Love was more than worth the wait. Talk about a mind-blowing, sensory overload event that more than effectively serves as the ultimate showcase for the catalogue of The Beatles. Barely settling down long enough to let you catch your breath, the Fab Four's tunes are magically brought to life, incorporating the themes and emotions behind each one. I was entranced throughout the entire production, but renditions of "Rock And Roll Run," "Help" and "Revolution" certainly epitomize who these four lads from Liverpool were and what they came to represent. This was by far the best Cirque du Soleil production I have yet to witness. And for that, it not only rates as the best special theatrical event I've seen all year, it's in a class all by itself -- it's the only reason why I want to return to Vegas.

What were the best special theatrical events you saw over the past year? I invite you to join the conversation by sharing your theatre experiences with me.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
The SOB Five "Worst" Of 2007-08 (May 23, 2008)
SOB's Best & Worst Of 2007-08 Theatre Season (May 22, 2008)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Top Ten Of The Year (June 4, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Musicals (May 22, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Plays (May 21, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best Revivals Of Musicals (May 18, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best Revivals Of Plays (May 16, 2007)
The SOB Five "Worst" Of 2006-07 (May 14, 2007)
SOB's Best & Worst Of 2006-07 Theatre Season (May 14, 2007)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #1 - Theater Of The New Ear (May 30, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #2 – Guys And Dolls (May 26, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #3 – Hedda Gabler (May 25, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #4 – A Blameless Life (May 24, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #5 – Reeling (May 23, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #6 – “MASTER HAROLD”…And The Boys (May 21, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #7 – Love Song (May 19, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #8 - Billy Elliot The Musical (May 18, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #9 - The Well-Appointed Room (May 17, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #10 - Sweeney Todd (May 15, 2006)
SOB's Best and Worst of 2005-06 Theatre Season (May 12, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2004-05 (May 26, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2003-04 (May 25, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2002-03 (May 25, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2001-02 (May 24, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2000-01 (May 23, 2006)

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Saturday, May 24, 2008 4 comments

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Maria Friedman: Re-arranged (The SOB Review)

Maria Friedman: Re-arranged (The SOB Review) - Menier Chocolate Factory, London, United Kingdom

***1/2 (out of ****)

Seldom during the course of a generation does a bona fide singing actress of the stage come along who's not only an exceptionally powerful and soulful interpreter of others' tunes, but also effortlessly exudes a forceful, yet plucky charm.

On this side of the Atlantic, we're currently blessed with legendary greats like Patti LuPone and Bernadette Peters.

However, on the other side of the pond, the British have their own national treasure in Maria Friedman, an amazing pillar of fortitude and grace. This unusually gifted talent is also a three-time Olivier Award winner who's headlining her own triumphant show Maria Friedman: Re-arranged at London's intimate Menier Chocolate Factory through May 4.

Thanks to the strong recommendation from the West End Whingers, I plucked down a mere $40 for a general admission ticket and found that it was by far the best deal to be had during my entire stay in London last week (the value of the beleaguered U.S. Dollar could not have been worse, with a single Tube ride fetching $8).

While Broadway audiences had but one chance to see Friedman in the short-lived Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Woman In White, the actress has enjoyed recurring gigs at the Big Apple's Café Carlyle. So when I went into the Menier, I fully expected a cabaret act.

Much to my pleasant surprise, I was delighted to walk out having witnessed a series of fully-realized vignettes with Friedman masterfully telling complete stories through her expressive eyes and beautiful voice. Highlights range from Stephen Sondheim's emotionally taxing and tearful "Sunday In The Park With Dot" and the bittersweet medley of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" mixed with Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell's "You Are My Sunshine" to Michel Legrand's rousing "Le Trombone" and Randy Newman's irony-laced and incredibly funny "Short People."

My personal favorite moment of her performance was her frenzied wink and nod rendition of Sondheim's "The Worst Pies In London," which was immediately followed by a rather jazzy, Pink Pantherish take on "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" by the fine 11-piece orchestra, under the direction of Michael Haslam and Chris Walker.

Sure, some of the tunes in Re-arranged border a tad on the treacly side, but the remarkable fervent clarity with which Friedman comports herself on each and every song will leave you on an emotional high. If you live in London or happen to be there over the upcoming weekend, make Maria Friedman: Re-arranged your destination.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? (April 23, 2008)

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, April 30, 2008 4 comments

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

While London critics were focused last evening on savaging the first night (opening night) for the West End musical Gone With The Wind, I was at the city's marvelously intimate little theatre known as the Menier Chocolate Factory seeing the lovely Maria Friedman.

During the performance, the singing actress was launching into her rendition of a Michel Legrand tune when she spotted the prolific, three-time Academy Award-winning composer in the audience.... seated right next to me. At the interval (intermission) I had an opportunity to talk with this delightful gem of a man and even told him that one of my all-time favorite tunes remains "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life," which he seemed to appreciate.

At the close of the show, as part of her final encore, Friedman invited Legrand to the stage to sing one of his tunes. He sat down at a piano and began to sing, you guessed it, "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life." Of course, when he came back to his seat, I had to thank him for playing that tune. Talk about a perfect ending to an already wonderful, magical evening. (Look for my SOB Review of Maria Friedman's show in the days to come.)

Today, it's off to see Gone With The Wind. But it's hard to imagine anything sweeping me off my feet the same way as last evening did.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB) in London.

Click here for tickets to Maria Friedman: Re-Arranged.

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, April 23, 2008 1 comments

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