SOB's Fifty Favorite Shows Of The Noughties
SOB's Fifty Favorite Shows Of The Noughtiespleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during the just completed decade. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 50 personal favorite shows of the Noughties. 50.
Barry Humphries & Friends: Back With A Vengeance! (Melbourne, Australia)
49.
The Breath Of Life (2002, London, United Kingdom)
48.
Dirty Blonde (2003, San Diego, CA)
47.
An Inspector Calls (2001, London, United Kingdom)
46.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005, New York City, NY)
45.
Mary Poppins (2004, London, United Kingdom)
44.
The Unmentionables (2006, Chicago, IL)
43.
The Women (2001, New York, NY)
42.
Sonia Flew (2006, Chicago, IL)
41.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (2001, New York City, NY)
40.
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2006, New York City, NY)
39.
Reeling (2006, Minneapolis, MN)
38.
Ivanov (2008, London, United Kingdom)
37
The Real Thing (2006, Minneapolis, MN)
36.
The Best Man (2000, New York City, NY)
35.
The Full Monty (2009, St. Paul, MN)
34.
The Well-Appointed Room (2006, Chicago, IL)
33.
A Catered Affair (2008, New York City, NY)
32.
A Blameless Life (2005, Chicago, IL)
31.
Brighton Beach Memoirs (2009, New York City, NY)
30.
Hairspray (2002, Seattle, WA/2008, New York City, NY)
29.
The Car Man (2001, St. Paul, MN)
28.
Purple Heart (2002, Chicago, IL)
27.
Into The Woods (2002, New York City, NY)
26.
Hedda Gabler (2006, New York City, NY)
25.
Nine (2003, New York City, NY)
24.
Superior Donuts (2008, Chicago, IL/2009, New York City, NY)
23.
Grey Gardens (2007, New York City, NY)
22.
Twelfth Night (2009, New York City, NY)
21.
My Fair Lady (2001, London, United Kingdom)
20.
Small Tragedy (2003, Minneapolis, MN)
19.
Guys And Dolls (2005, London, United Kingdom)
18.
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2003, New York City, NY)
17.
Ruined (2009, New York City, NY)
16.
The Producers (2002, New York City, NY)
15.
Evita (2007, London, United Kingdom)
14.
The Beatles Love (2007, Las Vegas, NV)
13.
Passing Strange (2008, New York City, NY)
12.
Dreamgirls (2007, Atlanta, GA)
11.
Theatre Of The New Ear (2005, Los Angeles, CA)
10.
A Little Night Music (2008, London, United Kingdom)
9.
Wicked (2003, New York City, NY)
8.
La Bohème (2002, New York City, NY)
7.
Gypsy (2008, New York City, NY)
6.
Our Town (2009, New York City, NY)
5.
The Last Five Years (2003, Philadelphia, PA)
4.
Doubt (2005, New York City, NY)
3.
Assassins (2004, New York City, NY)
2.
The Norman Conquests (2009, New York City, NY)
1.
August: Osage County (2007, Chicago, IL/2008, New York City, NY/2008, London, United Kingdom)
In the days to come, I'll be looking
forward to what's to come in this new decade. Happy New Year!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid my own way for each of these performances.Labels: August Osage County, Broadway, Musicals, Play, Revival, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties, The Norman Conquests
SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: Fifty Through ThreeIntroduction: Hard as it is to comprehend that we're already 119 months into this "new" millennium, we are fast approaching the end of its first decade. While we have yet to agree on what exactly we should call the '00s, I'll take a cue from the fine folks at The Times of London and the BBC and henceforth refer to them at the Noughties. With that small introduction, I'm pleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during that time. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 50 personal favorite shows of the Noughties. 50.
Barry Humphries & Friends: Back With A Vengeance! (Melbourne, Australia)
49.
The Breath Of Life (2002, London, United Kingdom)
48.
Dirty Blonde (2003, San Diego, CA)
47.
An Inspector Calls (2001, London, United Kingdom)
46.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005, New York City, NY)
45.
Mary Poppins (2004, London, United Kingdom)
44.
The Unmentionables (2006, Chicago, IL)
43.
The Women (2001, New York, NY)
42.
Sonia Flew (2006, Chicago, IL)
41.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (2001, New York City, NY)
40.
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2006, New York City, NY)
39.
Reeling (2006, Minneapolis, MN)
38.
Ivanov (2008, London, United Kingdom)
37
The Real Thing (2006, Minneapolis, MN)
36.
The Best Man (2000, New York City, NY)
35.
The Full Monty (2009, St. Paul, MN)
34.
The Well-Appointed Room (2006, Chicago, IL)
33.
A Catered Affair (2008, New York City, NY)
32.
A Blameless Life (2005, Chicago, IL)
31.
Brighton Beach Memoirs (2009, New York City, NY)
30.
Hairspray (2002, Seattle, WA/2008, New York City, NY)
29.
The Car Man (2001, St. Paul, MN)
28.
Purple Heart (2002, Chicago, IL)
27.
Into The Woods (2002, New York City, NY)
26.
Hedda Gabler (2006, New York City, NY)
25.
Nine (2003, New York City, NY)
24.
Superior Donuts (2008, Chicago, IL/2009, New York City, NY)
23.
Grey Gardens (2007, New York City, NY)
22.
Twelfth Night (2009, New York City, NY)
21.
My Fair Lady (2001, London, United Kingdom)
20.
Small Tragedy (2003, Minneapolis, MN)
19.
Guys And Dolls (2005, London, United Kingdom)
18.
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2003, New York City, NY)
17.
Ruined (2009, New York City, NY)
16.
The Producers (2002, New York City, NY)
15.
Evita (2007, London, United Kingdom)
14.
The Beatles Love (2007, Las Vegas, NV)
13.
Passing Strange (2008, New York City, NY)
12.
Dreamgirls (2007, Atlanta, GA)
11.
Theatre Of The New Ear (2005, Los Angeles, CA)
10.
A Little Night Music (2008, London, United Kingdom)
9.
Wicked (2003, New York City, NY)
8.
La Bohème (2002, New York City, NY)
7.
Gypsy (2008, New York City, NY)
6.
Our Town (2009, New York City, NY)
5.
The Last Five Years (2003, Philadelphia, PA)
4.
Doubt (2005, New York City, NY)
3.
Assassins (2004, New York City, NY)
Tomorrow, I'll reveal my second most favorite show of the past decade, followed on New Year's Eve by my absolute favorite of the past ten years. Any guesses on the top two?!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid my own way for each of these performances.Labels: Broadway, Musicals, Play, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties
SOB's Best Of 2008-09: Best Musical RevivalsOver the past year, I've managed to see over 70 performances of a wide range of musicals, plays and "special theatrical events." Ten of those were revivals of musicals, including three of my favorite tuners of all time (
each of which, sad to say, disappointed me to varying degrees).
While four of the revivals I saw were produced on Broadway, three of the best were found elsewhere. Thankfully, it's been reported that the one musical revival at the top of my "5 Best" list is
likely to be Broadway bound.
Drumroll, please:
5 - Pal Joey (Studio 54, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York, New York)
Richard Rodgers and
Lorenz Hart's enduring classic "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" from
Pal Joey lived again thanks to
Joe Mantello's sparkling revival.
This was certainly not your grandfather's
Pal Joey, as
John O'Hara's book was substantially updated by
Richard Greenberg. Nevertheless, the underlying story of the ne'er-do-well ladies' song-and-dance man Joey Evans, who blithely bounces between women, remained true to the original.
Stockard Channing imbued her Vera with a natural grace, style and seductiveness. But the real revelation was the bewitching
Martha Plimpton in her absolutely stunning portrayal of Gladys Bumps. Is there nothing this amazing Tony-nominated actress can't do?
In this entertaining
Pal Joey, bewitched won out over both bothered and bewildered.
4 - The Pajama Game (Schneider Theater for the Performing Arts, Bloomington Civic Theatre, Bloomington, Minnesota)
"Seven and a half cents," as the song from
Richard Adler and
Jerry Ross' 1954 musical
The Pajama Game duly notes, "doesn't buy a hell of a lot."
But just try telling that to the nearly flawless cast of 27 and 17-piece orchestra members from Minnesota's Schneider Theater for the Performing Arts' production of
The Pajama Game. Their indomitable spirit joined forces with
John Command's nearly pitch-perfect direction to make this roundly enjoyable revival practically as good as a Broadway show, yet at a fraction of a Rialto budget. It never ceases to astound me when I take in a small regional production that bundles boundless energy and determination to make for an entertaining evening at the theatre, worthy of what "the professionals" of the Great White Way do.
It's true that good things can come in small packages. And for the relatively small package price of just $25 per top ticket, this
Pajama Game was most definitely a good thing worth trying on for size.
3 - Caroline, Or Change (Wurtele Thrust Stage, Guthrie, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Finally! Change we can believe in.
An intensely profound, mystical musical,
Tony Kushner and
Jeanine Tesori's
Caroline, Or Change -- as directed and choreographed by Marcela Lorca at Minnesota's Guthrie -- transfixes, even as it transports. Kushner ingeniously uses the coins Caroline Thibodeaux continually finds while washing the pants of young Noah Gellman as a transcendent metaphor for all the sweeping change surrounding her, including the emerging civil rights movement, the swelling Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Greta Oglesby's brave turn as Caroline alone is worth the price of admission. As Oglesby transforms, she breaks your heart.
2 - Hair (Al Hirschfeld Theatre, New York, New York)
Want a good buzz? Then go see
Diane Paulus' inspired third coming of
Hair -- unequivocally Broadway's best musical revival this season. Paulus finds the sun and lets it shine in with her exceptional cast radiating the alternately playful and poignant score from
Gerome Ragni,
James Rado and
Galt MacDermot.
If the second act isn't exactly the first's equal, Paulus more than makes up for it with a heartwrenching conclusion that sneaks up on you with a powerful wallop. It left me teary-eyed.
Credit Tony nominee
Gavin Creel with his charisma and exquisite voice for winning the day. With the boundless energy of the cast, you just might find yourself treading the boards of the Hirschfeld yourself.
1 - A Little Night Music (Menier Chocolate Factory, London, United Kingdom)
Isn't
this rich?! Who would have thought that a show staged in a style so deceptively simple could be so sublime, not to mention utterly romantic. Rich, indeed.
Now, if you're not a romantic at heart, you need not bother. But for the rest of us, there's the pure heaven found in
Trevor Nunn's gorgeous revival of
A Little Night Music. It enveloped every one of my senses like a welcome salve for these troubled times. Only a heart of stone could not be moved by
Stephen Sondheim's ravishing score and
Hugh Wheeler's über-clever book.
Thanks to Nunn's deft and gentle touch, this
tale of requited love in turn-of-the-20th-Century Sweden feels timeless, transcending all expectations. It is sure to make you feel a twinge in your heart and leave a tear in your eye. The bewitching allure of this excellent revival has already transferred to the West End, but how about to Broadway? Well, maybe later this year.
So what were the best musical revivals 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).
Labels: A Little Night Music, Best Revivals of Musicals, Broadway, Caroline Or Change, Hair, London, Minnesota, Musicals, Pal Joey, SOB's Best of 2008-09, The Pajama Game
West Side Story (The SOB Review) - Palace Theatre, New York, NY
**1/2 (out of ****)When
Arthur Laurents' beautiful revival of
West Side Story soars, it flies so high that you practically can feel yourself being lifted out of your seat.
With
Leonard Bernstein and
Stephen Sondheim's timeless score and
Joey McKneely's lovingly recreated choreography from the show's original director
Jerome Robbins, how could it not?
I was practically moved to tears many times by the amazing vocal talent Laurents amassed. In particular,
Matt Cavenaugh's Tony was especially angelic. And the captivating
Josefina Scaglione as Maria makes for a most auspicious Broadway debut.
But the conceit of this revival, of course, is its ultimately frustrating use of Spanish language to tell the Sharks' tale. While I laud Laurents for daring to break new ground by having his Sharks speak their native tongue from Puerto Rico, so much was lost in translation -- or complete lack thereof -- that this conceit gnawed at me as highly arrogant. Had Laurents done for his audience what opera has done for years -- providing subtitles of some sort -- he would have had no bigger advocate of his otherwise sparkling revival than I.
Instead, I left feeling cheated and very disappointed that I only got one side of this story.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Arthur Laurents, Broadway, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Matt Cavenaugh, Musicals, Stephen Sondheim, The SOB Review, West Side Story
13 (The SOB Review) - Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, New York, NY*** (out of ****)Be forewarned.
High School Musical it ain't.
But thank
goodness for that.
Think of
Jason Robert Brown's exuberant new musical
13 as a positive puberty piece. It's a latter-day answer to "
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten." With tunes like the inspired "A Little More Homework," even jaded Wall Streeters can reflect and be reminded of a thing or two when it comes to what constitutes really living.
Mostly family-friendly, except for a PG-rated item or two,
13 heralds Brown's long-awaited return to Broadway, and his tuneful, rich score does not disappoint.
Neither does the breathtaking display of teen talent, as all 13 cast members, along with orchestra, are age appropriate. As Evan, a guppy out of water who's suddenly been transplanted from New York City to Appleton, Indiana, the charismatic
Graham Phillips delights. Being the new kid on the block isn't easy, especially when you're a "Brain." It's even more difficult when he realizes that he's won the heart of the unpopular Patrice (played with remarkable emotional depth by
Allie Trimm), threatening Evan's own prospects for popularity. Phillips brings an astonishing degree of nuance for such a young actor.
Yet it's
Al Calderon as Eddie, who manages to steal just about every scene he's in as the sidekick to Brett (a terrific
Eric Nelsen), Dan Quayle High's super cool dude and nemesis to Evan. It's virtually impossible to take your eyes off this gifted young comic actor.
Sure the book by
Dan Elish and
Robert Horn at times goes from earnest to hokey in record time during this 90-minute show, but thanks to
Jeremy Sams' pacing,
Christopher Gattelli's unrestrained choreography, and Brown's beautiful score, I found myself transfixed, charmed and downright moved.
So if you're seeking a little Main Street break, or even hope, from the bleak news coming from Wall Street, head up to Midtown New York and catch a welcome respite in
13. I'm glad I did.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: 13, Al Calderon, Allie Trimm, Broadway, Christopher Gattelli, Graham Phillips, Jason Robert Brown, Jeremy Sams, Musicals, The SOB Review
