Jane! I love you! You *always* make me smile. I've missed you as well. By the way, thank you for helping me out with the AIDS Walk. Would you like to be my surrogate mom?
Well, Dear Readers, I have returned! I was in NYC in mid-May, and with packing, traveling, work, and the like, I fell out of my habit of checking the board each day.
NYC was pretty fun as usual. On May 15, I attended the 11:00 pm "edition" of Sutton Foster's American Songbook concert at Lincoln Center. The next morning, I woke up bright and early (8:00 am!! That's early for me!) for the AIDS Walk in Central Park. I put on SPF 30 as I'm very fair, so I didn't sunburn, but I didn't get any sun. Ah well, although I'd like to have a bit of a tan, I'd rather not have skin cancer down the line.
Hmm, on May 16, I went to American Girl Place, where I regressed to my childhood, and I almost found myself buying Samantha, one of the AG dolls I never had as a kid. I called up my parents and said that I was at the store, and my dad just sighed and said, "Don't tell me you bought another doll." I'm pleased to announce that I did not make an impulse buy that would have gone to waste. I instead used my money for afternoon tea in the American Girl Café because I am just that cool. Sandra, I think you and I should go there one time! For some reason, I think you'd enjoy it a lot!
May 17 brought me to the theatre district. Actually, it brought me to NYU for lunch with a friend. I proceeded to walk from E. 4th to W. 51st because I had nothing else to do until 7:00 that evening, when I was seeing
Little Shop of Horrors. I just had fun enjoying my independence, and I spent some time on Fifth Ave. I walked into the Louis Vuitton store and pretended that I had money, and then I left because, as of now, I could never afford anything in that place!
Little Shop was colorful and campy, and I can see why Hunter was nominated for a Tony. Obviously the stage is the place where he comes alive; he seems quite mellow, even shy, off stage. He lets himself go as Seymour, dorky dancing and all. I enjoyed the show, but it wasn't utterly amazing. In fact, I saw a high school production that was almost as good as this show. This production definitely has its special effects and the plant going for it. One thing about
Little Shop in general: I know it's supposed to be campy, and I know I'm probably overly sensitive, but for some reason the audience laughing at the ending (well, the ending of a certain couple's relationship) bothers me! I tend to see it as a poignant moment, not an amusing one. Oh well, I think that's just me!
On May 18, I saw
Caroline, or Change and
Wonderful Town, which completed the list of shows I had to see before the Tonys. I've seen all five ladies who are nominated for best leading actress in a musical, and I've seen quite a few shows and other performers this year, so I think I can form educated opinions on who the Tony winners should be. Personally I feel Donna Murphy should with the Tony as she is the consummate musical theatre performer. While I agree with WEL (I believe it was WEL) that Tonya Pinkins gives an exceptional performance, I did not really enjoy
Caroline, or Change. Ms. Pinkins seemed to be experiencing a great deal of vocal fatigue; she cracked quite a few times, and I found myself wondering if her voice would hold up. I also did not see the point of the Moon and the singing appliances. I'd rather see the story unfold--show me, don't tell me what is happening/what has happened.
Wonderful Town was, well, wonderful in my opinion. I have always loved old-fashioned musicals, and this one was just so cute! I feel that Ms. Murphy was incredibly natural on stage, even in performing her semi-acrobatic choreography during numbers like "Conga." She seems to have a lot of stamina, although I'm sure some critics don't agree.
I'll probably comment more on the other ladies later, but I'm typing a really long post, so I'll break up my thoughts to make things easier!
Oh! I really think Anika Noni Rose should win the Tony for best featured actress in a musical even though I only saw her and Jennifer Westfeldt in that category. She just...wow...she sent shivers down my spine.
One last thing to wrap this up: I'll be in NYC for probably the last time this year from June 14 or 15 until June 17. I'll be seeing
Assassins on June 15, and I'll be seeing
Wicked for the second time at the June 16 matinee. (Apparently Idina is supposed to be out, but I've seen her already, so I'm not that upset. Eden is supposed to be fantastic as well.) Anyway, my point is, if anyone would like to get together in the city during that week, please let me know when/where, etc. I'd love to meet people from HHW while I'm there!
