What did I see in May? How about The Book of Mormon? Finally. And let me tell you, we bought full priced tickets ($137.50) that were partial view seats. How is that even legal? Remember the stink earlier this winter about previews not being advertised as previews and not being appropriately discounted? Well, I think the same should be said about full priced partial view tickets. I get it, though. The Book of Mormon is hot and I should be thanking them for letting me in the door. Honestly. But I also bought tickets to House of Blue Leaves this week, and out of curiosity I asked how much the partial view seats are. Full priced! Now House of Blue Leaves is not hot enough to get away with that! They have full priced, full view seats available; why would you opt for partial view? Anyhoo, we sat in row C of the front mezzanine of the far left and could see just fine. You've read enough about the show. I adored the missionaries. I am surprised that there is not more uproar about the portrayal of the Ugandans; it felt a little xenophobic to me. But the songs/acting/singing/direction were excellent. It was, of course, really funny. You can probably get tickets for September now. Or ask for them for a Christmas gift. Just do it soon.
The Normal Heart had extra meaning to me after reading Free For All: Joe Papp, The Public and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told. First of all, the book is fabulous and if you haven't read it you should. Readers learn that Gail Merrifield Papp was the head of the Public Theater's literary department, working with playwrights before their plays were produced. She worked for about a year with Larry Kramer on The Normal Heart. The Public Theater was always producing relevant, timely, edgy material and The Normal Heart fell into that criteria. The Public helped give birth to this huge play and now it is being revived on Broadway. Joe Mantello is beautiful as Ned Weeks, anger just oozing from his pores. I loved seeing Luke MacFarlane on stage, even though he just had a bit part. The play is serious and sad and hugely important. Ned Weeks argues that if gay marriage were legal there would be fewer cases of AIDS, and I can't believe that was in the early 80's and we still don't have marriage equality! And there is still not a cure for HIV/AIDS! This play is just as relevant, timely and edgy as when it premiered at the Public.
I took my younger brother to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, about two months after everyone else saw it. The best part of the experience was in taking my brother, but there is something to be said for an old school Broadway revival with a big cast and cheesy numbers. I particularlly enjoyed the songs "Coffee Break" and "Grand Old Ivey", both of which bordered on campy. And I am not above enjoying seeing Daniel Radcliffe perform live.
I attended opening night of Knickerbocker at The Public Theater. I brought my school's drama teacher with me, which just seemed so poetic. She had never been to the Public! Ga! An expectant father sits at the Knickerbocker diner over the months while his wife gestates sharing meals with various important people from his life - his father, his two best friends, his wife, his exgirlfriend. The conversations were predictable - cirucmsision, baby names, how this will change his life, reflecting on his relationship with his parents etc. But many lines drew good belly laughs from the audience.
A similar lab experience was had at Dream of the Burning Boy at Roundabout Underground. It's closed now so I won't make you too jealous, but it was a sweet play about a high school in the weeks following a death of one of its students. The main characters were the dead student's sister, best friend, girlfriend and teacher. I hadn't missed such stories, but it made me realize that we don't see many plays about teenagers, especially contemporary teenagers. High school provides so much material! I am really looking forward to seeing more Roundabout Underground productions next year.
I really enjoyed Cradle And All. What an excellent season Manhattan Theatre Club has given us! I am still traumatized by The Whipping Man. Not to mention the success of The Pitmen Painters and Good People on Broadway. Their 2011-12 season looks just as promising.
I honestly went to see WTC View at 59E59 after Michael Urie tweeted about it (he was in the original Fringe Festival production of the play, and then starred in a movie version of it). The plot is about a man who had posted an ad for a new roommate on September 10, 2001. Then September 11th happens and he still needs someone to help pay the rent, so he continues searching for a roommate. All of the candidates come and share their experience of where they were when the towers were attacked. Playwright Brian Sloan pulls off a good surprise in the middle of the play, that I didn't anticipate at all - I love when that happens. I have read a few very good novels about those early days in September (The Good Life by Jay McInerney comes to mind), but I haven't seen any plays on the subject. WTC View is running through June 5 and is definitely worth a trip up town.
And I went back to iHo for a third, and final, time. My main observation is that when Michael Esper is not wearing only his underwear, he is wearing some tight, tight jeans, that just may have been left in the costume room for the off-Broadway run of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
What's June look like for you? I am most excited about a couple of dates I have at Joe's Pub. June 10 to see The Civilians and June 29 for Our Hit Parade. You know the Pub will be on hiatus this summer while they renovate, so get in the shows while you can.
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