Danny's Theatre Discourse

I can see why this was Tony nominated. The production value is thru the roof and it shows in every detail from set, lighting, rigging, sound, stunts and so many stage magic moments not to mention the talent. Once again I'd somehow managed to miss the original movie so I couldn't say I knew what to expect tho the plot is by now either predictable or spoiled. Still this reimagined musical is highly self aware of its source and pulls out the emotional depth of each theme by giving each player a chance to shine in some fun and fantastic numbers. Loved the mostly isometric set that transports us to various locales around Santa Carla and being up in the balcony let me see the underbelly where the crew switched dressings. Loved the pro/epilogues and intermission hanger too that makes great use of the flying title. Ofc the vamps had the best costumes but there were other fun ensemble moments too, especially loved Superpower and the campy counts flying or rather sliding across the scenes. Favorite lighting moment was Now, Forever (which might also be favorite song but there were a handful that are hard to choose an absolute fav from) when light beams shined on our lovers from all angles painting them in a star of their own. Belong to Someone was a literal showstopper as the god mic boomed to hold for a few minutes for some technical adjustments but the audience showed extra support until we could resume and that's why I love the theater, I got to share this moment with hundreds of others and we made it thru the night together. Come join us and so many more who've been dazzled by the Lost Boys and find that magical theatrical moment for yourself.

Another story I should've absorbed long ago, revoke my gay card now. But maybe I enjoyed this show more than most bc I didn't have the movie (or book) for pretext bc it is very moving and tugs on your heartstrings in nearly every way. But first, the technical observations. The set was very modern, utilizing digital screen legs and banners that fly in and out from the wings and overhead, conveying the settings with minor physical pieces for dressing and interactions with the almost ever present beach painting projected on the rear oh and ofc the apron lined with 'dunes' and steps to the house for immersive entrances and exits. Costumes were fun (mostly for Cee Cee but Bert had some immaculate looks which I'm sure influenced Rachel Berry's wardrobe 100%) and I especially loved the quick changes for the entre'act. Overall a very well crafted musical full of wit and emotional depth so honestly, people expecting the movie adaption should get over that or just enjoy this as its own production, after all the subtitle does say 'A New Musical' Having said that I do wanna watch the movie now to compare. And omg our leads nailed the numbers, charming, emotionally expressive, and big full belts, even the men got a song and the girls playing the younger versions of Cee Cee and Bert had ample time to shine. Shout out to the supporting roles who nearly steal the show every chance they get. Unfortunately all the negative reviews, plus operating costs at a larger house might close this show early but hopefully it will tour and find more (financial) success on the road but from what I've seen, audiences have loved it so go enjoy a day at the beach while you can!

Didn't know anything other than the celebrity leads going into this show so getting to watch it 2 nights in a row helped piece things together plot wise. Hell I mean I guess I missed the 2005 movie version which a bit of post viewing research revealed was a thing, making this staging more appealing honestly. Speaking of, the set places us in the backyard of Catherine's family home, wonderfully simple with the scrim I love that's opaque until backlit and outlined with track lights that were cued succinctly to scene changes and signify places and entrances and dressed with detailed props and realistic fake overgrown lawn. Also appreciated the light in the attic symbolically lit during certain scenes. Much like the set and the script, costuming was very grounded in reality as well, even as we flash back and forth between memory and present scenes. Our lead had the chops for such an emotional role, given that she's played characters with similar expressions and mannerism in her other works but still captivating to watch as was the rest of the intimate cast. Now as for the plot itself, who can't relate to the dread of turning out like their parent(s) so that hit home hard ofc. Furthermore, trust and doubt in others and yourself, something I know I've struggled with for the longest time and continue to as I'm sure many do especially in these crazy times but maybe the world's always been this crazy and growing up is just finding ways to adjust to and cope with that. So yes while not all of us might relate to the specific genius our heroine possesses, I think all the rest can apply to any person/audience and therefore this play can stand the test of time as long as the world is what it is, for better or worse.

First, great publicity and marketing bc the multitude of IG ads I saw finally convinced me to see this. Second, just wow. This stands up there with other technically crafty 2 player shows like Maybe Happy Ending and Two Strangers bc these guys just oozed talent. Not only did they write and perform but also played every instrument including ofc their own powerful voices and I don't mean just belting beautifully sustained high notes. The score resembled the complexity and pacing of Hamilton for one and the production was mixed live and by our players on stage (with some help from the crew) Speaking of instruments, loved how the set cleverly and intentionally placed each piece to draw the audience to every inch of it. Similarly, I appreciated the subtly creative use of color and material for their costumes which hybridized the past and present styles as a reminder that our heroes, tho telling this story in character are still people of the present era dealing with almost the same shitty world. And yes while they used technology/projections to the fullest in congruence with lighting, the talent didn't have to rely on those things to dazzle us bc after all this story was much older than any of that. And when I say the sound design was clever, this extended to every little sound cue from the crackling of a camp fire to the thunderous roars and pelting rain of a giant storm. Also loved how some scenes were just scored with delicate melodies or bumpin beats that needed no lyrics but even the more spoken lines were poetically written. And the story, another American history, tho a lesser known one, holds America accountable for the atrocities that stain its inception and which persist to this day despite the promises it made for all. If so many stories keep saying it, why haven't we rewritten it? Why can't we seem to write the next chapter without more blood or is that the only ink that sticks?

This was my first show ushering on Broadway and I never imagined it would hit so hard. But first, the material observations. Most of the story is set in this prison so that is what we see conveyed by the backdrop of death row cell doors stacked to the ceiling with mostly lighting to indicate the spaces that confined these men. The choice to not materialize the barrier between Nick and Jacki during their visits reflected the strength and depth of their bond while other settings were grounded with solid and detailed pieces like that of the pawn shop and court rooms where major turning points occurred for our hero. The last scene in particular is where a majority of the stage magic happens but I won't spoil it too much, only that it was highly effective denouement. I can't say too much about the costume design as it was pretty straight forward also grounded in reality but there were some cute mini costume changes. As for the talent, well I mean the leads pretty much speak for themselves but the ensemble also carried their own, especially with some lovely a cappella harmonies sprinkled in. The structure is mostly a narration which can be too expository for some but aligns with one of the major themes which is finding your voice to tell your story against all odds even when it seems no one will believe or listen. Getting a bit more personal here but I never thought I'd relate to Nick or Jacki just given the premise but unfortunately I know all too well how taxing and heartbreaking it is to wait (over a decade) for absolution that would never come. And tho the majority of us haven't sat on death row, we can still relate to Nick when he finally returns to the world, incredulous that even the simple things in life can still be so comforting after we've had to live without for who knows who long. The sun won't always shine so bask in it while you can.

An American history lesson that still bears repeating over a century later, good thing it's told to a catchy boppin soundtrack which is quite the intriguing juxtaposition to the soulful tragedy that plays out on stage. To look back at the premiere in the late 90s and see just how far (that's to say not very) we've come is a bit depressing but maybe the bright side is that we can still produce and see shows like this that ask what the hell is wrong with this country (police brutality, hate crimes, xenophobia, child trafficking just to name a few) while still celebrating the possibility it holds for those geniuses and artists who somehow manage to flourish despite all that. And all it takes is kindness and understanding. It can be that simple. Needless to say this show stands amongst my favorite revolutionary musicals now. But returning to the elements of this production, the entire cast were all strong voices and personalities, I believe most or at least half were understudies for me. The set had a few big moments as well but otherwise stuck to limited yet ornate dressing pieces to paint vast landscapes with gradient lighting or intimate dioramas. A small detail but I appreciated the curvy curtain and scrims that shaped the abstract backdrops. Lighting also did well to impact certain moments in a noticeably positive way. I'm definitely gonna have to listen to the soundtrack again at some point to let the lyrics really sink in but again the actors performed the hell outta their numbers and made me feel the emotions of each one despite my hearing deficiency. Costuming did well to distinguish each major group by color and style with subtle changes along the way to mark their journeys. That's all I've got for this one but see it if you can, whenever and wherever it might crop up next but hopefully we'll have moved past all the social/political unrest by then, but till we reach that day...

I'd heard good things so had some expectations but nothing solid. I didn't know how much both of our leads would resonate with me bc strangely I'm as optimistic and enthusiastic about NYC as Dougal and tired but still hanging on to hope like Robin and yes the actors did a great job bringing them to life and the chemistry was fairly organic as anything IRL. Speaking of, the plot/character arcs are very grounded in the reality of millennials on the younger side, whose songs reflect their emotional rollercoaster ride in both lyrics and composition that I could listen and jam to for a while thereafter. And the set, oh how I love a good set that hides the little accoutrements of each scene to be unpacked in surprising ways. This one was well, two multi tiered cakes of luggage reflecting the theme of the baggage our heroes carry and brilliantly lit in neon and traditional lighting to take us from the subways to the Plaza. I even had dumplings for dinner before seeing the show so it felt serendipitous to see my a bit of my journey reflected in so many ways thru Robin and Dougals eyes. I hope I can remember how happy I am now this time next year and who knows, maybe even moreso?