Official blurb: From DAVID BYRNE (Academy Award®, Grammy® Award, and Tony Award® winner) and FATBOY SLIM (Grammy Award winner), HERE LIES LOVE IS “A TRULY FABULOUS PIECE OF VISUAL THEATER WITH A SOUNDSCAPE MORE BEAUTIFUL, MORE EXCITING AND MORE SURPRISING THAN ANY SCORE ON BROADWAY.” (Chicago Tribune)This revolutionary new musical about former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos’ astonishing rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution, has been hailed as “A POLITICAL CHILLER THAT’S ALSO A RED-HOT ADRENALINE RUSH” (Ben Brantley) “THAT MAKES YOU BELIEVE YOU COULD DANCE ALL NIGHT.” (The Washington Post). Developed and directed by ALEX TIMBERS (Tony Award winner) and choreographed by ANNIE-B PARSON (Olivier Award nominee), Here Lies Love is a “ROOF-RAISING, DISCO-INFUSED EXTRAVAGANZA THAT TURNS THE THEATRE INTO A DANCE FLOOR WITH THRILLING RESULTS.” (The Guardian), Following sold-out, critically acclaimed runs at The Public Theater, London’s National Theatre, and Seattle Rep, “HERE LIES LOVE IS THE MOST ENTERTAINING NEW SHOW ON BROADWAY RIGHT NOW” (ABC7). Ticket buyers can experience this “UNDENIABLY ENJOYABLE SHOW” (New York Post) in two ways: seated or standing immersed within the action.
My take: This show exceeded my expectations. I was going into it thinking it would be a cool staging but really was not expecting much. I was happily surprised. The first thing of note and to note is of course the staging. Having completely transformed the theater, the disco style theater in the round staging works beautifully. I also loved how the mezzanine spaces were used, and also how the TV moments were shown. The music is good, and Here Lies love was in my head for a while, the other music is serviceable works great for the story but I do not remember any of them. That for me was not the highlight. The performances were the highlight. Arielle Jacobs is wonderful as Imelda Marcos and Jose Llana and Conrad Ricamora beautifully finish her love triangle. As for lea Salonga on stage, I will never complain. She is always a delight. I was impressed with how much story and history was packed in 90 minutes. It did not feel rushed, it hit the emotional moments needed and it struck a great balance between fun and levity and the depth of the actual story.
As gorgeous as the staging was, the costumes in my book could have done a lot more. We have the same costumes as in The Public and I wish they were just amped up a little bit. The costumes changes were wonderful i just could have used more dazzle. However the true miss of the show for me was the lack of shoes. One funny line n the show does not compute that the really only fact that Ive always known about Imelda Marcos since I was a little girl was her ridiculous show collection. I kind of wanted a Strongest Suit Moment a La Aida but alas it was not to happen.
My Friends one sentence review:
- The show is funky, immersive and unique – I’ve never seen a show where the audience is so engaged. A must-see for Fatboy Slim fans!
- the music is Fun and interesting set in a different space, it is also an unexpected but great history lesson
Official blurb: Powered by the chart-topping hits of the undisputed Princess of Pop, a group of friends goes on a quest to rewrite their stories and redefine “happily ever after.” Once Upon a One More Time weaves 23 of Britney Spears’ smash singles—like “Crazy,” “Oops!…I Did It Again,” “Circus,” “Lucky,” and “Toxic”—into “a big, modern, musical dance party, with Britney’s beating heart at its core
My take: This show will close in a few weeks, but still here goes my thoughts for posterity. This is one that is so bad its good. A total definition of a guilty pleasure. Is it objectively a good show? probably not. Did I have a blast and enjoyed myself thoroughly? Definitely. Sometimes things can just be fun and enjoyable and we can be totally ok with that! I am happy reminiscing my high school and college self and wanting to jam to these songs. What works? The most amazing thing about this was Jennifer Simard. She is an amazing powerhouse and she stole absolutely every scene she was in. Her rendition of toxic brough the house down and was my favorite part of the show. The dancing was stellar, some really cool choreography and dancing all over the place. Finally Justin Guarini dances his ass off and sings beautifully to boot. My Original American Idol loving heart was very happy. The dance party at the end was great, although really getting full concert wristbands for only this seems like a waste. I think they could have either used them in the rest of the show or done something more economical for the dance party. What didn’t I love?. I did not love Briga Heelan as Cinderella. She was ok, I Was just never fully engaged and I didn’t love her voice. Also the story was very lacking. They could have done something more creative but rebellious princesses is getting boring – so many people are doing it and its just not even creative anymore.
My Friends one sentence review:
- Amazing use of britney songs with some dark humour and new age princesses stories
- I would say it has major nostalgia-value and some of the talent is spectacular, but the overall story and delivery were a little flat. (Anyone but me would also add appreciation for the girl-power aspect hahaha). Best part: it makes you want to dance and sing along to your old Brittany favorites!
Official blurb: FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed…again. The lead actors—theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider—are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic…if it doesn’t sink them all. Step aboard the Orca and into THE SHARK IS BROKEN, a “profound dive behind the scenes of the making of Jaws” (The Daily Telegraph, ★★★★). This Olivier Award-nominated new play is “hilariously brilliant and pure genius” raves the Sunday Express (★★★★★) and stars Ian Shaw (War Horse, Common) as his father, Robert Shaw, Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice, School of Rock) as Richard Dreyfuss, and Colin Donnell (Anything Goes, “Chicago Med”) as Roy Scheider. Directed by Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson, co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, and inspired by Robert Shaw’s experience playing Quint on the notorious shoot, THE SHARK IS BROKEN celebrates movie history and peeks at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster.
My take: The first thing I will say about this show has nothing to do with the show and all to do with my theater preferences, I am obsessed with 90 minute no intermission shows. Especially on weeknights, they are heaven. There is also plenty of fabulousness once can cram into those 90 minutes as this show proves. The performances are amazing. Colin Donnell and Alex Brightman are especially wonderful in my book, and their takes are worth the price of admission. The balance of tension amidst the boredom is so well done. I don’t really remember jaws, I think i saw it many a moons ago, but I still enjoyed the hell out if this show. If you are a jaws fan i can imagine it will be even more engaging but it is definitely not a requirement.
My Friends one sentence review: I’ve never watched Jaws, but this show made me really want to see it! Also all 3 actors were soooo good!
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