(no subject)

[spatch]

The Drowsy Chaperone opened tonight in Boston and was just as charming and funny as I remembered, although it does lose something when you see it the second time and are ready for the bits. Still, the bits themselves were still delightful and Joye and I had a great time. It was interesting to see which new bits had been added in the course of a nearly two-year run plus a road tour, and how certain lines were delivered a lot more broadly than before to elicit more of a laugh. The fellow playing Man In Chair played it a bit more, well, gay than Bob Martin ever did (Martin played it more fussy; there's a difference) but he was still very good at what he did. The poignancy of the scene with the Super, however, was pretty much gone.

But that's okay, because the show did what a musical is supposed to, and if you don't know what it's supposed to do, the Man In Chair ought to be the one to tell you.

After the show Joye came back to the Haus of Rokk and played Rock Band until the neighbors told us to stop using the drum set. New rule, now: No drums after 11:00. Oops. Felt kinda dumba 'bout that.

Also today I began to sketch out new character ideas for a new... well, a new something. I can't give away too much right now, but one of the characters is named Flapjack Annie. Take that as you will.

Comments

[joyeous.livejournal.com]

Animal! ANIMAL!!!

Noah

[(Anonymous)]

"Flapjack," eh? I think I'll take THAT all the way to the bank once I SUE YOU!

Ahem ... Very glad I got to see Bob Martin in the role, but part of me would have liked to catch Bob Saget's run as Man in Chair. I'm looking forward to the play becoming a regional standard. I think I could actually play a few of the parts.

Noah

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

so bob martin isn't touring as the man in the chair?

it is to weep.

[gwynethfar.livejournal.com]

Who was Man In Chair? I try to keep track of these things.

BTW, still super jealous you got to see it, but I'm trying to keep the tides of envy at bay.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Was Georgia Engel still with the company? Nancy Opel?

When I caught it in St. Louis, it was the best-pedigreed touring show I'd seen.

Going to see The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee tonight, and attempting, once again, to be a contestant.

Re: Noah

[spatch]

You can't do that, cause Lawyer Sue is MINE!

I'd love to see independent versions put on the show. Especially interesting to see what folks do for staging, as long as there's no, y'know, cop-outs. It's not that technically difficult, but the biplane bit is very funny and requires a large piece at the end ("The things they can do nowadays. Did you see Miss Saigon? They landed a helicopter on that stage!")

This time around, Man in Chair was busy helping with set changes, pushing the wall bed when Aldolpho and the Chaperone are on it, and such. I don't remember that from when I saw it in May 2006 (but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.)

[spatch]

He actually only did the tour when it opened in Toronto, then stayed behind to be with his family. I've been watching some of his other Canadian comedy stuff; it's twisted and funny all at the same time.

That's pure vodka, you poop!

[spatch]

Yes, both Georgia Engel and Nancy Opel are still touring, and both were wonderful.

I still don't see how Jo Anne Worley could've done Mrs T. She's so not the nattering dimwit.

[spatch]

No, Animal, BEAT drums, BEAT drums!!

...and an aviatrix! Or what's known today as a "lesbian."

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

They were soliciting donations for "Broadway Cares" afterward so I got to say hi to both of them. I tend to get terribly starstruck for some reason, so the conversation rarely gets better than "Hi, you were great." "Thanks so much."

Re: Noah

[(Anonymous)]

Bob always pushed up the wall bed.
I'm also very interested to see new versions of the show. In the early shows, the plane was made with spinning canes and a long sash that unwound from the aviatrix's waist.

Re: Noah

[spatch]

Oh, the plane is a full-fledged Chariot From The Sky now. It's a lovely cheesy 2D biplane front with a spinning propeller, a place for Trix to sit, footholds for everybody to stand for the end of "I Do, I Do In The Sky", and even a spot on the wing for Man in Chair. It also hides the ukelele for Mrs. Tottendale.

When Trix introduces herself at the top of the show (and then disappears until the finale) she enters wearing a tiny biplane, sandwich board-style, over her aviatrix's outfit. Silver lame aviator's outfit, I might add. ,

Re: That's pure vodka, you poop!

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Not to revisit an old post, but I was Googling "That's pure vodka, you poop!" just to make sure I had the quote right, and discovered that Jo Anne had changed the last word to "fool." Sigh.

In any case, this post is on the front page of results from that particular search.