Impressions from last weekend in NYC seeing three BETM shows:
- I love the Imperial Theater – so much more intimate than the huge ones in Chicago and Cleveland (twice the size).
- The audience I was a part of for the Saturday matinee was fantastic, the best I’ve experienced. I said to myself, “NYC gets it!”
- The access to the stage door afterward is phenomenal. It’s like they put the exit doors where they are just to direct us to the stage door. What a coup for BETM fanatics.
- I was able to congratulate all three of the Billys and both Michaels after the shows. I kidded Jacob about having the hat on from his Samsung commercials (I’ve sent pics to the gallery). Also, got to have a conversation with Thommie Retter, and he is as pleasant as everyone describes him. He even asked me my impressions of the national tour, and talked about his role vis-à-vis Mrs. Wilkinson. Very nice to talk to and in no rush to leave.
- It’s amazing to see just how normal the child actors are after the show. After Jacob’s matinee show, after he was graciously done with the fans, he suggested to Ben Cook that they go over to Borders. After Sunday’s matinee, Gabe brought his scooter out of the building to go off somewhere. They cast a spell on these huge, paying audiences, and then leave minutes later like they’re any normal kid. I guess because that’s what they are – normal (but
very, very talented) kids!
- The language in the show is rough –we’ve talked about it before. I am all for it because it adds the realism to this show that could easily be lacking. However, I do think that there should be some forewarning for parents to decide if their young children are ready for it (as well as the other mature themes presented). There were lots of kids under 10 at both the matinees, and I wondered just how many parents really knew what they were walking into. Don’t get me wrong – I believe the language is an absolutely necessary part of the show.
- I’ve seen three different companies now (Chicago, Tour, Broadway), and I’m fascinated by how they are all so closely similar. I know the intent is there to keep the quality consistent, and they have succeeded smashingly! Anyone who sees one production has a very good idea of how they all are. I haven’t seen a drop off in quality at all between the three.
- I’m not as crazy about the elevator sets as I thought I’d be. All the up and down actually came off as a bit distracting to me, vs. the quick in and out set movement of the tour (I can’t remember which way they did it in Chicago). And as others have mentioned, I prefer the staging at the end of the Dad/Tony argument scene where Billy just grabs a few items, then sits sulking behind the piano.
- The pacing of all three Broadway shows was noticeably faster than the tour’s. I noted in my Cleveland reviews how I thought there were maybe too many pregnant pauses, but on Broadway there were actually very few. Not good or bad, just different.
Mark