Boy-band fave, bad guys, Bollywood on Broadway
| • | Broadway showcase 'Assassins,' 'Fiddler on the Roof' |
| • | Big Apple buzz ... |
| • | If you go ... |
| • | New York experiences for the newbie |
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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| Manu Naruyan and Sriram Ganesan star in "Bombay Dreams," in which an Indian slum dweller yearns to make it in the movies — a Bollywood take on the American dream.
Gannett News Service |
Add a measure of Bollywood dazzle, a dance production based on Billy Joel songs and a prequel to the legendary "Wizard of Oz" tale with a green witch and you're talking a bewitching range of visions and theatrical styles.
Alfred Molina is the film heavy, now on the giant screen as Dr. Octavius in "Spider-Man 2." In "Fiddler on the Roof," Molina is portraying Tevye, the dairyman, in a fresh, crisp turn in this unstoppable evergreen with an airy flair. His singing and dancing are charming; his mutterings very comforting.
Another action-film heavyweight, Hugh Jackman, is still soaring in his musical debut as Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz." You've seen Jackman is "Van Helsing" and in "X-Men," but never with such high-stepping dance kicks or a baritone that melts hearts — his star power makes the show glow. But hurry; his year's commitment ends in September.
Foul-mouthed puppets with attitude, presidential killers with agendas, guys wearing dresses with missions and a blood-thirsty plant gone mad also have crowds cheering. Hey, this is Broadway's reality this summer.
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Broadway showcase 'Assassins,' 'Fiddler on the Roof'
'Avenue Q'
Golden Theatre, 232 W. 45th St. (running time 2 hours, 15 minutes)
What's it about: Princeton, a just-out-of-college puppet, must choose between two loves, Kate or Lucy, amid a clamor of wise-mouthed muppets with issues galore. The puppets come with companion twentysomethings, all struggling to make their mark in the world.
Who: Local girl Ann Harada plays Christmas Eve, one of a couple of singer-actors who don't manipulate a puppet; the show's co-producer, Kevin McCollum, also has Hawai'i ties. John Tartaglia, as Princeton, was a Tony nominee. Their furry friends are delightful.
Why go: This one's got heart but also a somewhat foul mouth, so don't bring the wee ones. Still, there's whimsy and sentiment. "Avenue Q" — a mythical New York Street — was this year's best musical Tony winner, so it's a hot ticket.
Out take: "Q" tip: leave your inhibitions at home, and soak up the risque fun.
'Assassins'
Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St. (2:00)
What's it about: A revival of Stephen Sondheim's and John Weidman's 1991 musical, with historical and political barbs, about presidential killers, with a calibrated score representing musical styles (jazz, country, more) from different eras.
Who: Michael Cerveris as John Wilkes Booth won the 2004 best featured actor in a musical Tony, and is a standout in the cynical, dark revue of presidential killers. Other killer performances from Neil Patrick Harris (yep, the former "Doogie Houser, M.D.") as Lee Harvey Oswald; Mary Catherine Garrison as Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme; Alexander Gemignanin as John Hinckley Jr.; and Denis O'Hare as Charles Guiteau.
Why go: This was the season's best revival of a musical; the show boasts a Stephen Sondheim score that examines, in episodic fashion, the fragile fibers of the American dream from a strange, convoluted perspective. Surprisingly melodic for a Sondheim venture, without his usual phraseology.
Our take: Once you accept the premise, this eye-opening vehicle prompts discussion and reflection long after the final curtain.
'The Boy From Oz'
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| Hugh Jackman performs in "The Boy from Oz."
Gannett News Service |
What's it about: A musical biography of Peter Allen, the Australian singer-composer-cabaret star and ex of Liza Minnelli; he wrote such songs as "Don't Cry Out Loud," "I Go to Rio" and "I Honestly Love You."
Who: Hugh Jackman makes Allen a sexy, charismatic figure, blessed with a winning voice and legs that kick high and don't quit; Jackman is incandescent, though the book by Martin Sherman (based on the Nick Enright tome) doesn't fully connect the dots. Jackman dresses a piano like no other and picked up this year's best actor in a musical Tony Award; as Liza, Stephanie Block doesn't look right, though Isabel Keating is a dead ringer for Judy Garland in tone and in nuances.
Why go: In two words, Hugh Jackman. But hurry up; his year's commitment to the show ends Sept. 12.
Our take: A prime example of a movie-star-casting that works; women cry out for Jackman to take his shirt off.
'Caroline, or Change'
Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St. (2:30)
What's it about: A daring, not so easily accessible "opera," mostly sung with little dialogue. The story set in Louisiana in the 1960s places a metaphorical luster on issues of race, hard times and societal mores. The "change" in the title refers to societal attitudes as well as loose pocket change, which factors in the storyline.
Who: Tonya Pinkins, as maid Caroline Thibodeaux, is employed in a Jewish household, where she keeps finding coins in the pockets of the son as she is preparing to wash clothes in the basement; a $20 bill, deliberately left, creates a ruckus. Anika Noni Rose, who plays Caroline's daughter, Emme, is brilliant in a supporting capacity, earning a best featured actress in a musical Tony this year.
Why go: As directed by Tony Kushner ("Angels of America"), "Caroline" is a powerful musical that ignores convention and tradition. It also utilizes a trio of black singers in a vox-populi role, reflecting the conscience of the key character.
Our take: A somewhat highbrow, high-road experience but powerful if you open up your eyes, ears and heart.
'Bombay Dreams'
Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway at W. 53rd St. (2:30)
What's it about: An Indian slum dweller yearns to make it in the movies — a Bollywood take on the American dream with an explosion of ethnic verses colliding with often-sappy pop elements that bank on the array of production numbers featuring day-glow color garb and frenetic choreography. In the end, it's eye candy.
Who: Manu Naruyan is a tireless, giving singer-dancer of a leading man, who encounters an attractive budding director (Anisha Nagarajan) who is engaged to a lawyer with dubious intentions. Look for two locals in the ensemble: Kirk Torigoe and Wendy Calio.
Why go: This import from London, with four guys playing women, has a British link; it was produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, a staple in London and Broadway theater for nearly two decades ("Jesus Christ Superstar," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Evita," "Cats," "The Phantom of the Opera"). Audiences are approving; critics are not.
Our take: It's a curious experience of a time-tested theme and a sari sight to see — there's one production number with a stage fountain that leaves everyone dripping wet.
'Frozen'
Circle in the Square, 1633 Broadway at W. 50th St. (2:30)
What's it about: Bryony Lavery has written a wrenching and thought-provoking drama about a mother who is devastated by the abduction and loss of her daughter. The battle between forgiveness and revenge forms the core of the conflict.
Who: Swoozie Kurtz is hypnotic as the emotional derelict of a mother; Brian F. O'Byrne as the pedophile Ralph earned a 2004 best featured actor in a play Tony. The third wheel in their confrontations is a psychologist (enacted by Pippa Peartree, at the performance we saw), who asks a lot of questions but finds only a few answers.
Why go: This is minimalist theater that depends on the listening as well as the acting; the stage is bare, save for two chairs and a desk. Director Doug Hughes employs exits and entrances from the audience for a real in-your-face experience.
Our take: An unsettling theme but a production that speaks volumes about the human condition and some of its warts.
'Fiddler on the Roof'
Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St. (3:00)
What's it about: A poor milkman, Tevye, from the Russian village of Anatevka, struggles with issues of tradition and looming change on the eve of the 1905 revolution. The production has been adapted to appeal to a contemporary audience.
Who: Alfred Molina is the confessional traditionalist Tevye (you know him better as Dr. Octavius, the mechanical-octopus villain in "Spider-Man 2"), Randy Graff is his wife, Golde; they head a remarkable ensemble of singers and dancers, who don't indulge in Jewish histrionics as most other revivals. Nancy Opel is a conventional Yente, matchmaking constantly; Motel the tailor (John Cariani) is all gesture too often, but crowds adore him.
Why go: Director David Leveau has created his own landscape in this retelling — forests and moons abound, instead of traditional shtetls — but it's all very kosher for a new generation of rooters.
Our take: Mazel tov! A good-looking, great-sounding, gorgeously-set revival that doesn't forsake a sense of place or unity.
'Forbidden Broadway'
Douglas Fairbanks Theatre, 432 W. 42nd St. (2:00)
What's it about: Gerard Alessandrini's right-on-target pastiche that lampoons (with loving care) Broadway's best, biggest and bombs with no sacred cows. A cast of four enacts his skewering lyrics that offering a quick glimpse of The Great White Way.
Who: David Benoit, Donna English, Valerie Fagan and Michael West — supported by keyboarder Glenn Gordon — have a field day poking good fun at Hugh Jackman, Ethel Merman, Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters. Updated regularly, the revue includes "Assassins," "Avenue Q" (yes, with requisite puppets), and provides good-natured assaults on such hit shows as "Les Miserables," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Chicago."
Why go: A splendid panorama of who's hot, what's hip — with clever lyrics sung to familiar tunes, delivered with precision and charm.
Our take: A Broadway treasure, loaded with laughs, lunacy and, ultimately, love for the stage.
'Hairspray'
Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St. (2:35)
What's it about: It's Baltimore in the 1960s, and a chubby girl yearns to make it on an "American Bandstand"-type dance show. Based on a cult film by John Waters and mobilized for last season's memorable performance by Harvey Feirstein as the hoarse, coarse, mother, Edna Turnblad (for which he won the 2003 best actor in a musical Tony), "Hairspray" has survived cast exits and entrances.
Who: Feirstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur, the original resident tub-ette, Tracy Turnblad (who also earned a Tony for best actress in a musical in 2003) are gone, but we did catch Feirstein — he was outrageous and played the role with expected broad strokes — but Kathy Brier played the maligned Tracy; at press time, Michael McKean stepped into the role of Edna, and Carey Jibson was Tracy. Jack O'Brien also earned a best director Tony in 2003.
Why go: Classic example of how a play can be better than a movie.
Our take: Escapist fun to the max; a great way to let your hair down.
'I Am My Own Wife'
Lyceum Theatre, 139 W. 45th St. (2:00)
What's it about: An engaging, riveting portrait by Doug Wright, of Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf, a real-life transvestite and collector of antiques (gramophones and clocks), who survived the threat of Nazism and the onslaught of Communism.
Who: Jeffrey Mays, appearing largely in drag and wearing a black dress and a headpiece as Charlotte, spouts the words and feelings of about 40 others in a tour de force. Mays won a 2004 best actor in a play Tony; he is nothing short of sensational.
Why go: Talky but fascinating, not only because of Mays' generous and involving monologues, but also because of Pulitzer Prize-wining script. "I Am My Own Wife" also copped this year's Tony for best play.
Our take: Mays demonstrates extraordinary energy and amazing grace throughout this theatrical wonderment.
'Little Shop of Horrors'
Virginia Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St. (2:00)
What's it about: A revival of an off-Broadway play by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken originally staged 20 years ago, "Horrors" is about a man-eating, blood-thirsty plant fed and nurtured by a shopkeeper. It is a landmark production of theatrical puppetry, too, since Audrey II, the hungry plant, gets bigger as the plot thickens.
Who: Hunter Foster played Seymour and Kerry Butler was his girlfriend, Audrey, when we saw the show; Joey Fatone, the boy-band member from 'N Sync, has assumed the role of Seymour now. A girl-group observational chorus — with names like Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette, recalling the era of doo-wop and sidewalk bops — provide ample listening pleasure.
Why go: This is the epitome of a send-up of the musical horror flick, with a confectionary score loaded with toe-tapping faves that recall the era of bubbling soul and street-smart harmonies; intended for a new generation of fans to discover this old chestnut.
Our take: You probably know the film version, with Rick Moranis as Seymour; there's nothing better, though, than a "Shop" in the flesh.
'Movin' Out'
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| "Movin' Out," based on the songs by Billy Joel, is performed by an on-stage band and interpreted by a corps of ballet and modern dancers.
Joan Marcus |
What's it about: A concept musical, based on songs by Billy Joel, performed by an on-stage band and interpreted by a corps of dancers. When it's all done, you've heard 20 years of Joel's jewels, choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and directed by Jerry Zaks, a tapestry of various aspects of life at home (high school sweethearts) and at war (Vietnam).
Who: Luminaries from the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Feld Ballet and other distinguished companies punctuate the cast — the likes of John Selya, Keith Roberts, Elizabeth Parkinson, Ashley Tuttle, Benjamin Bowman and Scott Wise — and Michael Cavanaugh, lead vocalist and pianist, earned a 2003 Tony Award nomination for his vocals of Joel classics.
Why go: Twyla Tharp directed and choreographed this daring, different endeavor, more a dressed-up dance concert than a Broadway musical, though with some effective backdrops amid mood-setting props. The agile company is nothing short of brilliant, showing sass and spirit from start to end.
Our take: Makes you wonder if future productions might tap the songs of Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen?
'Wicked'
Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St. (2:45)
What's it about: A prequel to the familiar "Wizard of Oz" fantasy, based on a 1955 novel by Gregory Maguire, which pits a wickedly wonderful duel between Glinda the Good Witch and the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West.
Who: Joey McIntyre, formerly of New Kids on the Block, is the prince. Idina Menzel plays the Wicked Witch Elphaba (she earned a best actress in a musical Tony this year) and shows how easy it can be being green; Kristin Chenoweth is her nem-esis — all goodness and wholesomeness. They're college chums, and the book by Winnie Holzman (music by Stephen Schwartz) foretells encounters with the Tin Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow of the classic tale. Joel Grey is the slight wizard with the commanding voice.
Why go: You won't have a better time in the theater; this show has "it," thanks to Joe Mantello's savvy direction and magical theatrics that fill the eye and stage. Menzel won a 2004 best actress in a musical Tony.
Our take: An adult tale with brains, courage and heart, told with imagination and displaying the ample talents of a wonderfully skilled ensemble.
'Wonderful Town'
Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St. (2:20)
What's it about: Two Ohio sisters seek fame and fortune — and jobs — in New York City in a slight but sleek retelling of "My Sister Eileen." This is a workplace romance loaded with cliches, involving apartment adventures, a quest for love, with New York emerging as a "character," too.
Who: Donna Murphy as Ruth Sherwood, and Jennifer Westfeldt as her sister Eileen, bring swing, energy and a warm glow to the stage; director-choreographer Kathleen Marshall won a best choreography Tony this year. Murphy is the veritable workhorse, extracting lots more than the material she is provided with.
Our take: Somewhat dated in appeal, but a worthy revival that is easy to embrace.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
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Simply Simon: Looks like Simon Cowell's 15 minutes of fame — well, three seasons' worth of "American Idol" judging — has earned him a spot at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on West 42nd Street.
Sixth sense: Peter Krause, co-star on HBO's "Six Feet Under," stars in a new production of Arthur Miller's "After the Fall," which opened Thursday at the American Airlines Theatre.
Paige of history: Paige Davis of "Trading Places" has done just that — trading in her TV fame for Broadway applause, portraying Roxie Hart in "Chicago."
Blood-thirsty: "Dracula: The Musical," from Frank Wildhorn, the creator of "Jekyll & Hyde," will star Tom Hewitt and Melissa Errico, starting Aug. 19 at the Belasco Theatre.
Keep your eyes on the hands: Kumu hula Luana Haraguchi and her 24 halau students practice hula every Monday and Thursday evening in Central Park, prepping for the next World International Hula Festival in Honolulu.
Rent and rave: Jai Rodriguez, the cultural mentor on Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," just completed a short run in "Rent," a return to his theatrical roots.
Crystal persuasion: Billy Crystal will make his Broadway debut in "700 Sundays," an autobiographical play he wrote, which will bow Nov. 12 at the Broadhurst Theatre.
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Where to stay: We favor midtown, theater-district hotels, because of the convenience to the nighttime theater-going; prices fluctuate, depending on season, and Web sites offer ample choices. Some suggestions: We just tried the Flatotel, 135 W. 52nd St., and loved the microwave, bar-sized refrigerator, coffeemaker, CD and VHS player and flat-screen TV in all standard rooms. Renaissance New York Times Square, at Broadway and 7th Ave., is conveniently located north of the Times Square TKTS booth. Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, at 811 7th Ave., is always jammed but popular. New York Marriott Marquis, at 1535 Broadway, is in the heart of Times Square, but its elevators are a nightmare at high-traffic times (before shows, for instance). West New York Times Square, 1567 Broadway at W. 47th St., is another prime location but with premium tariffs.
Where to eat: We've suggested a few places (see Ten Things to Do, this section), but it depends on when you dine and how a meal fits into your time and plans. Many restaurants have pre-theater prix-fixe menus at reduced rates; we like to dine after a show, so scout for restaurants that stay open till 11:30 p.m. or midnight (in midtown, there are fewer choices; SoHo, Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side, all a subway ride away, offer more and varied opportunities at better prices). You could make lunch your big meal and do the pupu-with-cocktails bit for dinner, too.
Best time to visit: Spring or fall, when temps are best. Summer is popular (residents vacate the city), but humidity can wilt you. Winter is pretty, but it can be cold for Islanders.
Airports: New York has three — LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy, both in the borough of Queens; and Newark, in New Jersey. Major carriers serve all three.
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New York experiences for the newbie
Ten things to do in New York:
1. Visit the new hot spot. The just-opened Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle. It's an 80-story behemoth housing CNN's New York Studios, a posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel opening in October and the posh Shops at Columbus Circle, with 40 merchants ensconced over three floors and a basement. Three upscale restaurants are on the fourth floor, including Per Se and Masa's, with more to come (including one with Charlie Trotter); a sweeping fouristory glass atrium allows a breathtaking view of Columbus Circle and Central Park. The incredible Whole Foods Market, Manhattan's largest supermarket, is in the lower level, complete with produce, packaged goods, nibbles, eat-in or to-go salads, sandwiches and entrees ... it's a perfect spot for omiyage-buying, too.
2. See a vintage flick. A Summer Film Festival is under way; it's an HBO presentation, a freebie at sunset every Monday, at Bryant Park, at West 42nd and Sixth Avenue. A savvy slate of titles has been programmed since its June 21 launch; remaining films include July 26, "Love Story"; Aug. 2, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"; Aug. 9, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"; Aug. 16, "Planet of the Apes"; Aug. 23, "The Big Sleep."
3. Revisit Liberty Island. For the first time since 9/11, the Statue of Liberty can be seen up close, not merely from the ferry or from Battery Park. But you still can't get within her, and you have to endure an airport-like security check (bags, shoes, etc.) before boarding the ferry.
4. Barter and buy on Canal Street. So you love those pricey Prada, Yves St. Laurent and Louis Vuitton bags? Get a cheap thrill by perusing the next best thing — knockoffs, priced anywhere from $25 to $75, from a stable of Chinatown vendors (signature replicas also are sold mid-town, by sidewalk hawkers). Like jaywalking, selling them is illegal (hence, periodic "raids" that shut down storefronts or force sellers to bag up their wares) ... but it's part of the New York drill to check them out.
5. Use a Metro Card. With subway and bus fares at $2 a ride, and cabbie rates soaring, the seven-day pass, at $21 (available at Metro station vending machines), is the best bargain around. Gives you unlimited rides in orderly, swift fashion, even if you have to put up with the humidity inside the subway stations. A one-day pass is $7.
6. Seek out a street fair. There's usually one over a 10-block avenue (check your New York Times, Time Out New York and other Manhattan resources for locations). It's like a swap meet, with food, clothes, accessories, trinkets, and often a real bargain.
7. Eat ethnic. When you dine out, consider fare you can't easily get back home. We savor and favor Brazilian (Cabana Carioca, 123 W. 45th St., (212) 581-8088; Churrascaria Plataforma, 316 W. 49th St., (212) 245-0505; Brazil Grill, 787 Eighth Ave., (212) 307-9449), Cuban (Victor's Cafe. 236 W. 52nd St., (212) 586-7714; Little Havana, 30 Cornelia St., (212) 255-2212), Russian (Russian Tea Room, 150 W. 57th St., (212) 974-2111; Petrossian, 182 W. 58th St., (212) 245-2214), Spanish (El Charro Espagnol, 4 Charles St., (212) 242-9547; Rincon de Espagnol, 226 Thompson St., (212) 677-0590); Sevilla, 62 Charles St., (212) 929-3189; Tio Pepe, 168 W. 4th St., (212) 242-9338).
8. Buy at discount. The favored shop is Century 21, 22 Cortlandt St., a stone's throw from the World Trade Center memorial site. Designer duds are plentiful, at various levels of affordability, for both men and women, to satisfy the "cheap" in us all. But cheapness is relative: do you mind paying $300 for a $780 jacket? A better deal is a $150 shirt for $35. It's there, if you're lucky. Filene's Basement, and Daffy's (various locations; check phone book) also offer close-outs and irregulars.
9. Check out the TKTS booth. If you don't plan ahead for Broadway show tickets, a visit to the Times Square Theatre Center at Duffy Square, W 47th St. and Broadway (or at South Street Seaport, at John and Front Streets) offers half-priced tickets to numerous shows (plus a $3 service fee). With many admissions at $100, it could be a bargain — but your first show choice may not be available. The booth accepts cash or traveler's checks — no credit cards.
10. Nosh on the street. It's a New York tradition to nibble on the run; street vendors sell everything from hot dogs to gyros, from Dove Bars to honey-roasted peanuts. The chestnuts in winter are superb.
