1.) Billy Elliot. Not the lovely family movie that drops the F'bomb like it is "the" but the wonderfully adapted stage musical...obviously. My wonderful Aunt-wonderful doesn't even begin to describe her wonderfulness-bought me and one other friend a ticket. A super close ticket that cost too much, but hey I am not complaining. ;) On the night of the performance me and my term mate wandered to the Imperial Theatre (crowded!) and meandered to our seat. The show followed the story line of the movie pretty closely, though it had its liberties with rearranging a few events which in the end completely helped the show and made it its own. The Billy we saw, Alex Ko, was the senior billy (been their the longest) and to our surprise was an Iowan as well! Represent! Not the greatest singer, but then again Billy Elliot isn't known for his singing, but his dancing was faboosh. Literally every time there was an intense dance sequence I teared up. Call me a pansy, cause I do. Having listen to the soundtrack before and not loving it, Elton John's tunes came to life onstage and worked wonders with the choreography that mixed the teenie tiny ballet dancers with the big square police/miner ones. To say I was in love with the movement on stage would have been an understatement. Though the highlight of the night was definitely the uber small but extremely loud stage presence, Cameron Clifford, as Michael. Billy's cross dressing friend. He owned the staged, and his interaction with Billy in the end left everyone going "Ahhh" or if you were the girls in the balcony "AAAAAAAAAAH." Definitely one of the strongest shows I had seen, and probably the show I had the hardest time not weeping at.
2. War Horse. A 3 hour long epic about the relationship between a boy and his horse during WWI took place at the Vivian Beaumont. With epic, EPIC puppet work I have never ever been so attached to an inanimate object, but those three person controlled horses really got me. Actual tears were shed, but I didn't feel like a baby because almost everyone in my group cried...and the one's that didn't don't have souls. You know who you are *glare* The story was so engaging and the bond between human and animal was taken to the extreme when the Albert loses his horse Joey to the army and goes off to find his old friend. It is a story that spans over 4 or 5 years and we get in deep in No Mans Land. Heart wrenching the script was very strong and really upped the stakes to the greatest degree and one always expected the worst...and usually got it. Though the ending to me was a surprise it still managed to make me sob. The teamwork involved in the show was amazing, each unit working on the massive puppets breathed together making the animal come to life. I literally forgot they were even there. Now I hear Steven Spielberg is whipping this up into a movie. Hope he does it justice. Then again this did come from a book so interpretations may be different...I just hope it doesn't go beyond and ruin the relationship at the center of the story.
3. Book of Mormon. Now this show....this show...I don't even know where to begin. I am still on a high from the whole experience. Almost impossible to get into, my friend and I decided to use our time wisely and go out on the day we knew we had open to attempt to get lottery tickets. We didn't. Arriving early we placed our names in the bucket and waited...and waited...but alas they only had 20 tickets and those went to other lucky winners. Damn them. But my friend stayed behind in the "standing room only" line which we heard about randomly from a boy who stood behind us when we tried (and failed...twice) to get rush tickets to Sister Act. We ended up waiting over 2 hours...and waiting for a chance to obtain two of 16 tickets. We were 11 & 12 in line! Tickets were only 27 dollars a piece! & the view was great! Sure we had to stand for 2 and a half hours but talk about worth it. For a show that has been kept under wraps, and that hasn't even opened yet, this buy far is going to win a Tony or two. With a script that is blatantly offensive while at the same time incredibly intellectual, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have themselves a winner. By making fun of, while validating Mormonism, the show poked fun at everything by being as raunchy and nasty as possible. My jaw was on the ground and my stomach-which was digesting some spicy Chipotle-got a full workout because I was laughing so hard. The music was perfect reminding me a lot of the fabulous Avenue Q (this makes sense since this also came from one of the creators of that show) every song was memorable and got stuck in your head. From opening to close the audience was in stitches and by the end everyone was completely on board with the message. By playing both sides and never shoving any specific viewpoint down anyones throat the show was an all out winner. Now if they would just open and release the soundtrack...
Well that is my show update. I need to go because the coffee shop is closing soon. I know I know, I also cut it close. Time for homework and sleepytime. Work in the morning and then...House of Blue Leaves in the evening. Seeing my lovely roommates mom work some magic on the stage alongside my beloved Nurse Jackie...Edie Falco. If I can contain my excitement I will let you know how it is. But if all you read looks like this---> AS@#&(%Yno84932w0JFOS02048058DNOSuslsofu2jfamg10SS! Or something along those lines...you know I liked it. :)
Later you hooligans.
