In no particular order, here are 50 memorable theater moments and thoughts from 2012:
Seeing The Mystery of Edwin Drood right
after Hurricane Sandy devastated the New York City area. The enjoyable musical was
exactly what the doctor ordered for this theater lover.
Feeling anxious in the audience as I watched Falling
trying to understand how families cope with special needs children. [Why has
this play (one of my favorites in 2012) not gotten more attention?]
Wondering why Philip Seymour Hoffman is yelling in preview performance
of
Death of a Salesman. [Frankly, I am surprised this made so many top 10
lists. Mr. Hoffman, while a fine actor, will ill cast in this production.]
Finally attending a circus for grown-ups only – Spiegelworld
Empire. I will never ever forget the anticipation as one performer slowly created a Calderesque mobile from sticks and a feather and the way it hung over the audience. [Truly spectacular!]
My cynical teenage niece pulls a “McKayla Maroney” while
sitting in the audience of Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark
completely unimpressed. [Teenagers!!!]
I scream with delight when friend announces over lunch at
Red Rooster that he finally got tickets and saw The Book of Mormon. I sing "I've got maggots in my scrotum."
Entering architectural delight - The Pershing Square Signature Center - for the first time. Checking out long awaited renovations at the Public Theater and Atlantic
Theater Company. Exploring the new Claire
Tow Theater at Lincoln Center and gazing out from its terrace. Enjoying new cabaret space 54 Below. [Haven't see the new Barclays Center yet but look forward to attending my first event there.]
Wondering “what the %$#@ is this?” at the play 3C. [I am convinced that Elisabeth
Vincentelli is the only person in the world who enjoyed this strange play.
However did it make her top 10 list?]
I was probably the only theatergoer who liked Ninth and Joanie. [Many
dysfunctional family dramas on the stage involve a lot of shouting and carrying on but silence
can be even more destructive and I think this play did a good job of capturing this.]
I was probably the only person in the world who did not love Who’s Afraid of Virginia
Woolf? [I don't think that I can ever sit through another production of this
play. Two unsympathetic characters eviscerating each other for 3 hours. No
thank you ever again. The critics may have raved about Who’s Afraid of Virginia
Woolf? but I think The Lady from Dubuque
was a much better and interesting play.]
I look at my Theater Roll for this post and there are plays that I have
absolutely no recollection of seeing. [How sad!]
I hope the man who passed out two rows in front of me and had to be
carried out of the theater at a preview performance of Bullet for Adolf is well. [He probably just had enough of the poor
production. Okay, very uncouth; bad blogger!!]
I sit uncomfortably front row center as I stare up at male and female
genitalia at Adam Rapp’s Through the Yellow Hour.
[Mental note: Beware of Adam Rapp plays going forward even if ticket is
comped.]
Man in red hat behind me falls asleep before The Other Place
even begins its preview performance.
Man next to me at Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
falls asleep and performance still has a few hours to go.
Overheard in elevator at the new Claire Tow Theater while seeing Slowgirl: “All
theater is good theater, even bad theater, which is better than no theater."
Overheard at A Civil War Christmas:
“It’s epic and schizophrenic at the same time.”
Overheard leaving Public Theater after Sorry:
“It is quality but it doesn’t add up to anything.”
Overheard leaving performance of The Other Place: “What
movies have Laurie Metcalf starred in. Hey, just trying to lighten the mood.”
The centers of the love triangles In Cock
and Murder Ballad
don’t quite convince me that they are worth the angst.
I disagree with Carrie
haters and actually enjoy the production. [Mental note: Purchase cast
recording.]
I leave theater pissing mad after listening to some unknown person’s
blaring mp3 player throughout matinee performance of How I Learned to Drive.
I decide to read Melville's Moby Dick
for the first time after seeing And God Created Great Whales and
The
Whale.
Though the use of water in Assistance
and If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet
was interesting and frankly cool.
Walking through a gallery will never be the same for me after seeing Give Me Your Hand.
Got a taste of Chinese culture old and new in The Golden Child
and Outside People.
The stage illuminated in candles in The Road to Mecca.
Whoa, what’s up with the frizzy dos - Amy Adams’ wig in Into the Woods
(SITP) and Jessica Chastain’s wig in The Heiress?
I take notice of William Jackson Harper in Stew’s The Total Bent.
I want to hear him sing again.
I am pleasantly surprised by multicultural A Streetcar Named Desire
after mixed reviews. I take notice of
Nicole Ari Parker. I want to see her on Broadway again.
I share impromptu moments in One Man, Two Guvnors
with friend who saw earlier show and he tells me the same things happened at
his show. On well, still laughed my ass off.
Aspects of pool (no water)
and Title and Deed
still resonate with me today. Who knew?
Love The Best Man
so much, saw it twice taking my mother and uncle the second time.
Love Clybourne Park so much, saw it again
when it transferred to Broadway from Playwrights Horizon [Glad it made it after last minute
controversy between playwright and producer.]
I run into Michael Shannon on the streets of Red Hook and
chat about Grace on Broadway. [My thoughts are with those in Red Hook hurt
by shitty storm Sandy.]
I win the virtual lottery for Into the Woods. Didn’t
know it was possible until it happened to me.
Newsies made me dizzy.
I vow never to watch a play from the nosebleed upper balcony
at City Center after attempting to watch Uncle Vanya there. [What is the point of those seats – to tease
you, to remind you that you couldn’t do any better? Just mean mean mean!!]
I am in awe as I watch the elegant Leslie Uggams in her Classic Uggams cabaret show at 54 Below.
Story behind “June is Bustin Out AllOver” is hilarious and tribute to Marvin
Hamlisch tender.
I watch the silly Hollywood film Joyful
Noise because of Broadway cutie Jeremy Jordan.
I stop watching Smash
after 3 episodes due to lack of interest.
I am cautious about seeing another Mike Daisey monologue
after inaccuracy controversy surrounding The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs.
At Pershing Center, I experience one play about not
forgetting one’s legacy (The Piano Lesson) and another about
trying to let go of one's legacy (The Golden Child).
I can’t stop giggling after a scene in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche.
Note to self after seeing Children
of Killers: Beware of Frank Scheck reviews.
Most pleasant musical surprises after reading mixed reviews: Giant, Dogfight,
and Carrie. [Could
it be that Off Broadway gave us better musicals than Broadway did in 2012?]
Cannot believe that woman “randomly” selected from audience
is kissing character so passionately on stage/camera in Gob Squad's Kitchen (You've Never
Had It So Good). [Can someone tell me if this is completely staged?]
Major Hollywood film, some 16,000 books written, preliminary emancipation proclamation hauled in to Harlem, but I only see Lincoln represented once on the New York City Stage in A
Civil War Christmas.
The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess leaves me disappointed.
I find the second act of The Lyons very strange.
Broadway didn’t quite save my soul this year and musicals
disappointed but that won't stop me. Next show to see – Golden Boy!!
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