Drama Desk « Woman Around Town

Posts Tagged ‘Drama Desk’

In the Heart of Broadway, Sardi’s—Fabled and Fabulous

Sunday, October 4th, 2009 by Michall Jeffers

Sardi's

By Michall Jeffers

Whenever someone asks me, “We’re going to a Broadway show; where should we eat?” I always have the answer: Sardi’s. Go to the famous restaurant you’ve seen in the movies, and on TV in a recent episode of Mad Men. You can have cocktails in the beautiful new lounge upstairs, and gaze out at The Great White Way. Before you eat dinner, look around at the caricatures on the walls. Anyone who’s made it in New York City show business is up there.

lucy As you walk into the main room, whomever is the star of the hottest new show will be smiling down at you from a picture near the entrance. If you’re lucky, you’ll be greeted by the movie star handsome Sean Ricketts, great-grandson of the founder, Vincent Sardi, Sr. Hospitality is a tradition in this family, and rest assured that you are in good hands.

My personal recommendation for the best dining experience possible is to order from the Prix Fixe Dinner Menu. At $48.50, there’s not a sweeter deal in New York.

For your appetizer, go with the spinach cannelloni. This is a delicate crepe chock full of chopped spinach and Ricotta cheese, topped with a delicious crème sauce rich with Parmesan. If you’re with a friend, have her order the finest quality smoked salmon, served with capers, raw onion, parsley, lemon, and multi grain bread. The portions at Sardi’s are generous, and there’s always plenty to share.

One warning here: the bread, especially the raisin nut, is delicious; resist the temptation to say “yes” every time the gracious staff offers you more. They are used to dealing with celebrities here (I ate dinner one night next to Grey Gardens star John McMartin), and the excellent service reflects this; rarely will you have to ask for a water glass to be refilled, and you will most certainly be fed in time to see your show.

Sardi's Bar

For your main course, the jumbo lump crabcakes are divine. Crispy on the outside, tender and succulent on the inside, you hardly even need the accompanying chipotle pepper flavored sauce, but who could resist? I’m a big fan of the vegetable slaw, which is course cut and hearty; this bears no resemblance at all to the tiny strands of anemic cabbage soaked with mayo which we’ve gotten used to receiving in tiny paper cups at less exalted tables.

sardis-sign Take a moment before dessert to relax and enjoy the ambience. The pendant lights are turned down low, and the burgundy walls look like velvet. Unlike most New York eateries, there is ample elbow room to eat, and you will not be jammed up against the next table.

And then, dessert. For me, the boccone dolce is sheer heavenly perfection. Meringue, light as air; laced with strawberries; kissed with whipped cream; and gently caressed with chocolate; absolute paradise. If I’ve been very, very good, when I die, I will eat this every day. Be aware that the coffee, even the decaf, is strong here.
You will leave Sardi’s well fed, having seen and been seen by others in the know about the best place to dine in the Theater District. I just hope the show you see will be equally enjoyable.

Sardi’s
Type of Food: American

Romantic-4             Child Friendly–3
Girls’ Night Out-4    Solo Dining—2
Business Dining—4    Visitors Welcome—4
Dress Code—Business Budget—Expensive
Casual
234 West 44th Street
212-221-8440
www.sardis.com

Michall Jeffers is a longtime theater critic, and active member of Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, American Theatre Critics Association, International Association of Theatre Critics, and Dance Critics Association. Her reviews, commentary, and celebrity interviews are read in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area.

Tags: American Theatre Critics Association, Dance Critics Association, Drama Desk, John McMartin, Mad Men, Michall Jeffers, Outer Critics Circle, Sardi's, Sean Ricketts, Vincent Sardi Sr.
Posted in Dining Around, Feature Section, Restaurant Finds | 1 Comment »

Brilliant Talent Shines Through a Steady Rain

Sunday, October 4th, 2009 by Michall Jeffers

rain16501

By Michall Jeffers

The lights come up on a stage that is empty except for two chairs and the men who have spent the last ninety minutes dazzling the audience. As one, we leap to our feet and cheer. Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig bow to the house, balcony, right, left, center. They look at each other with genuine warmth, glowing with pride at a job well done. The lights dim, and when they return for a second bow, Jackman points to friends in the audience, while for the first time in the evening, Craig breaks out in a huge grin. They wave, they exit, we jam the aisles to leave the theater.

A Steady Rain is a play that lingers in the mind, and when rewound and viewed in reverse, best makes sense. Like the film Memento, it actually starts at the end of the story. We think we know what it’s about in the first few moments. Jackman and Craig do a credible job as two Average Joe Chicago cops bitching about the job. We think that any minute, they may launch into a discussion about “da Bears,” and how the Cubbies always get trounced. They’ve gotten passed over for promotion to detective status three times, while fifty guys who have less seniority and lower test scores, but who just happen to be “ethnic,” have leaped over them. They’re mad, and hell yes, they resent it, but they’re two good guys who are just doing their best On The Job.

a_steady_rain_logo_small

There’s been a lot of speculation, much of it in print, as to whether or not this dialogue is really worthy of Broadway, and the steep $125 price tag for an orchestra seat. It could easily be presented in a much smaller house. After all, the set is practically non-existent, and when you get down to it, it’s just two guys talking, sometimes to each other, sometimes out to the audience. Is the Broadway run all about the movie stars? Yes, absolutely, and that’s the point. Jackman and Craig together are like a great tag team, tennis match, tug-of-war. It’s hard to think of an Off-Broadway theater that could contain the magnitude of the emotional give and take which transpires between these two gifted performers.

steadyrain019_sm1

The writing is deceptively simple. Two boyhood friends, Joey (Craig) and Denny (Jackman), are partners on the beat. They’re longtime pals, and Joey is almost a part of Denny’s family. He’s the lonely, single “brother” who gets invited over to dinner on a regularly basis, largely because he drinks way too much when he’s alone. Denny is a solid family man, with a beautiful wife, great kids, and a warm, cozy home. But from the beginning, something just isn’t right.

steady In short order, we’re informed that Denny and Joey had frequent fist fights as kids, with Denny the perpetual victor. This is easy to believe; not only does Jackman tower over Craig physically, but the force of personality he exudes clearly overshadows the shorter, quieter man. We wonder at first if Craig, as an actor, is really in the same class as the charismatic Jackman. But what’s introduced almost immediately is the fact that Denny has a violent temper, and no problem unleashing it on someone who is clearly not his physical equal.

The munificence of the frequent fix-ups over family dinners that Denny arranges for his buddy takes a sour turn when we learn that Rhonda, the latest date disaster, is a hooker, who runs into the night weeping. Denny runs after her, while Joey is concerned about Connie, the wife who has fled upstairs in tears.

From this point on, events snowball out of control. Denny and Joey have different takes on the tragic events that follow, each by turns affectionate, disgusted, enraged.

As the evening progresses, Craig’s acting skill becomes more and more obvious. He is a world class listener. All aspiring actors should be required to observe him quietly taking in Denny’s increasing desperation at the realization that he is being sucked down deeper and deeper into the pit of quicksand he himself has created.

Jackman never lets down for a moment. His bravura performance hits emotional peaks and climbs ever higher. Craig wisely doesn’t try to top him; instead, with supreme self assurance, he plays under Jackman, and by the denouement, they are eye to eye.

steadyrain235_sm1

And we are left with the two mismatched chairs on stage, Craig in his now rumpled suit and Jackman seeming smaller inside his plaid shirt. As the lights go down, we in the audience prepare to cheer.

A Steady Rain
Gerald Schoenfeld Theater (formerly the Plymouth)
236 West 45th Street.
212-239-6200
Orchestra seats, $125
Limited engagement, through December 6, 2009

Tags: A Steady Rain, American Theatre Critics Association, Chicago, Dance Critics Association, Daniel Craig, Drama Desk, Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, Hugh Jackman, International Association of Theatre Critics, Michall Jeffers, Outer Critics Circle
Posted in Feature Section, On Stage, Playing Around | 1 Comment »

Here Come the Musicals! 2009’s NYMF Starts September 28

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 by Woman Around Town

Plagued

A pop musical set in a boy’s boarding school, the discovery of the world’s last two surviving vampires, fantasy football set to music, a lonely embalmer looking for love, a boy and his Navy Seal father at a fat camp for kids, a dysfunctional family in a world where smoking is banned…..just a sampling of what is being offered up this year at the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival. “This year, it’s a very strong group,” said Isaac Robert Hurwitz, NYMF’s Executive Director and Producer.

Anyone who has ever wondered where new musicals come from need only attend this year’s festival. Want to see the next big hit before it hits Broadway? Then, this is the place to be. The festival, now in its sixth year, begins on September 28 and will run through October 18. Performances are held at several theaters throughout the city. A big selling point? The seats are very affordable, $20 for all shows. Shows sell out fast, so choose your musicals and buy your tickets. Here’s information on some of the shows that are sure to draw the crowds.

Academy
Book, Music, and Lyrics by John Mercurio
Conceived and developed by Andrew Kato
At St. Edward’s Academy, two seniors make a harmless bet on whether they can influence an unsuspecting freshman to break a few rules to succeed. But when the transaction goes recklessly out of control, the boys become entangled in a fight for their own academic and personal survival. Inspired by Goethe’s Faust, Academy is a pop chamber musical about boys learning to become men-and remaining true to themselves.
Note: Academy’s director, John Carrafa, is the two-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer for Into the Woods and Urinetown The Musical, on Broadway.

Andy Warhol Was Right
Book by Sammy Buck
Music by Dan Acquisto
Directed by Giovanna Sardelli
Fame. Some want it. Some get it. And some reject it. Andy Warhol predicted it: everybody will be famous for fifteen minutes. Andy welcomes you into his world of pop art, dance, music, film and fleeting celebrity, as three different stories come together at a party that travels from The Factory scene of the 60’s to today’s world of reality TV and YouTube.
Note: Jeremy Davis (Andy Warhol) has appeared on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, South Pacific, and, most recently, 9 to 5.

Cross That River
Music, Lyrics and Story by Allan Harris
Book and Direction by Andrew Carl Wilk
Cross That River depicts the sometimes tragic, sometimes humorous life and times of Blue, a run-away slave who escapes to Texas to become one of America’s first Black Cowboys. The story transports the audience to the unsettled West of the 1860’s through compelling storytelling and infectious music that ranges from country and bluegrass to soul, blues and rock gospel. An entertaining and personal story of hardship and perseverance, Cross That River is ultimately about our single most precious birthright - freedom.
Note: Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award-winning star of A Chorus Line, is the choreographer.

The Cure (above)
Story and Songs by Mark Weiser
In this rock ‘n’ roll fable, two friends stumble across the world’s last surviving vampires. Offered the chance to live forever, one man is seduced while the other barely escapes with his life, setting in motion an even greater fight for survival. At the crossroads of humanity and immortality, lies…THE CURE.
Note: This musical could ride the tide of popularity vampires seem to be enjoying these days.

Fantasy Football: The Musical?
Book, Music and Lyrics by David Ingber
September 1991, New York City. An unemployed stats geek and a small-time bookie realize that their passion for sports is keeping them from maintaining a job or a girlfriend. Combining forces, they set out to create the ultimate sports fan experience-and, in the process, pull their lives together-in this “bromantic comedy” of a musical. www.fantasyfootballthemusical.com
Note: Fantasy football is big, big, big. So this one could score.

Fat Camp (above)
Book by Randy Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker
Music by Matthew roi Berger
Lyrics by Randy Blair
Nothing is going to make rock-and-roll rebel Robert Grisetti stay at fat camp this summer. That is, except for one ex-Navy Seal father, two suspiciously cheery camp counselors, and a 12-foot barbed wire fence. Visit Camp Overton, a weight loss retreat for hefty teenagers, as secrets, sex, S’mores, and self-image collide in this new musical comedy exploring the trials and triumphs of being “the fat kid.”
Note: Blair and Drucker co-wrote and co-starred in the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival hit, Perez Hilton Saves the Universe, awarded outstanding musical by the Fringe.

The Happy Embalmer
Book, Music and Lyrics by Mark Noonan and Nick Oddy
Close your eyes, take a deep breath, count to three… Now picture a no-holds-barred steel cage match between Mel Brooks, Bruce Lee, Monty Python & Axl Rose. Wait…What? Edward Nando is a lonely embalmer. Emily is his lost love (unfortunately, she’s dead). But Ed has a special purpose… Enter a pistol-shootin’ Texan madman, A groovy Russian scientist, And one bad-ass Dalai Lama. Oh, yes - all hell is about to break loose.
Note: Kelly Devine (Director/Choreographer) choreographed the Broadway and off-Broadway productions of Rock of Ages (5 Tony nominations) and the star, Daniel Reichard, was the original Bob Gaudio in the Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys.

The Last Smoker in America
Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell
Music by Peter Melnick
With book and lyrics by Tony nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao), The Last Smoker in America is an original, four-character musical comedy about a dysfunctional family struggling to survive in a world where smoking has recently been outlawed. Pam, an English lit professor at a small college, is having an impossible time trying to quit smoking. Her husband Ernie dreams of being a rock star and relentlessly practices his electric guitar in the basement. Their teenage son Jimmy listens to so much rap music he’s convinced he’s black. Their nosy, anti-smoking zealot neighbor Phyllis lurks around trying to catch transgressors mid-puff. Will Pam kick the habit or fight for the right to light up as The Last Smoker in America?
Note: Producer Andy Sandberg brought the revival of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical to Broadway, while Music Director Fred Lassen is the conductor of South Pacific. Could catch fire.

Plagued - A Love Story (photo above and at top)
Book and Lyrics by Vynnie Meli; Music by Casey L. Filiaci
Cinderella marries Prince Charming and 20 years go by in a flash - or a flicker, this is the Dark Ages. Their curious daughter Dusty raises a lot of questions and more than a few eyebrows. Dusty’s diva Queen grandmother wants her married off as soon as possible, and she wants Cinderella to finally start acting like a princess. When sweet young Scoop collapses at the palace gates with news of the Plague sweeping the neighboring kingdoms, they have to hatch a plan. Is it too late for fairy godmothers?
Note: Natalie Bradshaw (Francine in the Las Vegas Jersey Boys, Broadway’s Urinetown, and the Wedding Singer) could be one to watch.

Whatever Man
Book, Music and Lyrics by Benjamin Strouse
For all his good intentions, Charlie Weiss just can’t get it together. But everything changes after his strong-willed girlfriend, Anna Pink, forces him into a self-help group where Charlie encounters disturbed Superheros–The Swan, Ice Man and the legendary Mr. Perfect—desperate to share their troubles. When their petty squabbles escalate, will Charlie choose to save the world, his relationship or himself? Whatever Man.
Note: Everyone loves superheroes, and they might love this show. While there are no household names among the cast, their experience on Broadway, Off Broadway, and regional theater runs deep. Someone could break out in this production.

To order your tickets for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, go to www.nymf.org

Tags: 9 to 5, A Chorus Line, Academy, Adrift in Macao, Allan Harris, Andrew, Andy Sandberg, Andy Warhol, Axl Rose, Benjamin Strouse, Bill Russell, Bob Gaudio, Bruce Lee, Carl Wilk, Casey L. Filiaci, Cross that River, Dalai Lama, Dan Acquisto, Daniel Reichard, David Ingber, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Donna McKechnie, Drama Desk, Fantasy Football, Fat Camp, Giovanna Sardelli, Hair, Into the Woods, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Jeremy Davis, Jersey Boys, John Carrafa, John Mercurio, Kelly Devine, Lat Smoker in America, Mark Noonan, Mark Weiser, Matthew roi Berger, Mel Brooks, Monty Python, Natalie Bradshaw, Navy Seal, New York International Fringe Festival, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Nick Oddy, NYMF, NYMTF, Perez Hilton Saves the Universe, Peter Melnick, Randy Blair, Sammy Buck, South Pacific, The Cure, The Happy Embalmer, Timothy Michael Drucker, Urinetown, vampire, Vynnie Meli, Wedding Singer, Whatever Man, YouTube
Posted in Feature Home, On Stage, Playing Around | No Comments »

What to See Right Now, Before the New Season Begins

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 by Michall Jeffers

west-side-story-photo1

By Michall Jeffers

We are mere weeks away from the beginning of the Fall Theater Season, and something’s coming, something good. But first, there’s no better time to catch or re-visit some of the great shows currently on the boards.

Even though the Spanish in this West Side Story has been toned down, it’s still enjoyable to hear characters who are supposed to be Puerto Rican sing and speak in their native language. This show, such a classic, but like me, you may well have never actually seen it on stage before. The play is dated; it’s almost laughable to imagine that anyone’s shocked when the gang rumble turns, can you believe it?, violent. No way Anita is dumb enough to walk alone into a room filled with angry Jets. The night I went, an audience member loudly asked, “He’s what??” when Tony’s Polish heritage was revealed. But it’s the performances which made this show a knockout, particularly Karen Olivo’s star turn as Anita, who’s usually played as a firecracker. With Olivo, think Fourth of July. Matt Cavenaugh’s rendition of “Maria” is so pure and heartfelt, if you’re not moved, you’re either made of stone or a theater critic. I don’t know why at this stage of his career his voice is still unpleasantly nasal at times, but look beyond this and just fall in love with the boy.

in-the-heights-photo

There’s nothing not to love with In The Heights, and you don’t have to be Hispanic to appreciate it. But it does help to love New York. The heartbeat of the City echoes through every song, powers every dance move. The neighborhood isn’t perfect, but it’s home.

Hair was indisputably the defining musical of my generation, but even though the songs have become classics, there’s something cold and mean about this production. “Easy To Be Hard” is the show’s real anthem, not the gentler, more optimistic “Let The Sun Shine In.” Maybe it is a generational thing. The young person I took with me thought it was terrific, even though she’d never before seen it or heard any of the tunes. Perhaps this show would be better to experience without the knowledge of what was soon to come. Hard drugs, lost souls, and a very long war covered over the Summer of Love with cold, deep, slippery ice. Those of us from the “The Stone Age” who are burdened with memories of a not so great time may just need to come up for a little “Air.”

Rock of Ages

Although the 80’s weren’t exactly the height of style or class, I found Rock of Ages a lot more fun, and I recommend it for large parties of kids, who will have a ball celebrating their Bar Mitzvahs and Halloweens with this all-singing, all-dancing mover of a musical. James Carpinello, as the Mick Jagger ringer Stacee Jaxx, was a standout, but the entire cast is tireless and very much into the spirit of the era. Please note that as with most current Broadway musicals, you need to wear earplugs if you don’t want to lose your hearing.

billyslide4

I never jumped on the bandwagon for Billy Elliot. I wasn’t wildly impressed with the dancing, the music is less than memorable, and I do not stay up nights fretting about Margaret Thatcher’s treatment of British mine workers. There is a very good actor I’m tracking named Santino Fontana; he brought to life the thankless role of Tony, Billy’s brother, and I’m confident he will go on to have great success in a meatier part.

Burn the Floor

On the other hand, there’s great dancing in Burn The Floor. The big names come and go; I saw Maxim Chmerkovskiy, a man who could swagger in a tutu, and his fiancé, the lovely Karina Smirnoff. They’re both luminaries on my guilty pleasure TV show, Dancing with the Stars, and it’s easy to see why by the way they shine on the Broadway stage. This is not for the kiddies, but if you like gorgeous bodies in skimpy costumes and a lot of sexy moves, you’ll have a great evening.

Next To Normal is not easy, safe theater, and you will not leave humming the tunes. But my Lord, it’s so great to finally see originality back on the Broadway stage. Watching suburban housewife Diana descend into madness, we are swept along on the journey through the sheer force of Alice Ripley’s mesmerizing performance. She’s almost too good; every time the audience is wowed by her voice, the fourth wall is cracked. The same is true of Aaron Tveit as Gabe, the center of the contentious tug-of-war between Diana and her husband, Dan. J. Robert Spencer makes Dan such a weak character, the equation is completely unbalanced. Who wouldn’t rather be kept company by the gorgeous, affectionate, and much more ebullient shadow son? No doubt either about the bright future of Jennifer Damiano, as the much put-upon daughter, Natalie. This is the family dynamic turned tip-tilted and through a pretty warped looking glass. It’s a domestic train wreck, but beautifully realized, and we just can’t look away.

jersey-boys-press-photo

Whenever I’m asked to recommend a show, my first question is “Have you seen Jersey Boys?” The combination of great songs, humor, and the classic rags-to-riches tale of four kids from the streets of the Garden State is as close to a sure-fire crowd pleaser as you can get. This is theater for people who say they don’t like theater, as well as for the Broadway musical aficionado.

god-of-carnage-press-photo

Returning on September 8, last season’s hit God of Carnage is eagerly welcomed back from vacation. It’s not a great play, and I cringe to think just how badly it may be presented when it’s released for production to every summer stock house and amateur theater group in America. But here, the cast is everything, a string quartet in perfect harmony. Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, and especially the glorious Marcia Gay Harden, just couldn’t be better.

avenue_q_two_couples

I know I’m supposed to recommend Avenue Q, but I just can’t. I hate those smarmy little puppets. And don’t listen to what anyone says; it is confusing to see the actors sing and talk as we’re supposed to be watching those nasty you-know-whats. The jokes are stale and unfunny, and the supposedly shocking content is only eye-opening for those who have made the egregious mistake of taking their students to a class outing (you should excuse the expression) of this clunker. It’s closing September 13, so you still have plenty of time to miss it.

Catch Me If You Can

In some cases, you will not be seeing the performers I’ve mentioned, but look out for them in the future. For example, the wonderful Aaron Tveit is now working on Catch Me If You Can, which may or may not be coming to Broadway. Don’t be hesitant to see a performer who has taken over a role. It’s been my experience that by the time actors make it onto the Great White Way, whether as principle, standby, or replacement, they are well worth watching. And you just may discover a new star in the making.

I purposely haven’t listed awards won or lost. The fact that these shows have survived in this economy is reward enough.

Photos of Jersey Boys, God of Carnage, Rock of Ages and Next to Normal by Joan Marcus.

Michall Jeffers has been a professional theater critic for many years. Her eponymous cable TV show, which features reviews, commentary, and celebrity interviews, is syndicated throughout the Tri-State area. She’s an active member of Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle. Her website is www.michalljeffers.com

Tags: Aaron Tveit, Alice Ripley, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Burn the Floor, Catch Me If You Can, Dancing with the Stars, Drama Desk, Fourth of July, Garden State, God of Carnage, Hair, Hope Davis, In the Heights, J. Robert Spencer, James Carpinello, James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels, Jennifer Damiano, Jersey Boys, Karen Olivo, Karina Smirnoff, Marcia Gay Harden, Margaret Thatcher, Matt Cavenaugh, Maxim Chmerkovskiy, Michall Jeffers, Mick Jagger, Next to Normal, Outer Critics Circle, Puerto Rican, Rock of Ages, Santino Fontana, Stacee Jaxx, West Side Story
Posted in Feature Home, On Stage, Playing Around | No Comments »

Posts Tagged ‘Drama Desk’

In the Heart of Broadway, Sardi’s—Fabled and Fabulous

Brilliant Talent Shines Through a Steady Rain

Here Come the Musicals! 2009’s NYMF Starts September 28

What to See Right Now, Before the New Season Begins

Find out why every woman wants to be a Woman Around Town

RSS Feeds

Register