Thursday, September 13, 2007

I Am Wal-Mart?


Walmartopia the new musical which made it's preimere at The New York Musical Theater Festival, has undergone a makeover and is now in an open-ended commercial run at off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theater. I loved the concept of the musical, but there was something not quite right about the production. The songs were there as was the talent, but it seemed to drag on and on. I found myself looking at the program wanting to know what the next song was, not because I loved the score, which for the most part was passable, but because I was counting down the songs until both intermission, and the final bow.

Walmartopia is the story of a mother(Vicki) and daughter(Maia). A mother who works at Wal-Mart, and keeps getting passed up for promotions to her male counterparts, something that actually happens and Wal-Mart has been sued for. She is so grossly underpaid that she and her daughter, whom also happens to work at Wal-Mart for the summer, have to be on welfare and the state health insurance program because they cannot afford Wal-Mart's health insurance, oh yeah and did I mention they live in a hotel? When there are rumblings of a union organization starting to take place, Vicki not wanting to ruffle any feathers warns her daughter not to get involved. Vicki then goes to meet with her manager only to find out that she is being passed up once again by a younger male co-worker. Wah wah, such is the tragedy of her life, you'd think for as good of a worker as she is, she would be able to find a job somewhere at a Target, or even a Starbucks(where they pay your health insurance, and pay you more an hour). But no she submits herself to the torture of working at Wal-Mart. Vicki kind of reaching the point where she has had enough decides to join the union movement at her store.

The story gets even weirder when Vicky and Maia get picked to be in a paegent to represent the women of Wal-Mart, a PR move to focus their attention away from their impending sexual discrimination suit. *Yawn* Anyway, they have a chance to talk with the Wal-Mart Chairman of the Board, Mr. Smiley(clever I know), about forming a union at Wal-Mart. Then they see the head of Sam Walton which can talk and is attached to a moving wheelchair unit. Yep I just typed that, Sam Walton's head. They get thrown into the future to prevent them from talking. They arrive 35 years in the future where Wal-Mart is supreme ruler of the world, except for in Vermont which has declaired itself a historic preservation zone to prevent Wal-Mart from coming in to build.

Vicki and Maia both get thrown into Prison-Mart(very uncreative) and then meet a prisioner Zeb, who works for Wal-Arts(Yawn), which produces all forms of entertainment in Walmartopia. He convinces the artistic director to give them a job as actors in Wal-Arts' newest production, about support for the war in Vermont. Wah wah. Maia speaks out and gets thrown back into prison, and Vicki gets worried because she doesn't want to ruffle feathers again. Long story short, very short, Vicki gets over caring about not causing a stir and starts fighting for herself, she then speaks out against the evil voices in Walmartopia and leads people to follow their dreams, which shatters Wal-Marts hold on the them. Vicki and Maia stay in the future and lead a crusade against Wal-Marts worldwide. Yay for happy endings!

The score was good, but some songs needed to be cut. It was almost a contrast to the book of the musical because of the fact that all the songs were soulful and belty for the most part and I wanted something comic and light. I mean I liked the score as a stand-alone piece but not in relation to the musical. The book was full of lame jokes that missed more than they scored. The most I laughed all night was when Vicki messed up one of her lines during the lead-in for a song.

The performers talents were wasted on this show. It was lacking so much for something with so much potential. I guess this new commercial production did what most of us do growing up, we don't live up to our potential. I went in with high hopes but they were not upheld. Go see Walmartopia if you are mindless, but don't see it if you like being entertained. It does look like the official website is no longer up and running, so it leads me to believe that the show will be closing sooner than opposed to later.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Toledo Surprise . . .

I think in opting to see The Drowsy Chaperone as late as I did was a slight disadvantage to me. It was one of those shows that was on my "to see" list, but then other things came out that I wanted to see more, and well, I finally got around to seeing it, and after much fanfare and hooplah, I was severely disappointed.

For a show that has all the potential in the world with the right cast, can someone please tell me why the producers decided to cast Mari Davi as Janet Van De Graaf? She lacks a certain star quality that the role should posses. But I guess a lot of a show depends on it's performers. Where as some shows such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera can run forever, changing casts more often than some people change their underwear, and it still manages to sell out, the same cannot be said for The Drowsy Chaperone; which seems to be on it's last legs.

Ms. Davi is not a terrible performer, but she is not suited as the leading lady of this show. She would have fared far better as a chorus girl. Some people are meant for bigger and better things than the chorus, others are not. Her Janet was well acted and sweetly sung, but there needed to be something more substantial there in order for the audience to relate to her and like her as a character. There were parts of the show that I knew were supposed to be funny, but unlike Sutton Foster, Ms. Davi lacks impeccable comic timing, which is required for the role.

But thankfully if you do end up making the mistake of seeing Drowsy, you can see Beth Leavel as The Drowsy Chaparone, the role that won her a much deserved Tony, and you'll be able to see Danny Burstein as Aldolpho. Both performers were standouts and made the evening enjoyable. Ms. Leavel's rousing anthem "As We Stumble Along" was the shows highlight. And Mr. Burstein's "I Am Aldolpho" was a comic masterpiece.

Jason and Garth Kravits as the Gangsters were amusing. As were Gerry Vichi and Jennifer Smith as Feldzig and Kitty.

The standout of the show had to be Patrick Wetzel whom as an understudy mastered the role of Man in Chair. I was glad that I got to see his performance as Man in Chair, because it was so genuine and made elements of the show that I didn't like more fun. I kind of wish he would go on every night. He was great and I hope to see him in more things in the future.

Jo Anne Worley was kind of disappointing as Mrs. Tottendale, a part that I don't like much, but was hoping for something great from Ms. Worley. I feel that she would have made a better Chaparone, because it seemed as though she was miscast.

Overall it was not a terrible production. but like so many that occupy the Marquis Theater, require star power. And that was something that this show was lacking.

Friday, September 7, 2007

You've Gotta Be Legally Blonde!


It's taken me awhile to go see the newest tween musical phenom Legally Blonde, but it was worth the wait. I must say that after listening to the cast recording on repeat for the past couple of months, I was surprised and delighted by the score as if I were hearing it for the first time.

Credit is to be given to Jerry Mitchell the Tony award winning choreographer for his turn wearing the double hat as Choreographer/Director for this rousing non-stop production. I enjoy Mitchell as a choreographer, and his directing kept the action fast paced. I can see how if the show had another director it could have been bogged down, but the constant action and singing made it highly enjoyable.

The sets were minimal, and at times I wanted to see big flashy set pieces, but the lack of sets was intentional for the amount of dancing that was incorporated into the show.

Laura Bell Bundy has arrived as Elle Woods, the part made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the film version. I had seen Bundy in the original cast of Hairspray, and enjoyed her as mean girl Amber Von Tussle, but feel that her role as Elle has cemented her as a bonafide star. Bundy is charming as Elle, and her great comic timing make her perfect for the role. Bell has stated in interviews regarding landing the part, "I knew that I was right for this part, and if I didn't get it, I should give up acting." Truer words were never spoken. Bundy is perfect for this part. She delivers all her lines with a sweetness and determination that make us grow to respect her portrayal of Elle, and her singing voice shows a range that I never realized about the young actor. Her belt is amazing, something that before now she has not been able to show off. Her dancing is also spot on. The best example is during the high power number "What You Want" which manages too incorporate a marching band and cheerleaders. Who would have thought that it would have worked as well as it did.

Andy Karl was on for Emmit the night I saw the production, and normally I am slightly disappointed when someone whom I had been looking forward to seeing(Christian Borle) is out of the show, I was surprised by Andy Karl's portrayal of Emmit. Which was different than I was expecting. I have read so much about the new Emmit being less sexy than he was intended to be in the movie, and more of an everyman. Karl did a good job of emphasizing the everyman aspect of him, but the sexiness thing he needed to tone down a little. Karl who usually plays the UPS guy was charming. His voice was a little weak for the songs, and he cracked several times. But we all can't be perfect every night(right Idina Menzel at theTony Awards).

Can we please get something out of the way before I go any further in this review? Michael Rupert as Professor Callahan, yikes. There is something so odd about his voice. It seems as though it's from a different era. I was so irked by him the whole time that I wanted to run up on stage and push him off and let an understudy go on so my ears would stop bleeding. His character is lifeless, and his song was uninspired. Overall I think they could have worked more on the character and written him a different song.

Orfeh, won me over. I have never really been a fan of hers, but her Paulette was hysterical and her belt was out of control. Having only heard her sing before I was not a fan, but now I see why her Tony nomination happened. She brought something new to the role, she played it less clueless than Jennifer Coolidge did in the film, she was just a loud annoying woman who happened to have a heart of gold.

Richard H. Blake perennial bad guy was great as Warner, Elle's ex boyfriend whom she follows to Harvard Law, in the hopes of winning him back. Poor guy is always cast as the villain, oh well, at least it keeps him working, and he gets some of the best moments in the show.

Kate Shindel Miss America 1998 shines as Vivienne Kensington, the evil fiance of Warner who at the end of the musical has a change of heart and belts the crap out of "Legally Blonde Remix" Though the sudden loathing to loving of Elle by Vivienne is rather shocking and kind of absurd, Shindel shines. I expect to see more from her in the future.

The three Delta Nu sisters played masterfully by Tracey Jai Edwards, Asmeret Ghebremichael, and Annaleigh Ashford, were fun and added some spunk to the ensemble. Ms. Ashford was by far the best of the three, and also the only remaining of the three sisters who originated their roles. She makes the phrase true that there are no small parts, because she rocked every number she was in. I will most definitely be seeing her in Wicked(a show I promised that I wouldn't revisit, but for her I would).

The best aspect of the show though had to be the dogs. Chico in the role of Bruiser was so adorable that I got distracted from the opening number. And Chloe as Rufus, pure brilliance. I never knew I would be so taken by a pair of dogs.


Overall I would have to say that this production was great. It had it's weak points, but the strengths fully made up for it. Jerry Mitchell showed that he was more than capable to direct and choreograph a show, and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us in the future. Laura Bell Bundy and Orfeh were standouts and proved to us that Blondes really do have more fun. I highly recommend this show, especially to people who have daughters.