All tag results for 'perez reviews'

With a title like Murder Ballad, you'd expect that that show to be HIGH STAKES! Unfortunately, the musical currently playing at Manhattan Theater Club does not live up to its title. Complicated Love Story would have been a more appropriate title and worked more in the show's favor.

Murder Ballad has a lot going for it, but it also has a lot that hinders the production.

The choice to make the show completely sung through - like an opera - made it really difficult to connect with the characters and their motivations. If the show is ever done again, we'd strongly suggest adding a book!

The best thing Murder Ballad has going for it are the songs - by Juliana Nash and Julia Jordon. And for a musical, the songs being your strongest attribute is a really good thing! Having said that, though, while the songs are really really good - they did start to sound a bit the same. And, with no dialogue, the songs started to blend into one long song. In addition to adding dialogue, we'd recommend future incarnations of the show have a band with more instruments and different/better orchestrations.

The cast, featuring Will Swenson and Karen Olivo, all delivered solid performances. And, especially enjoyable was the direction by Trip Cullman and his use of the great and intimate theater space, as well as the choreography by Doug Varone.

If you're a fan of Jason Robert Brown and his sensibility and go into Murder Ballad with that in mind, then you will find the show a very enjoyable experience!

Tags: broadway, murder ballad, off broadway, perez hilton, perez reviews

The Mystery Of Edwin Drood is THE MOST FUN we have had in a Broadway theater this season!

We knew nothing about The Mystery Of Edwin Drood other than it was a musical with a stellar cast and we wanted to see the show.

A period piece and a thriller were what we thought we were getting into, but instead we got a slapstick comedy that was experiential AND an experience!

Based on the unfinished Charles Dickens novel, the musical version of the story is inspired by but not a complete retelling. It varies from the book in that the stage show is much more lighthearted. A full-on comedy!

It is like The Pirates Of Penzance meets Victoria/Victoria and Spamalot, except Drood preceded those last two shows.

What makes Drood so great is the comedy and the fun twist that the audience gets to help solve "the mystery". The songs, while not bad, are almost secondary.

In an unusual move, the show was written completely by Rupert Holmes, from music to lyrics to book to even orchestrations. And, little tidbit, Holmes is the dude who wrote and recorded the #1 hit Escape (The Piña Colada Song) in 1979. For Drood, he won multiple Tony Awards when the show debuted in 1985 with Betty Buckley leading the cast as the titular character.

The Roundabout Theater's current production is the first time the show is being revived on Broadway and it featured the most exceptional cast on Broadway at the moment, with the sensational and mega talented Stephanie J. Block as Drood.

Block was splendid - as was almost every other member of the cast.

The most enjoyable, for us, to watch were Andy Karl as Neville Landless, Jim Norton as the Chairman, and Jessie Mueller as Helena Landless - all of whom were so insanely funny and vocally enthralling.

Most exquisite to hear, though, was Betsy Wolfe as Rosa Bud. She has the voice of an angel!

Chita Rivera is an icon, a legend and Broadway royalty, but also the weakest link in Drood. She's 79 years old and BLESS HER for still getting up there and strutting her stuff, but she felt lost in the show. Her voice was fine; it was her character choices and acting that were not up to par with the rest of the cast. Also, it's definitely a bit jarring when you sound like you're from New York when you're supposed to be from England.

And, also, Peter Benson also underwhelmed as the actor who wants to be the star but just isn't good enough. Or, maybe he was really playing the part too well!

So much of Drood's success relies on the performances, and the fact that almost every single actor delivered an A+ performance means the casting folks are really good and the director, Scott Ellis, deserves major congrats.

The rest of the production team did a very fine job, most notably William Ivey Long for the fabulous costumes!

Oh, and to get to see the show at Studio 54 was such a sweet treat! Bonus!

Tags: broadway, chita rivera, perez hilton, perez reviews, revival, roundabout theater, rupert holmes, stephanie block, stephanie j block, studio 54, the mystery of edwin drood, will chase

We were expecting a BIG Christmas show when we went to Elf on Broadway. And we got that and much much more!

Under the expert direction of Casey Nicholaw, who also did Book Of Mormon, Elf featured huge sets and lots of spectacle - from ice skating on stage to snowing in the theater!

A stellar cast brings the beloved film to life on stage, but the two standouts were Leslie Kritzer as Jovie, the female love interest, and she brings the house down in Act II with her powerhouse vocals in her showstopping number, and also - kinda stealing the show - Mitchell Sink, the little boy with big voice who plays Elf's little brother.

BUT….

What we loved the most about Elf was the music! Perhaps because we read that the same team did The Wedding Singer on Broadway, we had really low expectations. But Elf featured some top-notch song! Truly memorable! A+!

Elf is a family show that appeals to all ages and will give you lots of bang for your buck! It's everything we love about big Broadway shows! It's a must-see!

Tags: broadway, elf, leslie kritzer, perez hilton, perez reviews

We had never seen Annie on stage before, and we're sure glad we caught the new Broadway revival of the hit musical! It's as if we saw the original production!

That's our only big complaint with the show. James Lapine's direction felt uninspired. By the books. Dated. Phoned in. Safe.

Having said that, the music is so splendid to hear and every single performance was a winner!

Lilla Crawford had a lot to live up to in the titular role. And she DELIVERED! In a big way! That little girl is such a dynamo! Truly sensation! She has a powerhouse voice trapped in her little body! Awe-inspiring! Her acting was so present and beautiful. Our only critique was the sometimes "New Yawk" accent she delivered, and we attribute blame Lapine for that choice.

Katie Finneran was great as Miss Hannigan, as was Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks - and the rest of the cast. Even the dog! That damn Sandy was such a scene stealer! And so was Emily Rosenfeld!

And, just like Lapine's direction, the set design - by David Korins - felt rather stale and boring.

However, Annie is a recipe you can't fuck up!

Hopefully, though, the next Broadway revival will be inspired and exciting! This one is fun and heartwarming!

Tags: annie, broadway, perez hilton, perez reviews

The Heiress is playing a limited engagement on Broadway and we were lucky enough to catch this production with an all-star cast that includes Jessica Chastain, David Strathairn, Dan Stevens and Judith Ivey.

Jessica Chastain can do no wrong! We love her even more now than before! She is well on her way to becoming one of the greatest actresses of her generation!

And we are now completely smitten with Dan Stevens! We've never seen Downton Abbey before, but this talented blonde Brit - yum! - got a very warm reception from the audience. He had a lot of fans in attendance, and rightfully so - Stevens quite expertly played a despicable character with so much charm, that you couldn't help but fall in love with him!

For her part, Chastain was a master of emotion on change, giving us a huge palate of colors - from depressed and anxious to resilient and vengeful. And she did it all so effortlessly! The arch of her character is a thing to be seen! Those tears were real!

The first act is a bit slow, but things really pick up in act two. And, what we loved the most about the show, a revival, is the ending! Some might think it was sad, but we viewed it as a very happy ending!

Our mind kept racing about all the possible scenarios for Chastain's character after the curtain drops! And they were all happy!

The rest of the cast was also quite fine. The scenic design and costumes were as well.

The Heiress is a very pleasant evening of theater! Like a fine wine!

Tags: broadway, downton abbey, jessica chastain, perez hilton, perez reviews, the heiress

Run - or gallop on your steed - to the Vivian Beaumont Theater to see War Horse before it closes!

We had never seen the play - or the Spielberg film adaptation - but we really wanted to see it before it ends its run in January. And we're sure glad we did!

A simple story about a boy and his horse. Told in a not so simple fashion.

Everything about the show is stunning!

And, yes, we cried! A healthy, cathartic cry!

We were so moved by the show! And the storytelling! And the performances! And those freakin' puppets!

Those horses just come to life on stage! And we feel for them so deeply! It is truly breathtaking and MUST-SEE!

In many ways, this production reminds us a lot of July Taymor's The Lion King musical. A show that transcends to source material written for children and appeals to all ages, while benefiting from the simplicity of story.

Truly truly exquisite stuff!

Tags: broadway, perez hilton, perez reviews, play, war horse

Now playing at the Cort Theater in New York City, Grace lives up to it's title - and then some!

The play, written by Craig Wright, is a thing of beauty! It effortlessly is filled with substance, without shoving it down your throat. It's thought-provoking and soul-stirring, exploring themes of love, loss, hope, betrayal, regret and - the play's central theme - faith.

In both substance and style, the play reminds us of American Beauty, the iconic Kevin Spacey film from 1999, written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes.

Grace grips you instantly! Starting off with the bang and continuing from there!

The whole play is one revelation after another. It's like a caramelized onion. Layers upon layers of sweetness! But it's not an easy journey! And the play explores its central themes with honesty and a refreshing open-mindedness. There is no judgement here, just exploration.

Extremely religious types may shy away from the show due to its subject matter. But Grace is not a faith-bashing play. If anything, it's faith-affirming - albeit in a very unconventional way.

We will be thinking about the show for days!

The only slight disappointment we had with the show was with Paul Rudd.

Michael Shannon and Kate Arrington were exceptional! Transcendental! They truly were being! With such ease and naturalness.

Rudd, while not bad, was trying a bit too hard. "Acting"! His portrayal didn't seem as effortless or rich as those of his peers. But, he's still Paul Rudd and still oozes that certain Paul Rudd charm he has!

Ed Asner was also delightful in the show, which we can't recommend enough.

Have you ever had olive oil ice cream? Grace is a lot like that! It's delicious, though it may sound gross. It sorta doesn't sound like it makes sense, but once you've tasted some it makes total sense!

Tags: broadway, grace, paul rudd, perez hilton, perez reviews, play