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How funny that this subject appears just after I brought it as a new topic last week. I'll give you my thoughts on what's out there. Personal recommendations are in red. Hope you have a great visit to the Big Apple. If you need any other information, please let me know.
PLAYS: there's not many good plays right now, so the choice is rather limited.
1. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Tough ticket. Mine aren't until January, so I haven't seen it yet. I heard it's "good to very good but not great". Ashley is gorgeous, but I heard that she just can't quite get the fire that Liz Taylor had in the film, and as you watch, you somehow miss it. But it's Tennessee Williams, so it'll never be boring. I can't wait to see it.
2. Take Me Out. Won the Tony for Best Play last year. Thought provoking story of a superstar baseball player who comes out as gay. Well written and well acted -- extremely funny at times. An homage to baseball, and not just a gay play. Warning: lots of male frontal nudity during the extended locker room scenes, and that may make some uncomfortable.
MUSICALS:
New Shows:
1. Wicked. I'd highly recommend it -- if you can get tickets (which is pretty tough). The songs are just OK for the most part, but the sets are amazing, the singing is superlative, and the story is entertaining, hilarious, and thought provoking. Added bonus: you can go home and say you've seen the big new hit of this year before even most New Yorkers have seen it.
2. Little Shop of Horrors: The reviews were only good, but I thought it was great. It's not a big, over the top musical, but the mechanical puppet plant is great, the story is really funny, the singing is excellent, and the whole spoof of bad horror films thing just works well. Tickets should be obtainable.
3. Nine. I heard that John Stamos just can't fill Antonio Banderas's shoes, and since he took over the role it's not as worth seeing.
4. Avenue Q. I haven't seen it, but everyone I know who's seen it recommends it. It involves puppets and is like an adult Sesame Street or something.
5. Taboo. I heard it was a train wreck.
6. The Boy From Oz. Heard it's good (as opposed to great). Everyone is enthusiastic about Hugh Jackman more than the whole show. I'd like to see this, but not for full price.
7. Wonderful Town. It's still in previews so there's no reviews yet. A revival of an old Rogers/Hammerstein, I think. I have tickets on Dec 4, and it's getting good word of mouth, but can't personally recommend it.
As for the older shows:
1. Lion King: We all know the story and the songs, so there's not much of a surprise there. It's Disney, so there's no "edge", but in general it's wonderful and extravagantly visual.
2. The Producers: I saw it with Lane and Broderick, and it was just about a perfect show. Without them, the show will still be hilarious, but it won't be electric.
3. Chicago. This is pretty much good no matter who's in it. There's a reason it's been packing them in since '96. Since the movie, we all know the story and the songs. On stage, however, the minimal sets and the trademarked Fosse costumes and dancing are what make it unique.
4. Aida. Great music. Over the top love story (it started as an opera, after all). I loved the original cast, but the replacements haven't been able to live up to that standard. If Toni Braxton is still in it, forget it. She was awful when I saw her in it a couple of months ago (although my houseguests, who hadn't seen the original, did really enjoy it).
5. 42 Street. Old fashioned small town girl makes good on Broadway story. Don't need superstars to make it enjoyable. Huge sets filled with tap dancing chorus girls wearing sequins. Need I say more? (I didn't personally recommend this one, even though I liked it, because it's just generic and light and fun. If it's the only ticket you can get, though, don't hesitate. It is what it is.)
5. Cabaret. Yeah, it's a few years old, but it's a wonderful, thought provoking show. The plot is not at all the same as the movie, so if you've seen the movie it doesn't mean you've seen the show. It's in Studio 54, so it's actually in a cabaret, which is cool (try to get floor seats at one of the tables and you feel like you're part of the show -- and have cocktails!).
6. Hairspray. great show. Harvey Fierstien is still in it, which makes it a treat.
7. Urinetown. don't let the name scare you away. It's intelligent, funny, and thought provoking. I don't know how it's faring after the original cast left.
8. Thoroughly Modern Millie. haven't seen it. It won the Tony for best musical so I guess it's good. Now it has former Miss Florida Delta Burke in it, and she's always funny. I just never wanted to see it, but those who have, have really liked it.
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