The Visit

Another opening.... another show.... and this one is another chosen investment.  No matter what they say, I could not be prouder of this production.  Here's what all the real critics are saying...

NEW YORK TIMES

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/theater/review-chita-rivera-stars-in-kander-and-ebbs-the-visit.html?_r=1

 

NEW YORK POST

http://nypost.com/2015/04/23/chita-rivera-gets-her-diva-broadway-return-in-the-visit/

DAILY NEWS

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/visit-review-chita-rivera-kander-ebb-musical-article-1.2194813

WALL STREET JOURNAL

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-visit-review-as-long-as-the-lady-is-paying-1429835402

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE/VULTURE

http://www.vulture.com/2015/04/theater-reviews-the-visit.html

TIME OUT NEW YORK

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/the-visit-1

ASSOCIATED PRESS

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/review-visit-broadway-chillingly-good-30544373

VARIETY

http://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/visit-review-broadway-chita-rivera-1201478480/

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/chita-rivera-visit-theater-review-791063

USA TODAY http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2015/04/23/the-visit-broadway-review/26182573/

AM NEW YORK

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/the-visit-theater-review-2-5-stars-1.10323585

HUFFINGTON POST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-suskin/aisle-view-the-final-visi_b_7132538.html

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/broadway/sc-the-visit-broadway-review-20150423-column.html

NBC NEW YORK

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Chita-Rivera-The-Visit-Review-300828061.html

NEWSDAY

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/the-visit-review-chita-rivera-in-a-stunning-show-1.10314774

STAR-LEDGER

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/04/chita_rivera_stars_in_the_new_kander_and_ebb_music.html

DEADLINE

http://deadline.com/2015/04/the-visit-airline-highway-broadway-review-1201414889/

THE WRAP

http://www.thewrap.com/the-visit-theater-review-chita-rivera-and-roger-rees-perform-a-gripping-dance-of-death/

THE BROADWAY BLOG

http://thebroadwayblog.com/2015/04/23/12317-review-the-visit

THEATERMANIA
http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/reviews/the-visit-broadway-review_72653.html?cid=homepage_news

 

BROADWAYWORLD

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-THE-VISIT-Opens-on-Broadway-Updating-LIVE-20150423

CURTAIN UP

http://www.curtainup.com/visitbway15.html

DC METRO ARTS

http://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2015/04/23/the-visit-at-the-lyceum-in-new-york-city/

DC THEATER SCENE

http://dctheatrescene.com/2015/04/23/the-visit-broadway-review-chita-rivera-in-kander-and-ebbs-grotesque-parable-of-revenge/

CITITOURS

http://cititour.com/NYC_Broadway/The-Visit/634

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

OK, take a deep breath.  Ready?  This one is a mouthful.  A delightful, delicious, and audaciously entertaining mouthful.

Charles Dickens started a novel and died before it was finished.  Rupert Holmes (Book, Music, and Lyrics) thought it would be clever to write a musical that offered a cast - playing actors - who were playing actors - in a  musical where the audience would vote on the outcome of Dickens' novel in an interactive, "first-ever" theatrical experience.  Got all that?   Don't worry it's not all that complicated.  It's actually quite fun.

OK, so each of the actors plays and actor playing an actor.  For example, the stalwart, Jim Norton, plays the Chairman of the theatre company and then by proxy, Mr. William Cartwright in the musical.  Will Chase plays Mr. Clive Paget playing John Jasper in the musical.   And I could go on and on and on... This cast is one of those endless pools of talent both young and old - Stephanie J. Block, Jessie Mueller, Andy Karl, and living legend, Chita Rivera - just to start things off.

It's an entertaining, interactive, and fun Roundabout Theater Company production over at Studio 54.  Since the cast is intentionally interacting with the audience as their actor-characters, the joviality and camaraderie shines through and brings joy and delight - literally out into the audience and up in the mezzanine.  And at the end of act 2, you'll vote not only on who you think killed Edwin Drood, but a mash-up of other outcomes as well.

Well, I can't really tell you the ending.  While I haven't studied the book, i suspect there are a multitude of endings possible and ever more fun to be had rehearsing them all!

Chita Rivera - The Dancer's Life

The Incomparable Chita Rivera. A legend on two legs. And boy, those legs still look good at 72! As a matter of fact, she looks like a million bucks from head to toe! And man, she's got class - paying homage almost immediately to a few of the "ladies" who very recently came before her on Broadway - Elaine Stritch, Bea Arthur, and Barbara Cook. She's kept the "talk about the other legends in my opening act" tradition going.

As far as the one-woman shows goes -this one is tops. It truly is the story of "a dancer's life" - the ups and downs; highs and lows; co-stars, choreographers and directors; loves, losses, and many other funny stories. You don't get that "I'm a star and I'm telling you my story" feeling from this classy broad. It's more like "Let's chat about this little thing called a career I've had and how much fun it has been". As Boris Kachka recently said in a review - "It's not the triumph-and-tragedy one woman gab fest we've come to expect..."

Chita still has "it". Well - ok - the voice is a little "rough around the edges", the kicks aren't quite so high - but let me tell you - at 18, I don't think I had as much energy as she has on stage. I mean - c'mon - some people her age can't walk to the bathroom without resting... but she struts her stuff all over the stage 8 times a week and looks like she enjoys each and every minute of it!

Far from a "black box" theater production too. The lighting, the orchestra - and let's not forget the silhouette scenes and the vibrant colors bring this story to life. Her backup dancers fill in the blanks and simply drip with energy and sexuality.

For people of all ages, it's a trip down "memory lane". Anyone alive and breathing will recall something they've seen her in or know her for. Aside from the obvious - West Side Story and Chicago - Chita has really had a rich life on (and off) stage. All this and we didn't hear a single "hazy" story about booze or dope... 'cause we all know Broadway doesn't go for that. Chita is 100% Broadway.

Living legends are not to be missed. This one is no exception!

Nine