Boeing Boeing

Take a slap-dash comedy from the 1960's and throw in a few stars and hope for the best. The show is straight off the West End where it enjoyed a rave reviews. Admittedly, I saw the show in previews - so there is some work to be done. The show is too long, for one. The entire show should have been like two short physical comedy skits as was mastered by Carol Burnett and Co. All throughout the show, I was picturing her and her cohorts on stage doing the roles. It would have been a coup to get her back on stage in the leading role.

Christine Baranski, Bradley Wittford, and Mark Rylance (transfer from the London run) take the helm supported by the 3 stereotypical 1960's air stewardesses- one Italian - Gina Gershon (Alitalia) one German - Mary McCormack (Luftansa), and one American - Kathryn Hahn (TWA). All around, the performances were top notch - it's just the run time that brought them down. We get the idea Matthew Warchus. The jokes will go over better and the laughs will get bigger. Stop reminding us over and over that the air time-tables are the key to mastering the comings and goings of Bernard's 3 - yes 3 - fiances. After about 20 minutes - we get the setup. Stop dragging it out. Keep it moving. Ms. Baranski and her "burst on stage, deliver line, exit stage" will benefit the most. Keep it snappy and under 100 minutes (two acts or one - i think it could work with both) and more people will walk out laughing instead of saying "I thought it was never going to end". You've got a captive audience who is ready (and very willing) to laugh. Maximize the result.
All around, I think this one will stay for a while. It's very funny, it's got great physical comedy, and great actors pushing the limits on stage to deliver the laughs. Just take a look at the original cast in the movie - Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis, and Thelma Ritter.

Follies

Encores! pulls off another Sondheim classic - Follies. As always, it's a partially staged "books-in-hand" production at the cavernous City Center for 6 shows only.

The star-studded cast lead by Victor Garber, Victoria Clark, Donna Murphy, Michael McGrath, and Christine Baranski laid all their 40 year old "dirty laundry" on stage for all to enjoy. As the story goes, these guys and gals were all show-folk for Dimitri Weismann (a rival to Ziegfeld) 40 or so years ago and are all back for a reunion at the theater they all used to perform in for one last night since the theater is being torn down to become a parking lot. The supporting cast of reunion-comers , no slouches in their own right, includes Joanne Worley (Laugh-In), Phillip Bosco (Broadway Legend), Yvonne Constant (International/French Cabaret Star), Mimi Hines (Broadway: Funny Girl, Sugar Babies, Hello Dolly, Nunsense, Pippen to name a few), Anne Rogers (Broadway: The Boyfriend, My Fair Lady, 42nd Street and more) and Robert Fitch (over 27 Broadway shows and counting).


Not to be left off the list of those who deserve rave reviews is the "dual cast" of the younger versions of each of these "old-folk". The show weaves in scenes and flashbacks from the past alongside the current dialogue to give the audience a sense of "what really happened". That young cast was powerful, talented, and energetic - much as you would assume these folks all were in the days gone by. They truly provided the "oomph" behind the tap dance numbers and the effortless grace in the dance numbers.

Christine Baranski who played Carlotta Campion sang the signature number I'm Still Here. She hit every line of dialogue with aplomb and left us laughing every time - but her vocal skills need a bit of work. Victoria Clark and Donna Murphy stole the show as the leading ladies. Both have an incredible command of the stage and flawless vocal abilities.

Victor Garber - Wow! For some reason i never expect and always enjoy the vocal powerhouse he is. And let's not forget Mimi Hines who sang the famous Broadway Baby. She knocked our socks off. And Joanne Worley - the ageless funny-gal - she powered thru Who's that Woman - and all but got a standing ovation.

It's not perfect, it's got a few flubs and scant scenery. But with a hit like this one and stars like this one and, of course, the Encores! Orchestra - how could it be anything but an entertaining evening? Sorry, I think it's mostly sold out - but for 5 more shows - it's still here!

Regrets Only

Christine Baranski and George Grizzard - what a delight! This one came out of left field - really it did. Not the part about the two leads being delightful - that I assumed was going to be the case. It was the part about how if all the gays in New York City went on strike - it would cripple the city!

Ok - so that might actually not happen, but the message behind the farce is that there are gay people everywhere - and of all kinds. And some of them could be your very best friends.

What could be more delightful than Christine Baranski, George Grizzard and Jackie Hoffman (you'll know her from Hairspray and Kissing Jessica Stein) in an upper-crusty comedy about Manhattan, an wedding, and the gays! Eat your heart out Cybil.