A Steady Rain

Mikey from Jersey took Sam, Adam & I to see this play. I'll be honest, although this show featured two really famous movie stars, I feel it was poorly written. Let me start at the beginning.

Both Craig & Jackman were excellent, with the exception of Craig's Irish Chicago cop's accent. It sounded like he just learned it. Great performances, no really. The set was two chairs. That's it and it worked. Now the bad part. The story had no arc. It had no moral. Just a slew of monologues, with a very basic storyline that they followed. Eh. I will say that the show was far more entertaining than the reviews I had read before seeing it. I really didn't have high expectations. Overall, I liked it. It was not life changing though.

The story basically was about a Morphine addicted, family man, Chicago, Italian cop (Jackman) & his alcoholic, terminally single, Chicago, Irish cop partner (Craig). We meet them, they fight both verbally & physically, they're friends, one likes hookers, one gets mad at a pimp loses his career, they encounter a serial killer, someone dies, blah blah blah. You see?

Then after the show, Mr. Craig & Mr. Jackman auctioned off their undershirts from the stage for $30,000. They got 3 people to purchase their clothing for $10,000 each for Broadway Cares & Equity Fights AIDS. Fun!

White Christmas

So Mikey from Jersey took me to see this holiday classic brought to life on stage. So let me tell you how fun this show is. If you like old fashioned tap extravaganza musicals - this is the show for you. Only second to 42nd Street is this show. Every song you know. And the cast is really talented. I must say that the men this year are far more talented than the women. But the women don't deter from the show but they do hand the show over to the male leads. I loved the production value of the show. I loved the costumes and the sets. There wasn't much to dislike - well other than the silly storyline and old fashioned style of acting.

Should you see this? eh - yes, if you like tap musicals or if you love the movie. Other than that - see a different show.

The Lost Symbol

Hey kids! I'm back and I read another book. This one I've been waiting for. For a long time, I might add. So what is it? The book is the new Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol. So what did I think? Let me tell yas...

It was good. Did it pull me in the way his other books did? No, not really. But I did enjoy it. I really appreciate the amount of homework (god I still hate that word) Mr. Brown does. Say it with me now "we already don't trust the American government". It's really that simple. But the whole Masons & Secret Society stuff is pretty good. But really, not Dan's best book. It really isn't. He uses the same main character from both Davinci Code & Angels & Demons. So I felt like I had a vested interest in this story.

ryan charisma - was it a page turner like some of his other books? No, sadly it wasn't - it was OK.

Paranormal Activity

Yesterday Jim, Geoffrey, Adam & I went to go see Paranormal Activity. The reviews of our group were pretty split up. So I'll discuss how "I" felt about the movie. As I should.

The movie was pretty scary. Horrorific? - a little ... yeah. It's a low budget movie given to you in the same vein of The Blair Witch Project. There's a videotape that is left behind and that's what you're watching. Not many people, a young couple & a ghost expert are the only charecters.

Will you like the movie? I think you will, but then again, some people in our group didn't like it so much. But I did!

Fela!

Last night Michael took em to see Fela! at the Eugene O'Neill Theater on Broadway. What is this ryan charisma? First off, Fela is the name of a person, Fela Kuti of Nigeria. The whole theater was turned into the social club that Fela performed in back in Lagos. The set was very impressive. The sets moved and the stage rearranged for all the scenes. The dancing was top notch. But best/most of all was the music. While admittedly not my style of music, I had to acknowledge how talented this band was. No really, they were phenomenal. Fela's music was a fusion of jazz & his own homeland music. Afrobeat, and it was good.

This show is a full scale musical. Costumes, lights, sets, costumes, choreography and book. But in the end, it's not my cup of tea. I found the story the most fascinating. The injustices and corruption that the Nigerian government was responsible for was horrible. And Fela's music was calling out the government, which made him an enemy of it. Great story.

Should you see it? Only if you're one of those people, like myself, who sees so much theater that these odd shows are a nice break from Wicked & Phantom of the Opera. It's not shiny happy, It's not. It real, solid footing, story telling with factual music. Buy the CD.

The Vampire's Assistant

Last Friday night Michael, Mr. Adam & I went to see The Vampire's Assistant. While both of my escorts fell asleep during the film, I (running on popcorn and vodka) stayed awake for the entire film. The movie itself was good.

I really liked the characters. However, this movie is the same old high school good kid v. the bad kid - only with a vampire twist. Which John C. Reilly did a great job at. The special effects were really good. The costumes were great. And the movie had tons of stars. Would I recommend this to you? Yes, but not in the theaters. Wait for the DVD or HBO. It's for tweens. It really is.

KYLIE (For Me, For You Tour 09)

Last Tuesday night I took Mr. Adam (for his birthday) to see Kylie Minogue in concert here in NYC. WOW, wow, wow, wow! I can't even begin to describe what a fun time it was. She is a great performer with the sensibilities of a major drag queen. What was there not to like? Catchy dance songs? check. Fabulous costumes? check. Serious choreography? check. Hot dancers? double check!

I loved this show. I will admit that I only knew about 75% of the songs performed. Still, Ms. Minogue and her 5 foot stature was bigger than life and a super entertainer.

I feel so lucky that I got not only to see this show. Her first American tour ever. But we also saw her farewell performance to the USA. "I should be so lucky!"

MEMPHIS - the musical

Last Wednesday night, my friend Michael took me to see Memphis - the musical. Let me tell you. I didn't expect much from this show - but it was great! Really great. Big sets, big costumes, huge cast & the choreography was phenomenal. Great show. Big budget.

The show is about a subject we've seen many, many, many, MANY times. Segregation. It basically is Hairspray - only different. The story revolves around the first DJ to play "colored music" on a white radio station. And yes, the DJ is white. He just loved the music. And the music represented in the show was great. Of course I was taken back when I heard the word "nigger" - man that word makes me shudder every time I hear it. I watched the show and couldn't believe people really thought that way. Baffling. Does the show have a pretty Hollywood ending like Hairspray? Well, no - it's a little more like real life in that aspect. But I won't ruin it for you because you should see it. You really should.

Now I won't review each performer as that's not my typical style of reviewing, but I have to mention Chad Kimball. This guy is so much a part of this show, I'm not sure an understudy/swing could do it justice. It really is his show. He plays the DJ. This guy can everything, sing, dance and act - but most of all he's awesome! His performance will earn him a nomination for a Tony - I promise. Go see this before you can't afford tickets. No really - this show is going to be big.