Here is my offical rating scale AGAIN, and a recap of the shows I've reviewed so far...

Here is my offical rating scale

* 3 must see's!!! (Next to Normal type....  RUN DON'T WALK TO SEE IT NOW!!!!! and you need a brain to understand it)

* 2 must see's!! (Really good show I recommend it!!)

* 1 must see's! (fair to midlin?)

* must see? (Reserved for the Lion Kings and Phantom of the Operas, which yeah its ok already..... too much producers making too much money for too long, or for no reason)

* must unsee's it (Flippin Forget it, don't see!!!!)

And shows that I have reviewed up till this recap...

Hopefully this might help you find something quicker...  Especially the rating key, don't want you to have to constantly go to the bottom to see what the devil I'm talking about.

"BIG FISH: A New Broadway Musical" - Review #11

"Cinderella" - (Broadway) - Review #10
"MoTown the Musical" - (Broadway) - Review #9
"Once, the Musical" - (Broadway) - Review #8
“ANNIE” (Broadway) - Review #7
“Matilda” — The Musical - Review #6
“BARE the Musical” - (Broadway) - Review #5
“CHAPLIN” - (Broadway) - Review #4
“NEWSIES” (Broadway) - Review #3
“Wonderland” (Broadway) - Review #2
“Leap of Faith” - Review #1

And I must apologize.  If a youtube clip stops working...  I really can't fix it.  Its all those rich fat cats that think they have to stomp on people and don't want to have achieves of clips and what not.  Which is sad.. because I still well up when I watch the leap of faith, Chaplin & Matilda clips.

 

Contact me through the comments if you have any feedback on this all..  Thanks Guys!  Break a Leg!

"BIG FISH: A New Broadway Musical" - Review #11

Ok so I guess I will never be able to see a show pre-tonys and predict the winner.  As like last year I thought Matilda would win Best New Musical hands down...  they gave it to Kinky Boots...  now I'm gay and well...  In fairness I never saw Kinky Boots...  However I never saw Book of Mormon either... and I still think I wouldn't like it.

Just by the buzz, I decided to buy TKTS to see Big Fish.  And I'm glad I did.  Again I thought this was another family friendly show (remember I was afraid that family friendly and a smash in my mind would go hand and hand) however since Catch Me....  I'm glad I found some family gems.

Another reason I wanted to see this, also has a Catch Me reason.... Mr. Norbert Leo Butz...  What a stage name, however more so...  What a freaking triple threat actor....

One reason I didn't think I would like it is because its one of those new was a movie lets put music to it musical.  But I never saw the movie...  and really I don't think it would have been as good without the music.

Just as I thought this would take home Best New Musical....  they announced the closing date of 12/29/13.  Just like Chaplin, what a shame.  Oh well.  Fantastic show overall...  Go see the tour!!!

 2 must see's!!

"Cinderella" - (Broadway) - Review #10

Well...  The tickets were free, however...  It was just a traditional show.  No big effects.. (other then the quick change dresses that someone on America's Got talent made someone a little more known.  If your a kid...  perfect musical to take them too.  However I really think the maybe have more of a family price..  Oh well..  some adults in my group just loved it, because they loved the story forever...  However it holds to my...  The older musicals, just don't do it for me.  Acting and singing was good.  And the stage scenery was good as well..  But I had to keep myself awake.

Sorry have to give it...  must see?

"MoTown the Musical" - (Broadway) - Review #9

Another, glad I got a free ticket, cause I probably wouldn't have wanted to see it show.

Overall, not bad.  But its the "Jukebox Musical" of all Jukebox Musicals....   No getting by that.  Most of the reproductions of the originals stars...  where pretty decently matched, at least in Voice...  guess it would be tough to do both, looks and voice...  Since for my age I have a very deep appreciation and understanding of the stars of the 60's and early 70's of Motown, I was able to keep up.  But the kids I was with, had no clue.  Even with Michael Jackson...  which was good, and had energy, but neither had Michael's super high tenor, nor looked like him. 

Not a bad show, but not one that I would tell you to run to either....

1 must see's!

"Once, the Musical" - (Broadway) - Review #8

Well there was a lot of hype for this show, and with it winning best musical, you know that that doesn't always mean I will like it.  I heard a few of the songs on Sirius, and which yeah they are pretty...  I do like folk music...  However...  how could it be this amazing thing.

Well the tickets where TKTS which wasn't super cheap, but... unfort it was way off center.  There isn't much action on stage.. however I know I missed the subtle things that happen all over the stage.

I wasn't prepared for the very witty humor which was just great for my taste. "My hoover does not suck..."  As recently coming off a broken heart... I could relate to the "Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy"  The music is beautiful, and the talent again however subtle is amazing....  However it did have the beautiful I'm am tired and can't stay awake thing happening to me...  Not to take anything away from the musical, just that it is a soft piece, and I was tired.  I would be pleased to see it again with better seats!






2 must see's!!

ANNIE (Broadway) - Review #7

Well this was a free ticket... and well for it being Annie, and well...  its a piece stuck in time it was a good overall show.  No big trills, and I must admit I only saw the movie/musical... so a bit of a different story line...  The girl that plays Annie does a bang up job...  but the rest was just a musical.  Not bad... just not life changing!


1 must see's!

Matilda — The Musical - Review #6

When I was offered a free ticket for Matilda, I "facebooked" hey its free!!  However I wasn't ready for the ticket to be "Priceless"...  As you know the more Disney Broadway gets I get a little more testy...  However this is truly a family gem... that the whole family will love.  It's intelligent, the music is fantastic, very good story line, and I never watched the movie because... I usually hate this "too sweet" stuff.... 

But once again I was wrong, which is good.  I predict that this show will go neck and neck with Kinky Boots for Best New Musical...  and without seeing the later...  but with seeing YouTube previews... I'm going to say... Matilda for the win!! 

Take the kids, and as a adult be prepared to laugh a lot and totally entertained!!!  I laughed out loud a lot during it!! And I don't usually do that...   Loved it! 

Be "A little bit naughty" skip work or school go to NYC to see Matilda!!!



2 must see's!!

BARE the Musical - (Broadway) - Review #5

This pains me to no end to write this review....  For something I was so excited for, really really really, left me with "what the hell????"....  I never in my mind thought I use my lowest score which UNSEE IT....  but if the second act was more like the first act and really not be like the original...  it would have gotton it...

Not even close to the original... They stole the idea of Bare, stole Spring Awakenings crazy arm dancing, throw in Hairspray moments, Mother Mary is now the Lady of the Lake of Spamalot.... The new music is not memorial at all...   and that was the first act.

The second act was a bit better, more like the original, other then why every song they had to change lyrics and make each song so not smooth. Like they crammed more words then beats. I did love the song "your not alone" which was a more touching, Sister Whoever song... But I missed Sister Chantal to much.... Not to mention the second act started with what I felt was ripping off Rent. Ugh... Some over zealous idiot just decided to rework a simple thing of beauty, to add characterization to these folk in this work, which makes them more 2d then 3d. The work now tries to say more, which makes it say much less. They made it funnier.... Which it wasn't meant to be funny.

Basically they used what worked in the last ten ground breaking shows, like Spring Awakening and Rent and such...  threw it in a grinder and pretended it was a show...

Was the cast great?  Yeah....
I did like Peter alot... and even if he was more funnier then original...  This Peter was a good Peter...
And Jason was a good Jason...  I would have just liked it if they had the original score and work and see how those characters would have stood their ground with me...

I pin all the blame on the director and producer trying to fix something, that might not have been perfect...  But it didn't need to be fixed.  Axing the mother, Sister Chantal, and expanding the dimwit of the cast Diann to a Asian who should have never acted so inappropriate "Asian Stereotypical"  and the director is a Canadian born person... who sorta looks Asian.... 

As I said other then the very beautiful new "PSA" song your not alone...  all the music that was touching and memorable, has been ruined.  The new changes just left me...  frankly I felt robbed.  I'm not sure if Damon Intrabartolo, is still indisposed in California...  but I can't believe he would have let his work get destroyed like this he wasn't...

So to the new gays and gay supporters that now love this show, because they weren't around for the first one?  I'm glad you liked it.  Overall the story is good still...  better then not seeing a Bare at all... maybe...  Yep these brilliant people wanted to fix a show that might not have needed to be fix.  Expand on characters that I don't think needed expanded...  esp when the lost of the old loved Characters like the mom and Sister Chantal....  Like I said, it wasn't for me.  My friend that attended loved it...  But if he would have known the original... I'm pretty sure he feel the same as me.

must see?  Never thought I ever go this low with a "New" musical...  But they almost got the only one worse from me... and I never thought I ever go there.  As even a bad night at Theatre is still a good night...