On Broadway #5: I think they succeeded

And now, for the posts you've really been interested in: my recap of the Broadway shows I saw in New York. Here is the last of the five musicals, and the one you all are probably the most excited to hear about. I'm sorry it took me so long!

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The fifth play that I saw in New York City last month was also the one I was the most excited to see. Actually, it was also the only show I'd ever seen before. I saw it in NYC in 1996 with Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, and at Rodgers Memorial Theatre (before it became Centerpoint Legacy). I even performed in this play at the Grand in 1999. I was a secretary, a cleaning woman, and a ditzy pirate girl, complete with spandex pants. And I would very much like to perform in it again sometime. I love this play!

A Secretary is NOT a Toy!

Paris Original 

Pirate Girl

So, this revival already had quite a bit to live up to in terms of my own personal expectations. 

I'm going to be honest: It was my FAVORITE play of the trip! Holy granola! I had to pay full price to sit in the 7th row, and don't regret it at all. SO GOOD!! I was very afraid someone tall would sit in front of me and block my view - fortunately Keri sat there and the view wasn't compromised at all. I had a perfect seat!

How to Succeed... is about a young man (played by Daniel Radcliffe) who reads a book called How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and works his way up the corporate ladder. Along the way, he develops a romance with the lovely Rosemary (Rose Hemingway), has to dodge the advances of bombshell Heddy (Tammy Blanchard), impress the big boss (John Larroquette),  and keep his weasely rival (Christopher J. Hanke) from beating him to the top.

John Larroquette was brilliant. I really didn't know what to expect from him, but he probably made me laugh more than anyone else. There's just something about a guy who starts out gruff and grim and ends up talking about knitting and singing the "Groundhog" fight song. I keep replaying some of his reactions over and over in my head. He totally deserves his "Best Featured Actor in a Musical" nomination, and I am going to CHEER if he wins!

Rose Hemingway was completely darling! She's my personal link to the show -- I did several plays with her husband about 10 years ago -- but even if I hadn't heard of her before opening night, I would have been impressed. That girl can SING! I must agree with Aaron's review, where he said that Rose and John stole the show during the first act. She filled the stage with her voice and sweetness. Even watching her dress while hidden behind a box during "Paris Original" was riveting. I hope to see her in more plays in the future.

I must admit, I completely HATED Tammy Blanchard as Heddy LaRue. Maybe it's because she's a part I would love the play someday. Maybe it's because she seemed really crass and unappealing to me. A little too self-aware. There was something about the expression on her face that kept taking me out of the play and made me want to punch her in the face. Hmmm... maybe I was supposed to feel that way. After all, I am a woman. I never did ask Aaron what he thought of her character -- maybe her version of attractiveness was a guy thing. However, I have to admit she was hilarious. There was a great visual gag with her in skin-tight, horizontally-striped pants where she kept shifting her weight and rocking her ample hips back and forth. John was so mesmerized by her ever-moving hips he was rocking right along with her. It was subtle, but effective.

I had a little crush on Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump. He perfectly played up the smarmy, lazy antithesis of Radcliffe's likable over-achiever. He didn't pull any punches and was perfectly snotty the whole time. It was just fun to watch him anytime he was on stage.

And then there was the star: Daniel Radcliffe. The first act, I was a little disappointed; it was pretty evident that that Daniel has been trained as a movie actor. I wished he had played the part a little broader, performing in a musical is different than an intimate movie or even just a regular play. He wasn't larger-than-life and didn't quite sing to the balcony (I will remind you that I saw Matthew Broderick in this role and if anyone can fill the stage with charisma and glee, it's Matthew). But during the second act, Daniel came into his own. He was even better in person than in the advertising numbers on t.v. He is a darn good little singer, and his dancing was spot-on at least as good as the rest of the ensemble. He was really charming, too. I loved his little "ah ha!" smiles when circumstances went his way. You could definitely tell he was having a good time and gave it all he had. I'm often jealous of movie stars who get to work on Broadway, but if they work as hard at it and do as well as Daniel, I'll get over it.

The costumes, sets and choreography were gorgeous. I am always a sucker for a man in a suit -- it's almost as good as a uniform -- and those guys were attractive. And as a fan of vintage dresses, I would have been happy to take any one of the women's costumes home with me.

Remember how I was so annoyed by the audience members who came in late for Wonderland? Yeah, I was late after intermission. This leads me to my final Broadway rant:  It's okay with me if intermission runs a bit late. The lobby in this theatre was TINY. It was so small that it took me 5 minutes just to get TO the lobby from my seat in the orchestra. Then the lobby was so packed it took another several minutes to get to the bathroom where I discovered they didn't even bother to use the dividers they'd set up in the ladies room lounge that would have gotten us in the line out of the way of everyone else in the lobby! They dimmed the lights while I was in line, but there were still so many women in line behind me I thought, "There's no way they'll start the show with so many people still away from their seats."

I was wrong.

When I finally arrived back in the theatre, I was surprised they'd started the show! I had only missed the entr'acte and maybe a minute of dialogue, but I was peeved! Really? Is punctuality more important in this case than the experience? I apologized so many times while I crawled over the rest of the people in the seventh row so I could get to my seat located exactly in the middle. The people around me were all very, very nice. At least I sat down before the first song started. I hate being that inconsiderate person, and I hate that I was forced into it. Not using the bathroom was not an option (yes, I did go before the first act started). What bugged me was when I finally made it to the lobby, the usher had chuckled at my remark that I hoped intermission was more than 10 minutes, then chuckled again when I was late getting back in. Cheerful jerk.

And yet, I wish I had his job. How does one get to be an usher on Broadway? I suppose I'd have to move there... nah.

I will say that in spite of my rants about the behavior of people at Broadway shows (lateness in general, too appreciative, etc) I didn't see a single cell phone on, or have to worry about people talking through the whole thing. Once people were in their seats they didn't distract me from the show (except that guy in Catch Me and that was just during applause). Even the lady who could have blocked me at Billy Elliot (who I never needed to say anything to) sat back and quietly enjoyed the whole time. That was pretty awesome. Home audiences could learn a thing or two from the patrons of professional theatre!

After the play, we wanted to wait for Daniel and John at the stage door. Unfortunately, so did practically every other person in the audience. The crowd was HUGE. I couldn't even see the stage door, let along anyone who might have come out of it. So, we decided not to wait around. We took photos at the posters and called it good. We had other places to go, anyway.

How to Succeed and Anything Goes are the only plays nominated for the Best Revival of a Musical this year. I enjoyed Anything Goes, but if How to Succeed doesn't win I will be very, very annoyed. It was so well put together and fun -- I want to go AGAIN!

If you want to see Keri's review and Larissa's review, click on their links.

So, there you have it: my reviews of the plays that I saw in NYC. They were so good! Thanks again, Larissa for inviting me on your trip and for choosing such magnificent plays. I had a marvelous time and I can't wait to go again!