bye bye birdie on broadway

Whether you know it or not, you have heard some of the music from BYE BYE BIRDIE before. It is a part of our culture, and the music from the show really is good fun. It is incredibly sad to me that the current revival on Broadway didn't come together. For the most part, it's not that it's terrible; instead, it is that the pieces don't add up.

John Stamos takes the lead as Albert Peterson. There is no denying that John Stamos (aka Uncle Jesse) is a gorgeous, suave guy....and that is why I don't understand why he tries to play Albert as geeky and awkward. Dick van Dyke is a goofy guy, and you totally bought his sweetness and awkwardness, and got why Rose loved him. Stamos isn't goofy, and it plays as just plain awkward, in a not endearing kind of way. I found myself saying that Rose is an idiot for waiting around for this guy. I will say that Stamos does have a nice voice, though. Gina Gershon plays Rose as a sexy thing, teetering about in spiky stilettos, and pining for a guy that she has been a secretary for for seven years. Although she has some great acting moments, the truth is, Gershon is not a singer. (This is a HUGE issue when her character sings some of the most recognizable songs in the show.) Allie Trimm plays Kim, our young (emphasis on the young) ingenue. Although Trimm has a nice voice, she is just too young for the part. Kim should be blossoming into womanhood, in essence, discovering her sexuality......Trimm looks about 13 (which I think is her real age), and just can't pull off the becoming a woman part of the role. (It doesn't help that Kim was played so memorably by Ann-Margaret in the film, and she pretty much oozes sensuality from every pore.) Jayne Houdyshell fares okay as Albert's needy mother, as does Matt Doyle as Hugo Peabody. Then there's Bill Irwin. I don't even know how to explain his performance. I don't know what show he was in, but it was not the same one as the rest of the cast. It's widely known that he got his start in clowning, and he pretty much clowns his way through the role, and in my opinion, lets down the show whilst doing it. His singing through "Kids" is cringe-worthy, and he just seems totally unconnected to the rest of the production.

There is nothing more disheartening for me than to leave a Broadway show totally disappointed by what I've seen, and that truly was the case here.

Final thoughts: The show just doesn't come together, however, it was an interesting learning experience. Sorry!

photo credit: www.playbill.com

the fantastic mr. fox

Fan-cussing-tastic.

Every once in a while, you come across a movie that is just so unique, visionary, and different, you can't help but become engrossed and enthralled by it. This happened for me with THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX. Based on the book by Roald Dahl (which I have actually never read), director Wes Anderson has created an incredibly neat and funny universe that is, for lack of a better phrase, just fantastic. Using stop motion techniques with puppets, Anderson brings the world to life in unbelievable detail. The background is just as colorful and alive as the main action, helping to bring every scene to vivid life.

Mr. Fox, after a 12-year hiatus, decides to return to his life of crime, and hit three nearby farms. However, the human farmers decide to fight back, and suddenly Mr. Fox has to fight for his family's livelihood. Voices include George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Gambon, and are all perfect.

Final thoughts: This movie had me laughing, and shaking my head in disbelief at the incredible artistry. This one is definitely a must-see.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com