Good show queens that we are, we made sure that many of our nights were spent worshipping at the numerous temples of colour and movement in Broadway. Our first show was Pippin - which proved to be one of our favourites, even though I only knew a couple of songs and really knew zip about the musical. It's a re-jigged version that has only opened in the last couple of years and is now set in a travelling circus. We liked it so much we saw the touring version in San Francisco (Lucille Ball's daughter was playing Pippin's grandmother; the actor who played the very first Pippin when the show opened in the 1970s was playing Pippin's father; and the actor who originated the 'new' Pippin was playing Pippin, so it was a no-brainer. Loved it the first time. Loved it the second time.
Kinky Boots is based on the movie of the same name and features a score written by Cindi Lauper. There were some fabulous moments in the musical and the score is fabulous - but I can't remember a single song. Some absolutely fabulous singing, dancing and costuming. The night we were there the producer and his boyfriend were sitting with about 20 of their friends a couple of rows away from us. I know this because the friendly woman from Los Angeles who was sitting next to me with her husband was curious as to why this guy seemed to know so many people and why so many seemed to be near-worshipping him. So she did what any sassy LA woman would do and went right up and asked him at interval. And then came back very excitedly to tell me. He actually invited her and the husband to the after-show party but she didn't think it was right of her to intrude. 'Let us go instead', we both yelled at her...well inwardly anyway.
This was my favourite musical and we saw it on my birthday. It is hilarious, completely without any due regard to political correctness - and in parts pretty confronting. There are topics and themes that are featured in this musical which you would never expect in a million bibles to be featured. And it's full of fresh faced earnest and friendly young men, so why wouldn't you fall in love with it. Among my many favourite memories is the 'Spooky Mormon Hell Dream' sequence and song. Say no more....
This was Steve's favourite and my second fave. A typically lavish Disney production that is just spectacular. The costume budget alone would have been more than the budget of a small nation - and it even had a magical flying carpet. Now I know musicals aren't everyone's theatrical cup of tea but imagine if you were a little kid seeing the magic of this piece of live theatre - and just being complete let and utterly entranced by it.
We saw this on a whim. This was the only show where we bought 'half-tix' for. We saw a matinee on a Saturday and we both agreed that the production appeared pretty tired. Perhaps also I was comparing it unfavourably to the movie - I love the movie - and clearly the movie was more visually spectacular than the stage show is.
Our final show was Les Mis, which has also had a remake. I enjoyed it as I always enjoy this musical and the new led backdrops that feature some of the illustrations taken from Victor Hugo's novel were marvellous. Steve felt the actor playing Jean Valjean, the amazing Ramin Karimloo, was too young for the part, but I didn't think so. But then again maybe I was biased because we actually waited at stage door for the cast to come out and I managed a selfie with Raman.
And after most of the shows we headed around the block to this fabulous piano bar called Don't Tell Mama. Our friends, Jase and also Damien, had both told us we had to go there and we were very glad we did. The staff who work there as waiters are all musical theatre performers, or other theatrical types, and so they perform little shows of about 20 minutes each throughout the night.
A guy plays the piano the whole night and sometimes there will be performers from other shows who will come in and do a number or two. We would charge ourselves with delicious cocktails and enjoy the night of fun and singing.
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