A Musical of Some Importance - A Man Of No Importance - Musical Review

A Man of No Importance - Acting Up Stage Theatre Company - Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs - Toronto, ON
Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Book by Terrence McNally based on the film A Man of No Importance
Directed by Lezlie Wade

This little musical (originally produced Off-Broadway at the Lincoln Centre in 2002) that was based on the somewhat obscure and sort of recent 1995 film A Man of No Importance (starring Albert Finney) is tiny in scope but large in emotions, following a simple middle-aged bus conductor in Dublin, Ireland in the 1960's as he survived life through devotion to the arts at a local community theatre, and soon discovers that his love for the words of Oscar Wilde is not the only connection he has with the gay writer, and realizes his own love for his bus driving partner Robbie.

To be honest, part of me is like, another musical with a gay twist? (I've seen a few in recent months) but this one is done with such gentle care and a quiet manner, with beautifully luscious music by Stephen Flaherty that the simple life of Alfie Byrne becomes very important indeed. There's nothing revelatory that we haven't seen before and sometimes the pacing is a bit TOO gentle, but the musical tells it in such a lovely manner that cliches are easily overlooked in a funny and witty script that is touching, if not totally emotionally arresting book by Terrence McNally.

The music and songs by the team of Flaherty and Ahrens are not their best and memorable work (that would be Ragtime, easily one of my favorites of all time (and being remounted next year at the Kennedy Centre in DC!)) but they still sound distinctively like their stuff, with a folksy Irish twist, and that's a good thing.

Alas, it's the incredible acting company (with a terrific small 4 piece orchestra) that carries this little musical through any flaws in this tiny gem of a play, headed by Douglas E. Hughes who is simply terrific as the always positive Alfie. It's definitely a musical theatre performance that grabs your attention without needing to grab your attention, and it felt both real and grounded while still being mesmerizing and heartbreaking at the same time.

Kyle Blair who radiated immense charisma in last years Stratford production of Oklahoma, plays the object of Alfie's affections. Bethany Jillard is lovely as the new girl who is persuaded to join the community theatre group, though my friend didn't love her voice, whereas i felt it sounded like she was singing in character with an Irish accent. Patty Jamieson was fantastic as Lilly, Alfie's protective sister.

Most of the rest of the cast filled all the other characters, usually playing a multitude of them, and everyone was uniformly excellent. Christopher Darroch was a small revelation, alternating between a hilariously nerdy wannabe actor, the mean boss at the bus company, a mysterious man at the bar, and the lazy janitor, all while singing in an amazing baritone voice. Susan Henley (whom I must have seen in Toronto's Hairspray) was another standout amongst a solid ensemble.

It's not a revolutionary musical, and what is said, has been said before, but it has it's place in the musical universe, just as every man of no particular importance does in this world.

A Man of No Importance - ***1/2 (3.5 stars out of 5)

The show closes this Saturday, March 22nd.

Here were the other reviews around town:
Toronto Star
Now
Eye Weekly
BroadwayWorld
Toronto Sun
The Globe and Mail

More After the Jump...

American Idol - When The Stylists Finally Called In

Top 11 Results - The Cut to the Top 10

Oh thank heavens I never have to look at that hair again.

So long Amanda Overmyer. Buh bye.

Kristy Lee Cook is one lucky bitch.

So is Ramiele.

For more on American Idol Season 7:
Click here for the most recent posts.
Top 11 Performance Night - That Old Awkward Phase (includes videos of all the performances)
Top 12 Performance Night - Death Race 2008 (includes videos of all the performances), Results 12 to 11 - Strippers and Prostitutes Are Not The Same Thing
Top 16 - Girls Night - Brooke's and Done, Boys Night - He Plays Piano Too?
Top 20 - Boys Night - Who Are Those Hotties - American Idol Hairdo's Edition
Top 24 - Boys Night- American, Should I Do Idol?

More After the Jump...

Glory Days Having a Glorious Day

OMG, Glory Days is heading to Broadway! By the end of this season (May)! According to Variety and Playbill. I hope this happens!

UPDATE: Apparently Glory Days will open at Circle in the Square Theatre with previews on April 22nd for a Broadway opening on May 6th. It seems to be actually happening!?! (Mar. 24th 2008)

UPDATE 2: It's Official! It's opening on Broadway in time for the Tony Award consideration (but not the other awards like the Drama Desk). They even have a website! And the main cast is coming back! Including Andrew C. Call who will leave Cry Baby (which apparently is a sinking ship, ACK, I had such high hopes!)! who, while will be a long shot, I think deserves a Featured Actor nomination based on his performance in D.C., okay, maybe a slight overstatement but I thought he was really good at the very least. (Mar. 26th 2008) (UPDATE 3 BELOW)

I was luckily enough to see Glory Days (link to original review) last month on a trip to Washington D.C. (actually, the reason I WENT was to see the show, uh, and oh yeah, for my ex-roomate's birthday, Happy Birthday Angie) and now I'm glad I caught it at the Signature Theatre especially now that it's getting big! hehe... It's nice when you get to catch something from the ground up (like when I saw Evil Dead the Musical back in the days of the Tranzac Club in Toronto.

I really really liked Glory Days though I do wonder how it will fit on the Broadway stage since it's meant to be a very small intimate musical. I thought it should deserve a chance Off-Broadway but I never imagined it would get a Broadway slot! But I'm glad more people will get a chance to catch this, which reminds me of [title of show] in scale and quality (and incidentally, I thought [title of show] was going to get the small-for-Broadway Circle in the Square Theatre).

UPDATE 3: Check here for a deal on tickets! $55/$60 for the regular $97.50 tickets. Use Promo Code: GDBBX55 Now through May 10th and see it first!

$55 all seats! (Reg. $97.50)
Mon., Wed. & Thurs. at 8, Sun. at 3 & 7

$60 all seats! (Reg. $97.50)
Fri. at 8, Sat. at 2 & 8 (Mar. 30 2007)

I wonder if Andrew C. Call (above), who was absolutely terrific in defining a character that could have been so easily caricatured, will return since he's part of the ensemble in much larger show Cry Baby.

Anyways, who knows, since rumours also said 13, [title of show], and a few other shows would make it to Broadway so I'll believe it when I see the poster.

Still, at least Glory Days lives in memories and there's hope for a return to those Days.

I've been actually listening to the songs that I could find for download (free from the writers website/myspace though I can't find the links anymore... ) and it's been on heavy rotation on the iPod. ("Boys" in particular is my new favorite). (If I can find any more links to hear the music, I'll update it here, or uh, talk to me...ahem)

Here was my original review for Glory Days at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (in greater Washington D.C.).
Here are some of the original reviews for Glory Days at the Signature:
Washington Post
Variety
Theatermania
BroadwayWorld
Curtain Up

And now great reviews have been spilling out for Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Signature, starring Natascha Diaz, Hunter Foster and Will Chase so damnit, I'd better get tickets fast once I figure out my schedule!

More After the Jump...

Introducing Judy Greer, Again - Miss Guided - Pilot Review

Pilot - Ep. 101
Regular time slot Thursdays 8, 8:30pm ABC

Again, like The Return of Jezebel James, reviews were harsh, but I didn't hate Miss Guided. In fact, I kinda liked it. Is it must-see-tv? Not yet, but we must remember, most shows don't start off with that status and needs to earn it. That being said, I'm not sure if this show will even get a chance to earn it, given it's been another show saved for mid-season replacement with little fanfare.

And again I loved it because I love the lead, in this case, Judy Greer. JUDY GREER! She of always second banana roles who finally gets a starring role. A starring role my co-worker doesn't think she can carry but whatever, it's the same co-worker that got lazy and stopped blogging with me here so she has no say anymore. JUDY GREER!!! 13 Going on 30! Love Monkey! Arrested Development! The Village (um, I actually liked it).

Judy Greer plays Becky, a high school guidance counselor who probably could use some guidance herself. Get it? Get the pun filled title? I'm a simple guy so I actually like it. No sarcasm there. The show comes from Caroline Williams, who also wrote The Office episode Phylis' Wedding so while the pilot is full of clichés and stereotypes, I still enjoyed it all (then again, I love high school stereotyped filled shows/movies and I forgive them usually).

Plus, it's a North Shore reunion with Kristoffer Polaha and Brooke Burns!!! But where's Jay Kenneth Johnson when you need him? Or Shannen Doherty for that matter?

Well, at least Miss Guided gets guest star/producer Ashton Kutcher next episode (this Thursday I believe).

I have to say, I still don't know if I LOVE Brooke Burns or am just scared of her and pretend to like her for fear of being ostracized by the pretty cool girl but it's all very high school... so thus she's perfect as a new teacher in a high school who brings back the bad memories for guidance counselor Becky and her ostracized high school existence.

However, I always liked Kristoffer Polaha, even with the spelling of his name, so he's kinda perfect as the object of both the geeky girl and cool girl's affections, and he's likable enough to see why.

Another bonus is having SNL's Chris Parnell as the Vice-Principal hanging around and while I'm not sure what happened to Jonathan Sadowski (She's the Man, Chuck, Sarah Connor Chronicles) who was supposed to be in the series (oh, wait, apparently he's in upcoming episodes but not a regular like I thought he was?), the supporting cast is sort of a hodge podge that I kind of like. From comedian Parnell to soapy drama beauty queen Burns and attempted-leading man Polaha, it makes for an intriguing if not caricatured mix.

I will say I did not laugh as much as I hoped, and by that last shot of Becky's car getting hit by the drivers ed student, it got a bit too painful to continually watch Becky in humiliating/bad luck circumstances which just seemed to cross over that line of humiliating funny (Extras, The Office US) to humiliating awkward (The Office UK, The Comeback?) especially for a show that is set up with a sunnier lighter tone.

At this point, I'll leave Miss Guided at a neutral *** (3 stars out of 5) but like Judy Greer's previous show Love Monkey, I think there are the bones to become a better show, but like Love Monkey, it might not get the chance to.

The cast of Miss Guided (continues after the jump):

Judy Greer as Becky Freeley

Chris Parnell as Vice Principal Bruce Terry

Kristoffer Polaha as Tim O'Malley

Brooke Burns as Lisa Germain

Earl Billings as Principal Huffy

More After the Jump...

American Idol - That Old Awkward Phase

Top 11 Performance Night - Theme: Beatles Night, Again

Was it me or did the whole night feel off? Almost every comment was about song choice, no one rocked the songs, and while yes, The Beatles were one of the best bands ever and had a great songbook, it felt either like we were now getting secondhand choices or that they were the greatest songs... for the 60's. Hello, let's move it along here now...

Oh, I'm typing this just as Simon says that it might have been a bad choice to do Beatles night again during the commentary for Jason Castro.

So let me backtrack for the night with my peanut gallery commentary this week:

Amanda Overmyer lost any ground she made last week in impressing me.

Kristy Lee Cook lost all the ground she never really had to begin with. She may as well be floating in outer space for all I care.

David Archuleta is still my favorite but he played it really safe this week after messing up last week, and while it could have been way better, his vocals were spot on. I just wish he took a bigger risk, but I can totally see why he didn't this week.

Michael Johns was sort of bland.

Brooke White was really weird performing that song, and I cringed because I want her to do so well. Except it was awkward.

David Cook was probably the best of the night. He might really be the major competition for David Archuleta.

Carly Smithson was not as good as Sarah McLachlin so it was another disappointment from one of the stronger females.

Jason Castro could have melted away into the sand and no one would have noticed. It was the anti-performance piece of the night, and while I know that's his schtick, the whole Jack Johnson thing (who I actually AM a big fan of), I still just get bored.

Syesha Mercado saved herself with a better-than-the-rest-of-the-gang's performance of "Yesterday" the only sure fire major hit sung tonight. Yea Yea, I'm going to get a lot of backlash for saying that from some crazy Beatles fan aren't I?

Chikezie changed his song into some weird country version halfway through and you know what? I actually LIKED it. Simon hated it. I actually thought it was a good Chikezie week, because he seems to bounce from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Ramiele Malubay was... um... I JUST watched it and I already forgot it. Why is this happening a lot this season?

Best of the night: David Cook and Syesha Mercado
Next best: David Archuleta
Worst of the night: Amanda Overmyer or Kristy Lee Cook
Most forgetable of the night: Whatshername Ramiele Malubay

Going home? Ramiele.

All the videos of the performances are after the jump:

Amanda Overmyer - "Back in the U.S.S.R.":




Kristy Lee Cook - "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away":




David Archuleta - "The Long and Winding Road":




Michael Johns - "A Day In The Life":




Brooke White - "Here Comes The Sun":




David Cook - "Day Tripper":




Carly Smithson - "Blackbird":




Jason Castro - "Michelle":




Syesha Mercado - "Yesterday:




Chikizie - "I've Just Seen A Face":




Ramiele Malubay - "I Should Have Known Better" (seriously, she just makes it WAY too easy...):



For more on American Idol Season 7:
Click here for the most recent posts.
Top 12 Performance Night - Death Race 2008 (includes videos of all the performances), Results 12 to 11 - Strippers and Prostitutes Are Not The Same Thing
Top 16 - Girls Night - Brooke's and Done, Boys Night - He Plays Piano Too?
Top 20 - Boys Night - Who Are Those Hotties - American Idol Hairdo's Edition
Top 24 - Boys Night- American, Should I Do Idol?

Thanks to Rickey for the photos.

More After the Jump...

I Want Mo' - 3 Mo' Divas - Musical Revue Review

3 Mo' Divas - National Tour - Winter Garden Theatre - Toronto, ON

I saw this last week and the tour has already moved on, but I'm writing this more for my own posterity and record keeping than anything else so skip back to the TV stuff if you'd like.

As a theatrical piece, since it was part of the Dancap musical theatre subscription series, 3 Mo' Divas could use a little mo' something. As a concert though, it is excellent, with 3 Divas taking the stage, (with an alternating cast of 6 Divas) singing everything from opera, musicals to R&B Gospel and Soul. A musical revue if you will. Except, I usually feel that revue's are a cop-out.

The night I went, I got Andrea Jones-Sojola (not pictured), DeVonna Lawrence (pictured on the right with a different rotation of the cast) and Ramona Dunlap (new to the cast), each with distinctively different types of voices, but all of them soared so if it is talent you want to see, it's a good show. Overall entertaining enough but a little unmemorable due to the simplistic package as a whole. Something mo' was needed.

Still, as a revue/concert, I much preferred it to Smokey Joe's Cafe or even Fosse.

On a complete side note, it was my first time at the Winter Garden Theatre EVER and it was as beautiful as everyone had said it was. And it's a great size. Why aren't more shows played in this venue? Why can't the Mirvish subscription series be at the Elgin and Winter Garden (double decker) Theatre? Spring Awakening would be PERFECT in the Elgin, and they could stick Medea in the Winter Garden! (Cause right now they are programmed for the Canon and the Canon sucks).

3 Mo' Divas - *** (3 Stars out of 5)

More After the Jump...

Mariah Carey (30) Rocks!

Why didn't anybody tell me Kenneth the Page (né Jack McBrayer)was in Mariah Carey's new video for the very blunt "Touch My Body"?

Hilarious! I've gained a new respect for Mariah Carey for letting her people cast Jack McBrayer! (Please, did you actually think she knew who he was? If she did, I have even MORE respect for her and her cleavage). Of all the diva's trying for the comeback (Mariah, Janet, Madonna, Celine to a point, Jennifer Lopez) I sort of gave up on Mariah for the song that sounds like I could get herpes from, but hey, at least it's not the worst of the bunch (JLo's song is) and it's perfect for the club scene (although aren't they all? At least in the gay village).

Kenneth the Page!!!?!!!?? Hilarious. I laughed out loud watching it this morning at the gym. The people next to me probably thought I was crazy.

Can't wait for 30 Rock's return on April 10th!

The Mariah Carey video is after the jump:

Mariah Carey - "Touch My Body":

More After the Jump...

How I Met Your Mother - Cheers and Woes

No Tomorrow - Ep. 312

How awesome was the return of How I Met Your Mother? Yay! Cheers to that!

Not only did the yellow umbrella make another appearance, so did Barney and the gang! Barney suited up in green for St. Patrick's day!

I loved that Lily and Marshall moved into their Dowisetrepla apartment only to find the place was crooked. I'm having real estate woes. I totally get it.

And while I enjoyed watching Ted and Barney work their "badass" ways into and in the bar, getting good stuff from being bad, living like there is no tomorrow, I loved the twist even more with what REALLY happened, giving us a crumbling Ted (hmm... again, I'm having personal woes. I totally get it.) who is hitting rock bottom...

but alas, just as he does, he inadvertently picks up the yellow umbrella! And... that's it for now. It's like Lost. They need a built in end date so that they can plan for how we finally meet the mother.

And good lord it better not be Britney next week.

More After the Jump...

iPod Playlists - New Songs From My High Rotation Favorites Edition

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts, probably because I've just been repeating the musicals Bare: A Pop Opera/The Album, Parade and 13 ( which got nominated won all over the LA Drama Critics Awards last night) and Glory Days over and over again, with a splash of John Mayer's "Say" and Lucas Grabeel's "Go The Distance.

While I finally heard the new Madonna/Justin Timberlake song "4 Minutes To Save The World" (it's okay if underwhelming, there are moments of brilliance and then there's a lot of repetitive droning (or really, it is Timbaland's song with some vocals that kinda sound like JT and Madonna)), I just heard two new songs today (via Popwatch) from two singers that have two of the most played songs on my iPod.

Jesse McCartney (seriously, stop laughing at me, I like the Galactica android look) and his addictive song "Beautiful Soul" (video after the jump) and Josh (I married Katherine Heigl) Kelley's "Almost Honest".

Now they have new songs coming out. Love the Jesse one, liking the Josh one (but not as strong as "Almost Honest" or "Amazing" (or even "Old Time Memory")).

Jesse McCartney - "Leavin'" :



Josh Kelley -"Unfair":



Other favorites from Jesse McCartney and Josh Kelley after the jump:

Jesse McCartney - "Beautiful Soul":



Jesse McCartney - "Just So You Know":



Josh Kelley - "Almost Honest":



Josh Kelley - "Amazing":



Josh Kelley - "Old Time Memory":

More After the Jump...

I Heart Cupid

Who cares about the 90210 remake. Especially when ABC just greenlit Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas' other project revamp, a remake of Cupid!!! Now if only they can steal Jeremy Piven back from his Entourage.

Cupid was one of those shows I loved that no one saw, with a pre-Entourage Piven from a pre-Veronica Mars Rob Thomas.

More After the Jump...