Recent Stories with tag 5th avenue theatre

I was not looking forward to Legally Blonde. I thought it would be juvenile, so instead of inviting a friend as my plus-one, I took my nine-year-old niece to the show. Saved me from asking a favor of a friend, and served in furtherance of my Uncle of the Year campaign. But a funny thing happened: I liked Legally Blonde more than my niece did.

Yup, I was pretty skeptical too. (Photo: Joan Marcus)

The show, a national touring production that plays at the 5th Avenue through March 14, is tons of fun. It drew me in from the first, with the peppy ensemble piece "Omigod You Guys." (I know--sounds horrible, huh? It's not.)

I remained dubious, though. Any show can have one good number; just check out a Don McLean concert. But the next song, "Serious," a romantic duet that kickstarts the story, was good too. Pretty soon I stopped assaying every song and just let this classic American tale of optimism triumphant take me away, Calgon-style....

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Friend Rachael and I got all gussied up Sunday night to go find out why it was that two unabashed musical theater fans like ourselves didn't know diddly about South Pacific (at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Tuesday-Sunday through February 21; tickets $25-$103). By night's end, we knew the answer. This Rodgers & Hammerstein so-called classic about love in World War II hasn't aged well.

I don't regret spending three hours watching the outstanding sets and the tremendous vocal talent in this national touring production, and I wouldn't have regretted buying a ticket. If you are a fan of musicals, you should go. But if you're the type of person who's only going to see a musical once in a while, save your money for the 5th Avenue's productions of On the Town and Candide later this year. [For a contrary view, consider "11 Reasons Not to Miss South Pacific."]

Let me first absolve the director, cast, and crew of any responsibility. Bartlett Sher's staging is inventive and adds a little Heart of Darkness tinge to the story. Rod Gilfry has as powerful a baritone as I've ever heard. As "little hick" Nellie Forbush, Carmen Cusack is cute and charming and everything that role should be. The comic relievers--Matthew Salvidar as Luther Billis and especially Genson Blimline as Stewpot--throw strikes. The fault lies with Rodgers & Hammerstein themselves....

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