Recent Stories with tag 5th Avenue Theatre

I was probably one of the very few people in the theatre Thursday night who had never seen the iconic movie on which A Christmas Story: The Musical (at the 5th Avenue Theatre through December 30; tickets here) is based. The beloved 1983 holiday movie runs in a 24-hour marathon on TBS later this month, and many folks I know make watching it at least once a holiday tradition. With some fine tuning in future runs, this new musical has a good chance of becoming a holiday tradition in its own right. 

You know the story. In 1940s Hammond, Indiana, young Ralphie Parker is laser-focused on one gift for Christmas: an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle, "with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time." Based on the semi-autobiographical stories of New York radio host and storyteller Jean Shepherd (who also plays the narrator in the movie version), the show follows a series of comical vignettes that chronicle likely roadblocks for Ralphie achieving his goal of BB gun ownership.

With veteran Seattle actor Frank Corrado onstage as narrator Shepherd (with excellent timing), the production borrows a bit from A Prairie Home Companion by framing the production within a radio show. Like APHC, some sound effects--such as the barking of the neighbor's dogs and mothers stomping up stairs to spank their sons for allegedly throwing the f-bomb--are provided by an excellent quartet of singers who also keep the period Christmas music going throughout. The radio show conceit works and even gives some context to the sets that are more suggestive than realistic. ... (more)

Arielle Jacobs plays Nina

In the Heights (at 5th Avenue Theatre through October 17) in eight words or less: Musical theater meets Step Up 2 the Streets.

This 2008 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, set in a predominantly Latino immigrant neighborhood of Manhattan, is a grab-bag of theater tropes set to a rap score and street dance.

(Disclosure: I saw a "preview" version of the show on Tuesday night, and typically you're supposed to wait for opening night to review a production. On the other hand, I paid $122.50 for the seats, so I'm going to add my two cents. [Ed.: We didn't send Seth, either, he went on his own. Isn't that something? He just likes musicals.])

You get some of the best aspects of musical theater with this production, and some of the worst. Like many musicals, you've got fantastic singing, touching moments, and lots of attractive people dancing. But, like many musicals, you've got jokes you can see coming a mile away, shallow characters, and a plot as predictable as yesterday's Mariners score.

That plot! Nina, the precocious daughter of Hard Working Parents, is back from a difficult freshman year at Stanford. (The actress playing Nina, Arielle Jacobs, had no such trouble, graduating Magna Cum Laude from NYU.) Nina has lost her scholarship and needs a way to pay for school. Meanwhile, Usnavi, the wise-cracking young owner of the neighborhood bodega, who Tragically Lost His Parents, is trying to keep his business afloat.... (more)

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.... (more)

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.... (more)