Broadway Review: Spring Awakening Part 2!

Oh Spring Awakening, we had quite a run. You sang to me, you brought me to tears. I loved you! I really did. But what on earth were you thinking with this new cast?

I sat on stage for my second viewing of Spring Awakening. I attended the Wednesday September 3rd evening showing (which may accounting for the sluggish performances). It was a little strange first because I was alone and second I had just cracked my tailbone 4 days before. I was excited to see the new cast, how they brought the characters to life. It was nice that Blake Daniel was still there (he is such a cutie). But the rest of the cast...oh dear....





Let's start with Hunter Parrish.

Why were you chosen for the role of Melchior? What possessed the team to pick you? No offense, I'm sure you are a great guy, but really? You looked like you were playing a part the whole time, where as Jonathan Groff became Melchior. I know it isn't quite fair because he IS Melchior, but this is Broadway baby, not some high school musical. Very poorly done, Hunter, very poorly done indeed.









Oh Gerard Canonico (Moritz), nice voice, not so good at the rest. I felt like I was watching a community production, NOT Broadway.










Alexandra Socha as Wendla was very nice. You definitely believe that she is young and naive where as Mia was more "learned." You did an amazing job. But, with that said, it just wasn't up to Broadway standards! I just don't understand!


All in all the new cast is a big let down. Strong roles thanks to the supporting cast but other then that not as good as even the second role changes.

Movie Review: Me and You and Everyone We Know

Eww. Gross. Disgusting. That's how I feel.

To see or not to see?
To see if you are into that kinda stuff...me however, I was very disappointed. Acting=good, script=disgusting.

Movie Review: The Last Kiss

I didn't LOVE the movie, but I liked it. The ending was wonderful. It was well acted, just a little silly at times. I like that the ending was completely different from the original French film. I think I enjoy movies more when I see the "making of" because I see where people's hearts went into the film. So sometimes if I think a movie is "ok" I'll really like it after the "making of". The acting was really good, the script read like it was real life. I can see a lot of people going through what they went through.

To see or not to see?
To see.

Movie Review: Superbad

Super. Bad.

To see or not to see?
Seriously?

Movie Review: Lars and the Real Girl

I am a huge fan of Ryan Gosling thanks in equal parts to Murder by Numbers and Half Nelson. Besides, anyone who can go from Young Hercules to an Oscar nomination in less than 10 years deserves attention. It doesn't hurt he's from Canada (which brought us Joshua Jackson...)

But on to Lars and the Real Girl. It had wide praise from film festivals alike, but could Gosling really bring it to this movie or would Half Nelson be his only big hit? It seems that the independent industry is a bulls eye for Gosling because I can't complain about anything in this movie (having Patricia Clarkson and Emily Mortimer in the cast was a major plus). I was so impressed that I gave this movie 5 out of 5 stars on my Netflix queue, which is few and far between.

The emotional depth of this movie is hard to explain if you haven't seen it. From Lars' apartment, to the location, to the facial expressions on each character truly made this a film to remember.

To see or not to see?
To see, right now. Get in your car (or on your queue) and rent this movie immediately, or you will die.

Movie Review: Little Manhattan

This is probably one of the best "first love" films I've seen. Set in (obviously) New York City it's the tale of first love between two very different 5th graders. Not since The Wonder Years' Kevin and Winny have I seen such true, innocent, love. A movie worth watching, you know if your into that kind of sappy romance.

To see or not to see?
To see.

Movie Review: Mamma Mia!

Oh Mamma Mia! how I love you!

I went and saw this movie with my momma mia and we laughed the whole time (much to the dismay of other movie go-ers, we are loud, obnoxious laughers). Meryl Streep was amazing! She played the part so well! She had such high energy I couldn't help but dance in my seat. And what a lovely cast of "fathers"! I was excited to see my Mr. Darcy (your Colin Firth), the hilariously singing-challenged Pierce Brosnan (nothing says fish out of water like former 007 tenderly singing) and yes, even that perverted old man played by Stellan Skarsgard. But for me, seeing Amanday Syefried took the cake. As a big fan of Veronica Mars (I have the facebook scores to prove it) I was glad to support any former VM character. All in all, to break the blockbuster melodrama Mamma Mia is the perfect choice.

To see or not to see?
To see!

Movie Review: WALL-E

I'm not the biggest fan of cartoon movies. I have nieces and nephews so I see a lot of them anyway. But Pixar has surprised me time and again with their ability to create movies that entertain children and interest adults. I wouldn't say that WALL-E was the best cartoon of the year, I'd say it contends for one of the best films of the year.

Three reasons why WALL-E rocks:

1. Hardly any dialogue and it is able to carry such a deep emotional message

2. WALL-E's expressions are so full of emotions he doesn't even need to talk for you to understand him.

3. A chilling portrayal of the world's future if we don't do something to stop it.

Go see this movie, kids in tow are not necessary.

To see or not to see?
To see!!

Life Changing Experience at Dylan's Candy Bar

I had one of the worst days yesterday. It started out alright and everything. Just a normal run of the mill kind of day. But all that changed when someone who works in my building came up, down cast. He needed to talk to Ray. From the look on his face, and remembering the conversation he had with his co-worker, Chris, on Thursday, I assumed he was telling Ray he was quitting. The news he gave instead caught me off guard. His co-worker, Chris, had been killed by a car on Saturday night. Chris wouldn't be coming to do his rounds that day.

My first reaction, unbelief, second, sorrow.

The rest of the afternoon I spent crying off an on. He had turned 22 just the week before. He was younger than me. He was kind. He was funny. And now he is gone. He isn't in the hospital getting his tonsils out; he isn't sick at home with the flew; there wasn't an accident in his family; he is dead.

Tuesdays I go into physical therapy so instead of going home right away I hang out in the city a few hours longer than normal. After therapy (a painful one might I add), I decided that I needed a sweet pick-me-up. I wandered around Dylan's Candy Bar picking out my favorite candy talking to my mom on the phone, confiding in her the most painful situations relating to Chris. On my way to the cash register my mom began to pray for me. I took out the amount shown on the register, but it was pre-tax, so after the cashier pressed the "enter" button, a different amount came up. I shifted the $10.70 and went back to my wallet to get the $11.17.

"Talking on the phone while at the register, are you serious?" I heard a voice say directly behind me.

I turned around immediately to see who it was. It was an older man and his wife, clearly he was peeved with me.

"Excuse me?" I asked him. His wife colored a little
"Nothing." She said.

I was not in the mood to just sit there and let him be so rude to me.

"My friend just died and that's why I'm on my phone at the register."

His wife look completely embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." She said.

I got out of that store as soon as I could, tears streaming down my face. It was all so ironic walking out of the brightly colored store, pink bag full of candy, and me, sobbing.

But that situation taught me a lot. It was like I had this whole new perspective of people all around me. Whether it's someone pushing me on the subway, bumping my purse off my arm in the street, or cutting me in line at the train station; I don't know what that person has just experienced. I don't know if that person is lost in remorse, oblivious because of an exciting event, or just plain exhausted from being over worked.

I wouldn't have learned that if it weren't for Chris.

I wish I could say Chris would want it that way, but honestly I wasn't given the opportunity to get to know him well enough to say that. So I'll just say it's something I learned only thanks to Chris.

To get information on Chris' untimely death, please see the Staten Island Advance (www.SILive.com/obits) for Christopher Nowak.

Critical Review: Dating Younger Guys

Three Reasons Why I Will Consider Dating Younger Guys.

Those who know me know that I'm not only picky but that I have strict "rules" for dating. One of them is based on the maturity gap between guys and gals.

Thanks to my brother (19) and his girlfriend (25) I've changed that silly opinion of mine. Ok, well it really isn't because of them. It's because of them:


Shia LaBeouf, recently turned 22





What can I say? Sometimes good girls enjoy a little dirt. How cute is he in Disturbia? And how slightly disturbing is he in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints?




Lorenzo Delloye, 19





A man after my own heart. The son of "radical" politician, adores his mother, and smokin' good looks...sign me up.






Ed Westwick, turned 21 last week





Not that Ed needs to be explained but here goes:
1. British accent, and so well spoken!
2. Plays in a hot band
3. Oh that hair






So from now on people, I vow not to judge a man by his birth year...

Gypsy

I went to see Gypsy with absolutely no idea who Pattie LuPone was (I'm so sorry!). I went with a friend who was visiting good old Broadway (the same one that "forced" me to go to Spring Awakening). I had head about Gypsy but had no idea what I was in for. After waiting to be impressed and daring the actors to woo me I found my self dumb struck at how amazing it was. The actors (um how had I not known who Patti LuPone was? I believe she was CREATED to be Rose), the music (though all is amazing, I was blown away by the duet with the sisters), the score (goosebumps worthy). All in all I was impressed and even cried a few times. Well done, well done.







I almost think walking into a show with absolutely no expectations, no critics words looming in your brain is the best way to approach Broadway (when you're as ignorant about it as I am)

Thanks for dragging me to yet another amazing show, Tiffany.

News Still Sucks, But People Suck More

Slightly ironically I am reading The Best American Nonrequired Reading of 2007. One day after the cyclone in Myanmar I was reading about Scott Carrier's experience there (Rock the Junta, pg 84). And what I found sad was how controlled the people are by their government. The government censors everything, and I mean everything the people see, saw, listen to, watch, eat, and basically think. What made this reality of restriction so apparent is the way the government will refuse to allow outside sources bring aid.




Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said that Myanmar doesn't want any aid because, "they have their own team to cope with the situation." I understand a government being self sufficient, but to be completely against (or in their minds above) help just shows their limited views on society and a lack of common sense. Instead of putting their pride aside for the welfare of their people, they choose to "lock" their country from help of others.



And what makes this even worse is the threat of another cyclone in the next two days. God save the people.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121075281328191547.html?mod=yahoo_buzz

Critical Review: The News Is Bad

I'm not sure what else to do. In order to keep myself from becoming completely jaded by the evil things in this world I have to stop reading the news.

Case in point:
The biggest news story right now is about a seemingly "personable and well-liked" person locking his daughter in his basement (along with three of the seven children he had with her). If reading about the disgusting things he has done to everyone involved isn't enough, he may only get 20 years for ruining eight people directly (his daughter, their six children, and his wife) and numerous indirectly.











(news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080430/ap_on_re_eu/austria_captive_daughter_43)







First of all, how can something like this happen? Second, why does something so evil get so much attention?




Why can't we read about this on the front page:


Create Providence:

Professional artists from New York City embracing and empowering communities in extreme poverty, making space for God to move.
















(www.createprovidence.org/)



Until our society can change it's fascination with evil, I'm boycotting the news(ok I'm being a little dramatic). I honestly don't know how I can invest time in a media outlet that is sensationalizing all the evil without mentioning all the amazing things people are doing all around our great country.

Bliss

Vote for Jacob and Sita!!

http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.jsp?id=11821949021863982&grpId=3659174697251734&nav=Groupspace

Once a day, every day.

Firsttracks.gather.com

I had the privilege of being a fly on the wall at the Firsttracks final five show yesterday. My brother Jacob and his friend Sita were chosen from hundreds of contestants all around the US. Last night at the Living Room in lower Manhattan they played for an audience and the judges (one of whom was Paula Cole!).

Please log on to firsttracks.gather.com and vote for your favorite. Voting is April 21-28. You can vote once a day everyday.

Is He Dead?

My mother was in town during the Christmas holiday and I just had to take her to a Broadway show. She had visited New York as a child, loved theater, and had never been able to see a show. So for her 50th Birthday I decided to take her to see Mark Twain’s Is He Dead?

We went to the box to get our tickets. The ticket holder informed me that I booked tickets for the weekend prior! I couldn’t believe it. I’d mistaken the date. But not to worry, he informed me. It was kind of my lucky day, he continued. Sure enough he comped our third row tickets when we had purchased fifth to the last row at the very top of the three tier Lyceum Theatre!! So our $25 a piece tickets ended up being worth $100 each!

And how grand it was. Almost the entire show my mom and I were laughing. Not so much at the sometimes ignorable dialogue, but the physical comedy had our sides splitting.
Plus, who can deny that Norbert Leo Buts (Tony Award winner) is to die for? He defiantly gave my mother and I a pretty little smile. And when I say pretty I mean it; he was dressed in a lovely blue satin gown with beautiful red curls.

August: Osage County

Wow, what a week. Sadly I only enjoyed the week from in bed. Being sick sucks.

Right along, then.

August: Osage County, what to say that the professional critics haven't already? As one of the best reviewd plays on Broadway it's hard to say something new. So I'll go from my personal experience.

I'm lucky enough to know one of the actresses in the show, Kimberly Guerrero, so my opinion is extremely biased. But knowing her made me feel like I belonged to this crazy family is some way. The set was one of the most simple, yet amazing, sets I've seen. And don't get me started on how beautiful the Imperial Theater is (which I will have you know I was lucky enough to see from behind the stage!!).

I was either laughing or crying through out the entire show. It was funny, it was moving, and the ensamble cast were all perfect in their portryal of one of the most disfuntional families known to man.

The most touching part of the entire play was when Kimberly aka the housekeeper Johanna, is holding the crazy mother, Violet (played by Deanna Dunagan) and she starts singing to her. I was crying like a baby.

Bottom line: if you can handle the subject matter of insane family drama, go see this the moment you get into NYC.

Sita and Jacob need us!!!!!

Alright everyone, I know this is a critical review blog but there is something I need EVERYONE's help with.

Decca Records is hosting a contests for singer/songwriters and my brother Jacob and his good friend Sita have just entered the contest and to all our delight have been given RAVE reviews already from the studio people. My favorite review is when they told Sita and Jacob they were the best they'd heard all day. That's pretty big.

So, for more information on this upcoming compitition please see this link:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977225853&grpId=3659174697251734&nav=Groupspace

or go to the site to search around for yourself:
firsttracks.gather.com

Please remember to check up on this as Feburary comes to a close. If they win this, they get signed to Decca. This is huge guys, really huge.

Check out their myspace pages for more music, and fyi they are working on putting more music on their myspaces:
Jacob
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=155982768&MyToken=c559bbf6-425c-41ff-ad63-4770b11d6f9e

Sita
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=121889987


Alright guys, let's make this happen!!!!

Spring Awakening

Alright, Broadway show number two.

Not keeping up with the Broadway buzz, I hadn't heard a thing about Spring Awakening until a friend came to visit. Not only is she a super fan, she is also slightly obsessed going so far as to etch pictures for the principals. Really, friend? Really?? I didn't understand the obsession and thought she may be slightly unstable (born and raised in SoCal doesn't do so much for the sanity development part of the brain, sorry SoCal peeps). So my friend, let's call her Tiffany, she hadn't even seen the show yet and was obsessed. Less than a week later, after having gone twice, she dragged me to her third show. I went kicking and screaming, well not literally, but I hadn't decided until the night before to actually go.

So, here I am third row right of the stage. Lights up, curtains rise.

From the moment Lea Michele opened her mouth I was hooked.

The show consists of not only the vocal talents of this young cast but an amazing on stage band. The musical overall was funny and very touching. Not only did the show entertain but it also has an amazing message. With the recent pregnancy of a teen sensation (Jamie Lynn Spears, the much loved Zooey 101 on Nickelodeon) and the sleeper hit Juno, this show is just another avenue for parents to have dialogue with their teens about love, sex, and puberty (thank GOD I'm not a parent yet).

After the show I waited, just like my crazy obsessive friend, in line to meet the cast. It must be said that I embarresed myself. But that I am so proud to have seen this amazing show with such talented people.

Blake Daniel and I.

Jonathan Groff and I.

A Chorus Line

This was the first Broadway show I've ever seen. Opened April 16 1975 with over 6,000 performances as of 1990, A Chorus Line is the longest running American Musical.

Possibly one of the best shows on Broadway. Maybe that is because it's my first, but none the less, I was moved by the acting, awed by the dancing, and dazzled by the glitter (I can't help it).

After the show my brother, his friend, and I waited to congratulate the actors. She was visiting and wanted to get autographs. Meeting the people who had just put on an amazing, emotional, moving performance was a pretty amazing experience. Unlike watching a movie and leaving the theater, almost walking back into the "real world," seeing a show and meeting the cast after give you almost a closure.

So biased as I may be, the longest running American Musical has to be so for some reason.

http://www.achorusline.com/

The First Offical Critical Review...2007 and I are OVER.

Hellooooooo, 2008. 2007, we had a nice run, but with all the changes, you had to have known that this was coming. Times Square being fitted for the 100th ball (now "green" thank you very much), the 2008 eyeglasses being sold. You must have known. I hope it wasn't a shock. But it's time for you to be left in the past. 2008 and I are really happy, I know we just started our relationship, but honestly you and I were done long before January 1st. Around Novemeber, if your lucky, we were coming to an end. You had to have felt the chill in the air, the trees loosing their color, the lakes loosing their sparkle. It was time to end before I held on to something that cleary wasn't going to last. I'm sorry, 2007, but it's over.

And with a new year I thought it only fitting to begin a new type of blog. This is my critical review bolg. Love it, hate it, I don't care, just read it and please add your own opinions.