It was actually a night at the theater, but I love the Marx brothers so much, I thought I'd throw in a movie title in their honor. I could have used A Day At the Races or A Day At the Circus, but that wouldn't be as appropriate.
Saturday evening, we made the short trip to Akron to see Rent--it's making its way across country as part of the Broadway Across America tour. I have never seen a production from this series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Akron has a dinner theater, The Carousel, and I do know what to expect there--quite often, schlock. We saw something bad there once for Valentines, and we were seated with a couple from a Carol Burnett sketch--the woman actually had a mustache and the man had one of the worst cases of psoriasis I have ever seen.
OK. Back to Rent. It was performed at EJ Thomas Hall inside the Goodyear Centennial auditorium. The names Goodyear and Firestone are everywhere in Akron because it was once the rubber capital of the world. As my sister likes to say, "don't say that out loud at a party." The cast was actually quite talented, and the set was very creatively designed to use every square foot of space. There were moments in the second act especially when the entire company stood at the foot of the stage and sang a lament that I was moved--it takes a great deal to make me cry in public, so I can't go so far as to say I shed tears.
The musicians--two keyboards, two guitars, and drums--were incorporated into the scene directly on stage, which made them a part of the drama and storyline--a great effect. I found myself watching the lead keyboard as he quietly directed his "pit orchestra," his right hand visible against the music and lit by a dim yellow light. I also found myself watching the shadows of the performers as their silhouettes were projected on the back wall. Between getting lost in following the beat and in the movements of the shadows, I may have missed a bit of the show, or I may have just seen a different side of it.
So, Rent was great, and the Broadway Across America series is a great idea--everybody could use a little theater, or a little opera, or a little circus, or a little Marx brothers, who have nothing to do with Rent, but I seem to be having trouble staying on track this morning.
Oh, and Terroni, I tried to get reservations at Crave, but they didn't answer their phone. It looks like a great place, but I didn't want to take a chance on a Saturday night, so we'll try again another time. Thanks for the tip.
Saturday evening, we made the short trip to Akron to see Rent--it's making its way across country as part of the Broadway Across America tour. I have never seen a production from this series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Akron has a dinner theater, The Carousel, and I do know what to expect there--quite often, schlock. We saw something bad there once for Valentines, and we were seated with a couple from a Carol Burnett sketch--the woman actually had a mustache and the man had one of the worst cases of psoriasis I have ever seen.
OK. Back to Rent. It was performed at EJ Thomas Hall inside the Goodyear Centennial auditorium. The names Goodyear and Firestone are everywhere in Akron because it was once the rubber capital of the world. As my sister likes to say, "don't say that out loud at a party." The cast was actually quite talented, and the set was very creatively designed to use every square foot of space. There were moments in the second act especially when the entire company stood at the foot of the stage and sang a lament that I was moved--it takes a great deal to make me cry in public, so I can't go so far as to say I shed tears.
The musicians--two keyboards, two guitars, and drums--were incorporated into the scene directly on stage, which made them a part of the drama and storyline--a great effect. I found myself watching the lead keyboard as he quietly directed his "pit orchestra," his right hand visible against the music and lit by a dim yellow light. I also found myself watching the shadows of the performers as their silhouettes were projected on the back wall. Between getting lost in following the beat and in the movements of the shadows, I may have missed a bit of the show, or I may have just seen a different side of it.
So, Rent was great, and the Broadway Across America series is a great idea--everybody could use a little theater, or a little opera, or a little circus, or a little Marx brothers, who have nothing to do with Rent, but I seem to be having trouble staying on track this morning.
Oh, and Terroni, I tried to get reservations at Crave, but they didn't answer their phone. It looks like a great place, but I didn't want to take a chance on a Saturday night, so we'll try again another time. Thanks for the tip.
Comments
Rent is good, Robyn. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
And Broadway Across America is an excellent idea. Theatre is so much better than crappy TV.
Holiday* with my Mum.
*Yes, it was a rubbish movie but there was just one scene....
five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan
five hundred twenty five thousand suix hundred minutes
how do you measure a life of a woman or a man
Cmon Robyn you can admit you cried. I did the first time I saw Les Mis
Ms Mac, I just saw The Holiday on Friday--It was cute, for a chick flick. Was it the scene when they were all in the tent looking up from the floor?
Rich, I swear I didn't cry, but now I'll have that song in my head for the rest of the afternoon, and I'm about to have a horn lesson. Too many tunes in my head.
I don't cry easily in public either, but I can't listen to "Without You" without tears.