Bullets Over Broadway, St James Theater, New York Thursday August 7th 2014

Bullets Over Broadway, St James Theater, New York Thursday August 7th 2014

Forgive if there any errors or please contact me re errors.  Thank you.

 

For those new to my blog I write about the holistic experience of attending the theatre.

Susan Stroman is a one of my directional and choreographically heroes.   She is a master genius and this adaptation of the Woody Allen film "Bullets Over Broadway" is brilliantly funny, clever and stylish.  Such a shame it is coming off and people will miss out.  But suffer as you missed your opportunity!

Sadly most Australians will have missed out on this show and hopefully the regional companies will try to emulate this masterful directioon and execution.  It is a perfect night of entertainment and it such a fun show.

Seeing Susan Stroman's "Bullets Over Broadway" is one of the few holistic theatre experiences as there was thought for not only the show but the logistics of the following:

You felt special from the moment that you entered this theatrical temple called the St James Theater by the staff's greeting and welcome rather than a curt "tickets!" pronouncement.

I must say this is the first of nine shows this year where cell phones were not a problem due to the hyper vigilant ushers and their dedication to ensure that all patrons were paid mutual respect.  

The young usher directing traffic at interval for the toilets was a superb stage manager and deserves a special mention for his concern about people's safety as they walked the stairs with cell phones as their "tinia".  He announced where people should stand to the right to allow through traffic and also made serious announcements with a light edge with "Facebook will still be there" or he has other versions like "Your girlfriend will still be there ....." or "Your girlfriend still loves you."  He said this with his genuine concern for people's welfare and also in keeping with the genre of the show.  This ensured more people talked unlike other shows where they got neck strain from bending over their phones.

Attending the theatre is not a cheap venture.  I love the respect shown by the "Bullets Over Broadway" management by fostering this caring activities by their ushers.  Also I think they are being responsible for not wanting someone to fall down the stairs as they are texting or talking on their cell phone.

Attending the theatre at the St James and the American Airlines Theater (for "Violet") were made much more holistic experience due to these ushers, souvenir staff and  the very pleasant Cloak Room attendant.

"Bullets Over Broadway" the musical was written by Woody Allen with music adaptation by Glen Kelly.  Susan Stroman works her cast at such a pace that it is  slick show full of wonderful gags and a story that moves with pace and "Bullets Over Broadway", St James Theater, New York Thursday August 7th 2014 the key moments from the movie.

Susan Stroman sets the scene clearly with "Nick's Club" and introduces us to the world of gangsters and their girls.  It seems familiar like "Guys and Dolls" but we are in for a treat of a show.

It is such a joy to see mature men dancing on stage rather than having twenty and thirty somethings playing the more mature men.

That is one of  the main differences I notice is that you are not past your use-by-date" here on Broadway.  But with Australian shows, so many times they use the stars or because of the population and the younger performers playing the older roles.

In Australia we are lucky to have so much talent but performers have more limited opportunities than Broadway or in London.  The competition is fierce in Australia (as it no doubt is in NYC) but the performers here are so lucky that they are more truthful to the casting of age specifications for roles to provide a more realistic portrayal of age specific roles.

The other great aspect of Broadway and Off Broadway, in fact most American theatre companies is seeing the number of older men and women who dance superbly.  Such a treat to see and honour their dedication to their art and their persistence in maintaining their dance skills.

David and Ellen's rooftop is a magic set that we know will revolve later and reminded me of "The Nance" and both had exquisite attention to detail.  

"The Streets of New York" shows us a great number with the men showing their masculine bravura and bullying ability.  My partner thought that the sets in the back alleys and near the canal reminded him of being under the Washington Bridge in "In the Heights."  For a show to evoke memories for my partner, of a specific show, is a huge compliment to both shows.  

"Olive's Apartment" provides some fantastic comic moments with the sexually suggestive "Hot Dog Song" and "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You."

"Helen's Penthouse" introduces us to the magical Marin Mazzie who plays the star Helen Sinclair.  He outfits are to die for.  The costume design by William Ivy Long is so accurate to the period and also glamorous.  He does not fail with providing a feast of glamour and sophistication to the characters.

"The Gowanus Canal" provides Cheech played by Nick Cordero with a great song to display his rich deep voice.  I loved the use of the car from a logistical and authentic view.  The other exceptional aspect was the backdrops that moved to creat a superb sense of movement, atmosphere and location.

The set designs are brilliantly realised by Santo Loquasto.  He provides such detail and smooth transitions between scenes to keep our attention directed accordingly.  I loved the skylines, the theatre revolve, the house revolve, the train, the compartments to the train, and Helen's Penthouse.  In fact I adored every set as they provided a changing attention grabbing moment.  It was like a swipe of an iPAD watching the sets back tabs shift sideways.

"The Belasco Theatre: Onstage Rehearsal" has us in stitches watching as Olive is trying to keep up the script as she uses her finger to keep her place.  When she finally speaks her line we get the vaudeville drop of the jaw by the cast and the pause.  Great timing.

I am curious if there some historical in-jokes about the Belasco Theater as I know there is a ghost.  I am sure Susan Stroman has used some historical homage in the scenes set in this theatre.

"Helen's Terrace Overlooking Times Square" is a simple set with the balcony rising and her name in lights in the background and then the writer's name scrolls up to provide a gag.  The duet between Helen and David is sensational and I love the repeated banter between the two of the them throughout the show.  It pays homage to so many old shows, vaudeville joke sand musicals.  It also reminds me of "The Three Stooges" and "Mark Brothers" sight gags.  

"Nick's Club" has the Atta-Girls provide some light entertainment and classy showgirl memories.  I loved their exquisite costumes and the fur outfits were so elegant.

"The Alley Behind The Theater" has Cheech and his Gangsters show us a great ensemble number "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do" for the men.  So full of energy and Broadway pizazz.

The brilliant finale to Act One is set at "Grand Central Station" that pays homage to "42nd St" and  "On The Twentieth Century."  The ensemble shine in this finale with no hole to be filled.  The girls in their red outfits also pay homage to the Radio City Rockettes and absolutely shine.

Act One gave us  a smile on your face and humming along the tunes.  Every one seemed to have spring in their step.

Act Two "The Wilbur Theater in Boston; Onstage rehearsals" reminded me of the set for "The Nance."  "There's a New Day Comin'" sung by Eden played by Karen Ziemba with the company.  She      

has a hard act to open Act Two and does an admirable job.  Such a consistently fine performance all night.

"Backstage at the Wilbur Theater; Opening Night" has a great song "There'll Be Some Changes Made" which has the cast from the show eager to brighten up the dull script.  We also see Helen and David in a duet "I Ain't Gonna Play Second Fiddle" that provides some more sexual tension and adds to David's story of will he go with Helen Sinclair or stay with his original Ellen?

The scene the "Train from Boston to New York" has the Red Caps frame the number as the compartments to the train rotate to show us what is happening with various characters.  Their song is snappy and punctuates the action with each featured group.This simple revolving set was superb.

We return to "The Gowanus Canal" and see the car again.  We know what is going to happen as it is his routine to farewell a character.  Cheech reprises "Up A Lazy River" with gusto.  Cheech is now implicated in a way that could have severe consequences for himself.

"David and Ellen's Apartment" is revolved to show that Ellen is packing up.  "I've Found a New Baby" is their duet that gives us a moment to reveal their fragile relationship.  She is moving out.

Superb staging with this brilliant set that not only turns but trucks in from upstage.

The apartment trucks upstage as David leaves and reveals "The Streets of New York" where he  sings "The Panic is On." 

"The Alley Behind the Theater" has Cheech confronted and exposed for his earlier actions.  He reprises "Ain't Nobodies Biz-ness If I Do" that provides a sinister pause for us to consider the consequences of his actions.

The farcical chase scene occurs as we  return to "The Belasco Theater: Opening Night' where the stage  is trucked downstage surrounded by the lovely girls, even above the proscenium arch.  This reminded me of the Busby Berkley movies and of some of Graeme Murphy's staging for the Australian production of "Love Never Dies" and his ballets. 

This opening night performance is interrupted by the Gangsters and the chase is on.  This is brilliant beyond comparison as the stage revolves and the characters run through the set with impeccable timing.  It is a very dangerous staging and choreography and has been rehearsed with precision.  Did I say Susan Stroman is a genius?

Cheech is shot and reprises his "Up a Lazy River."  The visual gag of Cheech putting his hand into David's face is an extension of the Helen and David gag.  Great timing and portrayed with sincerity.

We return to "Nick's Club" for the opening night party with champagne flowing.  Relationships are resolved or renewed to complete our story.

A lovely duet by David and Ellen "She's Funny That Way" and then the full Susan Stroman Broadway treatment for us to savour.

Sensational choreography and clever direction by Susan Stroman.  A brilliantly entertaining show that deserved a longer run on Broadway.

The programme is outlined in the traditional way setting outlining the scenes and the musical numbers within each scene.  I love that as it provides a follow up to my "memory jogger" for after seeing the show.

I wish they had a photo of the train compartments that revolved in the picture book programme.  It was my favourite set other than the house that revolves and shows the bedroom.  This scene will be forever etched in my memory.

The souvenirs were on sale as the show is closing.  I think these sale prices should be the normal prices as the Getty Museum in LA uses a cheap pricing policy to get into the museum and you feel like buying a meal or a souvenir.  Here you think twice as $10 for a magnet is ridiculous.  $5 and I bought five as gifts!  $10 for a poster is great, $20 is outrageous.  Why can The Joyce Theater for magnets for a $1 and "Brigadoon" in Chicago for $3.00.  Don't be greedy people are struggling.

Producers please take note:  make the souvenirs more reasonably priced all year round to allow families and tourist and regular theatre patrons the opportunity to take a little bit of theatrical, physical memory with them.

Overall this production receives 9/10.