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The Drowsy Chaperone!
Mar. 26th, 2009 07:30 pmOn Saturday I actually went to see The Drowsy Chaperone! I'm still squeeing over it! It was the cutest thing ever. (Synopsis: A musical comedy about a fan who guides us through the cast album of his favorite 1920's musical, 'The Drowsy Chaperone', which comes to life before us as he provides amusing background facts and commentary. Hilarity ensues.) I had a feeling listening to the cast recording that this was just one of those shows you had to see to really get, and I was right. It's so funny and so sweet and curiously touching even (possibly because it glorifies a group that I belong to: devoted, opinionated, hopelessly besotted musical theater lovers!) It's quite frightening how much the Man in Chair reminds me of me! Brushing off his records, sitting parked in front of his record player with a juice box and a rapt expression as his favorite cast album plays! I sound just like him when I talk about musicals to people, it's truly scary! But I love him. The guy who played him was just fantastic. And I had orchestra seats, so I was close enough to actually see him, and the rest of the show properly! The costumes were just gorgeous, and I was making mental notes of every stitch and sequin! That is, when I wasn't distracted by the very pretty actor who played Robert Martin! I think he was a good casting choice, since one could understand why the Man in Chair would have a crush on him, unlike the rather oldish and much less pretty guy in the Broadway cast! The actress who played Mrs. Tottendale was rather too young though, and my mum didn't understand why she was forgetful and wearing old-fashioned clothes, until I explained the character was supposed to be old! But she was still good.(And she was wearing the Lucile 'Happiness' dress! I just love catching those things! There's just not enough love out there for Lady Duff-Gordon!) And I'm absolutely determined that I will make a doll-sized replica of the set with the bed that had the gold peacock headboard and purple bedding!
But anyhoo, the musical numbers were lovely, and I appreciate the songs much more, since they're not terribly memorable in and of themselves, being pretty much pastiches and parodies of twenties styles, you've got to have the whole frame of the show around it to make them work. And especially big dance numbers, there's nothing worse than listening to dance numbers on cast albums, because you hear the taps but obviously can't see where they come from! But when you do see them, it's adorable. Especially during the 'Bride's Lament', the monkey joke is funny on the album, but when you see the ensemble dancing around in monkey costumes, well... it helps! And seeing the Man in Chair dancing around and mouthing the words along with the characters! Don't we all do that? It's too funny! It's those little things that make it so magical. I've SO got to see more live shows. It's been ten years since the last one I went to! I hope there'll be some good stuff next year, because I don't want to make it another ten years before the next!
But anyhoo, the musical numbers were lovely, and I appreciate the songs much more, since they're not terribly memorable in and of themselves, being pretty much pastiches and parodies of twenties styles, you've got to have the whole frame of the show around it to make them work. And especially big dance numbers, there's nothing worse than listening to dance numbers on cast albums, because you hear the taps but obviously can't see where they come from! But when you do see them, it's adorable. Especially during the 'Bride's Lament', the monkey joke is funny on the album, but when you see the ensemble dancing around in monkey costumes, well... it helps! And seeing the Man in Chair dancing around and mouthing the words along with the characters! Don't we all do that? It's too funny! It's those little things that make it so magical. I've SO got to see more live shows. It's been ten years since the last one I went to! I hope there'll be some good stuff next year, because I don't want to make it another ten years before the next!
