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Monday
Jun062016

Stage Door: Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's "Bright Star"

In Stage Door we talk theater, usually making some form of movie connection because that's how we do things...

I don't know anything about Bluegrass music but I wouldn't have connected it to the Melodrama form. If I tried to tell you the plot of Steve Martin's Broadway show "Bright Star," you wouldn't even believe it, so I shan't. Let's just say that if the plot were a movie it would be a silent film with wild eyed pantomiming it's so BIG with oversized emotional rug-pulling. I was just crazy about the music but the book not so much. (On the night I attended it was all worth it because Steve Martin made a surprise appearance. There he was as the curtain raised for Act 2, playing on his banjo. He was loving it and so was the very very appreciative crowd. How lucky that he picked our night to show up!)

Aside from the Original Score which just won the Drama Desk Award, the show's MVP is its Tony nominated lead actress Carmen Cusack who plays her character, beautifully, at two separate ages as a gangly uninhibited teenager and a much stiffer heartbroken woman in her 30s; when she fuses their temperaments at the end into the same woman, it's divine. Her voice can soar gorgeously and crash down to earth with equal potency. The Original Cast Recording is now available which might be the best way to experience the otherwise uneven night of theater. The highlight of this particular lucky night out on Broadway was the surprise appearance of Steve Martin playing his banjo as Act 2 began. He was loving it and so were his appreciative surprised fans in the theater that night. I was lucky enough to be among them. 

Bright Star is up for 5 Tonys: Musical, Book of a Musical, Score, Actress, and Orchestrations. 

More Theater
54 Below Molly Pope is doing a one night show in July based on A Star is Born. She's a stunning live performer -it's pricey but I have to be there
NY Times An ode to Broadway replacements Heather Headley & Marin Mazzie
NY Post Michael Riedel predicts a mini Hamilton backlash at the Tonys. It will lose in at least a few categories 
Theater Mania Once frequent Oscar nominee Marsha Mason is directing a production of Steel Magnolias in Pennsylvania (now running through June 18th). Jessica Walter is playing Ouiser which is great casting, don't you think? 
Broadway Blog Cheyenne Jackson has a new album out "Renaissance"

 

 

P.S. Jason and I also caught American Psycho again the day before it closed and during intermission, while chatting with Pushing Daisies / Hannibal TV genius Bryan Fuller (who also enjoyed the show) we all met a crazy fan who was wearing an American Psycho dress . A second time through I'm even more convinced of its brilliance. The Tonys really stiffed it but at least it picked up 3 well deserved Drama Desk Awards (Lighting, Projections, Design) 

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Reader Comments (4)

JAKE GYLENHALL IS DOING A CONCERT OF "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE"
I am dead.

June 6, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterCraver

The Hamilton backlash, however small it may be, is interesting. I've been waiting to see if it would happen. I like the cast recording but I don't love it, so I'm interested to see what I think when I see it live.

And based on nothing other than the 1 or 2 songs I've heard, I'm assuming Bright Star is incredibly boring and I have no desire to see it.

June 7, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterDJDeeJay

I just saw Marin Mazzie and Daniel Dae Kim in The King and I. It was the best-acted pairing I have ever seen and Ruthie Ann Miles is still amazing. Everyone should go see it before it closes June 25. And no, I'm not connected with the show, but I was amazed that the theatre was half-empty for such an amazing performance.

June 11, 2016 | Unregistered Commentervladdy

vladdy -i wish i could afford to see it again this soon. I had planned on going again before it closed but i thought that would be months away. (sigh)

June 11, 2016 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R
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