Saturday, May 03, 2008

Opening Night... Errr... Day

Well, things things got better for Aladdin. Slightly.

Performing the show is still like fighting an uphill battle while painted blue and wearing MC Hammer pants, though. Murphy's Law reigns supreme at the Apollo Theater these days.

Since Thursday's first preview, I overslept and was late for my call for the Friday preview, I walked to that preview in the rain, made it through the preview relatively unscathed and added a few lines to the play to help the audience realize that the cast is fully aware that the "Flying Carpet" is neither flying nor a full carpet. When/if you see it, you'll know what I mean.

The additions helped a little and after a few more hours of rehearsal early this morning, we opened the production with reviewers in the house. It ain't all pretty, but it's open. Thank the Lord.

With the week we've had, we celebrated our first official performance with alcohol of all sorts. Anything we could get our hands on, basically. The performance started at 1:00 p.m. and since 2:15 p.m. I've had wine, vodka, more wine, more vodka, beer, more wine, several slices of pizza, popcorn from the 7-Eleven and... oh, yeah, more wine. It's been a full day.

So to celebrate our giving birth to this blue problem child, I wanted to share three videos of my favorite Broadway "deconstructor," Seth Rudetsky.

Even if you're not a fan of musical theatre, give these clips a try. Mr. Rudetsky's deconstruction of performers and performances is both wickedly hysterical and wonderfully insightful. First, Seth deconstructs Barbra Streisand...



...then, Patti LuPone's performance of "A New Argentina" from Evita at the Tony Awards...



...and then he deconstructs Donna McKechnie and the crazy choreography in the Promises, Promises act one closing number, "Turkey Lurkey Time."



Seth Rudetsky is brilliant. Thanks for all the well wishes for our opening. I'm going to try and wash the traces of blue makeup off my face. Oy...

7 comments:

Lance Noe said...

I have maybe a stupid question.

Isnt this a DISNEY sanctioned show?

Dont they have Disney people crawling all over the theatre ensuring that things are right?

Doug said...

To quote you, Stephen:

"I love this so hard."

I adore Seth...saw him in "The Ritz" last November as Sheldon. I believe it was his debut.

I would love to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon sipping wine and listening to cast recordings with him.

I wonder if he's a top...

whimsical brainpan said...

I'm glad to hear that things are going well(ish).

Jeremy Rizza said...

Aw, man...! I was dying! Thanks for posting this. He's brilliant!

Anonymous said...

don't forget that dumbass aladdin coming in, half naked at curtain call, cuz he thought he could make a quick change.
oh :-(
it's gettin better sissy, and we'll be rockin out after a few days off
don't get into too much trouble
lotsa love
db

Bunny said...

I'm picturing you all blue, ready to star in some Smurf porn . . .

Anonymous said...

okay...I have to admit that you've put Seth in PROPER CONTEXT FINALLY (for me).

I've heard him on Sirius many many times and had resolved that he was the MOST irritating human on earth.

That is, until now. His "ah-MAH-zing" still bothers me but seeing him in video (and not just a static photo) and in his element...he FINALLY makes sense to me. (Before I just had him pegged as a super-femme hyper broadway looney tune.)

THANK YOU! And Seth, when you read this...and you will...BRAVA!