#tonightsbill: October

This month I was lucky enough to get to see four, count em FOUR, Broadway shows! I was seriously spoiled, and I feel like the luckiest girl ever.

First up was Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Let me first say that I did not think I was going to like Hedwig.  I didn't think I was going to hate it by any means, but I just didn't think it was going to be my cup of tea.  I was wrong.  I was not in the best state of mind when I saw this show, and I had to literally sprint ten blocks and two avenues to be there on time, but I left feeling completely out of my funk.  

Another reason why I waited so long to see the show was how impossible it was to get tickets. I would have loved to have seen NPH in this, and was very excited when Andrew joined the cast, but still I was convinced that winning the lottery was impossible.  I was wrong again.  The day I went there were just short of 40 people, and everyone got a ticket. The picture below is from my seat. I was second row center! 

Andrew in the roll of Hedwig was amazing.  You could definitely tell the moments that were all NPH's making, but Andrew wore that wig, he didn't let the wig wear him.  What really made the show for me however, was Lena Hall as Yitzhak.  Something about the simplicity and stillness of her performance, compared to the high energy of Hedwig, completely won me over.  Perfect and heartbreaking.  There is no doubt in my mind she deserved that Tony.  I am so so glad I got out to see this show, and I can't wait to see Michael C. Hall! 

Later that week I got to go back and see Cinderella, now starring Keke Palmer and Sherri Shepherd. I know every 90's girl is with me when I say that when I saw this casting announcement all of my Brandi/Whitney fantasies from my childhood instantly came true.  For me it is Keke's child like sense of humor that sets her apart from the former Cinderellas.  And girl can (and does) belt! And Sherri Shepherd was just as over the top and sassy as I expected her to be as Madame, Cinderella's step mother.  I also want to give a shout out to the many swings we saw at our performance.  They had incredible on stage chemistry and sounded wonderful.

I got the itch this month to get myself to a play, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was every single persons recommendation. Taking them on their word I did no research before I went, and boy am I glad I didn't.  All I have to say about this play is that it is the most selfless piece of theatre I have ever seen.  It was like a breath of fresh air.  A breath of fresh air with an important, not preachy, message.  You'll just have to see it to believe it I guess. 

Also, this set.  I mean COME ON.  So creative.  But for once, the technology didn't get in the way of the performances.  Again, you'll just have to see it to believe it. 

How cool was this play.  Again with this show, going in I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had a great time.  Simply put the show tells the story of John Lennon's career through the assistance of his music.  With John Waters as Lennon. That right there was reason enough for me to go, and also probably why I didn't do any reading on the show beforehand.  I just knew it was going to be good.  

But I have to say, I had the worst audience experience of my life seeing this show.  The man sitting in front of us refused to put his phone on silent and it went off every ten minutes.  And the woman behind us treated it like her own private concert.  She sang along to every song, and accompanied herself during the musical breaks with how the instrumental parts usually go. I tried to flag down an usher multiple times, but none of them remained in the theatre during the performance! What? It is a testament to the show and to John's performance that I was able to enjoy the show as much as I did, despite the rudeness around me.  

As if this weren't enough for one month, I just found out I get to see another show on Sunday night! But since everything is closing in January this year I guess we had all better get while the getting is good! Have you been seeing any good theatre lately? -xo Sydney