Stephen Quint and the ZOMBIE MIKADO

All the NYGASP 2010 City Center Reviews (I think)

NYGASP certainly got a lot of reviews, mostly for RUDDIGORE, and mostly by online critics, which unfortunately makes them low in credibility.

The New York Times liked it, and it's short and positive, so you may as well read it.

London's Financial Times gave a lively, positive review, but disparaged excessive mugging and amateurish decor.

Variety enjoyed it but also mocked the hyped Edward Gorey-inspired sets and the "distractingly awkward dancing of the male chorus," who did have a pretty busy time of it.

The Backstage review is, again, positive - there is an encouraging adjective for each of the principals - but this guy just doesn't like RUDDIGORE very much.

The rest of these are all online writers, and I suppose it is my duty to look at each one and recommend it or not.

Gay Socialites.com. Brief, positive-ish, and a waste of time, depending how much you value 20 seconds of your life. "Forbes on Film and Footlights" is pretty good, readable, expected online lack of depth but a nice mention of nearly every principal. Qonstage is positive and kind of fun. Gay Socialites also reviewed "Mikado," which you can feel free to skip, included here for reasons of completeness. Here is a "Pirates" review from Theater Scene.net which labels me "impressive," though not definitive. Is the world a worse place for not having a definitive Major-General in it? Who cares? Who's the definitive Hamlet, or Sherlock Holmes? It's a not-unentertaining review nonetheless. I guess a review should contain something a little baffling.

The other reviews I am aware of are in the posting below this.

Want a break from RUDDIGORE reviews? Something with a modicum of wit, perhaps? Why not try this review I wrote of my brother's bassoon recital, written in showoff small-city newspaper style?

NYGASP 2010 City Center Online "Who Cares?" Reviews

Here, at the halfway point in our NYC season, is the only City Center 2010 review of which I am aware - a slightly pointless, mildly negative one for "Mikado." It is somewhat amusing in its truthiness and bitchy adjectives (a production which is "plodding," "fiscally underfunded," and "creatively heavy-handed"; various principals who are "frantic," "matronly," and "smarmy"). He praises the staging of the madrigal "Brightly dawns our wedding day" because - YES! - nothing happens! And mentions that the text updates that have become de rigeur in any "Mikado" occur as expected, including at least one too many references to Botox. I have never seen a NYGASP production or performance that was thoroughly bad, and I have never read a negative NYGASP review that was completely without merit, and from which someone might learn something.

He says in the review that RUDDIGORE is Friday night. "Pirates" is. RUDDIGORE is Thursday, Saturday night, and Sunday.

Since I wrote the above here is another online review of the high school English assignment variety, for "Pirates." It is positive. Read it if you don't have any important scratching or looking out the window to do.

OK, one final amendment before I move on to a new post. This one is for RUDDIGORE, from Theatermania. It is qualified-positive (a production that is "modestly entertaining") and, in typical online style, sums up each principal with an adjective. I enthusiastically agree that the ladies were really superb: Sarah Caldwell Smith as Rose was hilarious without overdoing anything and looked like a character from a Victorian picture book, and sang maybe even better than she looked, Caitlin Burke as Margaret was believably twitchy and distracted and brought a lot of sincerity to enforced interpretations this production has always insisted on for Margaret, and Erika Person was the best-sung Hannah ever - she might get a tear from you if you're still paying attention by the time she sings "There grew a little flower," one of Gilbert's great "Titwillow"-type nature parables.

Your enjoyment of RUDDIGORE may be enhanced when you learn that the orchestral horn solos are played by me, a local 802 AF of M member, in the pit. It's a new instrument, and these performances are the first time I've had it out in public.

Lucy (catch her final performance in "Mikado" at the Saturday, Jan 16 matinee) enthuses over the new Dieter Otto Single Bb horn.

Mr Steve: Vulcan

NYGASP had its New Year's Eve concert at Symphony Space last night. It was a gala day (cue Groucho). I sang "When I was a lad" from STARSHIP PINAFORE (see posting below). I think I look pretty good considering the transformation, with the help of fellow Isaac Asimov awardee for Artistic Excellence Louis Dall'Ava, took 5 minutes. The shirt was a tent, designed for your average 400 lb Trekkie, and most of it was tucked into my pants, accounting for the illusion of a gigantic ass.

Photo courtesy of Dave Sigafoose! Thanks!