First up was Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Here's the thing. I'm the one person in my theater friend group that's been promoting this show. I'm the only one that actually wanted to see it. I mean, it's based on War and Peace, so I was assuming it was going to be a hard sell. But I thought Josh Groban would tip the scales for them. Unfortunately, he didn't so that's why I bought one ticket for me.
Of course, Josh Groban just happened to get a cold the day I finally would get to see it. But understudies are usually fabulous too, so I was still positive. Based on the stage alone, I would enjoy the show. Have you seen a more beautiful Broadway stage ever?'
But even the wonderful understudy and the beautiful stage couldn't make me like this show. I hate to say it, but I hated it! I think it may have had something to do with it being just too giant. There were actors everywhere - dancing on the stage, in the audience, on tables in people's faces. There was so much going on, I never knew where to look. Also, the music was so loud, I couldn't understand what anyone was saying. Every other review I've read has said this show was amazing, so I'm not sure what it was exactly that made it so terrible to me but I'm not willing to spend the money to try it again, just to see if Josh Groban would make it better.
That was Wednesday - luckily, my fabulous experience at 54 Below erased most of the Great Comet disaster of that day. On Thursday, the snows came which was no good since I had a ticket to see a Live with Kelly taping. So after trudging through the snow, I finally arrived at the studio where I was ushered to my seat to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan co-host. Of course, Kelly Ripa was there too. But let's be honest, I was there to see JDM. Anyway, aside from the frozen feet that were snow-logged, I had a blast. It's so weird to see the behind the scenes action up close. But for the most part, it all looks like it does on television.
I thought it was a little weird that the producers would instruct us when to clap and how loudly to clap. Also, during commercial breaks I assumed the hosts would just chat to each other, but no. They would chat with the audience and take pictures with people who asked. It was all very interactive. I had a blast and I would definitely do it again - hopefully on a day when it's not snowing 3 inches per hour...
After retreating to my hotel room to beat the cold, I bravely made a decision to go back out in the mess to see if could snag tickets to some show that evening for cheap. It seemed a waste to just watch tv in Manhattan when Broadway was a block away. The show I got luck with was In Transit. This was something that I sort of wanted to see because a friend had seen it and said it was "kinda cute." But it wasn't anything that I just had to get tickets too. However, after seeing it, I'm totally in love with it! It was fantastic and so much better than the Great Comet. It's a musical that's totally sung Acapella - no band whatsoever, which is impressive enough. But add to that the sweet story and the great jokes, and you have a great little musical. This was definitely one that I would see again.
Thank goodness I liked it, because after all that snow I think I was owed at least one win... : )
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