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On August 26th Stacey and I met on the corner 46th Street and 8th Avenue -- the corner of Restaurant Row in Times Square, NYC -- at about 5:30. We walked down the block and immediately decided on a place called BRAZIL BRAZIL, Brazilian food if you couldn't guess...
The Brazil Brazil had an interesting feel to it. The atmosphere was slightly off, but I think it was the result of being an open air restaurant and possibly TOO much light was getting in. It's one of those buffet places: you can go to the trays to get the vegies and rice and stuff, and they come around to your table with meat and carve it for you. The food was quite good. We got their sangria which complimented the meal perfectly. Good food.
We were done quite early and had quite a lot of time before the show, so we decided to stroll along 42nd Street. In the years before Rudy Giuliani 42nd Street meant a pit of filth and pr0n. However, after Rudy, Times Square is a wonderful fantastical place. You can just wander around gazing at all the various forms of visual stimulation that surrounds you. Billboards. Droves of tourists. Stores. Signs. Lights. Vendors hawking their goods.
People handing out flyers...
Usually I like to accept those. I take them and read them and toss them in the trash. But this night I got something different. That's right, not the usual cell phone sales, or palm readers, but a handout about Scientology.
Argh!
I ran as fast as I could to deposit this in the nearest trash receptacle. I have enough problems without joining a brainless zombie cult. My wife found this action pretty funny. I turned to see her laughing, and I grinned my biggest smile overloaded with dimples and we embraced for a moment before heading on our way.
We arrived at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on 46th Street before 7:30. Shocker! The doors were already open. We went in and they rounded everyone up in a second floor reception area. I think it's not a coincidence that they have multiple vending areas for all manner of goodies from CDs to roses, to candy, to booze, etc. All I know is that I was the first to hit the men's room. I must say that they really know how to make bathrooms in Times Square. Clean. Spacious. Well lit. Nice.
Back to the lobby, and the building in general. This must've been the best maintained theater we've been to yet. Disney keeps a tight ship. Even the carpets and seats are very clean.
The band started to play. At other shows, they blink the lights three times to bring the place to order: a five minute warning. For this show, the light began to dim a little as the orchestra began playing. I think people might miss the light trick, but no one can miss the music.
The lights are out, the narration starts...
I'll not go into too much detail about the show. You really have to experience it. There are many notable moments about the show.
Steve Blanchard did a great job as The Beast. He was vicious when needed, but funny when that was called for. He couldn't depend on facial expressions for emphasis, so body language and voice carried it all for him. Great job!
Belle, Brooke Tansley, was very animated. She has a wonderful voice, but she even sang her spoken lines. She seemed eternally cheerful, something about her timbre, so it was hard to accept her being sad about anything.
Chip was terribly disturbing to me.
Grant Norman played Gaston so the hilt. Perfect. Hilarious. A shining start in the show.
Peter Flynn as Lumiere was outstanding and really stole the show. When he was on stage, no one else really mattered.
Considering that the show is about Belle falling in love with the Beast, they really didn't spend much time with that story. One moment they hate eachother. Then they read a book together. She leaves. Then she's in love! I wish they built it up more.
???
Another thing, the biggest number of the show, Be Our Guest. Be Our Guest? They take something so unimportant in the story as Belle having a meal in the castle and they made it into the biggest production of the show! Ton's of dancers. A couple set changes. Tons of singers. I kinda shook my head afterward.
One song that really astounds the crowd, the bar scene. In the Playbill they list it as "Gaston." The choreography in that one is really amazing.
TONS of elaborate set changes throughout the show. Awe inspiring.
Great costumes.
Great orchestra.
Great show. Definitely worth the money to see. I still like Phantom better, but this was certainly impressive and entertaining.
The Brazil Brazil had an interesting feel to it. The atmosphere was slightly off, but I think it was the result of being an open air restaurant and possibly TOO much light was getting in. It's one of those buffet places: you can go to the trays to get the vegies and rice and stuff, and they come around to your table with meat and carve it for you. The food was quite good. We got their sangria which complimented the meal perfectly. Good food.
We were done quite early and had quite a lot of time before the show, so we decided to stroll along 42nd Street. In the years before Rudy Giuliani 42nd Street meant a pit of filth and pr0n. However, after Rudy, Times Square is a wonderful fantastical place. You can just wander around gazing at all the various forms of visual stimulation that surrounds you. Billboards. Droves of tourists. Stores. Signs. Lights. Vendors hawking their goods.
People handing out flyers...
Usually I like to accept those. I take them and read them and toss them in the trash. But this night I got something different. That's right, not the usual cell phone sales, or palm readers, but a handout about Scientology.
Argh!
I ran as fast as I could to deposit this in the nearest trash receptacle. I have enough problems without joining a brainless zombie cult. My wife found this action pretty funny. I turned to see her laughing, and I grinned my biggest smile overloaded with dimples and we embraced for a moment before heading on our way.
We arrived at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on 46th Street before 7:30. Shocker! The doors were already open. We went in and they rounded everyone up in a second floor reception area. I think it's not a coincidence that they have multiple vending areas for all manner of goodies from CDs to roses, to candy, to booze, etc. All I know is that I was the first to hit the men's room. I must say that they really know how to make bathrooms in Times Square. Clean. Spacious. Well lit. Nice.
Back to the lobby, and the building in general. This must've been the best maintained theater we've been to yet. Disney keeps a tight ship. Even the carpets and seats are very clean.
The band started to play. At other shows, they blink the lights three times to bring the place to order: a five minute warning. For this show, the light began to dim a little as the orchestra began playing. I think people might miss the light trick, but no one can miss the music.
The lights are out, the narration starts...
I'll not go into too much detail about the show. You really have to experience it. There are many notable moments about the show.
Steve Blanchard did a great job as The Beast. He was vicious when needed, but funny when that was called for. He couldn't depend on facial expressions for emphasis, so body language and voice carried it all for him. Great job!
Belle, Brooke Tansley, was very animated. She has a wonderful voice, but she even sang her spoken lines. She seemed eternally cheerful, something about her timbre, so it was hard to accept her being sad about anything.
Chip was terribly disturbing to me.
Grant Norman played Gaston so the hilt. Perfect. Hilarious. A shining start in the show.
Peter Flynn as Lumiere was outstanding and really stole the show. When he was on stage, no one else really mattered.
Considering that the show is about Belle falling in love with the Beast, they really didn't spend much time with that story. One moment they hate eachother. Then they read a book together. She leaves. Then she's in love! I wish they built it up more.
???
Another thing, the biggest number of the show, Be Our Guest. Be Our Guest? They take something so unimportant in the story as Belle having a meal in the castle and they made it into the biggest production of the show! Ton's of dancers. A couple set changes. Tons of singers. I kinda shook my head afterward.
One song that really astounds the crowd, the bar scene. In the Playbill they list it as "Gaston." The choreography in that one is really amazing.
TONS of elaborate set changes throughout the show. Awe inspiring.
Great costumes.
Great orchestra.
Great show. Definitely worth the money to see. I still like Phantom better, but this was certainly impressive and entertaining.
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