Let's Go On With the Show

Yesterday I went to my first Broadway show as a resident :) I was spending yesterday afternoon with a friend, exploring the Upper West Side (another neighborhood candidate) and just as we were heading back to his place, his roommate called with extra tickets to 100 in the Shade.

The show as a whole isn't the greatest. It joins the ranks of "My Fair Lady" as straight plays that never needed to be remade into musicals. 110 in the Shade is based on The Rainmaker, one of my most favorite plays. Audra McDonald, someone I rarely care for, did an excellent portrayal of Lizzie, a "plain" girl, and the show's lead. Her voice is a bit operatic for my taste, but her acting was pretty dead on. I liked Starbuck (the Rainmaker con-man), as well. John Cullum was brilliant as Lizzie's father, HC. You might remember him as Harlon from Northern Exposure. I only really remember one song from the show: "Raunchy". If I'd heard just a recording of it, I think I'd have hated it, but the way she performed it was absolutely delightful.

So, overall, an enjoyable show. Especially if you can ignore all the singing, lol. It made me want to see a revival of The Rainmaker, though. Unfortunately, it was just revived 7 years ago. Woody Harelson played Starbuck. That must have been something. There was a performance recorded for A&E about 15 years or so ago with Tommy Lee Jones in the lead. He was fantastic.

I really liked the Upper West Side. It seemed very livable and there's a ton to do, including a good jazz club right in the West 90s (as in a good club that's singer-friendly and I can sit in). I'd just been telling my friend about the club (which I haven't yet visited, but it's on my list- recommended to me by a friend) when I pointed to a cool-looking building up ahead. As we got closer, it was the club in question! Very nice. It's a bit of a schlepp for a late night there from Brooklyn (especially this far out), but I'll be visiting as soon as I can get set up in Manhattan digs. Knock wood that it's soon and an easy process.