QUICK TICKET- Shows of the "Lazy Period"

Picasso had his blue period, I had my lazy period. I stopped writing my blog from October '09, to just last week. That's about 5 months of no Broadway...as if. My laziness only extended to new blog posts, not going to actual shows. Please. I was lazy, not dead! So I figured, I would provide reviews of what I saw during my blog hiatus, since some of these shows were good...and others not so good. Here we go....

STILL OPEN:

NEXT TO NORMAL - Alice Ripley stars in this Tony award winning musical about a family dealing with mental illness. I'm gonna be honest here and say I went into this show thinking that I was going to hate it -- but low and behold, I actually liked it. Granted it is not for everyone, it is definitely a little offbeat...but the performances are great and the songs will win you over. Yeah, it's depressing, but it's also funny (there were definitely moments when I thought, "Am I going to hell for laughing at this?"). There are plenty of discounted ticket offers for this show, so if you are looking for something like you have never seen before, and are willing to take a leap of faith, I would check it out. 3.5 Tickets

Next to Normal is playing at the Booth Theater. http://www.nexttonormal.com

MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL - David Bryan is quickly becoming one to watch on Broadway. Who is he you ask? You know him as the curly headed keyboardist of Bon Jovi, but he is also churning out great musicals on Broadway - first with The Toxic Avenger Musical, now with the soulful Memphis. Memphis takes place in the 1950s and is the story about two people - Huey, a white DJ, and Felicia, a black club singer, their love for music and each other. Think a more dramatic Hairspray. Montego Glover is the standout as Felicia, and I hope to see more of her on Broadway. Chad Kimball is pretty great as Huey, however sometimes the character bordered on weird and/or annoying. The whole cast gives 110%, so I think you would definitely enjoy this show despite the fact it may be a bit formulaic, and a little uneven. (The beginning sometimes drags, whereas the last act flies by and stuffs in so much.) The music is great, and if you are not tapping your feet, and humming some tunes when the curtain falls...well, your heart is black and you have no soul. 3.5 Tickets

Memphis the Musical is playing at the Shubert Theater. http://www.memphisthemusical.com

ROCK OF AGES - If you cannot stand Constantine Maroulis, stop reading this now. For those that are still with me, Rock of Ages is a thinly plotted, musical head bang about " a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world" who meets a guy working in a bar in 80s Los Angeles who "won't stop believin'" that he too will become a rock star. Throw in some ridiculous minor side plots, and you have the mess of the musical that is Rock of Ages. Don't get me wrong, I love 80s hair band metal as much as the next guy, ( I even own a copy of Monster Ballads) but this show was just noise, leather, and f-bombs. Half the time I couldn't hear what anyone was saying, and the other half of the time I wish I couldn't hear them, as the girl ensemble singers mutilated "Kiss Me Deadly" among others. (Apologies to Lita Ford.) The intentions are there, but in the spirit of this show, they just couldn't get it up for me. OUCH. 1.5 Tickets

Rock of Ages is now playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theater. http://www.rockofagesmusical.com/broadway.php

RACE - Did he or didn't he? That is the question among many others in Race, a drama about a pair of lawyers defending a wealthy white businessman accused of raping a black woman. Essentially you get to eavesdrop on their debate about whether this man is guilty or innocent and since this is is written and directed by David Mamet, it is one high energy, thought provoking conversation. James Spader and David Alan Grier are awesome as the attorneys, but Kerry Washington has a tendency to overact as their new legal assistant. Overall, if you like a show that will leave you with more questions than answers, I would give Race a shot. 3 Tickets

Race is playing at the Ethel Barrymore theater through June 13th. http://www.raceonbroadway.com

CLOSED:

These shows have closed, but some were so great, I really needed to give them a shout out.

Brighton Beach Memoirs - Neil Simon, need I say more? The best play I had seen in awhile, or maybe ever. I was depressed for a week when they announced it was closing. 5 Tickets.

Oleanna - This show couldn't close fast enough in my opinion. I blame Julia Stiles. It would have gotten zero tickets, if it wasn't for the sheer fact that it was so irritating and annoying I couldn't stop thinking about it. 1 Ticket.

The Understudy - A limited Roundabout Theater production, this show starred Mark Paul Gosselaar (awesome), Julie White (awesomer) and Justin Kirk (awesomest). Aside from my newly discovered attraction to the ex- Zach Morris, this show also proved to be an awesome character piece that definitely entertained. 3.5 Tickets

The Starry Messenger - Matthew Broderick was OK, if not unconvincing as the lead, in this drama about an astronomy teacher and a mid life crisis love affair. Kieran Culkin was great as one of his students, however the highlight of this show for me was standing in the lobby next to Kate Winslet and Victor Garber. OMGEE! 2.5 Tickets

A View From the Bridge - A great revival effort, with excellent performances by Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber. This was a limited run, and I wish that they would have extended it so more people could check it out. 4 tickets.

The Miracle Worker - A truly moving play about Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan. Alison Pill, who, in my opinion is one of the greatest young actresses on Broadway today was great as tough as nails Annie, and Abigail Breslin was impressive as Helen. Great performance by my long time love Matthew Modine as well. Just couldn't bring in the crowds though. Your loss. 3.5 Tickets.

All About Me - Dame Edna + Michael Feinstein = a funny mess. 3 tickets.

UP NEXT: A Behanding in Spokane

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilovememphis/4497718046