Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#0Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:11pm
I went tonight harboring a nostalgic fantasy that this production would find a way to salvage a little of what made it so special when I first saw it thirty-some years ago. I had seen a local production a few years ago that had little to offer, but hell, I rationalized, one can always hope.
Tonight was the most special night of theater I've experienced in a very long time. The vision of the director, the incredible musical arrangements, the staging, and the performances all meshed together to create something truly spectacular that is as relevant today as it ever was. Maybe more so. This resurrection of Jacques Brel taps into the emotions of trying to live and love in a world gone haywire and it works just fine even given the new parameters of craziness that are beyond anything many of us could have imagined pre-9/11.
I know that I am gushing, but this show has transcended anything I could have hoped for and it was so profoundly moving that I feel compelled to urge everyone to see it. For those of you who have pre-judged it, sight unseen, as a dated work that will only attract people of "a certain age", I encourage you to give it a chance.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
Updated On: 3/12/06 at 11:11 PM
#1re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:12pmI have tickets for Thursday, and now I'm even more excited. Thanks for your comments, I cannot wait!
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#2re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:14pmYay! I am so excited about this! Thanks for your review!
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#3re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:20pm
Did I mention that the cast is exceptionally strong? Or how about that the piano player (who did all the arrangements) will knock your socks off?
I can't stop feeling like I struck gold tonight.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
#4re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:26pmJacques brel has always been amazing
Attend the tale of Bovine Boy
His party threads we all enjoy
But does he have Mad Cow Disease?
He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!!
With cocoa!?!
And lemonade!?!
The heifer-mad poster of Broadway
(World)
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#5re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:27pmLOL! Is the piano player Eric Svejcar? I've had a crush on him since Caligula.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#6re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:30pm
Yep. That's the name. I was too lazy to get up an look in my program, but let's give Eric his due, because he is freakin' amazing.
And please, god, let this be recorded...
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
#7re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:32pmwhos' in it again ?
Attend the tale of Bovine Boy
His party threads we all enjoy
But does he have Mad Cow Disease?
He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!!
With cocoa!?!
And lemonade!?!
The heifer-mad poster of Broadway
(World)
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#8re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:39pm
Yeah, and he's cute too! 
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#9re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:40pm
Robert Cuccioli, Natascia Diaz, Rodney Hicks, and Gay Marshall. Nary a weak link.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
Updated On: 3/12/06 at 11:40 PM
#10re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:41pmi should say not, wow what top notch cast, is this off-bway
Attend the tale of Bovine Boy
His party threads we all enjoy
But does he have Mad Cow Disease?
He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!!
With cocoa!?!
And lemonade!?!
The heifer-mad poster of Broadway
(World)
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#11re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:48pmYep. It's at a small, funky theater on 37th Street called The Zipper.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#12re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:16am
The setting of the Zipper theatre lends itself perfectly to this production which was, in a word, flawless.
Iflit is right: I feel like I struck gold.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
Updated On: 3/13/06 at 12:16 AM
#13re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:06amI went Friday and adored it. It's wrong to single out a single performer when you have such a strong ensemble, but I have to give special props to Ms. Diaz, who was on fire.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#14re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:15am
Have tickets for it in a few weeks
My wife saw it originally at The Village Gate . I saw it when it was on Broadway. Good to hear everyone likes it
Poster Emeritus
#15re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:42amYou are so lucky to have Gay Marshall. She is such a fantastic actress. And what a voice. She was good in Cats here in Paris but I really discovered her in her one woman show called The Show Must Go On. Could anybody tell me how she is doing in Jacques Brel ? Does she sing a bit in French. ?
In my heart, I found the answered dream,
and in my soul I found the song, and in my friends
I found the magic, the love,
the moon up above- they were mine, all mine, all along..!
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#16re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:53amGay Marshall was the only actor with whom I was unfamiliar. She, like the rest of the cast, is fantastic. And yes, she *does* sing a bit in French.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
#17re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:57amHer big role in Paris was in Cats doing the part of "Grisabelle Lady Glamour". She then did one woman shows about being an American in Paris. She speaks French fluently and has one hell of a voice. She made me cry while singing "Guess who I saw today" in her last show that included songs of Tom Lerrer ( sorry for the way I spelled it).
In my heart, I found the answered dream,
and in my soul I found the song, and in my friends
I found the magic, the love,
the moon up above- they were mine, all mine, all along..!
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#18re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:16am
i agree with Meffie - you can't single out any one performer, because they work so perfectly as a group, but Gay Marshall brought "Sons of" to life in a way I've never experienced before. I was speechless. And had tears streaming down my face.
mrcacou, Gay's French brought 'authenticity' to the ensemble. Her voice and presence and movement were perfect for the role.
I would love a recording of this show. If any of you go, be sure to sign the 'sheet' in the lobby asking for names of people who are interested! This is simply the most powerful and inspired performance of Jacques Brel I have ever seen.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#19re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 2:02pm
Who else has plans to see this?
Who else has seen this, and what are your thoughts?
I wish I could share this with everyone... it's that special.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
#20re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 2:16pm
Can't wait to see this! I saw a revival of it years later with the original cast and it was thrilling! The music, the translated lyrics, the spirit!
Then they did a video in the 1970s that was dreadful--it just came out on DVD last year--DON'T BUY IT!
I'm so excited about seeing this it's like I'm on a carousel--
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a ferris wheel...
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#21re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 4:24pm
I'm telling you, I haven't had that "I can't wait to see it again" feeling about a show in a very long time.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#22re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:19pm
I feel the same way! 
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#23re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:38pmWere they selling a CD ? My wife wants to know if they are selling any paraphanelia
Poster Emeritus
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#24re: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated
Posted: 3/13/06 at 10:15pmWhat I wouldn't give to see Gay Marshall and Marcia Gay Harden in a revival of Side Show.
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