If you don't have excellent hearing, like, say because you went to a lot of Ramones shows in tiny clubs when you were 15 or you were near revving jet engines in the Air Force, you MIGHT have some difficulty understanding some lyrics if you're up in the back rows, level with the band.
Tonight was Rodney's final performance, and it was a treat to be there!
Rodney shaped his role with love and the right combination of toughness and tenderness, and provided a special depth of character to the production. He will be missed.
But, the good news is that Jacques Brel IS alive and well, and I plan to return to see this extraordinary show again and again.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
I got ordered my ticket for 8 August, I'm hoping the cast will be in. I really fell in love with Robert, Natascha and Gay the first time I saw it. And of course I looove Drew. *fingers crossed*
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Well, it looks like BREL has quietly extended again---Telecharge is now selling through October 22.
Andy, Jayne was the original female cover, but she left the show in late May/early June. Tamara Jenkins is now the female cover. However, I know that Jayne went on at least once for Natascia.
Jayne will be stepping into the show for 2 weeks in mid-August while Natascia is on vacation.
The show continues to be stunning. Absolutely brilliant. And it's a different show every night--having seen it several times now I can tell you it's a completely different show all the time--the ties between the characters and the actors are in constant motion.
Drew has been in for 2 weeks now and his connection to his costars just builds and builds. God forbid you should sit i the right mezzanine and see his face during "You are Not Alone--you can't help but cry."
Having now sat in...almost every section of the theatre I can tell you there are definitely NO BAD SEATS. Every seat affords you an amazing view with the exception of the first row left orchestra where, if you're sitting in the 2nd 3rd or 4th seats in, it's the tiniest bit obstructed, but not much at all--you won't miss a thing. The house manager and box office do a terrific job of seating people--and student rush is only $20, folks. Take advantage of it!
The other thing is--the cast, personably, is so splendid and so human and they truly understand the weight of the show--they're supremely nice people--Gay and Bob are less talkative, but if you're able to catch them after the show they're happy to talk to you. Gay, you might have a problem with because she speeds off on her scooter. If you're standing outside after and approach them, Drew will definitely stop to sign and chat, and Natascia can be very talkative--but on a 2-show day, she's real tired.
I know first hand re Bob. The little devil tried to get away between but eagle eye fleagel got him & said " Mr Cuccioli". Like a deer in the headlights he froze & I knew I had him
He signed the Playbill & even posed for a picture with my wife The picture is now our wallpaper on our computer. My wife asked him, as only she can , "When are you coming back to Broadway"? He said he was still doing this & she hinted to get on the stick & get back to Broadway. He is very nice
My wife wants to see it again so maybe the weekend after labor day we will spend the weekend in the city like we were to see months ago when she fractured her elbow, With her AMEX points, we will again try for the Renaissance with 2 shows on Saturday & one ( probably Brel) on Sunday . We want to eat @ Foleys in the hotel. Time will tell
Secret-Soul, do you know the dates that Jayne will be in the show? I'm seeing it twice in August (and I've seen it twice already), and I'd love to see her in the part.
This is easily my favorite show in New York right now. My affection for it grows with each return visit. It's truly a thing of beauty.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
I'm not sure of the dates, but I can find out this week.
and re: Bob--yes, he does that...he stops like a deer in the headlights...
last night I had already said goodnight to him and he started up the street when my friend reminded me that she wanted her poster signed so i called "Hey Bob!" up the street and (insert deer-in-headlights) "would you sign my friend's poster for her?" and he was like "OF COURSE!" and came back and then we had a nice little convo w/ him.
Well you know...part of it is the fact that so often there's no one waiting so they run home--recently there's been a surge in attendance and people who WANT to talk afterwards and sometimes he comes out and looks around but mostly goes on his way--so everytime I see him I make a point of saying "'night Bob" so he knows he's not going unappreciated.
I saw the show on Friday night and Tamra Hayden was on for Natascia. Natascia's vacation is August 23rd - September 3rd. I have no idea who will be filling in for her though. Updated On: 8/22/06 at 12:12 AM
Tamara was on for Natascia a few days last week because Natascia was off filming something. She was set to be leaving on vacation yesterday August 21st--she did the matinee on the 20th, but not the evening. She'll be gone until September 3rd but doubts that she'll go on on the 4th due to jet lag. Expect her to be back in probably by the 5th. Jayne is expected to go on in Natascia's role for the extent of her vacation.