Mean Girls

Mean Girls on tour is fun, frisky, and fetch. 

Mean Girls on it's Broadway Natural Tour brings the same feeling as the movie, which I take as a good thing. It brought the same spicy, girly attitude that the story is known for. It was simply fun, and frankly, I got exactly what I expected from it going in.

Its weaker moments never brought the entire play down, which is something I can appreciate. I could tell that this play was going to a bit packaged and shallow, but its flaws were manageable. The acting was like many musicals I see lately; not great. Just too many pauses, using pauses to force a punchline, the usual.

The message of the story didn't quite get across, much like the movie. Mean Girls is about the harm of tearing others down, and how our own insecurities are what cause us to lash-out. I think I was supposed to have left with a newfound perspective on how to be kinder to people, but in all honesty, all I could think about was tomorrow's outfit. I think the reasoning for this was that the agenda was forced. They could do with a healthy dose of "show don't tell".

Speaking of outfits, the costumes were a mixed bag for me. Regina George emerged onstage in head-to-toe white, lifting her out of the crowd and effectively establishing her dominance and allure. It was a great choice. The rest of the costumes looked like a Google search for "2010's teen clothes". They were absolutely generic. I would have preferred for them to either fully embrace a 2020's theme, making it fresh and trendy, or go down the early 2000's road. Part of the Mean Girls story includes fashion, so the costumes should have made a bigger impact in the play. I say, pick a real theme and go to town with it.

The biggest strength of Mean Girls was the mighty singing voices.

Mariah Rose Faith as Regina George killed "World Burn" with her suburb voice and enticing presence. The set and lighting design also shined during this song. The computer-screen-set worked really well for this moment, and was used to accentuate the drama of the song.

Overall, I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed my time seeing Mean Girls.

 -Celia Boldizar 

Images: [TOP] Marcus, Joan. "Danielle Wade (Cady Heron), Megan Masako Haley (Gretchen Wieners), Mariah Rose Faith (Regina George), and Jonalyn Saxer (Karen Smith) in the National Tour Company of MEAN GIRLS. Phindie, 2019, http://phindie.com/20646-mean-girls-national-tour-doesnt-quite-clique/. [BOTTOM] "Mariah Rose Faith plays Regina George in the Mean Girls Tour", Broadway.com, https://www.broadway.com/buzz/197124/we-see-stars-get-a-first-look-at-danielle-wade-mariah-rose-faith-mary-kate-morrissey-more-in-the-mean-girls-tour/. 

Come From Away

Come From Away gets the applause without putting on a show. 

On 9/11, the town of Gander rose above and beyond, doing their part to help in the time of need. It is an incredible tale about the humanity of the people coming together after tragedy. The story of Gander is one that can teach us all a lesson about caring for others and working as a team. 

The musical that retells the inspiring story however, barley raises a finger in effort. The only thing I can appreciate about Come From Away is that it is a true story, because when you take that aspect away you are left with a disappointing product. This musical is an striking example of doing the bare minimum. 

It is a box-mix of a show; edible and sweet to the tongue, but bland from lack of care, personality, and craftsmanship. 

The thing that saddened me was that the audience ate it up. I understand that it is the principal of the thing. The subject matter is what people connect with. Everyone has a memory of 9/11. It is an important story, one that makes us proud to be Americans, the way that everyone came together and overcame the greatest of adversities. So I understand that anything having to do with 9/11 has a place in people's hearts, and I am not trying to discount that. I am looking objectively at this musical as a piece of theatre, and it happens to be a subpar one. As a work of art and entertainment it is lacking in qualities that make it unique or meaningful. Without the subject matter backing it up it would be worthless. 

*Disclaimer: this review is solely about the musical itself; it has nothing to do with the actual people and events involved in the story it's based on. 

The humor was the worst part...

When you resort to jokes about men confused about feminine products and people acting silly when they are drunk, you know you have hit comedy rock bottom.

Sure you can support the message of a show, but when you laugh at every single lousy joke, that is a different matter. It shocks me that people go along with things so easily. When a clear punchline is presented to them, an audience feels the need to laugh. They are cornered into a joke, pushed against the wall an told to laugh on the count of three. And they do it! Meanwhile, I am sitting there having to listen to a sea of forced laughter, hoping for a moment when I, the onlooker, can truthfully take part in this shared sensation. 

Chairs and coats, chairs and coats, chairs and coats. 

If you love chairs and coats, then boy do I have a show for you. All that happened was they moved around chairs and took off and on their coats. I do have to say, it was the best part of the show. It was satisfying to see them create so many locations and characters with so limited sets and actors. The blocking was very intricate; every moment was precisely planned. 

The characters were as cookie-cutter as all can be. 

Bonnie the veterinarian (or as I like to call her, PAW Patrol) was unbelievably cheesy and given way too much stage time. The two couples that filled the play's romantic requirements added a needed sense of cutesy good feelings, but only because people like to see people in love in any format. The charm had nothing to do with their characters, but the fact that they were technically "in love". Chamblee Ferguson as Nick managed to carry some of the weight of the show due to his C3PO quality, playing the endearing nervous British man. A tried and true stereotype that gets the laugh, but feels unoriginal.  

Thank god there was no intermission. I could imagine that if there had been one all of the momentum gathered in the first act would have been lost. By the time I would sit back in my seat after intermission I would be able to fully realize the absurdity of what I was watching. The build was all that held this story from falling apart.

"But what about the music? Tell me there was at least one catchy song to get from this excruciating experience?" Well, I have bad news; as far as the music goes...

I can't remember a single tune. As we were walking out of the theatre my sister was humming "Show Yourself" from Frozen II. Not a great sign after just sitting through an hour and a half long play packed full of songs.

- Celia Boldizar

From a Distance: Les Miserables

What can I say about Les Miserables that someone hasn't already said?

When I think back to last year, I remember a time that I experienced an amazing story, breathtaking moments, and a wonderful night at the theatre with my sister.

My sister actually read the novel before we saw the musical. She often wants to know about things before she sees them. I, on the other hand, love going into something knowing the least I can about it. I want to be really seeing the story for the first time. If you know what is going to happen it takes away from the story. I like to be told a story.

Everything about Les Miserables was spot on. It was exactly as it need it to be. I could go into the details, but as a whole it was perfect.

One of the funniest moments was in the beginning when Jean Valjean was being held by the guards. A guard kicked him to the ground, but the amount of effort put into the kick was not equal on both sides. Jean Valjean had such a strong reaction, yelling out and falling to the ground dramatically, yet the guard's kick appeared very light. My sister and I both thought it was the funniest part of the show, and for some reason it is what we both think of when remembering this show together. It is the little moments like this that stick out in my memory.

Les Miserables made my breath catch in my lungs, and my heart swell in my chest. Moments like when Javert was falling though the air, or at the end of act one when the whole ensemble was singing and they were waving that flag were breathtaking.

When the lights came up, my sister and I looked at each other, both of our faces just absolutely glowing. 

-Celia Boldizar

From a Distance: On Your Feet!

Moving music, charming characters, and an inspiring story

To be honest, before I actually saw it, I thought On Your Feet! was going to be a joke. I did not have high expectations going into it, just forming my opinions based on the title and playbill cover. I was completely proved wrong. The show that I thought was going to nothing more than mediocre turned out to be one of my all time favorites.

Most elements were very simple, the costumes and sets were nothing out of the ordinary. They were nice and worked well for the show, but very straightforward. The music of course was amazing, so fun and catchy. I completely fell in love with the songs, especially "Here We Are", "Get On Your Feet", and the show-stopping finale that was a mash up of all of the fabulous melodies. I listened to the cast album on a regular basis a whole year after wards! But my favorite thing that really stood out and made On Your Feet! an amazing show was how heartfelt it was.

Gloria and Emilio's story is so romantic.

My favorite of the cast was Mauricio Martinez as Emilio Estefan. He was so charismatic and masculine, giving the story this feeling of safety and passion. Christie Prades as Gloria Estefan was also marvelous. She really did Gloria's story justice with her lovable attitude and wonderful voice. Together they totally brought to life this perfect and captivating love story.

On Your Feet was so inspiring. It made me feel like I could accomplish anything if I set my mind to it. It gave me a feeling of hope and                  peacefulness. At the same time...

It emphasized the importance of spending time with the people that matter most to you.

I will always remember the night I saw On Your Feet!, as it was one of my favorite nights at the theatre. It was a cold January night, and when I walked out of the theatre and it was snowing. The ground had already been covered lightly, and white flakes were                                                                       continuing to fall.

The high of just seeing this uplifting musical and the snowy weather made for one of my most magical nights.

-Celia Boldizar

From a Distance: Waitress

Hello Everybody! 

This is the first post of my new mini series, "From a Distance". I am really excited about these posts because I am going to revisit my favorite Broadway shows from the 2017 - 2019 season and look at them a year later. In 2018 I started writing about the Broadway shows that I have the privilege of seeing when they come to my city. I wrote about all of those shows, but now it is summer and I have nothing to write about. I thought it would be interesting to see how my opinions change overtime, and how praise and critics grow or die in the light of day.

The first show I'm going to be discussing is Waitress. This is one of my favorite shows, and I only love it more the longer it has been since I have seen it. When I think to myself what show I would want to see again from the 2017 - 2018 season, it is the one I would most often choose.

Waitress is heartfelt, intoxicating, and feminine.

From an all female team, this musical is most certainly one of my all time favorites. Whereas some shows have won me over with their extreme grandiosity, Waitress was able to captivate me with it's simplicity. I loved the funny characters, catchy tunes, and emotional themes. The story is seemingly simple at first, but turns into a narrative that is so captivating. I could feel the feminine influence, which was so refreshing. It was a wonderful mix of fun romances and personal growth.

Jenna's journey is honest and endearing. 

The character Jenna is so good. She turns from being unfeeling, with walls up on all sides of her, to honest, soft, strong, and vulnerable. I was so lucky to be able to see Emily Koch as Jenna. I absolutely love it when I get to see an understudy shine, and she did an amazing performance. To me, it makes the night so much more special when I get to see people who are not the regular performers.

I loved the lighting design for this show. The way that natural light was mimicked was beautiful. For example, sunlight appeared to be shining through window blinds, creating a stripped appearance on the floor. Also, the feeling of an early morning was portrayed beautifully in the opening scene when they are opening up the diner. The lighting was really the aesthetic element that stood out to me. Along with that, the sets served the story perfectly and were exactly what they needed to be. I loved the choice of having the band onstage as part of the diner.

I do have to say, "Take It From an Old Man" was a low point. A moment that was supposed to be sweet was actually quite boring. It felt strange to me that that particular character was singing that much. It took away from the mystery of his character. On the flip side of that, the star of the show was Jeremy Morse as Ogie. The audience absolutely loved him, he was so quirky and funny, even doing cartwheels across the stage.

A relationship so enthralling and melodic that you will never be truly satiated. 

Winning the award for the song I will never get sick of is "Bad Idea". This number is one of my personal all time favorites, with it's bouncy, seductive quality. Since May of 2018 I have listened to it on repeat countless times. Jenna and Dr. Pomatter's relationship is passionate and gripping, with tender romantic moments holding their story together. Absolutely my favorite relationship I have seen onstage.

Having seen Waitress over a year ago now, I can look back on how lovely it was. It is a modern musical with a simple classic feel. I still listen to the cast album regularly. I have not yet gotten bored of it, and I don't think I ever will.

Positively sweet. 

-Celia Boldizar

Cats

With grand musical numbers and brilliant lighting, this show is both delightfully playful and a sophisticated example of great theatre.

The artistic vision was amazing. The sets created a world that held the story, supporting it and blocking out the distractions of the goings on outside. I love when there feels like there is no backstage, the Cats set reminded me of Miss Saigon in that way.

*This review contains small spoilers. Nothing critical about the story, but other specific examples.

Thrilling, eye-catching, and chromatic.

My favorite part about Cats was the lighting design. I fell in love with what Natasha Katz did with this show. Everything was so colorful and creative. The most interesting and exciting choice was that there were strings of lights that came out into the audience and attached to the balconies. It really made the whole auditorium feel like it was a part of the show, especially paired with the actors often walking through the aisles.

The opening scene was one of the best I have ever seen. It started with an amazing lighting design choice, cat eyes shining in the dark, followed by more amazing lights and an intriguing instrumental.

Cats is a wonderful kid friendly show. It is nice to have a quality show to introduce children to theatre. In comparison, Anastasia was great for kids, but it was not a great example of what theatre can be.

"Cats" is a classic musical with incredible moments that people of all ages can enjoy.

I do have two critics. First, there needed to be more story elements. I was missing a problem for the cats to overcome, thus not allowing for a building climax or resolution. The story was mellow and relaxed, and there was no big problem. There was nothing that I was hoping to happen, no character development, or problem solving. All that happened was that they introduced the cats. It was fun, but there was nothing that put me on the edge of my seat. This leads into the second issue...

The moments that were good were outstanding, but the times that were bad were terribly boring.

 A couple of the musical numbers dragged on twice as long as they should have, and lacked in fun and interest. I could have done without a couple of the cats. Cut them out and then use that space to add some story elements.

Two musical numbers stood out and put a smile on my face that lasted well into the next day. The first was of course, "Memory".

I have never felt a moment of collective effervescence as strong as during that song. The whole room experienced this feeling that was so special.

At the climax the audience burst into applause because no one could hold in their joy. Individually, I was taken aback at the magnitude of emotion and pure feeling of the song. This is the exact feeling I live for. That feeling in your chest that is bursting with love. The best part about theatre is that it has the ability to give you this feeling, and I am so thankful for it.

The most fun song, and the coolest cat ever was "Mr. Mistoffelees".

It was so large and colorful, making it the most fun song ever. It got so stuck in my head the next day, which was just fine with me. I was obsessed with Mr. Mistoffeless' coat. Another aspect of this amazing lighting design, the coat had little lights on it that changed colors. The whole number was so aesthetically beautiful, it made my color-loving heart happy.

Overall, Cats is a fun-loving music that I very much enjoyed.

-Celia Boldizar

Hello, Dolly!

"Hello, Dolly!" is a playful, entertaining show, brimming with the feel of classic theatre. 

The costumes were ablaze with color, and the sets were charming. It had a very classic theatre feel. The sets, costumes, characters, music, and script were all very much what you would expect. It was done well though, a cheerful and sparkling musical.

The storyline was interesting and lighthearted, but I had trouble getting into it. I wished there had been more clarity, because I was often wondering about the character's motives, and why they were doing the things that they were doing at all. I felt lost with their stories and who they were as people.

But these things aside, "Hello, Dolly!" is hard for me to review. As I was watching it I was thinking about how I would write about it. Every show is so different, making them practically impossible to compare. However, I do enjoy thinking critically about the shows that I see. Every one holds it's own little place in my heart, but I do enjoy some more and others less. With "Hello, Dolly!", there were numerous things I could pick apart about it, but I have come up with the conclusion that I did enjoy it.

I often question, what really makes a good show? 

I think to me what makes a good show (apart from the technical elements) is how much the individual audience members connect with it and remember it afterwards.

After seeing my favorite shows I have left the theatre feeling awestruck, like I have just received this amazing gift. I will talk about it non-stop, going though and remembering the things that I loved about it. After seeing "Hello, Dolly!" I didn't have much to say about it. I liked it, it was really good, really nice. It just wasn't one of my favorites.

Even though it did not make the top of my list, I could tell that others absolutely loved it. I watched as the people sitting in front of me swayed back and forth to the songs, smiling at each other. 

-Celia Boldizar

Anastasia

"Anastasia" is the story of a girl trying to rediscover her past. 

"Anastasia" was a very sweet show. It was a great family-friendly musical. I can see little girls especially loving it, I would have enjoyed it when I was a girl. But being older, there were times when I was longing for more variation and creativity.

The singing was beautiful, but the acting that went along with it was disappointing. 

I got the feeling that the actors were trying to be animated for the sake of harnessing the same feelings from the cartoon. The way that they spoke was unnatural and fake. I was confused about why they were saying things in such an unusual way. It was the kind of "theatre-y" acting that grows tiring. As a result, I did not get attached to the characters and their story. I felt almost left out of the story because I was not invested in it.

On the other hand, the music was charming. "Journey to the Past" stayed in my head as I left the theatre, all the way on my way home, and into the next day. Lila Coogan's voice was amazing, and her last note of the song was incredibly strong and magnificent. I was astonished at the incredible power of her voice.

The sets were very nice, but I wished for more variation. They stuck with the same structure and changed locations using animations on a screen behind them. This was an interesting way of making multiple sets out of one, but by the second act I was bored of it and wanted to see something new. My favorite set though was the train. The way that they did it was cleaver and entertaining.

Overall, "Anastasia" lacks in prominence and grandeur, but still has a lovely sweetness and heart. 

-Celia Boldizar

Sing To Me Instead

"Sing to Me Instead" brought me joy from the moment I listened to it. It immediately brightened my day, and made me want to sing along when I hadn't even heard the words before. 

Ben Platt's songs feel classic and personal, and you can really hear the emotion his lyrics. His voice is spectacular, and it is beautifully showcased in this album. This album has simplicity and care. I love the themes of love and growth. There is this element of self awareness that is so touching.

This album has a luxuriously rich sound. 

With all of the bland music today, it is refreshing to hear something with heart and meaning. A lot of songs that are popular today have very shallow sounds, very cookie cutter and lacking in body. "Sing to Me Instead" has substance, something to hold onto. It's sound has such a depth. The lyrics are emotional and full of truth and story. 

Each song can stand on it's own. Each song is one of a kind and feels unique. The other lovely thing is how they stand together. I love how you can find recurring themes, like when he will use signature words in multiple songs like "layers" and "letters". I love when there is a clear narrative in an album. 

It made me want to sit down at the piano and make music.

I am always wanting to hear a song that I can play on the piano and take part in. Something that I can see myself in and connect with. Music that inspires me to create my own is the best kind. 

Ben Platt's music goes beyond just itself. This album reminded me what real music feels like. 

-Celia Boldizar