"Sylvia" A Play Worth Fetching A Ticket For

It’s been a bit since I’ve written a blog about a Broadway show. Last week I saw one of my favorites again ... Kinky Boots. I had taken a long hiatus from the show and was happy to be back at the factory again. It was at the Al Hirschfeld where I was introduced to the talented, Tony-award winning, Annaleigh Ashford. I’d been wanting to see Sylvia, in which she plays a dog named Sylvia.  I also wanted to see this show because of Matthew Broderick. My first Broadway show was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  I hadn’t seen Mr. Broderick on Broadway since ... and figured it was about time! 

So, what did I do? I decided not to play dead on a Sunday morning and run over to the Cort Theatre to take advantage of the rush tickets. I got front row, dead center, for .... drum roll ... 32 bucks! You can’t beat that! So, with my tail wagging I settled into my seat. 

The show is still in previews. As I flipped through the Playbill I reminded myself of that. I went in with no expectations. So ... when Annaleigh bound out as a dog ... I howled with delight! Robert Sella’s (Tom/Phyllis/Leslie) and Annaleigh’s comedic timing had everyone barking for more. The play did more than make the audience laugh. They cried too. 

Sylvia chews away at Greg (Matthew Broderick) and Kate’s (Julie White) marriage ... but she also tugs at your heart. Though Sylvia is always the focal point, the play isn’t really about her. There’s a real message of connecting and community in A.R. Gurney’s work. It’s hard to always connect ... to feel part of a pack ... especially in such a large place as New York City. Every day though, we do connect. We connect with people, nature and animals. I almost connected with the pigeon that swooped down at me today. That was a bit scary! I connected with the young girl that smiled at me on my home, and I connected with the fellow theatre-goers at the Cort Theatre. For that time ... we were all in the theatre. We were all connected. We were all part of a pack. 

Just as Sylvia fetches Kate’s missing book, I recommend you fetch a ticket this play. I guarantee you’ll want to “sit” ... and “stay” ... for this work of art.

All Aboard The Last Ship

It’s always the shows that I don’t expect much from that always surprise me.  Yesterday, I could say that about at least two musicals. Today, I could say that about three. “The Last Ship.” 

The show .... whose lyrics and music is written by Sting .... is closing January 24th. In all honesty I had no plans to see this musical. For some reason it just didn’t peak my interest. However, last weekend something in my gut told me, “Go see this show.” So, I bought a ticket. 

I had no expectations when I walked into the Neil Simon Theatre.  The theatre was packed, and I was happy to see that. Like myself, some of the people around me didn’t know much about the musical ... but came for the music and ... in part ... to see Sting on Broadway. 

I honestly can stay I didn’t go see the musical to see Sting. I came to hear his music. From the first song to the last ... it was the music that spoke the most to me and the people around me. The show is full of songs ... each with a different story to tell and each so different. Every song was so beautifully written and told by the actors on stage. I could hear people comment after certains songs, “Wow!” “That was great!” “Beautiful!” They were just whispering out loud what I was saying in my head! 

I left the theatre feeling shocked and impressed with Sting. Yes. He’s a humanitarian. Yes. He’s a Grammy winner. Yes. He’s a rock star. Now, he can add Broadway to his list of achievements.

I can’t say how Sting must have felt when he began The Last Ship’s journey. I know how I would have felt. I would have felt scared but excited. Nervous and unsure. Confident but anxious. Whatever Sting felt on this voyage he didn’t let it stop him. Sting saw this project through. He didn’t give up on it and he tried something new. He took a chance. For that ... I applaud him and thank him. Without him ... and the many others who jumped on board ... “The Last Ship” would have never set sail.

Don’t let this musical sail away without seeing it. Heck! The gal who said she didn’t want to see it might go see it one more time before bidding it bon voyage.

“If my ship sails from sight, it doesn’t mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends.” -Enoch Powell