Review of Miss Saigon at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN

Quote of the Day:  I'm seventeen and I'm new here today. The village I come from seems so far away. All of the girls know much more what to say, but I know I have a heart like the sea. A million dreams are in me! Kim from Miss Saigon, currently on tour and playing at The Ordway Performing Arts Center in St. Paul, MN, October 8-13, 2013, created by the team who gave us Les Miserables, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubill.

Miss Saigon Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Ordway

Miss Saigon is a love story set in war torn Vietnam, mid-1970's. Two star-crossed lovers cling to each other as the world crumbles into chaos. As the lyrics explain in The Last Night of the World, "In a place that won't let us feel. In a life where nothing seems real. I found you."  Chris, an American G.I, meets Kim, a young Vietnamese girl forced into prostitution. The bond they form in two short weeks gives them each the courage to battle on through the turmoil of the end of the war and its aftermath. Kim waits with unfailing hope that Chris will return for her and their son, but the world is a mess, and then it gets even more complicated.

Miss Saigon. Description: Manna Nichols (as Kim) and Charlie Brady (as Chris) in Miss Saigon. Photo Credit: Bob Compton Photography

The story is beautiful and sad. The music gives you the chills, at times feeling like you are in the chaos. Helicopters are coming with a cacophony of sound and people running every which way. Then, in a glimmer of light, Chris and Kim find each other, embrace, and shut the world out for just a little while. A cavern of loss echoes when they are separated. 

Miss Saigon. Description: Manna Nichols as Kim. Photo Credit: Billy Bustamante

Miss Saigon depicts a time in history when people didn't know if they were going to live another day. Soldiers who might not have ever been around death before watched whole villages get destroyed, and the villagers watched their world disintegrate. Who do you trust? What is real? How do you get away from the madness? I first saw this musical 20 years ago on Broadway in NYC. It was the first musical I'd ever seen that had diversity in the casting and characters. The first time a heavy topic like this was set to music and played out in front of me. It showed me how dark the world can be and how desperate people become, what they'll do out of love, and what a mother will sacrifice to give her child a better life. 

Miss Saigon gives audiences something new to experience. It might not be exactly how some people would have liked it done, but it did break the mold of the typical white European-American characters and story line. As the controversy rages on about this show, we can thank our lucky stars to be living in America where we have freedom of speech, the right to assemble and protest, and freedoms won by those soldiers and leaders who fought for them and all the people from various nations who call this great country home. We all have the right to form our own opinions on anything from banned books to protested plays from our own experiences with them.

My favorite song from Miss Saigon is The Last Night of the World. Have a listen on Youtube, a clip from the Johnny Carson Show with Lea Salonga and Sean McDermott.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Do you know someone who was in the Vietnam war? Were you, or do you know someone, who has been a protester for any cause?

Review of The Buddy Holly Story at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN

Quote of the Day:  I don't care what color it is, I want to play my music my way. Buddy Holly from Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, North American tour.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts has brought in another outstanding musical, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, playing in St. Paul June 11-16. Buddy Holly's short career as a performing and recording artist changed how people played, listened, and responded to music. He gave it a beat that you can't sit still for. He gave it words that touch your heart, and he gave us songs that we've been listening, dancing, and making out to for decades. He had courage and heart. Watching his story play out on the stage at The Ordway last night gave me insight into the young man from Lubbock, Texas, who dared to do things his way. At moments, the auditorium was turned into his performing venues, like the Apollo stage in Harlem, 1958. We got a glimpse at what it must have been like for him to forge his own path and bring his songs to people across the nation.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story brings the young man back to life and shows us that the music lives on. We are inspired by the courage of other artists. We love to listen to their music and hear their stories. This is one musical that gives you everything you came for, and more, and is fun for the whole family. It shows the kids some history about the rock and roll culture, and brings their parents and grandparents back to the days when it was brand new. The actors who portray the legendary musicians of that time become their characters. Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and the Crickets are all there, as well as many sensational supporting members. I hope all of you can go. If you're in the St. Paul, MN area, hurry and get your tickets at The Ordway! The rest of you, check their tour dates, or like them on facebook. Maybe they'll perform in a city near you. And, if you're feeling nostalgic, put on your old records, grab your sweetheart, and fall in love again.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  What music was playing when you first fell in love?

Review of Anything Goes at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN

Quote of the Day:  from the musical and title song by Cole Porter, Anything Goes

In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, Anything Goes.

Good authors, too, who once knew better words now only use four-letter words writing prose...Anything Goes.

 Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES Pictured: Ryan Steer, Bobby Pestka, Rachel York, Jeremy Benton, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 Rachel York and Company
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 

The pure theatrical delight of Anything Goes, particularly it's title number, are the talk of the town (state, and every stop along the tour). Imagine, the gorgeous actors singing and tap-dancing to this classic song to a packed house night after night and receiving thunderous applause. They are stunning, the acting superb, every detail glimmers of classic musical theatre. What a treat to see this show. You are transported back in time by the graceful movements of the dancers, the flowing costumes for the ladies, and the dapper looks for the men. And, what lady can take her eyes off a handsome man in a sailor suit?

 

Alex Finke (as Hope Harcourt) and Erich Bergen (as Billy Crocker)
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 

Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES.

Pictured: Alex Finke, Erich Bergen and Company

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 

Scenes like this make you believe that falling in love, and being swept off your feet, is still possible.

 

Some shows give you meat and potatoes, food for thought. Some can leave you feeling a little uncomfortable in the way they bring dark reality to light. Others reflect modern cynicism. Anything Goes offers a sweet escape. You are drawn into the beauty of the show and your troubles drift off for a couple hours. You might even find yourself tapping your own feet and wondering if it's not too late to learn how to tap dance, or wear gorgeous gowns, dance your way into a woman's heart, or fall in love.

 

 Erich Bergen (Billy Crocker) and Rachel York (as the amazing Reno Sweeney)
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 

Some songs, like You're the Top, help you realize that a relationship is more friendship than romance as you highlight the best in each other. (I loved this number.)

 

Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES. Pictured: Rachel York and Company
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 

The Roundabout Theatre Company is touring the revival of Anything Goes, music by Cole Porter. It's not the same show you might have done in high school or watched at your local community theatre. There are some changes and additions. Joy, my sister, attended this performance with me. She was in a community theatre production of Anything Goes in the Portland, OR area a few years ago, and she quickly noted some differences. Some of the staging and songs are different. There is definitely great energy and spirit to this show. The costumes are probably a bit more risqué than what audiences saw back in the 1940's, or at their small town theatres, and the movements kept mostly to the style of the times with a hint of modern influence.

 

One scene that made me cringe was when Erma and Moonface Martin (Public Enemy number 13) are in his cabin, hiding out. She dresses up to get out and meet the sailors. He doesn't want her to leave, so he takes out his gun to prove how serious he is about keeping her there. In our world where violence against women is still a terrible problem, you cannot make light of it. In every other way, this show is fun, delightful, and lifts your spirits. That one action changed the mood for that scene.

 

Anything Goes is playing at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN, May 7-12, 2013. The Roundabout Theatre Company is on tour and nearing the end of its run. Next stop, Grand Rapids, MI. Check their site to see if they're coming to your town, or click over there to view their promo video. You'll get a glimpse of this stunning show.

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt:  Do you know how to tap dance? What new artistic skill would you like to learn?

 

Open a Songbook - Review of Broadway Songbook at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN

Quote of the Month: Open the window in the center of your chest and let the spirits fly in and out. Rumi
(My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge
 is Open.)

Millie and Willie Cottonpoly, a sock puppet creation, are here to tell you their story during the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. 
The Cottonpolys enjoy all types of entertainment. I am an entertainment reviewer, and they have started to accompany me to events. Since I'm still in the A to Z Challenge and the Cottonpolys have taken over blogging, I'll let them tell you the highlights of The Broadway Songbook at The Ordway Performing Arts Center in St. Paul, MN.

Willie and Millie Cottonpoly enjoyed a slice of Galaxy cake at Great Waters Brewing Co. before attending The Broadway Songbook at The Ordway.

Willie:  It was out of this world delicious!

 

The Broadway Songbook is an ongoing series at The Ordway Performing Arts Center in St. Paul, MN. April 19-28, they are featuring the music of Cole Porter. 

 

As the first strains of music ripple through the air...

Willie:  (sits up a little straighter in his seat and whispers to Millie) Let's Misbehave. (chuckles)

 

Millie:  I think that song sums up Cole Porter's attitude towards life and writing music.

 

Willie:  (doing a little toe tapping in his seat) Mine too.

 

Millie:  (quietly sings along to the next song) Let's do it. Let's fall in love. (leans a little closer to Willie) That's the song that was running through my mind while we were courting.

 

Willie:  I like this one about Cherry Pies.

 

Millie:  It's a cute one.

 

Willie:  (singing along) You're the icing they put on my cake. (gives Millie a little squeeze)

 

Millie:  It's DeLovely

 

Willie:  It's delicious.

 

Millie:  It's delightful.

 

Willie:  It's delirious.

 

Millie:  These performers really bring Cole Porter's songs to life.

 

Willie:  Ain't bad to look at either.

 

Millie:  Don't get distracted by all the glitter and glitz, it's their voices and performance that tell the story of these songs.

 

Willie:  I like all those food songs.

 

Millie:  What?

 

Willie:  You're the top...you're a Waldorf salad.

 

Millie:  (smiling)

 

Willie:  You're sublime. You're a turkey dinner.

 

Millie:  That Cole Porter was a good lyricist.

 

Willie:  You're the top. You're a dance in Bali. You're the top. You're a hot tamale!

 

Millie:  Willie, shh. (smiles)

 

Willie:  You're Lady Astor. You're broccoli. Huh? That one could go either way.

 

Millie:  No romance is perfect. Sometimes it's Hot Tamales. Sometimes it's broccoli.

 

Willie:  What are your favorite Cole Porter songs, Millie?

 

Millie:  I have two. I love the sound of So in Love, the words are all about how deep in love he is, but with a melody that haunts. Night and Day is a beautiful marriage of words and melody.

 

Willie:  Those lyrics about it being only you beneath the moon or under the sun, whether near to me or far... I think of you. That's our song, Darling.

 

Millie:  (nods) I hope everyone feels so in love when they go to this performance. It's wunderbar!

 

 

***************

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

The Broadway Songbook featuring the music of Cole Porter is at The Ordway April 19-28. Followed soon by a production of Anything Goes, May 7-12. Millie and Willie Cottonpoly already have it marked on their calendar! Go to The Ordway for more info. and to buy your tickets!

 

Journaling Prompt:  What songs bring out the romance in you? What songs were playing when you fell in love?