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We started the NYC leg of our minimoon in earnest, seeing a matinee of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, followed by Fun Home in the evening.
I have to admit, Gentleman's Guide... just didn't work for me. Either of us, in fact. Which was odd, because the rest of the audience seemed to love it, and even went so far as to give it a standing ovation (is that just the default on Broadway nowadays?). There was one standout number that was absolutely delightful (the trio in the bedroom), but the rest was just too mired in hammy performances and juvenile humor (and please take into account that this is me calling something hammy and juvenile here). Some of these were in the book, but many were in the acting (and presumably direction), so we left unclear how much of what we didn't like was the show vs this particular production of it. Either way, I must admit to not understanding the rave reviews. If you're a fan, I'm very curious what you think of this reaction.
But then there was Fun Home. Oh my stars and garters Fun Home. It. Is. So. Good. I was afraid it would be more emotionally intense than I wanted to deal with, but while the show is tear-jerkingly weighty at times, it balances this perfectly with a clever sense of self-deprecating humor, and heartwarming scenes of childhood imagination and teenage discovery. There was a video that went around of the girl who plays young Alison Bechdel doing an amazing song at the Tony awards, and both she (we actually saw a different young actress, just as good as the one from the video) and the song are that good live, but to me the one that stole the show is Emily Skeggs, who plays Bechdel as a teenager. Her characterization has this awkwardness that is just so eminently relatable, and her voice is gorgeous voice to boot. If you're in NYC, go see this show.
I have to admit, Gentleman's Guide... just didn't work for me. Either of us, in fact. Which was odd, because the rest of the audience seemed to love it, and even went so far as to give it a standing ovation (is that just the default on Broadway nowadays?). There was one standout number that was absolutely delightful (the trio in the bedroom), but the rest was just too mired in hammy performances and juvenile humor (and please take into account that this is me calling something hammy and juvenile here). Some of these were in the book, but many were in the acting (and presumably direction), so we left unclear how much of what we didn't like was the show vs this particular production of it. Either way, I must admit to not understanding the rave reviews. If you're a fan, I'm very curious what you think of this reaction.
But then there was Fun Home. Oh my stars and garters Fun Home. It. Is. So. Good. I was afraid it would be more emotionally intense than I wanted to deal with, but while the show is tear-jerkingly weighty at times, it balances this perfectly with a clever sense of self-deprecating humor, and heartwarming scenes of childhood imagination and teenage discovery. There was a video that went around of the girl who plays young Alison Bechdel doing an amazing song at the Tony awards, and both she (we actually saw a different young actress, just as good as the one from the video) and the song are that good live, but to me the one that stole the show is Emily Skeggs, who plays Bechdel as a teenager. Her characterization has this awkwardness that is just so eminently relatable, and her voice is gorgeous voice to boot. If you're in NYC, go see this show.
