My Three Penny Opera Experience

[Rickypt]

I was fortunate enough to be able to see “Three Penny Opera” on Broadway last Friday. It is a revival by the Roundabout Theater Company (who produced the great revival of “Cabaret” a few years ago), and stars a slew of great talents, including Alan Cummings, Jim Dale, Ana Gasteyer, and Cyndi Lauper in her Broadway debut. The play is at the original Studio 54, which gave me some slight goosebumps. They’ve transformed it into an intimate theater.

The reaction from the audience was mixed, but the show is still in previews so I’m curious what kind of reviews it will get. I thought it was a very interesting version of the story. The play is about greed and corporate crime vs. petty crime and they sprinkled it with some modern references, like Enron.

While I mainly went to see Cyndi, I was blown away by Alan Cummings and Ana Gasteyer. Cummings (who played the emcee in Cabaret) is perfect as the sleazy yet lovable Macheath and really one of the best stage actors I’ve ever seen. Gasteyer was perfect as the rich, conniving Mrs. Peachum. She also has a tremendous singing voice—I guess she really is “zee best singer in zee world”.

Cyndi had some great moments. She opened the show with “Mack the Knife” and had a show-stopping solo with “Song of Solomon”. But she was clearly nervous and just not as smooth or polished as the rest of the cast. I hope she settles into the show before opening night.

After the show, I joined about 25 people behind the theater to get autographs. Ana was the first one to come out. She spoke to everyone, signed autographs, and posed for pictures. Jim Dale (a very accomplished Broadway actor) blew us off. Then about an hour passed and I was just about to leave when Alan Cummings came out. I am totally in love with him. He joked around with us and signed the playbill cover with a gold pen.

After he left, the security guard said “if you’re waiting for Cyndi, she’s already left”. So I guess she has a secret exit. I had really thought I’d get her autograph (and had already prepared my 5 second talk with her—to tell her that Shine is a masterpiece). I was definitely disappointed, as she seems like the type that would stick around and sign autographs. I’m thinking maybe she doesn’t want to upstage the other actors, since they are bonafide Broadway stars.

Anyway, if you live in the NY area, I highly recommend this show. I think it runs until mid-June.

[Rickypt]

Some pictures from the show (not taken by me):

[David]

How interesting! Kurt Weill!

For you Macheads, he's the guy who wrote September Song on Lindsey's "Law & Order"

Weill is pronounced "vile"

[amber]

Cool pics! That sounds like a good show, I like all those people, too.

[goldustsongbird]

GAHHHHH. You are so lucky. I was dying to see this; unfortunately, I couldn't get tickets. I really wanted to see Cyn on Broadway. She looks great in those pictures.

I think I read something about her only coming out to sign autographs at one show. I can't remember which one...
I like Alan Cumming, too. And I'm sure Cyndi will be just fine.

[skcin]

Fantastic! Thanks so much, I was eager to hear about this show.

[DavidMn]

That mustve been so cool to be in the origi