CLOSER THAN EVER

I recently saw Maltby & Shire's musical review Closer Than Ever at The York Theatre.  There are four people in the cast: Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, George Dvorsky, Anika Larsen and Sal Viviano.  Music derives from two instruments - Piano (Andrew Gerle - Musical Director) and Bass (Danny Weller) who are at the rear of the stage.  The set consists of 6 doors  with props such as a table and chair that come on and off the stage.  Now, you have the basic backdrop of the show.

Here is the Author's Note. "Closer Than Ever began as a file of observations about people David and I knew, stories friends and acquaintances told us about themselves, perceptions we had about our lives, which over time developed into songs. It was only when we put the song together in a show that we realized that there was a unity to these stories, a series of portraits of adults idiosyncratically coping with the complexities and anomalies of grown-up life." 

That is about all I can say regarding the "plot" of music with no dialogue.   Let's rum down a list of the songs. Doors. She Loves Me Not. You Wanna Be My Friend (breaking up from being a lover and very funny).  What A I Doin? The Bear, the Tiger, the Hamster and the Mole. I'll Get Up Tomorrow Morning. Miss Byrd. Dating Again (another funny one). One of the Good Guys. There's Nothing Like It. Life Story. Next Time/I Wouldn't Go Back. (End of Act I)

Three Friends. Fandango. There. Patterns. There is Something In a Wedding. Another Wedding Song. If I sing. Back on Base. The March of Time. Fathers of Fathers. It's Never That Easy/I've Been Here Before. Closer Than Ever.

I really don't know how to critique this one.   Everyone was on key.  The show moved but was a bit too long for a review.  Each song was a performance number with minimal choreography.  It's enjoyable and entertaining, which is why the run has been extended from September 30 to around the end of November.

The York Theatre is located at 54th and Lexington Avenue at St. Peter's Church.  One thing I must add is about the concession.   Food is cookies baked by PMS and cost $3.  They are a decent size and have various flavors.  Coffee is $2.  They have these what they call "adult sodas" that are not overly sweet for $2.  Water is also $2.  This is a bargain considering what is charged at Broadway theatres!

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY IS BACK!

Forbidden Broadway is back on the Off-Broadway scene.  In case you missed any of their shows, Forbidden Broadway spoofs Broadway shows both present and past as well as ribbing many of the stars.  As usually, it is creator Gerard Alessandrini that has his latest Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking and is hilarious.

The cast consists of four performers, Natalie Charle Ellis, Scott Richard Foster, Jenny Lee Stern and Marcus Stevens who are playing different roles and doing their best to dress like and sing like the stars that they are spoofing.  Other than the four, there is one pianist David Caldwell.

Just the fact that you get a Playbill that reads Playkill should give you a hint.  However, it is all a surprise regarding the list of spoofs so I will give you a run down but not exactly what they do...maybe one or two.

The opening is all about the show coming back.  Evita 2012 focuses on Ricky Martin.  Nice Work nabs Matthew Broderick. Granny-Annie. They have always made fun of the original Annie growing up but now that Annie will be back on Broadway...Once is the next spoof followed by Mary Poppins, Sondheim/Follies, and Bernadette (Peters).  Then we get Into The Woods/Agony, Rock of Ages, Anything Goes, Catherine Zeta, Ghost and an ending of Act One with a long salute to Newsies.

Act Two starts with Rafreaky, the character from Lion King.  Spiderman is next....good one!  Jersey Boys follows as they sing "Walk like a man, sing like a girl".  We then get Porgy and Bess, Smash, Mandy and Patti, Wicked, Judy (Garland), and Mormon - another long and really funny one even though I did not see the play. Finale.

Although there were shows that I had not seen I was able to get most of the humor.  Forbidden Broadway is playing at the 47th Street Theatre located between 8th and 9th Avenue.  You can check it out at www.forbiddenbroadway.com