CAST:
ALONZO
ASPARAGUS
BOMBALURINA
BUSTOPHER JONES
CASSANDRA
DEMETER
GENGHIS
GRIDDLEBONE
GRIZABELLA
GROWLTIGER
JELLYLORUM
JENNYANYDOTS
MACAVITY
MISTOFFELEES
MUNGOJERRIE
MUNKUSTRAP
OLD DEUTERONOMY
PLATO
POUNCIVAL
RUMPELTEAZER
RUM TUM TUGGER
SILLABUB
SKIMBLESHANKS
TUMBLEBRUTUS
VICTORIA
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NAME (* - UNDERSTUDY PLAYING ROLE)
ALEX RINGLER
BRUCE WARREN
CHELSEA CICCI
BRUCE WARREN
AMY DESIATO(?)
EMILY PADGETT
BEAU SPEER
DARLA CARDWELL
ESTHER STILWELL
BRUCE WARREN
DARLA CARDWELL
SUSAN LEWIS
NATHAN GARLAND
RYAN PATRICK FERRELL
BEAU SPEER
DEREK HANSON
PHILLIP PETERSON
NATHAN GARLAND
RYAN RICHARDSON
JOSEPHINE ROSE ROBERTS
JEREMY HAYS
JESSICA VACCARO
DREW LITTLE
BRANDON TYLER
MELINDA SULLIVAN
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REPORT
By Rumblepurr
US TOUR V
“The Grove” - Anaheim, CA
Matinee & Evening Performances
December 22, 2005
By Rumblepurr, The Writer Cat
Unlike most reviews you probably read, this one will not really go into specifics. My memory is none too good, so that is why I am writing this as soon as I could get home and on the keyboard here. And, taking notes while trying to watch a show means you miss something along the way…
I had front row seats for both performances, and while that is good for seeing the facial expressions of the performers, the sightline is right at stage floor level. This means - If the lighting crew puts in footlights (they did), or the sound crew puts in floor monitors (they did), or the stage crew put in items like closed circuit monitors (yep) or Misto’s streamer cannons (bingo), you view of any footwork or a certain part of the stage was curtailed…
There was one, and one only, slight interplay between cast and audience - Green Eyes… Hiss, blink, bye… Ooookay…
But once you get past that… You have a wonderful time… My best moment was sitting in seat A32. Sitting there, in the front, and looking both ways, I discovered I was the only male on that particular spot. And guess where Gus and Munkustrap look for “There’s a man over there…?” Yes… *glare* Hi, Munkus… Hi, Gus…
Of this cast, I have only felt really good about the performers once - namely, the first cast. This group of performers ranked right in there with them. Very powerful group, with a nice range of voices and tonal quality… Yes, some of the voices would turn your teeth a bit sideways, but I though they fit the characters involved.
First off, generalities… No Pekes & Pollicles. And, no flying saucer or stairway for Griz! When they were done with her, she just sat up there at Old D’s feet. They did do Growltiger - but without the backdrop - and they used the Aria (Not Billy McCaw). Ryan Patrick Ferrel did 25 conjuring turns each performance. We had one audience member come in costume at the Matinee.
Strong Characters:
Jellylorum (Darla Cardwell) - did a wonderfully comedic Griddlebone. Was one of the many cast members who came out to sign autographs.
Jennyanydots (Susan Lewis) - very gruff Gumbie, almost too sweet during BJ, and was kind enough to talk with me coming back from dinner.
Rumpelteazer (Josephine Rose Roberts) - This lady substituted for my “Cettie” kitten - The one that is like a rubber ball on steroids. Bouncy, lively, impish… A perfect Teazer… (pun intended…)
Demeter (Emily Padgett) - one very hyper-Space Cadet (as I like to call Deme). Good voice, and I enjoyed her dance in Macavity.
Bombalurina (Chelsea Cicci) - This lady was my type of Bomba - strong, vivacious and “In-your-face” when she has to be. She was also very nice to stop for an autograph - really enjoyed being complimented by the fans.
Cassandra (Amy? - swing) - I tried getting the last name but could not… As you know, I look for the Cassandra character now, and this Cassie did not disappoint - except the autograph… A very elegant, majestic and limber Cass…
Munkustrap (Derek Hanson) - one of the stronger Munkus characters of the US Tour. His voice and stage presence was excellent, and his part in the Macavity fight was more plausible to me. They must have changed the choreography to keep him from really being a 'wuss.’ The fight scene had more power to the “punches.”
Mistoffelees (Ryan P. Ferrell) - I truly enjoyed watching this performer play a Misto (or Quaxo for the purists) who always seems to be trying to answer the question marks in his abilities. He was an actor as well as a dancer, and he came out to sign autographs. Also very facially expressive…
Grizabella (Esther Stilwell) - One word… “wow…” In a way, she was way too pretty to be Griz. However, the vocal control is what got me. After hearing Memory 42 million times, you always think that it will not get to you. Esther definitely knew when to hit you with her voice - the “Touch Me” in both performances literally did. She also came out for autographs - the last one of the group - and I was the last to get her autograph… I asked her about the reason for the shunning of Griz. Her answer was pretty much what I always thought - going out into the world and enjoying too much at other people’s expense, and then falling from the top… However, she did surprise me by saying that Maccie was Griz’s 'pimp’… Whole new slant, right? She almost let some of her control slip in the evening performance, and was too strong/too soon in a couple of places.
Rum Tum Tugger (Jeremy Hays) - This Tugger was laid back cool - one that said “Have I got it or what?” He made sure to come out for autographs.
Special Thanks: The following not listed above came out to let us have their autographs
Alex Ringler - Alonzo (Note: new makeup design - not the solid brown/gold as in Broadway.)
Phillip Peterson - Old Deuteronomy
Jessica Vaccaro - Sillabub
Drew Little - Skimbleshanks
Melinda Sullivan - Victoria (I finally got to personally meet and autograph a Vickie!)
The ones who gave me an autograph… I told them that they had given me one very special Christmas present, and that gave them a smile. I was very much taken with Chelsea Cicci because she was very flattered that I liked her Bomba. Her idea for an actress to be Bomba in any film? Catherine Zeta-Jones…
I had two personal notes that I really enjoyed. Seeing that I was taking notes about certain things, I was asked if I was doing a review. Later, I was asked about the show, and I was able to use my expertise and research to add a little to their enjoyment of the musical. Later, I switched seats with a mother and her daughter so they would have better sightlines. Downstage right had the floor “Smart Lamp” and a monitor in the way as well as a “Misto streamer cannon”. “Mom” did not want to it at first, but I had already seen a good show at the matinee. I gave them a Christmas present.
The whole experience was a Christmas present to myself, I must guiltily admit. Once more, I was able to enjoy this musical as if I saw it for the first time again. At my age, I get a child-like viewpoint when I see the show. My mind knows the set is inflated, but my heart still sees the junkyard. My mind knows the performers are humans in lycra, but my heart sees the characters as real. My mind knows I cannot touch them, but my heart does anyway… Being able to share the show with others was also a treat. But the autograph session was the best…
Thanks once more to the US Tour Cast & Crews… you gave me a very Merry Christmas.
Respectfully submitted,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat
***** Finis *****
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