some 2019 theatre thoughts

2019 Marzoña's Year of Theatre.png

Here’s a list of all the theater things I saw in 2019 and a few half-baked musings of what I thought of the 11 Plays and 15 Musicals! I’m just very lucky to have had family that took me to see live theater when I was younger and made me appreciate it. I also feel lucky to have invested in this, and if you’re interested in going to anything, check out the app Today Tix for discounted tickets (I swear this isn’t a paid sponsor ad [PS Today Tix please sponsor this website])!

PLAYS

  • Dana H (Kirk Douglas Theatre, LA)

    • Loved the structure of the play - all the dialogue is from a recorded interview with the real-life subject recounting her kidnapping, while the actress on stage lip syncs.

  • The Great Leap (Pasadena Playhouse, LA)

    • Great story about legacy and the determination to live up to expectations.

  • Happy Days (Mark Taper Forum, LA)

    • I don’t think I’m into the philosophical musings of Samuel Beckett. Too existential and heady for me.

  • Indecent (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • Poetic, beautiful and timely story about censorship.

  • Key Largo (Geffen Playhouse, LA)

    • This had to be a vanity play for Andy Garcia, right? Didn’t find much nuance or anything to strongly attach to.

  • Latin History For Morons (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • Beautiful, hilarious and educational one-man show. John Leguizamo is brilliant!

  • Linda Vista (Mark Taper Forum, LA)

    • Definitely my favorite play I’ve seen. Yeah, it’s about a white guy’s mid-life crisis, but so well written, staged and acted. This made me buy and read all of Tracy Letts’ plays and stan him.

  • [Mike Birbiglia’s] The New One (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • Another one-man show that balances the comedic and emotional tones so well. It was also intimidating being stared down by Birbiglia, as if asking for more of a reaction, while sitting in the front row.

  • A Play is a Poem (Mark Taper Forum, LA)

    • An existential, Beckett-like play that I couldn’t get into. Just when one of the vignettes got interesting, it would move on to the next one. A tad frustrating.

  • The Play That Goes Wrong (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • So funny it became exhausting! All those actors are so incredibly skilled with physical comedy and timing. Organized chaos is the best!

  • Sea Wall / A Life (Hudson Theatre, NY)

    • Two beautiful monologues, both tragic stories told by Tom Sturridge, the second by Jake Gyllenhaal. They’re both heartbreaking and extremely soulful. Lots of tears and laughs. Life is a beautiful thing.

MUSIC-BASED THEATRE (aka Musicals / Operas / Ballets)

  • Anastasia (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • Mostly dull retelling/adaptation of the famous story. Good staging, though!

  • Beetlejuice: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre, NY)

    • Just a delightful, dependable musical made for touring / making money. Doesn’t go as inventive/crazy as I thought it would, but crazy great energy. Cast is amazing (cool to see the original Broadway cast!), story is different from the movie but works well!

  • La Boheme (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA)

    • First time seeing an opera, and didn’t realize this is what ‘Rent’ is based on. Surprisingly didn’t feel drowsy during it, and the supertitles weren’t distracting. Staging and set decoration felt sparse, or at least less decorated than what I expected.

  • Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • The first act was almost perfect to me, but was a little let down by the factory imaginativeness; great Wonka performance!

  • [Matthew Bourne’s] Cinderella (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • Went in not expecting a full-on ballet but was surprised at how much I loved the World War II dialogue-less reimagining.

  • Falsettos (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • Pleasant, frantic musical about the weird, crazy and beautiful happenings in life and with family. 

  • Kinky Boots (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • Fun in the moment, but a little unmemorable.

  • Little Shop of Horrors (Pasadena Playhouse, LA)

    • Big shouts for a Filipino lead in this wonderful and energetic story that I was happy to experience for the first time on stage. Lovable leads and staging.

  • Mean Girls (August Wilson Theatre, NY)

    • Super fun musical version of the movie. The only things I didn’t like were the spotlighted references to the classic movie lines. Otherwise, a delight update of the story!

  • Miss Saigon (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • First time seeing this classic and didn’t realize that it was a sung-through musical. Had some beautiful moments, but found the ending a little troubling.

  • Oklahoma! (Circle in the Square Theatre, NY)

    • An AMAZING reimagining of the classic musical. Performing in a jutted out stage made it feel very immersive and more personal. It’s staged to make you reinterpret the characters (as they shut out outsiders) and their motives in a 2019 society. Curly is kind of a despicable character, and you sympathize with the antagonist.

  • Phantom of the Opera (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • Another first time experiencing a long-running musical. Its music is pretty in-your-face and the set design was extravagant and great.

  • Rent (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • Was lucky to win the theater’s lottery and sit in the third row. Pretty crazy to see a loud show that close on its 25th Anniversary Tour. Almost got spat on. Probably my favorite production I’ve seen of it (sorry, LMU friends)!

  • Summer (Pantages Theatre, LA)

    • Wasn’t expecting much but was pleasantly surprised by how much of the music I knew by osmosis and how incredible the 3 Donnas were. Pretty stellar cast, albeit traditional.

  • [Matthew Bourne’s] Swan Lake (Ahmanson Theatre, LA)

    • Beautiful dialogue-less retelling of Swan Lake, but with male swans. I was in awe of the dancers’ grace for the whole show.

Thanks for reading!!!

Marzoña's Musings, Marzoña's Musing, Misc, TheaterAlex Marzona2019, 2020, theatreComment