Having never seen the movie, I had absolutely no idea what the show was about. From the logo and title and vague things I’d heard, I was afraid it was going to be a real ’20s based, tap-dancing, sequins and “old style” Broadway show – which, though that can be fun, is not really my first choice of the way to spend a Saturday afternoon in New York.
In a way, the show is all those things – and yet, it is also a “thoroughly modern” show, with great humour and some real poignancy. I absolutely adored Sutton Foster as Millie – she is just the right mix of spunky and vulnerable, romantic and level-headed. Gavin Creel was a pleasant surprise as well, since I wasn’t really familiar with anything he’d done before, and he’s just a doll. The “name” in the show, as far as I was concerned, was Marc Kudisch, who I’d been wanting to see on stage for quite some time, and he certainly didn’t let me down!! In fact, the only person that I didn’t really love in their role was Angela Christian as Dorothy, although that may be more the fault of the role than anything else.
The first couple of songs had me wondering just what I’d gotten myself into…up until about the “Not for the Life of Me” reprise by Ching Ho and Bun Foo (who were pretty much my favourite part of the show, besides Marc!!). That was the point that I really started to warm up to the story, and it seemed the whole audience got a little more involved from there on in. The only parts I felt after that that dragged a bit would have to be Muzzy’s songs – Sheryl Lee Ralph did a lovely job, but they weren’t related to the plot at all, and the style of music isn’t my favourite to begin with.
By the time the curtain fell, I, like everyone else around me, was wearing a smile, and feeling 10 times lighter than I did when I entered the theatre. And *that* is exactly how I’d choose to spend a Saturday in New York.
The Thoroughly Modern Millie cast filming their segment
for Rosie O’Donnell’s farewell show
The Quotes:
Me: Are you not feeling well?
Marc Kudisch: Actually, I’m really ill.
Me: Well, I couldn’t tell. At all.
Marc: I like you. You lie, but I like you.
The cast: (in order of appearance)
|
Millie Dillmount |
SUTTON FOSTER |
|
Jimmy Smith |
GAVIN CREEL |
|
Ruth |
MEGAN SIKORA |
|
Gloria |
JoANN M. HUNTER |
|
Rita |
JESSICA GROVÉ |
|
Alice |
ALISA KLEIN |
|
Ethel Pease |
JOYCE CHITTICK |
|
Cora |
CATHERINE BRUNELL |
|
Lucille |
KATE BALDWIN |
|
Mrs. Meers |
HARRIET HARRIS |
|
Miss Dorothy Brown |
ANGELA CHRISTIAN |
|
Ching Ho |
KEN LEUNG |
|
Bun Foo |
FRANCIS JUE |
|
Miss Flannery |
ANNE L. NATHAN |
|
Mr. Trevor Graydon |
MARC KUDISCH |
|
Speed Tappists |
CASEY NICHOLAW, NOAH RACEY |
|
The Pearl Lady |
ROXANE BARLOW |
|
The Letch |
NOAH RACEY |
|
Officer |
CASEY NICHOLAW |
|
Muzzy Van Houssmere |
SHERYL LEE RALPH |
|
Kenneth |
BRANDON WARDELL |
|
Mathilde |
CATHERINE BRUNELL |
|
George Gershwin |
NOAH RACEY |
|
Dorothy Parker |
JULIE CONNORS |
|
Rodney |
AARON RAMEY |
|
Dishwashers |
ALDRIN GONZALEZ |
|
Muzzy’s Boys |
GREGG GOODBROD |
|
Daphne |
KATE BALDWIN |
|
Dexter |
CASEY NICHOLAW |
|
New Modern |
JESSICA GROVÉ |
|
Ensemble |
KATE BALDWIN |