Posted by henrikegerman 2013-02-14 08:56:37
An impeccable contemporary vaudeville. Combining Irwin and Shiner's amazingly skillful clowning and easy artful style with Nellie McKay's lovably quirky personality and delightful new score is, dare I say it, genius. The talent and inventiveness is overwhelming. Hats off to Tina Landau for what looks to be a huge hit!
The Signature has done it again!
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by egghumor 2013-02-14 09:08:35
This is wonderful news! Nellie McKay is a gifted songwriter, especially with lyrics. Did she write the 'genius' score?
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by henrikegerman 2013-02-14 09:58:20
It is McKay's score. I believe, but am not sure, it's entirely new for the show. The lyrics are very much her own: surprising, innocent simple ironies delivered like soft-ball stand up comedy in song form. Her charming naive/wink style works like crackerjack with Irwin and Shiner's mime, movement and magic. While her billing is secondary to Irwin and Shiner's she is very nearly and quite arguably equal to them in contribution/star attraction.
I don't want to build up people's expectations (I never do) but it is very easy to love this show.
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by egghumor 2013-02-14 16:30:46
Thanks, Henrik! Nellie McKay has made several great records, but to date, my favorite remains her critically-lauded 2003 double-disc debut, GET AWAY FROM ME (the title is a parody of Norah Jones' hit at the time, "Come Away with Me"). Used copies of GET AWAY FROM ME are available on Amazon right now (link below) for as little as $1.34. If you loved her songs in the show, these will probably delight you as well (and she was quite young when she wrote them: 19-20).
Also recommended is her 2007 release OBLIGATORY VILLAGERS.
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by macnyc 2013-02-14 16:42:21
I'm looking forward to seeing the show next month! I haven't seen Bill Irwin since The Regard of Flight, which went over my head (bad pun) so much so that I skipped Fool Moon.
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by PlayItAgain 2013-02-14 17:10:02
Loved Bill in The Public's productions of King Lear so I am SO excited to see this on Sunday.
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by Matt Rogers 2013-02-14 20:30:10
Noticed this was selling out a few weeks ago. Found a single and bought it, as I was shut out of Piano Lesson for acting late. I hope this is as good as the original poster says. but I guess I may have fallen for the hype once again. Hope I am wrong!
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by chrisampm2 2013-02-14 21:14:20
What did you see that was hyped but not as good as reported (if I understand your post correctly)?
OLD HATS: A Complete Delight
Posted by henrikegerman 2013-02-14 21:38:09
Matt, I hope you enjoyed it nearly as much as I did. All I can tell you is that I don't hype things, I genuinely loved this show. Of course that doesn't mean that everyone is going to agree with me, although it seemed the audience the night I saw it (last night) enjoyed it just as much as I did.
