Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
#1re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:13am
I went... really enjoyed it! For me, highlights were Bebe Neuwirth, Tyne Daly, Ruthie Henshell and Maria Friedman. There was also a young girl in the first number who was *incredible*... embarassingly, don't know her name and don't have my Playbill with me right now to figure it out. Will check it later. :)
Cynthia Nixon, Julianna Margulies and Jennifer Ehle read a section of "The Heidi Chronicles" as a tribute to Wendy Wasserstein... I wasn't sure how they were going to do a tribute to her in the middle of a show that was mostly singing, but, I thought it worked well.
The other non-singing performer was Kate Clinton... who I really liked, but, thought maybe went on a little long. She also gave in to the pull of doing a Brokeback joke, which, honestly, I'm finding a little tired at this point.
Darlene Love was supposed to sing "Nothing Like a Dame" at the close, but, was replaced by Shoshana Bean. Also, I think Rosie O'Donnell was supposed to appear at some point, but, didn't (it may have been when they did a live auction of a Harry Winston watch, but, I'm not sure).
It was funny, I didn't really think too much about it being all-women until there were a couple of performances (one was the husband of a husband and wife team and one was the guys from Jersey boys) that *weren't* and they just seemed a little out of place. Good, but, out of place. :) It didn't strike me that way when there were guys backing up a female singer (again, blanking on who the "Dame" was), but, when they sang themselves.
They presented a check to Phyllis Newman at the end for $300,000... and after just hearing from a couple of women who had personally been helped by the Women's Health Initiative, that was awesome!
Huh... that's really a lame "review"... sorry!
#2re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:34am
Husband and wife team = Jessica Molaskey (whom I love) and John Pizzarelli.
They did a cool, jazzy mesh of "Getting Married Today" and another song that I wasn't familiar with (and I don't have the program in front of me). It was one of my favorite moments.
Bebe was great, but I particularly loved Tyne Daly doing the job application song from Ballroom (a cut song, I think, but I've never seen the full show). And, of course, the performance by the Sweeney Todd women. 
Quick question if anyone knows it:
Who was the woman who took Darlene Love's place in the opening number? They announced her name, but I couldn't hear it because of applause.
eta: Oh, yes -- the other "dame" you were mentioning was Ruth Williamson.
Updated On: 3/7/06 at 10:34 AM
#3re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:37am
"And, of course, the performance by the Sweeney Todd women. "
What was their performance like? Could you provide more details? I wish I could have been in two places at once for that portion of the show!
Happy...Everything!
Kaye Thompson
#4re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:41am
Yes! Thanks for the name reminders! My brain is a sieve. 
I also loved Tyne Daly.. it's funny... even though I *know* she's been on Broadway and sang, since the stuff I'm most familiar with her for *doesn't* involve singing, I'm always so pleasantly surprised when I hear her sing. If that makes any sense.
(It was sort of the same when I went to go see Chita Rivera... I had it in my head that I was going to see her dance, so, when she sang, I was all like, "Duh! She sings, too!" Which, of course, if I'd thought about it, I'd *know* because you can't really do West Side Story or Chicago without singing. *blush*)
#6re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:44am
Oh, Gypsy, you've caught me. I can't remember the name of the song they sang -- and accompanied, of course -- but it was lovely. I'll add it when I get a chance to look at my program, unless someone beats me to it.
And Maria Friedman sang "Broadway Baby."
#7re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:46am
Maria Friedman sang "Broadway Baby."
Holy crap! Wow, if anyone has any *info* on her version of the song, PM me.
Happy...Everything!
Kaye Thompson
musicalsFan
Broadway Star Joined: 3/3/04
#8re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:54am
You don't need any "info".
Maria Friedman sings "Broadway Baby" on one of her solo CDs that were sold at the theatre during WiW's run. You might be able to find the CDs at Tower Records Lincoln Center and of course at the overpriced Colony Records.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#9re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 11:02am
"Quick question if anyone knows it:
Who was the woman who took Darlene Love's place in the opening number?"
Brynn Williams
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#10re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 11:05amNo, not Brynn Williams. I knew her. There was her, Felicia Finley, Lauren Kennedy and someone else.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#11re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 11:15am
Oh...Leslie Kritzer?
The diva belter?
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
Updated On: 3/7/06 at 11:15 AM
#12re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 11:17amYes, I believe that was her. Was she the one who sang "River Deep, Mountain High"? I had assumed that was going to be Darlene Love's song until she pulled out for whatever reason.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#13re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 11:18amYes. That was her. She's ridiculous, right?
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#15re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 12:20pm
Oy. For a second I thought I finnally got a appreciation thread.
This sounded like it was alot of fun. Was it well attended?
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
#16re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 12:34pm
I think it was pretty well attended, but there were still some vacant spots in the cheap seats (where I was, of course) -- enough for the dancers to file in and watch from them after their performance.
eta: Ah, here's the line-up.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/robsblog/
Updated On: 3/7/06 at 12:34 PM
#17re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 2:05pm
Bebe Neuwirth - "Cabaret"
I'm sure that was worth the price of admission alone!
Happy...Everything!
Kaye Thompson
wickedrentq
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/6/04
#18re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 3:28pm
I'll edit this to make my own detailed review for Liotte (hope you had fun, thanks for arranging the ticket!), but just a couple things that were mentioned...
*Nevermind, I can't make things brief, so here's the details...
Yes, Bebe's "Cabaret" was fantastic!
As were the Sweeney women. They sang "And So It Goes." It was Diana MiMarzio on piano, Lauren Molina on cello, Dorothy Stanley on viola, Elisa Winters on accordian, and Jessica Wright on violin. The song was a harmony of soprano voices. They were all able to sing on their instruments, but mostly one took a verse but then on certain parts they all sang together. It was gorgeous as were their playing
Maria Friedman's "Broadway Baby" was also great. Embarassingly, I'm not too familiar with "Follies." But the way she sang it, as I assume it's usually done, was just great. Most of the song she sang in a very shy, quiet voice but still hit all the notes gorgeously. I don't know, as a clarinetist, I find it hardest to play quietly, especially the higher notes. Is there a similarity to singing? Anyway, at the end she just belted the hell out of it, and it was wonderful!
I was so happy to see Ruthie Henshall live, even for a not quite full rendition of "Lullaby of Broadway." What a voice!
One of the most touching moments was when Ramona Floyd, Sarah Hamilton, and Jill Eikenberry took the stage to describe their own stories of surviving cancer and the part that the actor's fund and the women's health initiative played in getting them proper treatment despite lacking funds and insurance so they could go on acting, and more importantly as they all said, "they're alive."
Brynn Williams gave a beautiful rendition of "Waiting for Life," one of my favorite songs! Lauren Kennedy gave an amazing performance of "At Last," and Felicia Finley did a great job with "I'm A Woman."
Victoria Clark's rendition too was low-key, but the woman was amazing, and of course she was great on "Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me."
The Jersey Girls (Heather Ferguson, Jennifer Naimo, Erica Piccinni, and Sara Schmidt) came out in the Jersey Boys costumes to do their own rendition of "Walk Like A Man" before breaking into their dresses for "My Boyfriend's Back." It was cute.
The Wendy Wasserstein Tribute was really good too, as perhaps embarassingly, I'm not familiar with "The Heidi Chronicles." Twas a great monolugue shared by the 3 performers.
The "Cloudburst/Getting Married Today" duet was also really well done. I still give performers all the credit in the world for getting through those words so fast.
And what a treat to see Tyne Daly perform live.
Things seemed pretty confused at the end with Darlene not there. Someone said they...think...everyone will sing it now and then they did but it still looked confusing.
The Jersey Boys came on close to the end to show the girls how it's done, and performed "Big Girls Don't Cry." Now I saw the show, but John Lloyd Young was out. I was thrilled to be able to see him! He's just fantastic; I have to go back to the show!
Ooh, one more interesting note. Phyllis Newman had a co-welcomer. She introduced one of the stars of the current broadway production of Sweeney Todd--the tuba
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
#19re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 3:53pmJill Paice was in Nothin' Like A Dame? Anyone have a review of her?
jta2k
Swing Joined: 12/4/05
#20re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 8:38pmDoes anyone know the name of the song that Tyne Daly sang and what show it was from?
#21re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/7/06 at 9:46pmShe sang Job Application from Ballroom.
wickedrentq
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/6/04
#22re: Nothin' Like A Dame review anyone?
Posted: 3/8/06 at 12:55amYes AF, she was part of a medley opening the 2nd act with Ruthie Henshall and Angie Shworer. She sang "New York, New York" with dancers who did moves similar to the Rockettes.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
