Ivy Lynn takes Encores by storm!

[henrikegerman]

"We have a winner. Please pass henrik the tiara."

"Henrik? Who is Henrik?"

[SonofRobbieJ]

The lawyer's son has learned a thing or two from the old man. Too bad about the short and boring part.

[Mister Matt]

Wait...who is "Ethel Merman"? Now I have no idea what henrik was talking about. Why can't the simplest matters be presented simply and straightforwardly?

[Wynbish]

"We have a winner. Please pass henrik the tiara."

Pretty sure Ellis stole it. He wants to co-produce that comment!

[mamaleh]

Both Megans (Hilty and Sikora) were top-notch; the first for clowning and singing, the latter for her deft dance moves. I had a great time. The show is lighter than a feather but excellent fluff, much like a tasty dessert bite that dissolves instantly. The two dancers who did that amazing tap number with Sikora reminded me very much of the Nicholas Brothers from the old MGM musicals--they were that good. I just wish Aaron Lazar had been given more to do.

What a fun evening of feel-good musical theater!

[Wicked Fanatic]

Ben Brantley's NY Times Review is a RAVE for Ivy Lynn and the show. Sounds like Whizzer's description of "Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend" is spot on with Brantley's!

http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/theater/reviews/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-with-megan-hilty-at-city-center.html?ref=theater

[madbrian]

Good for her and the show, although I wish the review had spent at least a little time on the rest of the cast. Not much more than a passing mention for anyone other than Hilty.

[Jordan Catalano]

Brantley giving a rave review to a blonde is like a fat kid giving a rave review to a birthday cake.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I'm pretty sure Eileen left at interval.

EL OH EL

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Also - and not that After Eight is anything but a troll - but the OP's message does indeed mention Encores.

[Mister Matt]

HEY! After Eight is ONLY delivering someone a dose of their own medicine!

[muscle23ftl]

I also didn't know who Ivy Lynn is, but I am glad to hear there is alot of dancing involved in this...and I agree, Merrily We Roll Along would definitely get all the Tonys if it was elegible.
Megan Sikora was amazing in Promises, Promises, she commanded the number "Turkey Lurkey Time" like a true professional dancer.
I was also lucky enough, that when I saw Idina Menzel in Wicked(the only time I saw Wicked in New York), Jennifer Laura Thompson was out, and a young and unknown actress was going to play Galinda that night, the great Megan Hilty.

[Kad]

Wish I'd be able to get a chance to see this... the highlights video is very promising. And I usually think those videos are completely incapable of catching the charm of shows.

[CarlosAlberto]

GALINDA!?!?!? GA-LINDA!?!?!!? IT'S GLINDA!!! G-L-I-N-D-A!!!

/rant

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

Just read Brantley's review. I'm so thrilled for Hilty's rave! His description of Diamonds was wonderful...I do wish he had spent a little more time on the other actors as well though. Still, it must have been nice for Hilty to go to work tonight after reading such raves this morning.

[E.Davis]

So this seems like a show that should not be missed. Does Hilty get to do any real dancing in the show?

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

Hilty doesn't dance much in it. She mostly stands and commands. There is a lot of choreography though, so if it's dancing you're after you'll be pleased.

[themysteriousgrowl]

"by (causative preposition)"


DYING

[Jordan Catalano]

From talking to an ensemble cast member (you always get the best gossip from them) there's talk of transferring the show if things can work out. Not sure how reliable that is but at least one cast member says it! S/he also said they were going to do a live recording but switched it at the last second to a studio recording which I don't like. I thought all Encores shows were going to be Live from now on.

[nasty_khakis]

I saw it last night and had a great time. I feel very much like Brantley about Miss Hilty. Always found her competent and fun but never loved her until last night. Everything about this seemed to click together despite the silliness of some plot points or out of nowhere jokes.

I didn't understand the HUGE ovation "Diamonds" got though. Don't get me wrong, she sang the hell out of it and sounded wonderful, but the staging was very lack-luster. The song comes out of nowhere plot wise, just shoved between the action of two scenes and she plants and sings most of the song. I can appreciate the stand and sing in moments of quiet character moments or moments of great depth (I Am Changing, Talk Amongst Yourselves, etc) but for a bubbly glass of champagne like this number I was expecting a lot more. Maybe I'm just used to the movie's version or something. I felt Hilty deserved a hearty hand since her delivery and singing were top-notch but I hardly felt it warranted a two minutes non stop applause. This isn't an attack, to repeat, I LOVED her, I just want reasons why people found this number show-stopping.

[Jordan Catalano]

I think it was "showstopping" for a couple of reasons including that it's the first time Hilty is alone on stage to really get her teeth into a song. Plus she's doing the iconic Marilyn number and, well, you know how people associate her with Marilyn.

But yes, while I enjoyed the number I agree that I don't know why people lost their shlt over it.

[nasty_khakis]

Thank you, Jordan. I assumed a lot of it was "We know this song! This is that Marilyn actress is from tv! She can sing! Sparkly dress!"

I don't see this transferring without her. I don't know when Smash starts filming again, but I could see it working if they act FAST and book the Hirshfeld/St James (the artistic director of Encores! is VP of Jujamcyn after all) for a limited summer/fall run keeping the simple/cheap sets and costumes.

[madbrian]

Also, Rachel York is supposed to tour with Anything Goes starting in October

[AC126748]

Encores shows don't always transfer right away, if/when they do. If they want to transfer it (still seems like a big "if" at this point), they could conceivably wait until next spring, when Hilty would be on hiatus, and there would be awards visibility.

[Zimmy]

Studio Cast Recording is a go. - I too would have perferred the live.

If they transfer, it's looking like it would be in the fall for a short run as Hilty shoots in the summer and York is out on the road in October. - So maybe a brief 8-10 week run in August-October?

[nasty_khakis]

I know it has always tanken months to transfer in the past. I more meant where the Jujamcyn theatres were available and the actors were free until fall they should load up the trucks Sunday.