BWW Reviews: Day 4 – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON / MISS ABIGAIL’S GUIDE / MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION

Well today, Dear Readers was one helluva day!  A group of spectacular shows and aside from a few interesting conversations I had with true New Yorkers on the bus, not a lot of time for anything else but shows since I was seeing three of them.  So let's dive right in shall we?

BLOODY BLOODY Andrew Jackson

Not much really I can tell you about the story of this one that the history books can't tell you better.  A loose dramatization of the life of our 7^th President but with an Emo Rock feel to it, it's all done very tongue in cheek and with several winks to the audience.  And all the while you're learning what you may have forgotten from history class you're having a great time.  Think of it like "Schoolhouse Rock" with attitude and tons of fun.  They even manage to have a few serious and poignant moments with Jackson's rude awakenings of what it is to really run a country in between the over the top characterizations and belly laughs.  Writers Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman brought this over from a hugely successful run over at The Public Theatre and it looks like Broadway is eating it up as well.

The success is in no small part to the incredible ensemble led by the charismatic Benjamin Walker as Jackson.  Walker's stage presence knows no bounds and his legs know no circulation due to the tightness of his jeans.  He sells every moment with zeal and you have a hard time taking your eyes off him.  But you do only to see the rest of this ensemble.  People like Jeff Hiller who had me rolling with his hysterical roles like his John Quincy Adams who was overly reminiscent of a recent President of modern times.  Bryce Pinkham's Black Fox and Clay could not have been more different from each other and were both ingenious.  And I have to mention Kristine Nielsen as the Storyteller who had the entire audience howling.  I don't want to give away the gag by saying too much but suffice to say she rolls away with every scene she's in.

Really a great show and very different fare from the usual Broadway and definitely worth the time.  Due to its rock and blunt nature it may not be for every Broadway audience but I found it fresh and a Bloody good time.

"Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" is currently playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre at 242 W 45^th Street.  For tickets and more information, visit www.BloodyBloodyAndrewJackson.com.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

MISS ABIGAIL'S GUIDE TO DATING, MATING & MARRIAGE

Again not much to tell about the story for this one.  It's a fun little session with love advisor Miss Abigail as she leads us through the rough waters of finding love and hanging onto it for dear life.  And on this journey she is joined by her ever loyal assistant, Paco who runs and fetches whatever Miss Abigail needs with passion and glee.  And that's pretty much it.  There's plenty of audience interaction if you're up for it (and if not, don't sit in the front row) and plenty of laughs.

Miss Abigail is played by Eve Plumb (yes, TV's Jan Brady) who looks great and handles the audience with ease and humor.  Joining her is the oh so adorable (in every sense of the word) Manuel Herrera as Paco.  Herrera has the comic timing of Buster Keaton, the passion of Rudolph Valentino and the moves of Ricky Martin.

Really not much else to say.  A short review for a short show but one worthy of an audience.  I hope more people make it out to catch Miss Abigail and Paco before they mambo off into the sunset.

"Miss Abigail's Guide ..." plays at the Downstairs Cabaret Theater at Sofia's (221 West 46th Street, next to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre).  For more information check them out online at www.MissAbigailsGuide.com.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION

And last but by no means least we have the stunning revival of George Bernard Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession".  The story, set at the turn of the 20^th century in England, follows Mrs. Kitty Warren who is welcoming home her daughter Vivie from university.  Vivie is an accomplished woman of the era and has graduated 3^rd in her class in mathematics and is on her way to securing herself a career.  But since her Mother has always paid for everything for her even though not being very present in her life, Vivie's independence comes as a shock to all those around especially to Mrs. Warren.  But through the course of an evening's dinner party with friends and neighbors the source of Mrs. Warren's wealth comes into light and we discover that she has brought herself up from meager beginnings and carved out a life for herself in the world of prostitution (although those words or words like it are never uttered in the entire play).  These revelations cause Vivie to question her own morals and the morals of those around her and what place she holds in this world she has known nothing about.

It's amazing to me that a play of this subject matter could have even been possible in the late 1800's or early 1900's.  And at first it wasn't possible as it was banned by the British government 1893 but then finally began limited performances in 1902.  But that's what happens when playwrights break through boundaries and social mores to tell a compelling story.  But beyond the subject matter the work is so far ahead of its time.  The attitudes and even the language used seem more from a modern day author than from someone of Shaw's era.  But then, he was a visionary and that's why his plays endure.

That and the fact that productions like this one exist.  The production is sublime.  A riveting ensemble full of dramatic and comedic masters.  Specifically Sally Hawkins as Vivie and Cherry Jones as Mrs. Warren grab hold of the audience by the neck and never let go until the final moment which is breathtaking.  Hawkins is one of those up and coming actresses that needs to be seen.  Her performance in the film "Happy-Go-Lucky" is an absolute joy to behold.  And her performance here is transcendent.  She commands every moment and fills the closed off Vivie with loads of heart.  Jones never ceases to amaze me.  If you thought her performance in "Doubt" couldn't be topped then you have not seen her Mrs. Warren.  She is at the top of her game.  Every little nuance is perfect and her accent blew me away as she incorporated what a lower class accent would be like brought up through the ranks of society over many years.  A truly astonishing performance in a powerhouse of a play.  This is one that should not be missed.

Tickets are available by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at (212)719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the American Airlines Box Office (227 West 42nd Street).  For more information visit them online at www.roundabouttheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

So all in all an incredible day of theater and I still have two shows to go.  Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 5 after which I'll wing my way back to Seattle.

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