easter bonnet 2007


Yesterday, my friend kristin had the thankless job of performing as an "offstage singer" for the opening act of the Easter Bonnet competition, a fundraiser for Broadway Cares. But a perk for me (as her "Broadway crazed friend") was a free comped ticket to this event. I was accompanied by her friend Derek, who will hopefully be on Broadway very soon! He entertained me with audition stories til the show started.

My personal skit was from Journey's End...of course, they are one of my favorite shows on Broadway and truly undervalued...they are the ultimate underdogs. With one of the emptiest houses on Broadway (a measly low 40% of their seats filled), and with one of the best theater pieces on the Great White Way...it truly is a tragedy that people would fill the houses of Pirate Queen & Legally Blonde rather than see really great theater and talent at the Belasco.

Their brilliant skit played up to the fact that they have an empty audience. This is how their skit started: (For your convenience, I have italicized the phrases I think are particularly hilarious)

"Richard: Good afternoon.

Our play, Journey’s End, is the best reviewed show of all time…

When I read John Simon’s review, I could have kissed the son of a bitch.

We have no gimmicks in our play, no TV stars, no fancy pants dance numbers, no razzle dazzle…and no audience. We are playing to 3% capacity.

We have an intimate relationship with the audience…11 of us…11 of them.
Each week when the grosses come out, there is Journey’s End by alphabetical fluke listed just below Jersey Boys. And our grosses are identical… except for the one…in the millions column.

How do we get an audience to come to the haunted old Belasco, on Sixth Avenue for christsake, to see a straight play, full of straight actors?!"

Needless to say, it was hilarious...because they launched into a full on parody of Jersey Boys, aka "Journey Boys"(see photo above). Straight actors in a straight play...who can't sing...trying to sing like the Jersey Boys.

GO SEE THIS SHOW.

Other faves in the Easter Bonnet competition; the cast of Company did a parody of Chorus Line ("Winds & Brass..."Winds & Brass"...instead of "T&A" "how many instruments will i have to play in order to get chosen for the chorus line?"...). I loved the ending of the skit when Barbara Walsh enters the stage with a huge upside down tuba hat on her head, and announces,"Does anyone still wear a hat?"

I also loved the Color Purple's skit "Pretty Ladies Who Lunch", with the woman playing Sophia singing Sondheim's "Ladies Who Lunch" from Company. I love that song! It was cool to hear Color Purple cast members singing Sondheim. What a refreshing change :)

I loved all the intermixing of theater shows. Phantom & Les Mis collided...Sondheim & Color Purple...Fiddler on the Roof and In the Heights (called "Tradizzle") and Wicked.

Lots of jokes that jabbed at the theater industry..."My union health benefits took a beating like no other...like what would happen if Don Imus attended a Color Purple cast party..." bwahahaha.

Anyways. Congrats to Kristin on her Broadway debut (as "offstage singer"), and to a unique theatrical experience.