There have been some incredible deals on theatre tickets this year in Chicago. I’m not sure if it is the demand for Hamilton tickets causing the prices of other shows to be pushed down, but I’ve been to quite a few great shows this year. Just last week, I saw the excellent Something Rotten! for less than $50.
An American in Paris is coming to Chicago next week for a limited engagement. I’m really debating if I should go. I have never seen the movie and I don’t like the music of George Gershwin. However, I love Broadway theatre and seeing any musical for less than $50 seems like it would be worth it.
Take a chance on it? I didn’t like the cast recording of Book of Mormon, and didn’t like the show when I finally saw it. But, I’m glad I went to give it a chance and I paid a lot more than $50 for the tickets.
I saw it when the tour started (Our local theater helped produce it on Broadway, so they got first crack).
It’s an OK, if old-fashioned, musical. Gershwin’s music is top-notch and it’s mostly an excuse to use his songs (as the original movie was). The story, of course, was pretty thin, but it’s just an excuse to hand the show on.
An old fashioned musical sounds perfect. I saw The King and I a few weeks ago and loved it. I’ve seen Oklahoma! and Carousel as well and enjoyed them both. I can rent the movie for $3 so perhaps I’l do that.
The film has Gene Kelly, which is a huge plus, but has also has Oscar Levant* which is a huge drawback. The story in the film is pretty meh, but I understand they’ve improved the story in the show.
For decades it was considered Gene Kelly’s best work (Singin’ In The Rain has overtaken it–and I agree) but it’s still well worth watching for him.
*Who, for some reason, MGM seemed to think would become a Danny Kaye/Groucho Marx -esque star. Despite having no talent for comedy, acting, singing or dancing. They cast him in about 6 musicals and he’s obnoxiously intrusive and completely annoying in every one of them. He’s has (or plays) a sort of whiney Woody Allen type personality in a Don Rickles body and has a voice that makes Ernest Borgnine’s sound melodic. But without any of the talent of the three people I mentioned.
I saw it when it came through L.A. - I found it to be meh at best. The lead male character was throwing up red flags all over the place - he needed to take a class in consent and respecting a “no”. That irritated me. But the music, of course, was loverly.
Heh–the movie’s worse in that regard, and Leslie Caron (regardless of how old she actually was looked like she was 15-16 or so to Gene Kelly’s “Maybe 35-40…if you squint” and Georges Guétary looked late '40s, squinting or not. (Yes, I know he was actually younger than Kelly, but he didn’t look it.)
Well, I decided to go. Even with Ticketbastards fees, it is only going to be $63 and I am going to a matinee. If I don’t like the first act, I’ll grab a cocktail during intermission. I’ll report back after the show with my impressions.
