Oct 18th, 2010
A weekend in NYC, part 2
Although we spent most of our NYC weekend outside, we did partake of one iconic NYC activity that took place indoors.
It started with this (thanks to our NYC friend, whose professional connections enabled her to get free tickets for both our families)…
…and included this. The show was technically amazing (stunning sets! Bert walking on the ceiling! Mary Poppins flying through the air!), though clearly crafted for people who already knew the movie.*
Free tickets to a great show is pretty amazing…but wait, it gets better! Jan actually knew someone in the cast, a friend from high school with whom he’d reconnected (via Facebook, natch) a year or two ago. She’d mentioned a while back that he should tell her if we were ever going to see a show, because she could show us around afterward. So we took her up on her offer! And here’s the view from THE STAGE of the New Amsterdam theater.
And that stunning set I mentioned? Here’s a glimpse of part of it, along with the wings. The theater doesn’t actually have a lot of backstage space, because NYC real estate is so pricey. Horizontal real estate, that is–there’s plenty of room if you go up. So some of the set pieces were actually in the air, four stories up. Thank goodness for strong ropes!
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*I’ve seen the movie a gazillion times, and I had a bit of trouble following this show’s narrative; I doubt if someone unfamiliar with Mary Poppins could understand the show at all. Still, it was fun to see, and I’d recommend it nonetheless. I like many of the ways in which this show deviated from the movie–e.g., by making Mary Poppins a bit crankier and less “sweeter” (a depiction more in keeping with the character in the books), and by having the kids start out as true brats (thus giving them a story arc rather than having them be mere observers to events).
5 Responses to “A weekend in NYC, part 2”
I thought they did a great job as well, Marsha. The sets were just incredible! I’m so glad you were able to see it!
Two friends and I, and another threesome, won three pairs of tickets to see Avenue Q several years ago, and I thought that was quite lucky. But your recent expereince trumps! What a wonderful treat for you all!
Hey, Avenue Q is no joke, either! I hear that’s a great show. And free is an excellent price to pay. :)
Avenue Q is THE BEST musical I’ve ever seen. I’m not that partial to musicals, either. Perhaps it’s because it’s speaks so aptly of me and my friends, and our current situations. Le sigh.
Anyway – Marsha! I’m trying my hardest to be a diligent blog reader again. I’m playing some catch-up on a few (but not all, sadly) of the posts I’ve missed during my hiatus.
It’s great to “hear from” you again!!! Yay. :)
xo
@Arianna; *wave* It’s good to see you again!