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Damn Yankees Reviews
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Finally, an evening of honest entertainment Review by: mr_joe, Jul 27, 2008 |
Wow to think they once wrote musicals with no cursing, no teen pregnancy, and still one had a wonderful time at the theater.
Damn Yankees was an great encore and the three leads were superb in their roles. There is a great supporting cast, and wonderful music.
"Spring Awakening" style shows beware. Nothing - yes n-o-t-h-i-n-g beats these classic shows and I hope this style of Broadway returns to us very soon. Go see it! It's 100% ... read more entertainment!
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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VERY SORRY TO SEE THIS END ITS RUN Review by: Beth M, Jul 27, 2008 |
DAMN YANKEES: “THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS” (SONG FROM THE SHOW)
By Beth Mandelbaum, July 27th
Towards the end of this wonderful, up beat and extraordinarily entertaining revival, with its magnificently clever and also deeply affecting score, a dream cast, and superior dancing, I found myself tearing up. When it was over, I burst into tears. It was as though a powerful sense of something lost, something from way in the past,... read more, had overcome me.
I saw the original Damn Yankees and also the 1958 film version, the latter of which I remember better. And as one of our other reviewers’ shared, the songs of this fabulous musical was a significant part of her childhood. The score of Damn Yankee was one of the many Broadway scores that filled our home when I was a young child, and it was one of the truly memorable ones. And who of my generation wouldn’t remember singing and singing “Heart,” perhaps even in summer camp!
While watching Damn Yankees, which was pure joy, and after leaving the theater, I realized how much I miss the traditional “Golden Age” style musicals that I grew up with. This is not to say that I haven’t loved many, many musicals since about 1970, when Stephen Sondheim burst brilliantly on to the theater scene and changed the landscape of the American musical theater forever. And clearly, he was followed by many extraordinary composers, lyricists and book writers whose creations were true gifts. And I have loved so many contemporary musicals as well. My list would be extremely long. But I guess I found myself really missing those “good old days” of my childhood and teenage experience of Broadway musicals.
The experience of seeing the absolutely delightful Damn Yankees this afternoon caused me to feel as though I were in a time machine, and was transported back to my beginnings as a young theatergoer in the mid 50’s. And it truly warmed my heart to see that there were quite a number of children and young teens of all ages in the audience, accompanied by their families. And I thought, how lucky they were to be exposed to one of the finest of Broadway musicals; and I wondered which among them might become inspired to explore other shows over time, and who might even be drawn to a career in theater.
I cannot say enough good things about the cast of this revival, one of the many gems offered by the New York City Center Encores series. While no one will ever be Gwen Verdon, for whom the part of the temptress Lola was written and choreographed, Jane Krakowski, whom I have loved since her days on Ally McBeal, and who played a splendidly seductive and glamorous creature in Nine (excellent preparation for her work in the role of Lola here), seemed about as perfect a choice as one could find for today’s audiences.
And I was totally blown away by Cheyenne Jackson as Joe Hardy, who becomes Joe Boyd’s younger “alter ego” after the older Joe sells his soul to the devil (the “Faust” story). He has to leave his wife Meg, whom he deeply loves, in order to be transformed by the devil into Joe Hardy, a young and rather magically gifted baseball player who will lead the his beloved but ever losing team, the Washington Senators, to win the pennant . I have very much admired Cheyenne Jackson’s work in All Shook Up and Xanadu, but neither of those roles (as much as I enjoyed both of these musicals) offered him that kind of emotional depth and a heightened maturity as an actor and singer which Damn Yankees provides him, especially in such beautiful songs as “A Man Doesn’t Know” and “Near To You”. I can see him moving on to very different kinds of roles that he has had. He has truly come into his own in this part.
I have long been a major fan of Sean Hayes from all of my years of watching “Will and Grace.” He is absolutely perfect in his performance as Applegate, (aka, the devil). He has an amazing sense of the comedic, and throws himself into this part, body and “soul.” He made me laugh a great deal. Plus, it turns out that he is an excellent piano player and can also sing!
I was extremely moved by Randy Graff who plays Meg Boyd, the oldere Joe’s ever suffering “baseball widow,” but whose deep sadness is greatly increased when her husband disappears (after Applegate has transformed him into the baseball hero JoeHardy). I remember how touching she was as the original Fatine in Les Miserables, as Golde in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and in A Class Act, in the 1990’s. She gave the role of Meg in Damn Yankees the perfect feelings of frustration, but also of love, caring and the grief of loss.
I would like to remark about the re-creation of Bob Fosse’s original choreography by an expert in his highly unique style, Mary Macleod. Having seen Damn Yankees during its final weekend, it felt as though everyone was truly the very best that they could be in doing these extremely difficult dance moves. I think that Jane Krakowski ultimately came to a point where she could certainly wow and audience with her Fosse dancing. And it was truly a gift to have the dancer John Selya (who was fantastic in Movin’ Out) work with her, especially in the show stopping “Who’s Got the Pain.” It struck me as less successful elsewhere, though there were some generally fantastic numbers such as “Shoeless Joe” and “Two Lost Souls.” I wonder if with more rehearsal time and a few professional dancers in the show that the moves of Fosse’s style would have come more naturally and worked more consistently. But it seemed that it was part of the wonderful nostalgia of this musical to bear the imprint of the immortal (to me) Bob Fosse, even if a bit too tentatively.
I deeply appreciate how this elaborate musical “fantasy” is resolved, with a choice of home and family over fame and glory.
And while one might say that this reflects more of an attitude prevailing in 1950’s,I am deeply struck by the fact that, as recently as last weekend, I found that the ultimate message of a musical that could not be more different from Damn Yankees, Passing Strange, was also the importance of not neglecting one’s home and roots, and the unconditional love of family, before it became too late.
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| 3 |
Review by: Theaterholic, Jul 17, 2008 |
What an unbelievable night at the theater!
If you are an avid theatergoer DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!
Besides with the $25 seats in the Rear Mezzanine it is the best deal in town!
Go see it! You'll want to see it again and again...
All 3 leads are excellent!
I hope the producers will transfer the show to Broadway after a while like they did with GYPSY.
It's a DAMN good show! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Alone
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Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 4 |
PERFECT Review by: rogera, Jul 14, 2008 |
| MAGNIFICENT! Sean Hayes incomparable. His mastery of the dialogue, technique and piano unrivaled. He is a showman of the first order. Without him, the show would be great. With him PERFECT! The entire cast was so well rehearsed, scenes flowed easily and the night flew. We were there for the dress rehearsal and back again on the 6th. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 5 |
An evening of nostalgic fun!!! Review by: GolightlyGirl, Jul 8, 2008 |
This has been a great year for revivals…Sunday in the Park with George and South Pacific were two excellent productions and definitely reminded me why I fell in love with musical theatre as a child, listening to my parents' old cast recordings on long car rides with my family.
There were certain songs we would all sing along to... “Whatever Lola Wants” was one of our favorites…my own dog is even named Lola after the song…and ... read more Damn Yankees has a very dear place in my heart. Because of these sentimental attachments, I am very protective of this show and like to see it be treated with the most tender loving care.
I was absolutely thrilled (and breathed a sigh of relief) when I saw the dazzling production of Damn Yankees currently playing at City Center.
A fantastic production with a top-notch cast. Most notable is Cheyenne Jackson, as Joe Hardy, who plays the role with such vulnerable naiveté and 1950’s charm that it is simply impossible not to fall in love with Joe and root for him. He's just got "it"...pure star quality. In this show, Mr. Jackson proves once again that he is much more than a pretty face, but also a soulful actor with a knock-out voice.
Sean Hayes is a wicked delight as the Devil, and Jane Krakowski is wonderful, over-the-top fun as his assistant, Lola. Special props go out to the delightful Megan Lawrence, who reminds us why she got that Tony nomination for Pajama Game two years ago!
This is a delightful, touching, energetic, dynamic show…it would be quite a shame not to see it transferred to Broadway! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 6 |
Review by: lizanne, Jul 6, 2008 |
| Saw the show and the time just passed and had me wanting more. Sean Hayes was spectacular. Cheyenne Jackson was HOT!!! Jane Krawkoski was amazing. I should have gotten seats closer will see it again. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Seniors, Tourists
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| 7 |
Damn Yankees is Darn Good! Review by: Loveable Lee, Jul 5, 2008 |
| Saw show first day of previews.Sean Hayes is a welcome addition to the Broadway stage. Think this show might make it to broadway next yesterday.Am going back to see it tomorrow. |
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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