Okay. So I'll attempt this...honestly I'm not sure if any words will accurately be able to summarize what occurred in the EON last night. It was just truly magical. There was so much love in that building, and as sad as it was, I could not have imagined a better sendoff for this show that has meant so much to so many people.
I feel bad being critical about anything because it was an amazing show and I would not change it for the world, but some criticisms will inevitably sneak their way in...sorry.
We got in line quite early, around 6ish, and there was already a substantial amount of people. We saw Matt Doyle and Stephen Sater come in, and then right when they started letting people into the theater there was a commotion and everyone turned to see Lilli, JGalls, Skylar, Lauren, Krysta, and Remy entering the theater. Oh, and I also saw Robi Hager.
For starters, I was rocking the very last row of the mezz, row K on the right. And honestly, I loved the seats. The highest I've ever sat was row C mezz on 5/18, and I LOVE the view of this show from the mezz, and for closing, I felt like it was almost fitting to sit up so high and truly be able to take it all in. And I could still see everything wonderfully. And let me just mention that this show has the most incredible lighting EVER and everyone should see it from the mezz because you can't fully appreciate it from anywhere else.
So at the beginning there was a huge, well-deserved ovation for Kim Grigsby, who looked so touched. Then when the ensemble came out the crowd went insane again. Eryn & Morgan and Zach & Alice hugged each other and the ushers before taking their seats and I totally teared up because it was wonderful to see the ensemble get recognition when they usually just go up to their seats to no fanfare. Eryn put her hands to her face and you could tell she was really, really touched. Mad love for the ensemble. <33
As expected, huge ovation when the cast came out, but everyone settled right down when Socha started moving to start the song.
MWBM: I really do love Socha on this song. I don't even know why because out of the 3 Wendlas I've seen (Lea, Eryn, and her) she is definitely my least favorite, but on this song she might be my favorite. I think it's just a combination of her look of pure innocence, and I really love the way she holds out the "goooo" and goes right into belting the "MAMA." Christine was absolutely ridiculous in the stork scene. Ridiculous. She kept that up throughout the night, and I love her.
MWBM Reprise: Emily's mic-thrusting is the most bizarre thing ever. It baffles me. But moving on from that. The girls were fierce. I have a feeling the word fierce will be used a lot in this review, so I apologize in advance.
ATK: Big applause for the boys...there was SO much applause, everyone got some love. It didn't bother me though, when people did applaud during lines they kept it brief so I didn't feel like I missed out on hearing anything, and I'm sure the performers appreciated it. Also, I LOVE Hunter and Gerard in this scene. Their Melchior and Moritz complement each other so well and their friendship is just really believable and genuine.
BOL: BEST I'VE EVER SEEN. You could tell all of the boys were just giving 150% and going nuts. Also, let me just say that Gerard was ON. He sounded amazing and completely rocked it out. I think this number was the first time it really hit me just how much I'm going to miss this show. *sigh*
MJ: Oh, My Junk. Forever one of my favorite songs. Matt Doyle, will you marry me? He put in some extra long pauses that got a ton of applause. Andrew and Christine were hilarious. Him spanking her is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm kind of surprised by how much I absolutely love Andrew as Georg because I was a big Skylar fan, but Andrew is just awesome. I also caught the tail end of Gerard and Blake singing to each other in their chairs, so cute. I love watching all of the cast members rock out those harmonies in their chairs during this song.
TM: This was the first time I cried. I just love this song beyond belief. Hunter hit a bit of a strange note at the beginning, but we love him so we don't care. Gerard sounds so, SO beautiful on his solo here. And Andrew mothereffing Durand, holy shit. His solo was RIDIC. Mad props. Gabe also sounded brilliant. Oh, and BLAKE DANIEL. SOUNDED LIKE AN ANGEL. Best I have EVER heard from him and I've seen him 6 times. I think he may have triggered the crying, thanks Blake. One random moment when I love Socha is when she gets up and joins in the guys in walking around and doing the choreography. She just looks so..enchanted. I feel like that's a throwaway moment with most Wendlas but her face is so expressive. And also, Hunter, does this thing where when he takes off his jacket...it's the hottest thing ever. Does anyone else notice that?!? I feel like other Melchis just take it off but Hunter does it all slowly and seductively and it's like a striptease and it just...hot damn. There comes that Showtime experience rearing its head. Let's just say it was hot. *is not a Hunter fangirl*
WOYB: I love Hunter in this scene. I love how he gets all up on Socha so excited about how maybe one day boys and girls will go to school together and she's like "um...what time is it?" So good. Also, I've determined that Hunter's Melchior has a little bit of a creeper side that rears its ugly head from time to time. Its first appearance is when he scooches over closer to Wendla at the beginning of this song (although it wasn't as bad as when he was with Eryn and he was off his mark so he literally slid over like 2 feet, lolol). But they sounded lovely. And I love this song. Ever since the first time I saw the show it has been one of my favorite moments.
TDIKW: Amanda hit it out of the park. As did Emma.
Beating scene: Here is appearance #2 of Hunter's creeper!Melchi. This scene was DEAD SILENT, which was SO nice because hello, that's the way it should always be. Except for when Hunter says "maybe not with your dress on." He got a laugh from THAT audience. It's because he says it like Silas Botwin. But ILU anyway, Hunter. And I am not a fan of Socha in this scene. I maintain that the closest this scene has ever come to working for me was with Hunter/Eryn. Although Socha did do this completely gutwrenching shriek that is enough to really mess with your head.
ATTWN: Gerard is amazing. Don't even know what to say other than that. He was just stellar with everything he did last night, in my book.
MBN: I really, really love Hunter here. Especially at the beginning. He seemed to really take his time with the choreography and think through every moment. I was nervous for his voice at the end a little...poor boy is obviously still sick. But he is SUCH A TROOPER.
Hayloft: Um....yeah. This happened. I think every review has touched on it, but the hayloft was the most intense ever. It was by far the most, shall we say, realistic that I've ever seen it. Realistic in that I felt like I was watching something I shouldn't be and that I was honestly a little worried that something would come popping out that wasn't supposed to because that's how into it they were. Socha also played this differently than the last time I saw her, she seemed a little more frantic at first or something. But yeah, let's just say they were into it and leave it at that.
When the lights went up for intermission I realized how fast the first act had absolutely FLOWN by. Intermission was crazy, everyone was trying to get a peek at all the cool peeps down in the orchestra and there kept being random applause and cheering...apparently Groff waved to people which was probably the source of some of that, but yeah.
TGO: Okay, so continuing from the hayloft...let's just say that there was some legit moaning and grunting going on, which I can't ever remember hearing before, at least to this extent, and I was just like "ooKAY then." Hunter and Socha didn't half-ass this, that's for sure. From the mezz you can really see all of the ensemble and cast members doing the choreography from their chairs, which is beautiful.
DDS/BW: Oh my. Gerard and Emma. What is there to even say? Emma was crying throughout this entire scene, which in turn made me cry. I knew that she would be the one to do me in. And then the suicide scene...don't even get me started. Like everyone has said, the amount of sobbing in the theater was ridiculous. Also, when everyone applauded like crazy after the blackout the first thing I thought was "that's a little awkward, we're clapping when a character just committed suicide" but I know that the applause was really just for Gerard, who totally earned it. This scene has never gotten to me so much as it did last night.
LB:
I love Hunter's LB. Like, a lot. I think his voice is very well suited to this song. I was nervous about the end but he got all of the notes out and you could hear the determination behind each and every one of them. That boy was not about to let his voice betray him last night.
TF: Before this started I just knew it was going to be epic, so I was just thinking "here we go." And HOLY SHIT. It exceeded even my wildest expectations. REPRISE, people. REPRISE. Also, Hunter was RIDICULOUS. During the second verse especially he was SO into it. He did the most awkward side step ever during "disappear yeah well" and it was adorable and he was running and jumping all over the stage. And then when he got up on his chair he DIDN'T SIT DOWN and I was just waiting for it to fall off the wall, the boy is nuts, but he STOOD on his freaking chair and rocked it out and went crazy. The whole cast was just going crazy. And then at the "end" the band just held out that final chord for like a minute through the applause and the standing O and then we went AGAIN, with the whole audience on its feet and clapping and some singing along. When they started the reprise Hunter whooped his hand around like he was at a rodeo, haha. It was just pure insanity and awesomeness and I will never ever ever forget it.
WOYBR: It's always so amusing to see them try to follow insane renditions of TF. I love Matt and Blake. And although not to the extent of Socha and Hunter who bordered on inappropriateness, they also seemed very enthusiastic on their kiss. I also love the harmonies at the end of this song a lot.
Whispering: OMG Glenn. His big gay doctor was fantastic. So many lols. Socha was crying a lot during Whispering and as a result she was very vocally unimpressive. But I guess not everyone can be Lea and manage to sound as incredible as usual even while she has tears streaming down her face. I kind of wanted to hug her. At the end she was so quiet and it was heartbreaking.
Graveyard/TYK: Hunter's graveyard scene pwns everyone else's ever. He is phenomenal. Gerard and Socha sounded beautiful. Everything about this scene was beautiful. I was bracing myself for Hunter's final note, but guess what, he sang it, in the right octave, and it was BEAUTIFUL. I was so proud of him. He was also definitely crying a considerable amount.
Purple Summer: Oh man. Emma. I had never realized before how these opening lyrics relate to a show closing so much. I mean..."all the sadness, the doubt, all the loss, the grief. Will belong to some play from the past?" Holy shit. I lost it and I was a hot mess for the rest of the song. There was applause every time a new group of cast members took their places. Socha held hands with Caitlin. Hunter came out and just gave Gerard the biggest hug ever. Everyone was having moments. I was happy I had my tissues ready and waiting in my lap. I didn't want this song to ever end.
Curtain call was perfect. All of the speeches were so incredibly touching and moving. When they brought the OBC onstage it was so cute. Remy ran straight to Socha and practically jumped on her, haha. They are adorable because neither of them is the size of a real human, they're so teeny. Groff made a beeline for Hunter and gave him a huge hug like a proud Papa. Lauren hugged Emma, JGalls hugged Gerard...it was so sweet. Every single OBC member except for Lea and Jenn Damiano was there. Alice Lee was definitely crying at one point, as was Stephen Sater, and Gabe. It was beautiful. At the end everyone just lingered onstage like one big family reunion.
Afterwards I went outside and we took one look at the insanity of the stagedoor and decided to pass. I did all my final stagedooring last weekend in anticipation of this and I'm glad I did because I'm sure the cast just wanted to go to their party and there were just sooo many people. Props to those of you who stuck it out, though, that crowd put 5/18 to shame. Plus the fact that it was snowing this time, haha.
I'm probably forgetting a million things. But basically, I can't help but be sad that it's over. The thought that the next time I'm in NYC I won't have the option of going to see it is quite heartbreaking, and I don't think I'll be able to deal with walking down W 49th for a while. But that being said, as was said at curtain call, it is comforting to know that SA is still living on and that there are so many new productions in the works and that so many new people worldwide are going to be able to enjoy its magic. Also, thank goodness for the tour coming to Boston in the spring, because if i didn't have that to look forward to I'd be really beside myself. But all things considered, it was a perfect closing night. I will be forever grateful that I was able to be a part of it.
There is so much that I could say, but simply, this show has touched my life. It has provided me with some of my favorite theater memories, introduced me to a fantastically talented group of young actors and actresses who I will proudly support in all of their future endeavors, brought me closer to friends, and just really been a very significant part of my life, especially in the past year. And I will always treasure the memories I have of it.
<3
Also, my curtain call pics are at the end of this album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=153831&l=92895&id=1377090086(Also, so thankful that the ushers didn't flip a shit during curtain call and just let everyone snap away.)
