I’m sorry if this is kind of long.
This was my second time seeing the show, the first being in Baltimore about a month ago. So I'm still kind of new to the whole show experience.
Jake Epstein: I'm still trying to decide whether I liked him or not. His voice was perfectly lovely sometimes, like during "Left Behind," but lacking during other parts, like "The Guilty Ones." His acting was sometimes just beautiful, but then seemed either overdone ("Totally Fucked") or robotic. The jury is still out.
Christy Altomare: When I saw the tour in Baltimore last month, I didn't care for her all that much. But it was my first exposure to the show, and I was comparing her to Lea. Now I'm more worldly.
This time I definitely loved her. Such a pure and beautiful voice, and she really looks the part of Wendla to me.
Blake Bashoff: Oh my favorite. So seeing Blake was one of the reasons I decided to catch the tour again. He is amazing and by far my favorite Moritz that I've heard. The emotion he portrays just gives me chills, especially during DDS and his monologue. And his voice is just ... I can't even find the right word. To me, he is Moritz.
Steffi D: I also kind of love her. Slight girl crush. Such a powerful and haunting voice. She commanded my attention whenever she was on stage.
Andy Mientus: Oh my favorite also. I've developed a major crush on him since seeing the tour the first time, and I couldn't wait to see him again with more knowledge of the show. And he really is fantastic. The way he says his lines and every single scene with Ben is just perfection. He is why "Word of Your Body (Reprise)" is my favorite scene in the whole show.
Ben Moss: Adorable! And what a voice. I can't wait to see what he does after SA.
Matt Shingledecker: I really liked him when I saw him the first time, but I was less impressed this time around. I really can't put my finger on it, but something felt off. And I didn't get my usual chills during "Touch Me."
Anthony Lee Medina: Now I didn't like him at all the first time, but he definitely grew on me this time. I don't know if he had an off day when I saw him in Baltimore or what, but he was ON last night. He has a GREAT voice.
Gabby Garza: Very cute and flouncy. I find that I always forget about her character though.
Claire Sparks (u/s Thea): I quite liked her. I don't know if it's blasphemous to say this, but I really don't care for Kimiko Glenn, so I was glad to get a chance to see someone else do the part (not that I'm happy she's injured, by any means!) Claire was really good too, and made me almost like the character. LOL.
Sarah Hunt: SO INCREDIBLE. I got tremendous chills during "The Dark I Know Well." Her voice was just perfect.
So first of all I have to say that I missed the beginning of the show and didn't get into the theater until near the end of "My Junk." My friend was late and made me wait for her at the Metro stop. This is why I like to go to shows alone. I'm never late. LOL. I HATE being late. So I was really bummed that I missed "The Bitch of Living," especially given my love for Blake, and Jake's "All That's Known."
My Junk: I arrived in the theater just in time to see Andy finishing up his masturbation. It was a great part for my friend to walk in on (it was her first exposure to the show and to the songs and the story). We watched from the back of the theater until the song was over.
Scene: My first glimpse of Jake as Melchior. He certainly looked the part to me, and I loved his speaking voice. His interactions with Blake were great, but Blake completely had my attention throughout the whole thing. "These sticky dreams" LOL. Since it was only my second show, I don't know the little things well enough to compare Jake to Kyle. But Jake was definitely more laid back and cheeky than Kyle. He seemed more buddy-buddy with Blake.
Touch Me: And my first listen to Jake's voice. I don't think he went as well vocally with Blake as Kyle did, but I was pleasantly surprised, since I was kind of expecting him to be bad. Beautiful Ben's solo was gorgeous, as always. That innocent face always takes me by surprise. Anthony was STELLAR, much better than when I saw him in Baltimore, whereas Matt was worse. Maybe it was his off night? The song always gives me chills, even listening to the cast recording, and I didn't get them this time.
Scene: I heart Christy's Wendla. So innocent and yet not completely naive of things. Personally, I'm very bored when it's just Melchior and Wendla on stage though. So I kind of zoned out and looked at the people on stage and tried to find the ensemble members. And I looked at the stage and the lights. LOL.
WoyB: Jake sounded very lovely during this.
Scene: Blake is my heart. His little happy dance when he finds out that he passed is just adorable. And the face he made as he celebrated with everyone except Hanschen was perfect. Sarah was so great as she's revealing her secret. I was completely captivated by her.
DIKW: Just beautiful. Such control of her voice. And when Steffi joined in, I was just mesmerized. They looked a little awkward together on stage, but their voices were just right. This scene/song always hits a little too close to home, and I started tearing up.
Scene (Beating): It's hard for me to watch this scene, especially with a couple of rude people around me making stupid remarks. But Christy was VERY convincing: "I've never felt ... anything." It seemed like it took longer for Jake to actually strike her, but it was very believable. And Anthony's little WoyB was especially poignant after Christy's epic performance.
Scene (Failed): My heart truly breaks for Moritz. That feeling of being petrified of disappointing your parents. And Blake's pleading with Henry's repetition of "failed, failed" just tore my heart out.
ATTWN: Why does the audience laugh about the remark about fleeing to America? I don't get that. Blake's voice was just awesome. And the boys were spot-on. I'm a sucker when boys harmonize.
MBN: Jake's "dance" seemed a little robotic and awkward, though he sounded lovely. I love the music of this song though. I was more focused on the band.
Hayloft/IB: But his emotion was very real with Christy. This is when I kind of came around to liking Jake. He seemed much more passionate than Kyle was. The harmonies of "I Believe" were just stunning. I was watching my friend's reaction out of the corner of my eye. At intermission she goes "Is that all the nudity there is?" UGH. I've discovered another friend to never go to a musical with.
TGO: I spent most of this song just wanting it to be over so I could see "Don't Do Sadness." LOL.
DDS/BW: This is my favorite song.
Blake's "Enough, enough, enough" is so amazing. I started bouncing in my seat a little. I just loved how he sings this song. I'll listen to it a million times over the original. He was so epically awesome, and I couldn't help but start tapping my foot along. I also loved Blake and Steffi together; they had great chemistry. Steffi delivered her lines wonderfully. BW started a little rough, but once she got into it, it was breath-taking. Some of the best lines are in here. Blake's adorableness when he says "wigwam," his tragic denial with "I wish I could." My heart broke. I started crying when Steffi said her last line before running off.
So Dark: I LOVE THIS SCENE. He breaks my heart. And I was sobbing at this point. Him cleaning up the stage, the way Blake said the lines. I kind of let out a gasping sob at the second to last "So dark," just because I knew what was coming. And then I lost it. I'm a crier by nature, but this scene ... it just kills me. And I can't imagine anyone but Blake doing it justice. (I do need to look around and see some other Moritzs though.)
Left Behind: Completely sobbing now. Jake's voice was really perfect during this. I could understand by listening to this how he got the role. He hits the high notes just right. Each time a character came out, I cried a bit more. Claire's Thea didn't stare down Moritz's dad like Kimiko did, and I missed that. Again, the background harmonies were perfect. This cast can really blend well. And, I lost it again when Melchior touches Moritz's dad, though Henry didn't break down quite as much as he did the first time I saw it.
Totally Fucked: Jake was overacting here and reaching a bit, bringing him down a notch after how great he did "Left Behind." I love the others on the steps though, the head motions and the nodding. And the manic dancing was priceless. And the "blah blah blah" were SO great. Again I'm struck at how great the cast sings together.
WoyB(R): This is my favorite scene in the entire show. Andy and Ben are simply awesome. Ben's so adorable and innocent, and Andy is the love of my life. He delivers his lines so perfectly, and they are some of my favorites in the show. "I'm like a pussycat." CLASSIC. Also the rude people around me starting gasping and going "what, what" when Andy starts singing because I think they thought they were going to be "subjected" to gay sex. I wanted to throw my shoe at them. Ben and Andy kissing is so beautiful to watch. I couldn't take my eyes off of them.
Scene: People laughed when Melchior says "bourgeois." I don't get it either. In fact I didn't find anything funny until Wendla's "But I'm not married!"
Whispering: This was one of my least favorite songs on the cast recording, but because of Christy, I kind of love it now. Her voice was just so lovely - I'm jealous. I was immediately confused when Jake started singing during it. I'm almost positive Melchior didn't do that when I saw the tour a month ago. Is that something new? I liked it regardless.
Scene (Reformatory): When Jake was reading the letter, he sounded too stiff. Like he didn't give a damn. The boys' hats really killed me though. I absolutely love them. Also Andy sitting on Jake was so homoerotic, I really almost burst. Sorry if that's TMI.
Scene (Graveyard): I started tearing up again here. Jake was so optimistic and hopeful, and his acting was spot-on again. His breakdown wasn't quite as emotional for me as Kyle's was, but I sobbed anyway.
TYK: My beautiful haunting Blake returns and, I like to believe, helps Jake's acting get back on track.
Christy was a bit off in places, but the three of them together made me cry harder. My friend laughed at me, and I hit her. The drums in this song were brilliant.
SoPS: I love Ilse's little intro. Steffi's voice makes me jealous too. OH MY GOD the harmonies. I was still crying a little at this point, but the beauty calmed me down. Words can't even describe the a cappella part. I wanted to live in that moment.
Also, can I just say that I was a nervous wreck going to the stagedoor for the first time in my life, but everyone was so sweet and nice. I was shy and didn't say much to them besides "you were great" and "thank you," but it was still a fantastic experience for me. Meeting Blake and Andy left me speechless.
Next time I see it, who knows when that will be, I would really love to sit onstage. It looks like so much fun!
