Porgy and Bess

So I'm aware it seems I have been wiped from the face of this planet, but I assure you, I'm still alive. The end of 2011/beginning of 2012 was super hectic for me, and unfortunately I did not get to see all the shows I would have liked. But, as Christopher J. Hanke puts it beautifully as Bud Frump in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, "I HAVE RETURNED!!!!"

In fact, I have news! I have recently become involved in none other than TDF's Play by Play "plog" and magazine! It's a for teens by teens website and magazine, with more than just reviews, but including interviews with stars and a lot of other awesome info about theatre that you really can't get anywhere else. Become a fan on facebook here!

And now, without any further ado, the touching, the heart wrenching, the redeeming, Porgy and Bess.

Polyphony is the combination of multiple individual melodies to create a harmonious whole. In Porgy and Bess, Gershwin’s polyphonic music can be interpreted as a microcosm of the structure of the 2012 revival production of this beautiful love story. Like the rest of the show, his music weaved together multiple independent “trains of thought” that overall created a captivating harmony. Though this constant overlapping of each melody sung by many different performers made some of the lyrics difficult to understand, it reminded me that it’s not so much the words, but the music itself that is conveying the characters’ ideas and emotions, something that is so easily grasped when it comes to George Gershwin. Still, beyond the music, this entire show was constructed in a very similar way.

First, the first thing that caught my eye was the set. It seemed to be a combination of random, not exactly beautiful, pieces that constructed the complex setting for the complex story. Second, each character had his and her own independent thoughts, ideas and feelings that were critical to the plot development. Finally, because there were so many well developed characters, there were also many engaging story lines. There was Robbins’ death, Porgy’s disability, Bess’ addiction, Clara and Jake’s relationship, Sporting Life’s lust, and the entire Catfish Row’s dealing with racism, poverty, faith and much, much more.  Still, in all of these bloomed an inspiring love story. When these separate “melodies” were woven together, they did much more than just create a wonderful harmony.  They came together to convey the idea that it is most important to have the audacity to chase after whatever it is that you love.

But beyond this, the cast is a force to reckon with.

Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis

I know I've said this before, but a lot of us go to Broadway to see something astounding, something unfathomable to the extent that it becomes this fantastical experience beyond anything we can really understand. I have seen roughly 45 shows in the past year, and still it is beyond me how people can perform for that extensive amount of time in an extremely vulnerable position: on stage. I still yearn for that moment when I hear someone's voice as they sing the first note of their solo and my heart skips a beat because of the beauty that can only be achieved by so few. Those moments when I feel the heat of the moment from the characters and when tears a brought to my eyes are constantly sought after by me. And this happened to me at this show.

There is only one word to describe Audra McDonald's voice when she began to sing "Summertime" towards the end of the show. This song had already been one of my favorites when sung by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, but when experienced live, it was..... breathtaking. That's the only word I can think of to describe anything executed by Audra McDonald in this performance.

Norm Lewis was unbelievable!..... or actually the opposite, exceedingly believable. Okay, so I know that goes without saying when someone is a professional actor, but he went through 2 and a half hours of limping and hobbling across the stage with his leg twisted in ways I didn't even know was possible! Let alone his vocal and emotional performance, when he came out to take his bow, I half expected him to be using that cane.

Must see, all I can say. (Well all I can add to the above rant about how incredible this musical is)