Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, Ltd.

Archive for the ‘Live Performance’ Category

I’ve heard for a long time that “Weird Al” Yankovic and his live band are great in concert, but I finally got a chance to see them for myself at The Majestic in San Antonio on July 18. My wife, Jen, is a big fan of Weird Al, and she jumped at the opportunity to see him live. Ironically, we just missed him when we moved to Lubbock three years ago, and we’ve just now moved to San Antonio. Overall I was not disappointed in the show. Although the band was small, (just four guys with Al), they not only showed themselves to be excellent musicians, but also great performers; in many ways, this is more my type of musical theatre than some people talking to each other in stilted, unnatural language and then breaking into song at inopportune times.

To allow for the changes in costumes between songs (and there were many), a three projector screens showed various Al-related clips; many were from “Al TV,” with fake interviews featuring Eminem, Madonna, Celine Dion, and others.  These breaks between the music just added to the whole show, and many times the video on the screens was used to lead into live songs.  For example, the opening to the “Fat” music video was played before Al came out in the fat suit to do the song.

One of my favorite moments of the show was the encore.  The keybordist came out in a robe and played Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, followed by a chorus line of Storm Troopers and a Boba Fett.  Naturally, we expected Al to go into one of his Star Wars-related songs, but instead he did a song about cell phones (which we had previously heard in a mock interview with Snoop Dogg).  Then he did both “The Saga Begins” (to the tune of “American Pie” by Don McLean) and “Yoda” (“Lola” by the Kinks).

My only issue with this concert had nothing to do with the band.  I haven’t been to many concerts with actual seating, so I don’t know if this is normal, but throughout the concert no one stood up, except for a period at the end.  As a matter of fact, when Jen and I, plus a couple of big Al fans next to us, didn’t sit down in between “The Saga Begins” and “Yoda,” a woman from the behind us actually yelled, “Sit down!”  Now, I spent most of this concert sitting down precisely because I didn’t want to block the view of those behind me, given that no one else was standing, but I felt that this was unnatural concert behavior. Jen also felt the same way.  So, I have a quick note for people in San Antonio and elsewhere that go to concerts with seating: sitting down in a concert should be a choice you make, and if you can’t see, stand up or move.  If you can’t move, stand up.  Music concerts like this are not meant to be “sit back and listen” affairs.  I kinda felt bad for Al and his band, because if you just looked at the audience, it didn’t look like the show was going that well even though it was awesome.

Regardless of that, Jen and I had a great time, and we definitely want to see “Weird Al” Yankovic and his band again.  By the way, here’s a quick video I took of the “Cell Phone” encore, which was taken on my cell phone.  Remember, “Everyone has a cell phone…”

Yesterday (Monday, 28 December 2009), I went with family to see The Lion King (the musical) at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio.  My wife, Jen, and I have wanted to see this show since it opened on Broadway.  We were very excited to get the opportunity and were not disappointed.

First, the costumes were amazing.  I’ve seen pictures of them but seeing them in action, and especially watching the interaction of the actor’s with them, was incredible.  This show would not work near as well as if it were done with people in traditional animal costumes.

Second, the music was very interesting.  I’m generally not a fan of most musicals, usually because the music and singing styles are not my thing, but this was wonderful to listen to.  The singing was great (although still “musical theatre”), and I liked seeing the drummers on either side of the stage.  I do with I had been able to see some more of the musicians at work, but the orchestra pit at the Majestic was under the stage, so that only the conductor was visible.

Another great part of the performance were the times when the action came out into the audience.  I always love things like that, and I think it helps to bring the audience more into the show.  Also, the staging was suitably dramatic, with many levels.  The use of moving platforms and wire work added to the drama.

Performances were generally great throughout.  Several stood out to me.  Rafiki was a wonderful character, and the actress appeared to have a lot of fun with it; also, her singing voice was amazing.  Scar was also quite good.  Jeremy Irons did a great job with the character in the movie, and the actor here built on that foundation without just mimicking Irons’s performance.  Timon and Pumba were (as always) great fun to watch.  I also really liked Zazu, especially the actor’s interaction with his puppet, which broke the fourth wall at a couple of moments.

There were a couple of negatives.  I am confused as to the inclusion of the song “Morning Report” in this show.  That song was not included in the original version of the movie for a reason.  First, it is a weak song overall.  Second, it fails completely to advance the plot or provide any substantial character development (the only two reasons for a song in a musical).  The only reason I can think of for including it here was to give Zazu more stage time, but I don’t think that was necessary.

Also, I disliked the addition of a subplot in which Scar wants to make Nala his queen.  While I can see its justification, nothing is ever done with it later on, so it just sits there in the storyline.

Finally, and this is a criticism of the Majestic rather than the show, I found the ushers and waiters moving back and forth in front of us distracting.  I suppose the ushers have their reasons, but the waiters with trays of drinks was completely unnecessary.  Yes, I understand that people probably paid money for those seats, but I think that’s a sad justification.  In raising money for the theatre, the Majestic should consider the impact on all of its patrons, and if something like serving drinks negatively impacts some of those patrons (even if those patrons pay a little less), it should not be considered.

Despite those minor quibbles, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the show and would suggest that anyone who gets a chance to see it does so.  You won’t be disappointed.