Muny 2011 Season Preview -Part II

Whew, alot of shows this year.
Actually, there are always seven, but um... yes!
Writing about them in these large chunks makes me rerealise just how much they pack in. Remember they do these shows from scratch, ground up, just for these Muny performances.

Back to it:



Singin' in the Rain
July 18-24
The fifth appearance of this crowd-pleaser, Singin' in the Rain is based off the popular Gene Kelly musical movie of the same name.
Now the weather and the Muny have a bit of a love-hate relationship. Storms have been known to stop numbers in their tracks, or rain-out nights completely. Delays are spent watching the umbrellas pop up from the audience, and the stagehands coming out with squeegies (you need a dry stage for the actors' and dancers' safety.) So why do a show with a scene that calls for rain?
You've got to come and see how they do it. The driest day in July can't stop this rain from coming, and it is now disappointing.
Singin' in the Rain also calls for some other fun theatre tricks, seeing as there are several movie scenes. The Muny has pulled it off well in the past. As long as the three main characters have spirit, energy, and chemistry, this show will be great!



Little Shop of Horrors
July 25-31
The last two shows of each year, the Muny hands out to its audience surveys, to find out what shows they want to see in the next year.
I'm going to be honest: I have put down Little Shop of Horrors every year. So I am very excited to see it grow between the Oaks.
It has been here twice before, last time in 1996, so having not seen it here, I am curious how it is going to look.
Little Shop of Horrors is an off-Broadway musical based on the infamous b-horror movie of the same name. It is a fun show, with Motown music and dark humour. Keep in mind, those who saw the Frank Oz film of the musical, this will have the off-Broadway ending. The Oz film had to change the ending in reviews, because of the limitations of movie audiences, and the lack of a cast bow. I will not give anything more away, but just be prepared for things to seem different.
But, it is another brilliant Howard Ashman musical, heard earlier in the season with The Little Mermaid.
If the Muny brings us strong leads in the Seymor, Audrey, and Dentist parts, along with a well-performed Audrey II puppet, then this show will bring the house....erm.... field down.