I saw Musicals Tonight's third production "Up in Central Park" about Central Park during the time of the Tweed Ring last week. It is playing through April 10th. As a Central Park nut, seeing this 1945 Musical Comedy take on the corruption during the Tweed Ring in the 1870's was really interesting. The facts about the corruption of the Tweed Ring were were on target even though the love story plot was fiction.
The scenery consisted of a Map of Manhattan in 1870. The custom of the day was to draw pictures of the City as it would look when future projects were completed so I didn't mind seeing the Brooklyn Bridge (which wouldn't be completed until 1883) on the Map.
My friend from elementary school's mother and her friend came from New Jersey to see the show with me. She was a dancer in the original production and toured with the production. We all loved it.
Go see the show this week if you can!
While part of me would like to see the film, everything I read about the film's somewhat different plot and less music makes me think I would not enjoy it. I am very much a live theatre fan although I must admit the films of Hair, Mama Mia, and Chicago are much better than their live counterparts. (Hair was filmed in Central Park. The movie Up In Central Park was filmed in Hollywood).
I'd Rather Be Right was great! I saw Theo & Co on Wed. It plays this weekend and next week. Go see it. It's actually an English musical that never played in the States. Mel, the producer does a great job of putting these musicals in the context of their time and place.
My friend's mother is coming in to see the first matinee of Up in Central Park at the end of March. I will be going to that performance as well.
Posted by: Sue | 03/18/2011 at 06:27 PM