Day 120-3/19/10

Show: Hair
Date: 3/9/10
Cast: Kyle Riabko, Ace Young, Diana Degarmo, Annaleigh Ashford, Josh Lamon, et al.
Type: Audio

So I was kind of expecting to hate Kyle. I didn’t hate him. But I wasn’t absolutely in love. He’s really got potential and good characterization. Ace I was very iffy on. Berger is always annoying and crazy and all over the place and too much, but this might have been too too much. One thing I thought was cool was how they sing “transcendental meditation of the ocean of reality is love” rather than just speaking it. I’m torn on Annaleigh’s Jeanie. I think a piece of me loves her so that I wanted to love it, but I also read bad reviews so I was prepared to hate it. I’m a little neutral. I wish she had played it a little more naturally, it seemed like she was trying to hard at some parts. Diana was really interesting. She needs to tone it down just a little bit. But her singing was interesting. It was like a combination of all other Sheilas. I think I liked the new Woof. But wow, the new Hud was fine, but I missed Darius so much. Like seriously, he may be the one I missed the most. As weird as this may sound, I wasn’t quite as impressed with Josh’s Maggie as I have been. Maybe I wasn’t focused enough because he wasn’t an understudy this time, but it seemed a little more like Andrew’s; less connected.

Day 93-2/20/10

Show: Spring Awakening
Date: 6/6/09
Cast: Tour. Julie Benko as Ilse
Type: Audio

I didn't hate Kyle or Blake as much as usual. Christy, I still only liked in TGO. Julie was very animated as Ilse. A lot of energy and personality into her speaking parts. It's not quite how I like it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Steffi. And her singing was really pretty and totally compensated for her slightly off action.

Day 25-12/14/09

Show: Spring Awakening
Date: 5/30/09
Type: Audio
Cast: Krystina as Ilse.

To be honest, I kind of tuned a lot of this out. So I’ll just touch on some stuff starting with the usual.
-Christy was fine, so was Sarah
-Gabby and Kimiko both were weak as usual, but Kimiko was slightly better.
-Blake wasn’t good as usual.
-Andy and Ben didn’t live up to the hype, as usual.
-Matt Shingledecker will never be good until he actually riffs in Touch Me.
-Anthony Lee Medina was pretty good.
-As usual. Did not like Kyle

Specific Stuff
-Krystina kicked ass in DIKW. So refreshing in comparison to how weak Steffi usually is.
-Kyle was really weak in MBN, he cracked a little bit near the end.
-Christy sounded beautiful beginning TGO, Kyle was decent.
-Blake’s DDS is clearly a personal preference or something. It’s not like he’s not singing strong and he’s not cracking or anything, I just can’t stand the way he sings. Or speaks, I guess.
-Definitely liked Krystina’s Ilse in the woods. She has this sort of adventurous attitude, and excited by all her crazy times. Her “How about you…” was so bright and cheerful.
-And my gosh, her Blue Wind was so strong. The very first line was just gorgeous. It was really perfect in every part.
-But Blake brought Krystina down so much in the duet, he overpowered her and wasn’t as good as she was.
-I think I tuned out the suicide.
-Left Behind was decent, not much more.
-Song of Purple Summer: Um, I think we need Krystina full time Ilse. That was absolutely gorgeous.