Glee - The Live Show Review

Biggins

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/arts/music/29glee.html?hp

Perky to the max, the television phenomenon “Glee” shed its plotlines and flaunted its young troupers’ gusto and its karaoke repertory for “Glee Live! In Concert” on Friday night, starting a sold-out three-night stand at Radio City Music Hall that completes a four-city tour.

The Fox TV series is like a John Hughes movie turned into a jukebox musical. It follows the long odds and small victories of New Directions, an underdog glee club full of ethnically and sexually assorted high-school misfits. They sing and dance through pop hits that, like greeting cards, say succinctly what the characters are feeling. Meanwhile, they bond as a group and learn to stay proud of being different, a message reiterated weekly.

The cast’s performances of the cannily chosen songs — rock, R&B, show tunes and dance-pop — are choreographed production numbers verging on music video. They also have a lucrative second life in the pop charts, often spurring sales of the original versions as well. The show is a camp extravaganza, a therapeutic boost and a marketer’s delight.

At the concert, “Glee” was the star, not its individual performers: the clear-skinned 20-somethings who play its teenagers. Songs were staged to recall the show: mattresses and pajamas for Van Halen’s “Jump,” the same Lady Gaga costumes that appeared on May 25 in “Bad Romance.” Cast members were referred to by their roles, not their names, and most solos were quickly absorbed back into the group.

When Lea Michele, who plays the ambitious Rachel, belted “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from “Funny Girl” with full Streisand drama, other cast members rained on her parade by making their entrance down the aisle, diverting the squeals and applause. As if reminding all concerned that they could be replaced, the concert also included a second dancing choir, Vocal Adrenaline (New Directions’ rival), which doubled as gold-robed gospel singers for Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”

Some “Glee” cast members are fully developed singers, some not. Ms. Michele is an accomplished, high-voiced belter; Chris Colfer, who plays the gay, fashion-loving Kurt, has an equally high and pure voice that has been underutilized on the show. Their duet on “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked” — which vows to “trust my instincts” — was the best matchup in the set.

Cory Monteith, who plays the quarterback and drummer Finn, has an eager but thin voice. Mark Salling, as the bad boy with the Mohawk haircut nicknamed Puck, exercised a capable baritone, as did Kevin McHale, who plays the wheelchair-bound Artie. Naya Rivera, who plays the cheerleader Santana, briefly revealed another strong voice during a duet with Amber Riley, whose character, Mercedes, regularly sings climactic high notes with R&B melismas. Jenna Ushkowitz, as Tina, beamed through Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” one of the show’s many anthems of self-respect.

The lineup at Friday’s performance included a bonus. On tour, the show’s two adult leads — Matthew Morrison as the glee club’s teacher, Will Schuester; and Jane Lynch as its nemesis, Sue Sylvester — have been relegated to video. But at Radio City they also showed up onstage. Mr. Morrison strummed a ukulele and sang “Over the Rainbow.”
The concert set list was split almost evenly between songs about romance — from Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It” to Journey’s “Faithfully” — and songs about inner worth, like Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” (Journey had the plurality of song credits; the cast also performed its “Any Way You Want It.”)

Regardless of subject or lyrics, angst was banished. Everything arrived with a big smile and, usually, a group dance that had cast members strutting, kicking or arm-waving. At a time when rock musicals are taking over Broadway, “Glee” insists that in its happy-ending universe, Broadway pizzazz could swallow rock’s past instead.

Biggins

Just to add, the Daily Mail report here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1282469/Glee-star-Lea-Micheal-leads-cast-storm-Broadway-live-show.html

Richard Dower

I'd love to see them live in Ireland!