September 1, 2006
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I was in New York a couple of weeks ago for a friend’s wedding. (Yes, another one. I am broker than broke.)
While there, we caught a Broadway show on Broadway. (As opposed to a show Off Broadway a.k.a. Chicago) My first in all my visits. Exciting.But it wasn’t.
We saw Spelling Bee. I’d heard that it was entertaining, (and I guess it was, if you get your laughs from watching very cliched characters playing very stereotypical roles). It was also the only show we could get discounted tickets for 3 people at the TKT counter.
So, stereotypes. The only black person on stage was the convict-on-parole bouncer.. er.. comforter who is supposed to give the mis-speller an apple juice, a hug (or two if you’re a pyt) and lead them off stage without ‘making a scene’. The Spellers? A nerdy East Asian girl with a perpetual mean (and I mean Mean) scowl on her face cause she’s got all this pressure and expectations, and is constantly misunderstood. A not-do-nerdy, horny Asian guy who gets an erection by just looking at a girl. A country bumpkin who’s a little … er… slow. A forlorn looking hippy little thing with stringy hair whose mother has abandoned her to search for spirituality in India (but still loves her). And a 13 year old conservationist with two fathers.
I guess, if they really wanted to be stereotypical, they would have had an Indian kid in there too. (Or maybe they just couldn’t find a South Asian actor in New York? Ha.)
Or maybe only gay, liberal people can raise ecologically aware children. (That may be a sufficient condition, not a necessary one.)Anyhow.. apart from all the little things that I found annoying (and since a lot of people were laughing, I’d say that everyone didn’t) it just wasn’t a funny show. Ok, the Jesus part was funny. Have to give it that.
Jesus to Asian girl – “Child, I will not be disappointed if you do not win the Spelling Bee. But I won’t be disappointed if you win it either. Frankly, I just don’t much care about it.
Overall. Just. Not. Funny. Enough. Definitely not worth the $50 a discounted ticket.
Avenue Q, here I come.BUT, I did get to see Indian Ocean perform at the Supper Club the next day. The last time I saw them was in college in Delhi, ten years ago. I got re-aquainted with their music and bought a CD.
Now, that was totally worth it.
Comments (16)
i saw “yoon hota to kya hota?” fully faltu, altho konkana sen ki acting thi zabardast.
naseer ka beta dekha, such a sad actor at this stage, we all thot baap bete ki taraf partiality kar rah tha, din’t direct him properly:)
bakki kya? u back in univ? more teching to do? send me ur phone numbers whenever u can.
yup. this is a breeze to load. IO is quite outstanding we had them here in Pasedena for Durga Puja and it totally rocked – of course funiest was second gen bengali indians try and figure out what fusion music was all about. wait. didnt i do a post on them as well. ab yad aa raha hai. anyhow – IO must hai. yeh “twist” kya hai ? sounds like u r adding lemon to some weird drink.
twist? what twist?
WOw ! I like your critical sense Ann and you have the maner !
A true gun ! 
Sure after reading you I wont go and see this show in Brodway if I was in New York ! But fortunaly you have been able to have a happy misical bath in of Indian Ocean 
In friendship
Michel
Please , read :
” have been able to have a happy musical bath in Indian Ocean “
Thanks
Michel
Cool! I caught Indian Ocean in Seattle and they totally rocked. Too bad my cameraphone pics/vids sucked!
- Navneet
Oh – and they said, and I quote “Good thing you caught us on the first leg of the tour, by the time we reach New York, we’re going to be too drunk to sing…”
Thanks for the wishes and kind comments, girl!
Gadhi.. finally am coming to U.S. on 15th Oct.. Accha am vela from 20th – 29th, so plan accordingly
will come down from Atlanta to Chicago on 20th evening (current plan), agar kuch change karna hai to bol
I was happy to read your comment Anu ( about the pets )
In friendship
Michel
um.. i dont know. wait… i think you had mentioned something about a twist. perhaps. umm given up n xanga?
anu,
happy diwali!
I wish you a happy year 2007 , Anu .
Michel
And what about you ?
I miss you , Anu
In friendship
Michel
need to see indian ocean. thanks for the tip.
i think they are coming to the bay area.
Thanks you for your comforting words , Anu .
Michel