Tours:

Concerts:

Providence, March 9, 2010

 

Ticket_20100309_ProvidenceThe weather here in New England has been lovely the last few days, temperatures near 60 and crystal clear blue skies.  I did a little sightseeing and got a little suntan on my two days off.  I also finally  got my hands on the perfect gift for Lynn.  I've been looking for it ever since Roanoke; now all I need is to have her be at my last Meet & Greet in Cleveland.  While I was relaxing, the girls were, too.  They did a little promotion in Boston and then went to some museums, parks, and a hockey game.  How do I know that?  Chloë told us.  A good time was had by all.

After last year's performance at the unimpressive Dunkin' Donuts Arena, they returned this year to the magnificent Providence Performing Arts Center.  I mentioned in my review two years ago how impressive this restored Lowe's theater is and seeing it again only reinforced my opinion.  I have seen many lovely theaters over the last 3 years and PPAC is still in my top 3, along with El Paso and Buffalo.

Before the show I met up with Kevin (KevinRI) and Richard and his wife for dinner.  We ate at a downtown restaurant, oddly enough called Downcity, that was within walking distance of the theater.  Richard showed some of his pictures from Powerscourt that he had printed for the Meet & Greet.  After a nice dinner and pleasant conversation we headed for the theater.  Richard and his wife were in the pit since they had M&G passes.  Kevin was in the orchestra fourth row and I was in the second row directly in front of him.  Prior to going inside, Nancy showed up and reintroduced herself.  I had met her two years ago and tried to shame her into joining the forum.  She still hasn't joined although she does visit as one of those anonymous guests.  Once again she promised to join, but I'm not holding my breath!  Coincidentally, her seat was right next to Kevin's.

The pit is three rows deep, so my second row seat was actually 5th row, like Erie.  PPAC, unlike some theaters, offsets the seats so instead of each seat being behind the one in front, it is between it.  That meant that I had a clear view of the stage with no potential for any brunette Q-Tip issues.  In addition, unlike Radio City the pit seats are lower than the orchestra seats which means the view is even clearer.  The seats are a little snug, though.

Once again, after two days off the show seemed a little fresher.  Máiréad was her usual dynamo and easily did 11 spins during Coast of GaliciaOrinoco Flow was a big hit and Lynn's My Lagan Love was mesmerizing.  Alex, as always, blew me away with My Heart Was Home Again and Danny Boy really got the audience going.  I chatted with my neighbors at intermission for a while and soon it was time for the second act.  The girls next to me fumbled for tissues during Amazing Grace.  We got the extended version since Anthony started at the far back of the theater.  Lynn insulted Ray and Nicky tonight, for the first time in a while, saying that they were her two pieces of seaweed but “not because they're all washed up.”  Lisa once again gave me goosebumps with The Moon's a Harsh Mistress and the acoustics in the theater really became apparent during Chloë's When You BelieveSongs from the Heart continues to impress me and Non C'è Più brought the house down.  Poor Máiréad had to wait quite a while for the applause to die down before she could introduce You Raise Me Up.

Being a little buried in the audience, I didn't get too much interaction tonight.  Chloë spotted me first and sent several smiles in my direction.  I think Alex saw me and gave me several looks, including one during my favorite Alex song, but I'm not 100% sure.  Lisa finally saw me near the end but I don't  think Lynn ever recognized me.  I wasn't able to catch Máiréad's eye at all, but then she hardly stood still long enough to see individual faces that far back.

The lighting was perfect except that one spotlight seemed a little dimmer than the others.  The sound was a little overdone and some distortion was occasionally apparent.  If they had dialed it back a little, like in Erie, it would have been spectacular.  As for the audience, I had high hopes since they applauded enthusiastically (even for Tommy's solo), cheered and whistled, and even clapped along with Máiréad.  However, at the end of the first act VSS kicked and I was a one-man standing ovation.  Fortunately, it didn't last very long and soon you could hear that little tearing sound that Velcro makes when you peel it apart as everyone slowly stood.  I did get a little insight into VSS's origins when the gentleman to my left asked me if the show was over.  Apparently in VSS areas, a standing ovation is only given at the end of the show, not the end of an act.  At least everyone was finally up.  The audience's score went from a 7 to an 8.5 in the second act.  They stood after You Raise Me Up, reluctantly stood during the girls' bows in the second half of the Finale, and stayed standing during Spanish Lady.  The biggest complaint about the audience was the idiot several seats down from me in the next row who was taking pictures the whole time, with a real camera not his cell phone.  He was present when they made the “no photography” announcement but he did it anyway.  If I was more confrontational I would have said something.  It annoyed me greatly and is why the audience didn't get a better score; the “one bad apple” thing.

I didn't have a Meet & Greet tonight since RIPBS used the lottery method to choose who got the passes.  I didn't want to pay PBS prices without a guarantee of a M&G.  The same applies to tomorrow's show, although I will be in the front orchestra row rather than second.  That means a clearer view of and from the stage and hopefully more interaction.

The original review is here.

 

Providence, March 10, 2010

 

Ticket_20100310_ProvidenceAfter one more Spring-like day here, and apparently the last according to the weather forecast, it was finally time for the last show of my New England journey.  There were no other forum members present this time, just me.  I arrived a little early and stood in the lobby while I waited for them to open the theater doors.  As I observed the people arriving I was preparing myself for what I expected would be the mannequins from Schenectady again; I could practically smell the BenGay.  I am definitely not a spring chicken and I could have been a son to many of them.  However, I'm more than willing to admit when I'm wrong and I was wrong about this crowd.  Except for the apparently mandatory VSS at the end of the first act, the crowd was surprisingly lively.  There was cheering, a little whistling, unprovoked clapping along with Máiréad, applause for both Tommy's and Anthony's solos, and standing where required in the second act.  I give them a 9.5; they still get points off for VSS.

I was one row closer tonight, front row orchestra right behind the pit and just to the left of Tommy.  Like last night the pit seats were lower than the orchestra seats so I had a wonderful view, as did the girls.  I was quickly spotted and got many wonderful looks and smiles all night.  I got one especially soulful smile from Lisa where she seemed to be saying, “Sorry to see that you're all alone again.”  They have all been ad-libbing and personalizing their song introductions and they each get a little extra applause or, in Lynn's case, a little laughter.  Speaking of Lynn, Ray and Nicky escaped insult tonight.  I don't have to mention the title anymore, but this is the second time that Alex has looked at me during that song because she knows it's my favorite.  I don't know if Lynn read that I have a gift for her, but she looked at me more often than usual, with a wry smile at times.  She may change her mind when she sees what I have for her.  Chloë had an ear-to-ear grin most of the night and kept flashing her pearly whites my way.  Sometimes she can be quite the flirt.  And, of course, I don't need to mention Máiréad other than to say she did 11 spins.

The sound seemed a little better tonight.  I don't know if the engineers changed anything but I didn't hear the distortion that I heard last night.  And I had some jumpers at the beginning of Mo Ghile Mear for the first time in a while; the bass was definitely cranked up.  There were no significant lighting issues except the same dim spotlight.  Overall it was an excellent show.  The lively crowd energized the girls and everyone benefited.  Once again I had no M&G, but based on the number of people hanging around near the stage I don't know if there even was one.  Someone else will need to report on that.

The original review is here.

 

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