Bowled Over

 

If you have been hanging around this blog long enough, you will know that there have been a host of reviews of past summers at the beloved Hollywood Bowl.  Now, over that period of time, there have been some wonderful concerts and shows.   For instance, their production of "A Chorus Line" a decade or so ago was nothing short of miraculous.   Similar kudos can be awarded for their Sondheim night.   

But, of recent summers, the shows have been lacking.   Too many of them have suffered through diversity requirements and often resemble more offerings of the old Apollo Theater.   Moreover, I didn't exactly use a stopwatch to verify, but my sense is that the concerts have been getting shorter and shorter.  Or maybe I was just bored.

Yet, last Saturday all recent sins are forgiven,   I was major astounded, pleasantly surprised, and thoroughly entertained by this summer's Opening Night, which was a salute to Broadway.  They covered about two dozen numbers from Broadway starting with and then concluding with numbers from "A Chorus Line."   This went on for two plus hours and each performance was better than the one before.

Billy Crystal was the host and his monologue, while a bit liberal, was on target. And then the performances from the likes of  Lea Salonga, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Halle Bailey, Darren Criss, and Renee Elise Goldsberry were nothing short of remarkable.  Here's one small sample.

This might be the best show I have ever seen at the Hollywood Bowl and you can find it all on You Tube.   The bar is now high.   Go for it, LA Phil.   

Dinner last night:  Sandwich.