So I saw "Hair" again today...
Feb. 17th, 2010 11:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eirenical...and O. M. G.
So, I walk into the theatre with my sister to pick up our tickets and the first thing I notice on the call board is that the part of Berger is being played by Bryce Ryness. *sob* Not that I didn't love him as Woof, because I did... but what I loved most about the musical the first time I saw it was the chemistry between Will Swenson and Gavin Creel. I honestly didn't think anyone could top that. *sigh* But, I noted that Gavin Creel was in this performance and just thanked my lucky stars for that.
Then... the show started.
Holy. Frickin'. Cow.
I already loved Bryce Ryness for so many reasons before seeing this performance... and now I have about a million more. First off -- holy hell can the man sing. *_* He doesn't get to do it enough as Woof. He really doesn't. And while he isn't as crazy as Will Swenson's Berger (no one can compare to that level of crazy) and I seriously missed some of Will's Berger-isms, Bryce's performance was almost better in some ways. He was just as touchy-feely with Gavin as Will is... but he took it a step further and smooched his Claude at center stage. Granted, it may have only been a little smooch, but there was lip-on-lip action. *_* *_* Love. Lovelovelove. *_* *_*
What else? Well, I never thought that Bryce's lost-puppy-dog expressions would fit Berger's character... but they do. OMG. When Claude was missing for three days and Jeanie "conjures" him? Bryce was sitting off on the corner of the stage with his flashlight pointed at his face and I got chills. The expression on his face was just... dead. Like with Claude gone for three days he couldn't even muster up the energy to be himself, let alone inspire anyone else. And when Claude's missing at the induction center protest? You could see Berger's soul breaking through Bryce's eyes. And the final coup de grace? During "Let the Sun Shine In" when they're all clustered together to hide Gavin getting in place to be dead -- Bryce didn't sing when everyone else started. He just stared out into the audience with that devastated, broken look on his face, as though he were fighting back tears. Then he would sing a few words, then freeze again to get control of himself. Rinse, repeat several more times. Berger~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!! ;_; ;_; *sob*
Not to say that I don't still love Will Swenson, because I do. The man kicks major ass and for so many reasons, I will forever and always love his portrayal of Berger... but I think there's room in my heart for Bryce's Berger, too. *eg* Especially as he gave me this sudden inspiration to actually write out the past mythology of my Hair-verse (i.e. the story of Berger's overdose and breakdown). *sly grin* We'll make a happy little threesome, I think... Will's Berger, Bryce's Berger and me. And, of course, Gavin's Claude can join us anytime he wants. ^_~
Which brings us to the final moment in our little discussion. ^_^ I managed to get up the courage to join the dance party at the end of the show this afternoon. That's right. I have now sung and danced on a Broadway stage. *glows for a moment* Can I just say? Frickin' Awesome. If you go to the Hair the Musical website and go to the Wednesday afternoon performance of 2/17/10, you may just see me. ^_^ I'm near the front, stage right, wearing a pretty purple and white hippy-looking shirt with bell sleeves and I'm waving my daisy. ^_^
*happy sighs* And now... to fic or try to go to bed? The logical part of me thinks I should sleep as I'm driving 3.5 hours to PA tomorrow... but the rest of me knows I'm too damned excited to sleep and wants to work on WDIG Sequel #2... or that angst-ridden Berger-breaking prequel I was talking about. Can't decide... O_O
Berger: *waves hands frantically* Nono. Bad idea. Go to sleep.
R-chan: *frowns*
Claude: *crosses arms over chest, rae at Berger* Oh. But it's OK if she does it to me.
Berger: *sweatdrop* Well... it's different when it's you?
Claude: *twitch* You're not helping your case. In fact... you may be helping yourself right into sleeping on the couch tonight.
Berger: *brightens* Will you be there?
Claude: *doubletwitch* That's not how it works.
Berger: *grabs up Claude in a tight hug* Why not?
Claude: *stands firm for another 10 seconds, then slumps* Oh fine. It's not like anything we say is going to stop her anyway. Let's just go to bed.
Berger: *cheers, follows Claude into the bedroom*
R-chan: *sweatrain* Well... that was kinda pointless. O_o;;;
So, I walk into the theatre with my sister to pick up our tickets and the first thing I notice on the call board is that the part of Berger is being played by Bryce Ryness. *sob* Not that I didn't love him as Woof, because I did... but what I loved most about the musical the first time I saw it was the chemistry between Will Swenson and Gavin Creel. I honestly didn't think anyone could top that. *sigh* But, I noted that Gavin Creel was in this performance and just thanked my lucky stars for that.
Then... the show started.
Holy. Frickin'. Cow.
I already loved Bryce Ryness for so many reasons before seeing this performance... and now I have about a million more. First off -- holy hell can the man sing. *_* He doesn't get to do it enough as Woof. He really doesn't. And while he isn't as crazy as Will Swenson's Berger (no one can compare to that level of crazy) and I seriously missed some of Will's Berger-isms, Bryce's performance was almost better in some ways. He was just as touchy-feely with Gavin as Will is... but he took it a step further and smooched his Claude at center stage. Granted, it may have only been a little smooch, but there was lip-on-lip action. *_* *_* Love. Lovelovelove. *_* *_*
What else? Well, I never thought that Bryce's lost-puppy-dog expressions would fit Berger's character... but they do. OMG. When Claude was missing for three days and Jeanie "conjures" him? Bryce was sitting off on the corner of the stage with his flashlight pointed at his face and I got chills. The expression on his face was just... dead. Like with Claude gone for three days he couldn't even muster up the energy to be himself, let alone inspire anyone else. And when Claude's missing at the induction center protest? You could see Berger's soul breaking through Bryce's eyes. And the final coup de grace? During "Let the Sun Shine In" when they're all clustered together to hide Gavin getting in place to be dead -- Bryce didn't sing when everyone else started. He just stared out into the audience with that devastated, broken look on his face, as though he were fighting back tears. Then he would sing a few words, then freeze again to get control of himself. Rinse, repeat several more times. Berger~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!! ;_; ;_; *sob*
Not to say that I don't still love Will Swenson, because I do. The man kicks major ass and for so many reasons, I will forever and always love his portrayal of Berger... but I think there's room in my heart for Bryce's Berger, too. *eg* Especially as he gave me this sudden inspiration to actually write out the past mythology of my Hair-verse (i.e. the story of Berger's overdose and breakdown). *sly grin* We'll make a happy little threesome, I think... Will's Berger, Bryce's Berger and me. And, of course, Gavin's Claude can join us anytime he wants. ^_~
Which brings us to the final moment in our little discussion. ^_^ I managed to get up the courage to join the dance party at the end of the show this afternoon. That's right. I have now sung and danced on a Broadway stage. *glows for a moment* Can I just say? Frickin' Awesome. If you go to the Hair the Musical website and go to the Wednesday afternoon performance of 2/17/10, you may just see me. ^_^ I'm near the front, stage right, wearing a pretty purple and white hippy-looking shirt with bell sleeves and I'm waving my daisy. ^_^
*happy sighs* And now... to fic or try to go to bed? The logical part of me thinks I should sleep as I'm driving 3.5 hours to PA tomorrow... but the rest of me knows I'm too damned excited to sleep and wants to work on WDIG Sequel #2... or that angst-ridden Berger-breaking prequel I was talking about. Can't decide... O_O
Berger: *waves hands frantically* Nono. Bad idea. Go to sleep.
R-chan: *frowns*
Claude: *crosses arms over chest, rae at Berger* Oh. But it's OK if she does it to me.
Berger: *sweatdrop* Well... it's different when it's you?
Claude: *twitch* You're not helping your case. In fact... you may be helping yourself right into sleeping on the couch tonight.
Berger: *brightens* Will you be there?
Claude: *doubletwitch* That's not how it works.
Berger: *grabs up Claude in a tight hug* Why not?
Claude: *stands firm for another 10 seconds, then slumps* Oh fine. It's not like anything we say is going to stop her anyway. Let's just go to bed.
Berger: *cheers, follows Claude into the bedroom*
R-chan: *sweatrain* Well... that was kinda pointless. O_o;;;
