Thursday, August 4, 2011

CAUGHT ... Again

We’re back. That, of course, assumes someone reads this and missed us. Either way, here we are. What a wonderful way to return, by going to a cocktail party before an Actors Fund special performance of a show. Even better, the show was CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

Never mind that we saw the show in March (in previews). Never mind that we showered at the beach in a 2x2 cabana and fought traffic and incredible heat to make it to Gallagher’s on time. We knew the evening was going to be spectacular…it was one of those rare nights when we actually found a free legal parking spot just yards from the restaurant and the theatre.

Very delicious filet mignon on toast but even more delightful was being there a little early and pretty much having Nick Wyman (President of Actors Equity and the actor playing one of the dads in the show and just a terrific guy) to ourselves for some great theatre talk. We spent some quality time with Barbara Davis, the amazing COO of the Fund and then it was on to the Neil Simon Theatre. A very special thank you by the way, to Barbara Toy of the Actor’s Fund for two fabulous seats in our favorite spot - center aisle – right behind Joe and Nan Benincasa.

Hard to believe but this show is even better the second time around. This might be because it’s just a fabulous show but no doubt the extra effort that the company put in, gratis, because this special night was for the FUND, really showed and you could hear it in every note. An over the top performance by non-Tony-nominated Aaron Tveit whose character may have cheated some people of some money but who as an actor was definitely robbed of a Tony nomination, at the very least.

We forgot how many show stopping numbers were in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and how incredibly talented this ensemble is. Aaron opens the show with LIVE IN LIVING COLOR and it was really hard to not stand up and cheer when he finished. Veteran Tony Award winning actor Norbert Leo Butz’s DON’T BREAK THE RULES simply brought the house down. Kerry Butler shows a range in FLY, FLY AWAY that also left us breathless. Kudos to the entire cast including Tom Wopat, Rachel deBenedet, Nick Wyman and Linda Hart for outstanding performances and to Terrence McNally for an amazing book as well as Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman for memorable music.

This is a big, wonderful, fabulous, colorful Broadway musical that tells the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr, a legendary con man who ultimately so charmed his captor that they became not only friends but working colleagues (at the FBI). Abagnale is today a world famous lecturer who has helped countless banks and corporations prevent and detect fraud. The show takes place several decades ago and the many references to changing technology resulted in some serious laughs. Go see CATCH ME IF YOU CAN which won’t prevent fraud but will transport you for a few hours to where the best of Broadway always does – total entertainment!