SEE THIS, NOT THAT — Better, cheaper alternatives to Broadway
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The 1970s and 1980s each have strong representation in the annals of wonderfully awful music. Synth-pop-hair-band celebrating Rock of Ages has been running for, well, ages; toured the country; and has a permanent residency at the Venetian casino in Las Vegas. You’ve seen it or, if you haven’t, you’ll have ample opportunity to do so.
Instead, this weekend, check out new-comer Disaster!, a loving spoof of 1970s disaster movies featuring the greatest disco hits, sequined jumpsuits, and polyester jackets of the era. It’s funny AND well-done. The critics genuinely liked it.
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Broadway’s Romeo and Juliet has Orlando Bloom on a motorcycle, but Three-Day Hangover’s R+J: Star-Cross’d Death Match has drinking games, laughter, and a pretty hot cast too. It is also much livelier than its Broadway counterpart. Critics deemed the Broadway version “artless,” while they called Star-Cross’d Death Match “rowdy, bawdy, fun, but still capturing the meaning and feeling and language of the text.”
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It’s hard to compete with a Nobel-winning playwright; an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony)-winning director; and a couple of gorgeous Hollywood superstars BUT (1) critics did not go crazy for Betrayal, (2) tickets are nearly impossible to find, and (3) you’ll have to mortgage your home or sell a vital organ to afford them.
Instead, try The Cottage, a comedic version of an infidelity story. It’s a rom-com with booze, cigarettes, sex, British accents, and tea.