Da-da-da-da-Dum

I have to confess, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Grey Gardens. I just wanted to watch Christine Ebersole. It is an amazing performance and she deserves all the accolades that she is getting. She is funny, poignant, tragic. But the real surprise was the show itself. It is haunting and heartbreaking. Not a show for everyone, not the typical feel-good,toe-tapping musical. It should win Best Musical. But I'm afraid Spring Awakening will bag that prize. Now I went in to see Spring Awakening with high expectations and was disappointed. Sure it's provocative and different, because it's a show about sex and teenage angst. It had 19th century characters singing 21st century lyrics complete with hand-held microphones, a band instead of an orchestra. (was it just me or did the music drown out some of the numbers?)I wasn't moved by the show at all, except by the quieter moments, like Ilse's number. Both shows were about non-conformists, independent thinkers and originals. But I prefer mine with upside down skirts,leopard-print bathing suits and a sweater wrapped around her head.