Last night I saw Damn Yankees at the NYC City Center, it is currently in previews and opens on Thursday. It starred Jane Krakowski as Lola and Sean Hayes as Mr. Applegate. I have really never been a fan of the show in the past and I do not find the show to be all that great. I do love Jane Krakowski though because she is on 30 Rock which is probably my favorite show on TV at the moment. I know she has won a Tony for her work in 2003’s Nine but I have never seen her on stage.
She was a fine Lola and she can really dance but what I find interesting is that Damn Yankees doesn’t really have any true stand out lead roles. Yes I know that Applegate and Lola generally get lead billing but I didn’t find them to be stand out parts. I felt the show was more of an ensemble piece, or maybe there are just a lot of principle parts. I kept thinking that Lola is kind of like the witch from Into The Woods, a lot of famous people like to play the part but its not really a lead at all, its just a famous part.
Sean Hayes is an interesting choice for Mr. Applegate. I look at Mr. Applegate as someone who should be tall, dark and handsome, a very Rhett Butler type. Sean Hayes is not a Rhett Butler type. He was decent though but an interesting pick considering he is to nice to be the devil.
Anyway, below is a clip from 30 Rock with Jane Krakowski, if you don’t watch 30 Rock shame on you and start.