Smash Review: Opening Night-VOi

CURTAIN UP! It's Opening Night, ladies and gentlemen! The first moment is one of the truest I've seen on Smash. The curtain closes(or in this case screens) and everyone hugs. IN most of my shows, we start a silent dance party to the stage managers don't yell at us, but same difference. 

Just after Ivy is telling her mother that she actually feels confident for opening night, the troublemaker Bobby comes along reading online reviews. But Ivy cuts him off, giving a sassy head bob, as Jessica rushes over explaining that she is on a "self-imposed media blackout." That is one heck of a pledge!

Later that night we see Ivy sitting in her bed some extremely sexy, showy lingerie reading online message boards, probably filled with the writings of jealous Broadway wannabes. So much for that media blackout. Right on cue, Derek appears, disadvising her from continuing her online discovery. And then let the flirting begin! Ivy says, "I know you, and I still like you," while crinkling her nose. They both share a giggle and he climbs onto her bed, trying his luck. But he is rejected, Ivy telling him, "Nice try," and his head lands on her lap. She is petting his head as they try to decide, whether to announce if they are together. They end in an awkward consensus to "play it by year."

We have seen a lot of interactions between Ivy and her mom, and this one was the closest to sweet that I think I've ever seen. Ivy wants her mom to tell her whether she will "make it" Lee tells her daughter "All it takes in this business is one role, and this is your role." Aw! 

But may I just say, did anyone else notice that Ivy walked on stage literally as the curtain is going up? I've always been jealous of those people.

Now let's discuss Ivy's Don't Forget Me. It was flawless. How the heck does she belt those high notes? Even Karen was impressed. Like so impressed she nearly had an asthma attack. Yeah, it was pretty darn amazing.

Now I'm starting a new thing called YES IVY! moments. They are basically anytime during the hour I wanted to stand up and yell "Way to go, IVY LYNN!" Here is my first list of YES IVY!

-Derek tries to kiss Ivy but is rejected, AGAIN

-Julia's son asks, rather excitedly, "Is it true Ivy gets naked?"

-Ivy's rendition of Don't Forget Me is making Karen hyperventilate in the audience

-Ivy has Derek nearly in tears, not sure why, but it's definitely because of Ivy

-Without the house lights up, Ivy was able to see pick Tom out of that HUGE theatre, that takes skill

-She is singing That's Life with Karen and she is leaning over singing on Karen's mic, with one leg in the air, SHREDDING the notes

-Ivy's rejection forces Derek to use Daisy for his rebound, I mean, like HAH!

And the moment I have been waiting for all season has finally arrived. Another intimate moment between Karen and Ivy at a party in which both girls are vulnerable. Ivy is waiting for the times review and Karen is running from Jimmy. (I really hope my readers have seen Smash, if not, then you probably have no idea there are other characters with great story lines who I just happen not to love. It really is a rather dynamic show.) Ivy admits that she can't stop comparing herself to Karen, and Karen spills her jealousy. They are both giggling and getting along and pushing the other up. For as much as I dislike Karen, I do like when they come together and have these short, relatable, almost friendly moments.

The other most anticipated moment of the season came tonight as well. The Karen/Ivy duet! Cheers was phenomenal last season and That's Life was even better. Ivy was in her element belting the HELL out of the jazzy notes! She is SO comfortable up there, bouncing around the stage. She even hopped over to Karen's mic to sing while balancing on one leg and popping her shoulders up and down. The giggle and share a hug, giving us a glimpse into the Kat/Megan  friendship. 

Both ladies are now loosened up and relaxed, and sharing drinks when Ivy asks Karen if her and Derek have ever slept together. Ivy learns that she is Derek's rebound. Instead of getting worked up about it, she calmly dismisses Karen and gives Derek a puzzling look. Later, he asks if she wants to "slip into something more comfortable." (decipher that innuendo for yourself) She tells him she'll call him if she needs him again, but she's too "tired" to go home with him tonight. As soon as she turns around, her smirk breaks into a fully satisfied smile. GO IVY!

Tags: Savannah Wise Megan Hilty Bernadatte Peter Jeremy Jordan Jimmy Jessica Bobby Ivy Lee NBC Smash Jack Davenport Derek That's Life Opening Night Voice of Ivy Review VOi 

Smash: The Dress Rehearsal-VOi

Bombshell is heading into Previews! This time their star is our favorite Miss Ivy Lynn played by Megan Hilty. 

The first scene of the show confirms last weeks teaser that Derek is indeed sleeping with Ivy again. We learned last week that a "fun night" was all Ivy wanted for her birthday. She got Liza, but why settle for Liza Minelli when you could have Derek Wills sleep with you? sometimes, Ivy, I wonder what goes through your head!

BUT WAIT! Don't be fooled! Ivy is back in control of her life and she doesn't want Derek to mess that up! When he goes in for a kiss, she slides out of his grasp, denying him! Score one for Ivy! ...Until she turns around and gives him a short peck, further pushing her flirty attitude with him. She is teasing him and he DOES NOT like it! Way to go girlie! When he asks, "11 again, tonight?" She pokes him saying, "Maybe! I'll call you!" and exits the room. Ivy's keeping her hand on top in this relationship!

And to the next scene! Bombshell is in its Dress Rehearsal....in front of all those family and friends Ivy complained about at the beginning of the episode! JFK is undressing Ivy to what is supposed to be her nightgown in the steamy one night stand number when we see a look of mortification cross Julia's face. Cut to a completely nude Ivy standing center stage, spotlights bright as ever. 

Walking to the theatre for Day One of Cram-To-Fix-Every-Mistake-Before-Performance-tonight week, Jessica and Bobby shove their phones at Ivy, cooing, "Broadway World! Theatre Mania! 'Buy tickets tonight and find out if Marilyn is a NATURAL blonde.'" Ivy shoots down their predictions of permanent bareness, just as we are given a glimpse of Eileen saying, "i think she should be nude every night! I'll talk to her!"

Eileen is pulling the, "Nudity is authentic to who Marilyn was!" card, as Ivy replies, "Yes but I don't want it to overshadow the work I've been doing." But really if we're calling nudity authentic to Marilyn who has never been on a camera naked, then nudity is authentic to every person who has ever been born. Ivy decided she is going to think about it.

She doesn't decide until she is ON STAGE! JFK pulls both straps down her shoulder and she pulls the nightgown strap back up. As JFK is leaving, explaining that the night was a one time deal. Suddenly, Ivy drops the blanket around her bare body, exposing herself. She uses the nudity in a moment of power instead of vulnerability. This is a direct translation of her own life. She has shifted her life from bare vulnerability to control and shocking power. 

Smash: The Fringe-VOi

I'm a few weeks behind and I'm skipping the Jennifer Hudson episode. Last week, Ivy realized how horrible Liasons was becoming now that Sean Hayes's egotistical character, Terrence Falls, wanted to turn the heart wrenching drama into a comedy. 

We first see Ivy in an elevator with Karen both on their way to their own rehearsals. Can I say AWKWARD? Making small talk, Ivy tries to make her experience with Liaisons sound more savory than it is. She steps into a mass chaos of pink fluff and people crying. Terrence is explaining all of his changes in his ADHD, unfocused manner while Ivy follows him, a look of disgust stuck on her face. All of the ensemble and to her cast are being forced to act poorly, in order to puff the ego of Mr. Terry even more. Only one problem, Megan Hilty is an amazing actress and singer even when she's trying not to be. I mean, how can you dampen those vocals?

Derek is just waiting outside Ivy's rehearsal, urging her to not listen to her director and stop downplaying herself. He tells her to stand out in a crappy show. This is one of the rare times I've ever agreed with something Mr. Wills said, especially when its being said to Ivy. But, I have to admit, he is right, but why'd it take him for her to realize that?

And it's Press Day. Holy freaking disaster. Between Terry's awful acting, the bubblegum pink furniture, and the full cast crowded behind some bamboo dividers, it's no shock that the press are bored and appalled.

Press Day means Ivy's operatic number Letter From Cecile. Megan actually trained to become an opera singer. Until she went to opera camp at age twelve where she decided the life of opera wasn't for her. The high notes that she has the capacity to sing made for an amazing rendition of the classic song. She sang the song so well, in fact, that Terrry decided that the song needed to be pulled. That's logical, right? 

And on to the allergy attack. I mean the stomach ache. No, the crying, sorry I didn't realize people could cry for a reason. Yea, Terry, I'd cry too if I were stuck in a show with you. Ivy told him how much he sucked, apparently the first honest thing he's heard in twenty years. I know this blog is about Megan Hilty, but may we just take a moment to admire the sheer geniusness that Sean Hayes is to pull off that scene opposite Megan. The man is good, they played off each other so perfectly and the sadness jumped back and forth with comedic quality to make for the best scene thus far in the season.

And here's the recording of Megan's brilliant Letter From Cecile.

It Happens All The Time: Album Review

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been in a show and then I got sick! But enough about me, because It Happens All The Time was released this week!!! Megan Hilty has talked about delaying making an album because she simply had nothing important to say. She finally has a statement to make, and it's about Loooooove! (I intended for you to say Looove in your head with a Southern Belle Georgia Accent)

As many of her fans know, Megan broke off her six year relationship with actor Steve Kazee early last year. She was able to maintain a strong exterior in public, but six years is a LONG time to be with someone! It must have been devastating. She said she didn't intend for her album to become a collection of breakup anthems, but she related to those songs the most. 

Now, we all know that Megan could belt the heck out of any song, shredding the likes of all that her ex did wrong with powerhouse delivery. But she did just the opposite. She sang softly, but with power and pain behind every note. The result? An accumulation of easy rock ballads that leave listeners begging for more. 

The title song, It Happens All The Time, poses the question, "If people fall in love all the time, why am I still alone?" It is a bluesy pop song that is sung in a toned down Hilty belt. Is it the sound of someone who knows them self, but is in a lonely state. Someone who is justifying the actions of a breakup. Megan's voice takes a break from her typically smooth velvety sound and becomes almost raspy. Some parts are sung forcefully, some nearly in a whisper.

Be A Man, Megan's self proclaimed favorite, starts with drawn out phrases, almost like sighs. Then, it transitions into lines of questions and statements that take pauses, as if waiting for a response. Despite its staunch name, Be A Man is a ballad that helplessly prods the former lover to, "Don't try to dance around it, just be a man about it," leading us to wonder....was this an unfair feeling Megan has experienced?

Walk Away is Megan's most radio ready song, which is probably a result of Carrie Underwood and Ne-Yo being cowriter of it. It is a powerful women's solo about not putting up with the guilt and constant annoyances from the dumpee. 

Next, Megan covers Taylor Swift's made-for-the-movies Hunger Games composition Safe and Sound. Instead of taking the lyrics such as "The war outside our door keeps raging on," in a literal way, as intended, Megan puts them in a romantic context. This added to her clear, forward delivery and sound of tears in her voice amplifies the well-written song to a level that was never reached by its original songstress.

Megan also covers the heartbreaking song, originally by Damien Rice, Blower's Daughter. Another ballad, however the theme isn't becoming tired as it should. Megan expresses the melody and lyrics in a straight forward way that respects the original, but adds another haunting level.

Suddenly, we are dropped into a repetitive pop song that hardly uses any of Megan's talent called Hopin'. It's a fine ditty, but does no justice to the wealth of talent who sings it. She gives it as much as the song allows. Needless to say, it's not my favorite.

After we conclude hearing 'Hopin' repeated what seems like trillions of times, we hear a single piano begin and Hilty's fresh voice begin to deliver Wise Up. It is a scolding song telling her lover who is on the edge how to make a decision about their seemingly one-sided relationship.

Just to show her class, Megan throws in a Don Henley cover of The Heart Of The Matter. She slows down the recognizable melody and dials back the manly power to turn it into a raw, regretful anthem of mistakes that are made when falling in and out of love.

Megan then moves onto to a cover of the Switchfoot song Dare You To Move. I've never heard the original, but Megan sings it with competence and dominance. The beat makes it a shoo-in for a Dance Party Remix to fist pump to on the dance floors of classy New York bars. 

For a final cover, Hilty accesses the Elvis-style artist Bruno Mars as she takes on It Will Rain. She maintains the original beat and lyrics, but they way she sings it makes more sense than the original. By adding male vocals underneath parts of the chorus, she packs more emotion in the song than has ever been achieved on that song previously. 

Smash: Dramaturg- VOi

Just a reminder this blog is about the NBC Golden Globe nominated TV drama Smash which stars Megan Hilty as Ivy Lynn. This blog is biasedly Team Ivy and contains spoilers! (It is a breakdown of the episode after all :))

We first see, or more precisely hear Ivy in an audition for a revival of a show called Liaisons. She is singing a not FAR above the staff, or in other words, a VERY VERY high note. The casting agent is clearly impressed by her audition for the ensemble. Taking a deep breath, as if to brace herself for whatever wrath may come from the question, she asks the casting agent if she can read for the part of Cecile. Cecile is an amazing part, wanted by every actress in New York City. He hints toward a no, but somehow Ivy convinces him. A huge grin immediately cracks across Ivy's face, and she assures him that she won't let him down. The way she says it, it is so easy to believe that she just might make it. 

Next, Bombshell is seen back in rehearsals with Ivy clearly missing. Karen is preparing to sing I Just Keep Moving The Line, which Ivy so brilliantly sang last week. Suddenly, Karen's voice fades into Ivy's. Ivy is on Tom's TV singing Moving The Line. Ivy bounces in, swinging around his wall, seeming happier than ever. She smiles even bigger when she sees herself on his screen, then immediately tries to hide it. He points at the TV, "Look how good you are! At the workshop last winter!" She tries to play it off cool, but is so clearly flattered. "I wanted to be reminded of our initial instincts before jumping back in," he explains. Tom invites Ivy to watch with him, but she ignores this question, still grinning hugely. She tells him she talked herself into an audition for Liaisons. When he registers that she means for the role of Cecile, he stands up and gasps, as her pursed smile opens up in a laugh, showing all of her teeth. Then, the self doubt kicks in and her smile slowly fades as she starts listing off all of the big names they are auditioning for it. "And then I'm just.." she trails off, "Perfect for the part!" Tom exclaims excitedly. "I never thought someone would give me the chance after..." her head turns toward the screen where she is still singing in what must now seem like a distant dream. 

Next, we see Derek giving Karen hell in rehearsal, Karen becoming a diva, rolling her eyes at him. Just as he's ordering to take it from the top, the door swings open and in walks Ivy. Derek asks invites her to stay and watch the number. She is shocked and reluctant, trying to tell him no, when he takes her bag, a gesture saying, It's probably best you stay. Her face has fallen, and her body is tense, arms crossed in defense as she watches Derek whisper into Karen's ear. She is remembering all of the times he whispered in her ear, back when she was Marilyn. We are transported, into a dream sequence. But not one like the Bollywood number from last season. Nope, this one is hauntingly beautiful. It is Ivy following Karen and Derek around a maze of statues while Ivy is quietly singing Robyn's Dancing On My Own. She is softly singing, almost a whisper, a very indulgent contrast to her typical Broadway belts. The song is vulnerable and her voice is raw, chilling, beautifully rising and falling. Her face is a well of emotion, pouring sadness, and hope, a memory of her fast, tumultuous, but strong love with Derek. She is now the outsider. With this realization, she apologizes for coming and heads out the door. 

Ivy is then seen rehearsing her lines with Tom, him yawning repeatedly. He tries to say its not her fault, but she then sits down, dejected by her performance, still searching for who Cecile is. They start listing off character traits, unbroken, innocent, untouched, when Ivy throws a jab in, saying, "Sounds like Karen Cartwright." Then, he continues, saying that Cecile is easily corroded, but learns to manipulate men. At this, Ivy's face lights up, saying, "Oh my god, she's Marilyn." Tom counters with, "You know who else she is, YOU! She knows how to fight back." A smile and giggle leap from Ivy's mouth, "See, you're already feeling it."

After a scene of a newly written Bombshell scene, Ivy pops through her apartment doorway, her face showing off a smile bigger than any she's worn yet this entire season. "Tom, guess what? I got the part! I am Cecile!" Tom bends over with glee, as Ivy jovially lays down on her bed, suddenly relaxed, strong, and back to the same Ivy. She was beaten down, and was able to rise up again.

Smash: The Fallout-VOi

Just a reminder this blog is about the Smash character Ivy, and focusses on only Ivy's storyline. So, now I present to you, Voice of Ivy review of The Fallout. The Fallout, refers to the broken state of Bombshell, but also runs parallel to Ivy's storyline. She is in the place in her career where she has been in the ensemble for ten years and doesn't know when enough is enough. 

Ivy(Megan Hilty) and Sam(Leslie Odom Jr.) are in the midst of a conversation about Sam going on tour for The Book of Morman, when they run into an old friend. They duck into a shop window to avoid the blonde actress whom Ivy says has been plugging along even longer than she had, which is a very long time. Suddenly the blonde (played by Legally Blonde: the Musical actress, Annaleigh Ashford) recognizes the two of them and all suddenly becomes very fake and huggy. Ivy asks what she's been up to, hoping for something worse than what Ivy has at the moment. The blonde says, "Stationary!" and then goes on to explain how much better her life is now that she's finally out of the theatre business, oh, and she can't forget to show them her HUGE guest house! Ivy is at such a low place, she looks ready to quit on the spot.

Next, Julia (Debra Messing) is laying on the couch at Tom's house alone when the doorbell rings. "Julia? You there?" Ivy whimpers. Clearly dejected, Ivy explains she has come to vent to Tom, but Julia offers instead. At this point, I was hoping for a repeat of the first episode's Ivy/Julia moment. It was a similar situation, only this time both of them were down and vulnerable, and two women talking on equal levels, not Ivy asking someone above her for help. Julia is the mother that Ivy desperately needs in her life! Her mother, Lee Conroy (Bernadatte Peters), is already a star, who seemed to have instant success and is verbally abusive to Ivy. "Just when I'd want to throw the towel in, something would happen to remind me of why I fell in love with this business. And thus the dysfunctional cycle continues." They then proceed to both eat marshmallow fluff with a spoon, a sweet, seemingly unscripted moment that I'm sure never would've happened with Ivy's mom.

Derek is waaaaay down in the public eye, when he gets so drunk he asks a girl if she is a dancer, when her boyfriend shoves him to the ground. While on the ground, Derek sees a pair of neon pink heels walk by, and thus, an indulgent dream sequence begins with Derek hallucinating Ivy in a sexy, fitted black dress, then sees Karen in the same dress. Both are staring him down with anger. Suddenly more girls in the identical dresses appear, all grabbing his neck and chest, and getting close to his face in a steamy matter. Then they all put their hands on their hips and circle him, singing, "Would I lie to you, would I lie to you, honey?" Ivy and Karen grab him and lead him to a couch, Ivy showing off to him what he's missing since he's left her. All of the girls are have the same chestnut hair and skinny bodies, while Ivy sits on his lap, flinging around her blond ponytail, then shoving him into the wall. She then yells, "Now, I'm leaving YOOOUUUU!!" Tell him Ivy! 

And my favorite part of the episode is when Ivy is walking down the street, talking to Sam on the phone, when she comes across a disheveled, drunk Derek sitting the steps of his building. He puts his hand out and she joins him on the steps. After two more scenes and a commercial break (I could barely stand the waiting), we are finally back to the Derek/Ivy scene. Derek slurredly tells Ivy about all of the lying dancers. At this point, I wanted Ivy to cockily tell Derek that he's drunk, just as Derek did to Ivy last season, but that unfortunately didn't happen. She shakes her head, as if to say, well, you are a bit of an arrogant, greedy, power-hungry man, with high levels of testosterone. Then, Derek proceeds to...wait for it....APOLOGIZE! Ivy still says nothing, but her face says she accepts it, but won't fall for him again. He tries to make himself seem nicer, changed, and she just replies, with "Why do you care what I think, all of a sudden?" He backpedals, telling Ivy she's his friend, and who cares about Karen, on and on. She just gives him a sideways look, and he rolls his eyes. Suddenly Ivy starts spilling to him, saying, "I was a lot of things, Derek, and now I don't even know who I am, or if I even want to be in this business anymore." He says she's got too much talent to give up, then Ivy throws the "I couldn't have been that good, I'm not Marilyn" card at him. "Prove me wrong! make me look stupid!" he tells her. There are tears streaming down Ivy's face and their faces get very close. Derek begins to lean in for a kiss, and Ivy just watches him, then SNAP, her head turns the other way and she matter-of-factly says, "Nope, not gonna happen." YES, YES, YES IVY!!! Finally, she gets it!

There is a scramble when Eileen, Tom, and Julia are thrown out of a Broadway big-wig party. They call for Karen, but when she doesn't pick up, they look to Ivy. Finally, something to pick her up. She races there, and as they thank her, says, "I'm just glad someone still wants to hear me sing!" She says it in an upbeat, excited tone, but the statement is so heartbreaking. She steps in front of the mic and belts out They Just Keep Moving the Line, a very emotional song about how you can work hard, and once you get your goal in your grasp, it is moved further away. This is SUCH an Ivy song!

And finally, Ivy shows up at Derek's house to talk to him, when she senses someone being in his room. As she backs away to the elevator, she hears Karen say, "What was that about?" "Oh, nothing important." Way to go Derek, build her up, then kick her down harder.

And a video of Ivy singing They Just Keep Moving The Line.

First Megan Hilty Single: No Cure!

As many of you know, Megan Hilty has an album coming out on March 9th called It Happens All The Time. (See previous post for more on the whole album) Today, Megan tweeted,

"I have a single!!! You can check it out on my        brand spankin new website meganhilty.com"

Upon further investigation, I found out the new single is called No Cure and is a duet. The sound is almost contemporary pop and has been called country by some fans. This could be the song co-written by Carrie Underwood. The beat is catchy and the singing soft. Very different from the Broadway belts we are used to hearing. 

The story told by the lyrics seem to run parallel to that of Ivy Lynn, Megan's character on the NBC hit, Smash. "All of this medicine that I keep taking, it ain't workin', I keep hurtin'," says the song. Ivy Lynn tried to overdose last season on Smash, due to many things including her tumultuous relationship with on-and-off boyfriend Derek. And my favorite lyric, "I keep trying' to pull out of this spiral that I'm in," describes Ivy Lynn's journey heading into season two. She is drowning in relationship and career woes, trying to pick herself up. 

But enough about Ivy, the song is about trying to use medicine to numb the pain of a very hard fall out of a relationship. The chorus repeats "What if there's no cure?" The song shows the helplessness that is felt when trying to distance yourself from someone you truly loved and thought you knew. 

This song makes me excited for the entire album, but judge for yourself at Megan's new website meganhilty.com. Tell me what you think in the comments! And also follow us on Twitter @VoiceOfIvy