PRINCESSES REVIEW!!!!

[jwalton28]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:47am

Hey guys, this is my first post, and I figure you'd all like to hear it. I'm surprised I'm the first person to post about it.

So it took me a day to have enough time to write a review, but I saw the very first preview of the show last night. I must say that I was pleasently surprised with the show. A musical about a bunch of private school girls didn't sound too appealing, but I'm happy to say that the show is fully of energy and laughs, and is honestly smile-inducing. No, it's not Sondheim, nor is it trying to be. It's just a fun-filled little musical. Okay, here's the review...

It starts out with a really clever opening sequence of the girls singing in choir class all nice and pretty, and then the bell rings and they all quick change into these crazy MTV-style school girl uniforms. So cute! The first number ("Saved By The Bell") shows off all the different cliques they have in school (bitches, stoners, nerds, etc.), which is really cliched, but you get over it pretty quickly.

A really fantastic thing about the show is the set. It's got these 6 big huge towers that scan back and forth and rotate and stuff across the stage. And then there's this back wall that lights up in a bunch of squares. It made me think of the back wall in Hairspray.

We get introduced to Miranda (played by Jenny Fellner), who's just been transplanted into this private school by her dad, who's a movie star (played by Brent Barrett). She awkwardly let's us know that her mom died within the first two lines she says. So the story goes on, she sings a sad song about how her life sucks, and then we get introduced to the best part of the show: DONNA ENGLISH! I don't know where this woman came from, but she is HILLARIOUS! She'll win a Tony no matter what when this goes to Broadway. She plays their music teacher, Miss Nibby. She has a funny little intro song, and tells her students that she's going to put on a musical version of A Little Princess. Then they all sing about the "Sexiest Man Alive" who is Miranda's dad, Kevin Finch. The song is fine, but it's kind of random. And they almost have a "Tonight Medley" thing going on when Miranda is up on a tower that comes gliding through singing counterpoint (sort of) with a reprise of her sad song from earlier. But that only lasts a second. It's really great, though.

Then we get introduced to Brent Barrett (I mean, Kevin Finch). For no particular reason, he crashes into a billboard with a picture of the current People magazine that has a picture of the NEW sexiest man alive, Zachary Tanner. (remember that name for later) He then sings a mediocre song about how he has to be there for his daughter.

Next we're at auditions for the play, where the girls are all nervous. A cute little song called "Butterflies" happens, and Donna English is hillarious, yet again. They eventually cast the show with Miranda in the lead. Through true musical theatre plot twists, Kevin Finch shows up and decides to direct the show AND star in it opposite Miranda, and they have nice Miss Nibby play the mean old woman of the show, Miss Minchin. The first of two definite showstoppers comes from Kevin and Nibby, when he teaches her how to act mean in an ingenious tango created by Rob Ashford. Donna English is brilliant.

Then at the end of the first act, Kevin gets a call from his agent and he has landed a role in a movie and has to start shooting the day of opening night. After intermission we come up back and there's some singing and dancing. I'm going to stop the review of the plot right here because I'm tired and this is getting long. But the highlight of the second act is the other showstopping number in the show (and the best one) called "What A Drag" for Miranda's three best friends. First of all, what a song. The lyrics are insanely clever and the music fits perfectly. Second, the three girls are AMAZING. The song is about how none of them get to play girls in the show. One is playing the dad, one is playing a man in a turban and a beard, and the other is playing a monkey. Pure musical theatre bliss is that song.

Overall, only one moment in the show was a real stinker, and that was this faux-boy band number in the middle of the second act to have a hot guy come on stage in a wife-beater, sing, and then never show up again. Very awkward for both the cast and the audience.

As I've said, Donna English is brilliant. Give her a Tony. Brent Barrett is fine. Nothing amazing, but very good. I don't think the part is anything you can really shine in. Jenny Fellner has a powerhouse voice and does really well playing the straight role in the show. And the five supporting girls are fantastic (the three "What A Drag" girls, Marissa Perry, and Mary Faber).

The show is not perfect by any means, and I'm sure the writers know that. At times, the show is really very good. They just need to clean up the rough stuff (which really isn't that much). But it's just fun. The music is peppy, the performers are great, and I had a great time. That's all I can really ask for from going to the theatre. I hope it does well on Broadway. The audience loved it too. Standing ovation and all. I think I'm going to go again near the end of the run to see it again so I can see the changes they're going to make. (for those of you going, there's a little tiny ad in the back of the program that says you can see the show again for only $20 if you show them your ticket stub)

Jessi
Updated On: 8/11/05 at 02:47 AM

[flirtandflounce]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 3:01am

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to seeing it when it comes to NY!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:16pm

Donna Murphy is not in Princesses. I think you mean Donna English.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:18pm

You don't know where Donna Murphy "came from?" She's an extremely accomplished actress. And since when is she in this?

ETA - Bobby beat me. And I guess not!

I'm not sure how I feel about this; my interest level fluctuates. It seems like a dumb thing to write a musical about.

Updated On: 8/11/05 at 12:18 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:20pm

Dammmn. Look at me - I got all excited when they mentioned Donna Murphy being in this. Well looks like that's not the right Donna!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:22pm

She's not. It's Donna English who is hugely talented in her own right.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:26pm

I'm sure we'd all be very aware if Donna Murphy was in a pre-Broadway show.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:26pm

"A really fantastic thing about the show is the set. It's got these 6 big huge towers that scan back and forth and rotate and stuff across the stage. And then there's this back wall that lights up in a bunch of squares. It made me think of the back wall in Hairspray."

Sounds exactly like Dreamgirls, which had moving towers and a wall of lights (Hairspray did an homage to that).

[apdarcey]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:34pm

well thanks for the review... i am excited about this show... i couldn't believe when i read donna murphy, i was like, "how have we not all heard about this before..." but then i realized it was donna english as bobby said.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:36pm

Hehe...Like Ms. Murphy could slip under our radar and sneak into a show! As if! There would be daily "Did she show up tonight?" reports from me, if that was the case!

[bdwybelle]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:25pm

Now I understand... The whole situation didn't seem likely. It all makes perfect sense now.
So where in the world is Donna Murphy?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:26pm

I don't know, ask Linda Mugleston.

[bdwybelle]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:28pm

I'm not even going to argue with you about making a joke about that. If you knew what really happened, you wouldn't be making jokes.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:31pm

All celebs and their absurd behavior are fair game!

[jwalton28]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:53pm

Oh my God, talk about Freudian slip. Haha. No, it's not Donna Murphy. Donna English. I'll change it. Wow, I feel stupid. Good way to start out a first post... Haha.

But Donna ENGLISH is AMAZING. I'll take Miss English over Murphy any day. Updated On: 8/11/05 at 01:53 PM

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 3:24pm

was the score TOO popish? or was it just right?

[futurewinnerbud]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 7:32pm

who are the three girls in "what a drag"? For some reason, I'm reminded of "gotta get a gimmick" listening to the demos... weird.

The show sounds good! Cant wait to see it!

[jwalton28]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 8:54pm

The three "What a Drag" girls are Lindsay Mendez, Sierra Boggess and Anne Letscher. Anne is the only one of the three that's been on Broadway (in Fiddler). I can't explain how good they were. The lyrics to that song are soooooo funny, and Anne's costume is to DIE for. Haha.

The music bordered closely on Britney Spears, and it peaked with the stupid boy band song. For the most part it was fine. There was only like 2 songs that were really poppy. The rest were a little more like rock, I guess. I enjoyed it.

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 9:04pm

All I remember reading about this show was about that particularly pretty boy being cast (can't remember his name, just remember he was pinup worthy). I'm assuming this is the role of the guy who does the boy band number? I wonder why they made such a big deal of him being in the show if it's only for one song?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 11:12pm

when does it officially open out of town?

[thesparklingdiamond]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 2:36pm

I really wish they wouldn't have made such a big deal out of it, frankly I think the show would have been just fine if they had just kind of mentioned him and not ever have him appear, they speak of him for almost the whole show and he has 1 number like half way through and kinda dissappears. Its really annoying and imo he was pretty unattractive.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 2:49pm

If opens this Wednesday.