A Little Princess Review. Not good :-(

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:14am

Noooooooooooo! I realize it's but one person's opinion but all the changes worry me. I'll post more links as I find them. Richard from TB is working on his review as we speak. I still wanna see it anyway.
A Little Princess Updated On: 8/29/04 at 05:14 AM

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:32pm

A poster from TB writes his thoughts.
A Little Princess #2 Updated On: 8/29/04 at 04:32 PM

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:45pm

That's sad. I thought the show sounded like it was going to be really great. I guess not.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:56pm

1830s!? Africa instead of India!? Becky as a wisecracking maid? Um, misfire seems an understatement... One of my favorite aspects of the 1995 film (and the book, too, which I vaguely remember but know has a decidedly more tragic turn of affairs than the film) was that it's setting in WW1 New York allowed for a strong contrast between the ragtime world of the all girl's school and the father's encounters with modern warfare. The Ramayana was also a great (and timely) story from India for Sarah to share with her friends. I can't believe these elements were discarded for the musical.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 6:02pm

How is Andy Blankenbulers(sP?) choreography?!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 6:08pm

payback is a bit*h, huh? now you know how I felt when everyone dissed DRACULA...

Posted: 8/30/04 at 4:55pm

The San Fracisco Chronicle review is in and it's not good either.
Little Princess #3

[wildparty20]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 9:09pm

There is a clip of Andrew Lippa singing "Live Out Loud" on Playbill.com's Radio Playbill. It sounds like a really great song. The reviews sound like the rest of it isn't as good. That's too bad. Listen to the clip (it's the 2nd part of the interview).
Live Out Loud Clip

[Vanna]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 10:05pm

Live Out Loud is a good song, but there are many others just as good. The show looked quite complicated, and like any new show, there will still be revisions to come. Princess is an exciting new work, and I hope it much success. By the way, the audience LOVED the show and it is a show that all ages will enjoy. There were lots of children, parents and grandparents, and they all seemed to be thoroughly entertained.

Check out these pictures and you'll see what I mean:
http://www.cb-pr.com/press/littleprincess.html

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 10:23pm

So it won't be another "Secret Garden?"

What a shame.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 10:37pm

Ummm...

In that picture Becky doesn't even look black. Please don't tell me they changed that.

Akiva

[Vanna]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 12:22am

Becky is not black in this production, but neither is she in the orginal book, or in the Shirley Temple film. A new young character is introduced, however, who is black - a very likeable boy named Pasco who has two wonderful solo's. His songs, Captain Crewe and Soon, are showstoppers. Updated On: 8/31/04 at 12:22 AM

Posted: 9/1/04 at 2:42pm

The Oakland Tribune delivers strike three. I won't be updating this thread any more even if more reviews come in. There's only been three reviews for this show and all three were negative. It's clear this production in particular just isn't working. I hope they work out the problems and do another tryout some day because I really think A Little Princess story has the potential to make a better musical than Secret Garden and I loved that musical! From now forwardI'm pinning my hopes on Little Women as this year's literary classic turned musical!
Oakland Tribune Updated On: 9/1/04 at 02:42 PM

[Vanna]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:45pm

By the way, "A Little Princess" has the same director, Susan H. Schulman, as the upcoming "Little Women".

Chad Jones was not critical of the performers however - some of them were local actors. Most of the criticism is about the book/story. I think the music and dancing is amazing. The audience was thoroughly entertained and gave it a standing ovation.

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:52pm

In all honesty what show doesn't get a standing ovation nowadays? I'm so sick of every show getting a standing ovation because they used to be special and rare. Here's hoping Schulman has better luck with Little Women.