Alicia Keys musical HELL’S KITCHEN - Opening Night Reviews — Page 2

Observer:

Review: Alicia Keys Is in a ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ State of Mind at the Public

Part juke-box musical and part feel-good empowerment fable, this musical from Alicia Keys hungers for a home on Broadway.

https://observer.com/2023/11/review-alicia-keys-is-in-a-hells-kitchen-state-of-mind-at-the-public/

"A teen rom com that morphs into artistic awakening and resolves as a sentimental tribute to mothers and New York as the city of dreams, Hell’s Kitchen has a warm and spirited book by Kristoffer Diaz that nevertheless struggles to justify its songs by the second act. Apart from a brief appearance by menacing cops and a manipulative cancer twist, the story drags out its family angst as long as it can."

Wow - these reviews are MUCH more mixed than i expected them to be.

Theatremania is positive:

Review: Hell’s Kitchen, a Coming-of-Age Musical Set in Alicia Keys’s New York

https://www.theatermania.com/news/review-hells-kitchen-a-coming-of-age-musical-set-in-alicia-keyss-new-york_1721623/

"Grounded in reality, but with anthemic melodies soaring overhead, it is easily the best new musical at the Public since Hamilton."

Jordan Catalano said: "Wow - these reviews are MUCH more mixed than i expected them to be."

It’s a show with very strong choreography and great singing but really weak characters and corny story. They meet what I imagined. I can’t misfire this transferring - it’s a weak overall jukebox musical. Not bad and lI am glad to have catched the 3rd performance but it’s nothing remotely special.

An encouraging review from Green, since he obviously sees the makings of a great show there but the 2nd act lets him down so much. I wonder if they will put the work in on improving the 2nd act.

Congrats to Brandon Victor Dixon on being called "a human aphrodisiac."

MemorableUserName said: "The Wrap

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Off Broadway Review: Alicia Keys Celebrates a Big Apartment Complex The songwriter makes her legit stage debut with a jukebox musical about a songwriter

https://www.thewrap.com/hells-kitchen-alicia-keys-off-broadway-review-manhattan-pla/

"It’s an admirably slim, self-effacing story: an overly protective mother, after being seduced by a lover (Brandon Victor Nixon in great singing voice) is abandoned and left with a child, Ali, whom she doesn’t want to repeat Mom’s mistake. Most of the songs in “Hell’s Kitchen” are Keys standards. It’s nice to hear them sung so well — the exception being the angry “Pawn It All,” which Shoshana Bean caterwauls to such an extreme that it surpasses Leslie Rodriguez Kritzler’s parody of a caterwauling diva in the recently opened “Spamalot” revival.

“Pawn It All” and the nearly 20 other Keys songs from her many albums are not book songs. They effectively, but merely, encapsulate an emotion or a state of mind — which means the narrative, which is already slight, stops cold so characters can express what they’re feeling. Greif’s direction beefs up these moments by enlisting choreographer Camille A. Brown to overpopulate the stage with dancers who stomp, wave, thrust, swivel and perform other exercises.""

This review, mostly referring to the slight book, awkward song fit, and over enthusiastic choreographic makes this sound like Alicia Keys’ “Jagged Little Pill”

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "An encouraging review from Green, since he obviously sees the makings of a great show there but the 2nd act lets him down so much. I wonder if they will put the work in on improving the 2nd act.

Congrats to Brandon Victor Dixon on being called "a human aphrodisiac.""

I doubt that they will be taking their marching orders from Green, of all people.

I'm also not so clear on how either broke any mold.

(Havent seen HK yet, just PILL and judging HK from reports and reviews.)

Very gentle reviews.

Maybe, Alicia will write more new original songs before the show moves to Broadway.

Maybe, Alicia will write more new original songs before the show moves to Broadway."

Absolutely no need. People love her songs and they all fit into the show seamlessly. I haven't seen people leap to their feet the second a show ended like that in a very long time. It's cool, fun, diverse, and will be a huge hit next year.

Updated On: 11/20/23 at 01:48 PM

I love the JAGGED LP references. This felt just like it.

SUCH a corny, trite story. I really don't care about a teenager's angst anymore.

But I said to a mate as I was leaving, that I can't wait for the Cast Album. Such talent !

And why does Shoshanna Bean always get saddled with the sad-sack, downer roles. She's one of the great performers. Give her some meat! (No, I don't mean Dixon!)