BAD CINDERELLA to close on June 4- Page 10

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 12:57pm

I don’t understand why they still haven’t been able to sort out the statue defacing. That’s pretty much the only thing in the script that makes her “bad” and they can’t seem to find the right thing for that moment. And there’s no contest now? Without the contest what’s the point of defacing the statue if Belleville doesn’t lose the prize because of her actions?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:03pm

The statue is now just a commemoration of the Prince and I guess her spray painting a bag and putting it on the statue makes her bad and worthy of death by the town. I have no idea, it makes zero sense to me. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:06pm

Looking through the Playbill, I just realized the new opening is called "Beauty is Our Duty" so the "Beauty is Our Doody" spray paint makes more sense but it's still awful and needs to be fixed.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:14pm

What’s the new song for the Unbreakable spot called? Man’s Man is still in?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:17pm

The new song is called "Easy To Be Me". And yeah, "Man's Man" is there, unchanged from London.

[TheOnlyOne2]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:38pm

Chiming back in here after last night... the sets really bothered me. I was sitting front row mezzanine, and it looked rough. It was definitely a non eq touring situation,  or even a less prestigious regional theater. I had mentioned earlier that when the titular character was on stage I wanted her to leave, especially during the ballads. Looking from the mezzanine, it felt like their first run-through without sets. The stage was just black, and the entire time you were looking at marks on the floor against a scuffed up black floor. It completely took me out of the over the top world. There was really nothing for her to work with in those scenes.

Also I was looking at the proscenium and it was painted poorly? It was like the first coat of a poor attempt I made at painting something gold. Even if it was purposely done this way, it doesn't make sense to the show. The opening number comes right out and exclaims how beautiful abs perfect everyone and everything is in Belleville. So, why is the "grand proscenium" painted to look like it's from a shabby old castle/town? It's little things like that as a director that I didn't see pulled together. Detail is important in an over the top piece like this. 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:47pm

Just snatched a ticket for tonight's performance on a whim. Will report back.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 1:51pm

Is this producer, Christine Schwartzman, the wife of billionaire Stephen Schwartzman who was chairman of the Strategic and Policy Forum for President Trump? 
And should this show be cancelled (by the screaming theatre liberals) by association? Will any cast members who posted “Not my President” resign in protest? That’s how it works, right? 
Oh wait. Theatre liberals love Broadway too much and the actors love their jobs too much. This one gets a pass. No cancellation necessary. 

Updated On: 2/18/23 at 01:51 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 2:07pm

This was excrement.

I want my time. money and common sense restored. 

Updated On: 2/18/23 at 02:07 PM

[Ricey2]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 2:46pm

I don’t think I have laughed as hard in a theater than I have during this show. This was ridiculous. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 3:21pm

How was the audience? Sold out show? Enthusiastic? Sad because it's poop as Carlos said? Just curious.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 3:34pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Is this producer, Christine Schwartzman, the wife of billionaire Stephen Schwartzman who was chairman of the Strategic and Policy Forum for President Trump?
And should this show be cancelled (by the screaming theatre liberals) by association? Will any cast members who posted “Not my President” resign in protest?That’s how it works, right?
Oh wait. Theatre liberals love Broadway too much and the actors love their jobs too much. This one gets a pass. No cancellation necessary."

You worked yourself into a real big froth there. ALW is a massive Tory who flew back to the UK to vote against tax cuts for the poor. People are well aware that old Republican Assholes are often part of a core component of theatre's finance. That's called living in society.

[akhoya87]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 4:32pm

Sutton Ross said: "How was the audience? Sold out show? Enthusiastic? Sad because it's poop as Carlos said? Just curious."

There was a smattering of empty seats, but the theatre was full and enthusiastic/generally supportive.  I was personally expecting better energy for a first preview -- e.g., I expected to see extended applause for Linedy's reveal and her "Bad Cinderella" number, but the applause was average at best.  

The show has funny moments, either because of the book writing or because of the camp, but there were long periods where people weren't reacting with any sort of discernible emotion, i.e., no laughter or sniffling/tears.  All in all, a pretty average audience, I think, which ... may not be the best thing for a first preview.

[akhoya87]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 4:37pm

I'm torn on whether to go back.  My gut feeling is that this work is beyond redemption, but part of me wants to see it post-freeze/opening and see how much they change, just from a theatre-development standpoint.  

The book is too lacking to be seriously good, and the direction is too lacking to make it good camp.  The music ... well, let's just say it's not a good sign that I was playing "which ALW show is ALW channeling here?" instead of focusing on the show.  Although I did like "Far Too Late" -- my favorite song of the entire show -- I felt like that moment (among many others) was unearned, so I couldn't share in the emotion of the song.

Updated On: 2/18/23 at 04:37 PM

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 4:48pm

As much as I wanted to see Carolee as the Stepmother, I am gonna take a hard pass on this show. Based on what people are saying on here, I think it's safe to say that I would be better off spending my money on a different show like Camelot or New York, New York. It's a shame that this is how low ALW has gone. He hasn't had a huge hit in years. I just hope that if/when this flops and closes early, this will be a sign to him that it's time to retire from writing. Anyone wanna start betting on how long this will last on Broadway? I give it 6 months.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 4:58pm

aaaaaand this is where I step in to tell you you're being ridiculous. Webber wrote the music and did the orchestrations for this, all of which nobody has had anything negative to say (until I post this and then I'm sure they'll start). David Zippel wrote the lyrics which I and others have criticized and Emerald Fennell wrote the book, which again, I and others have criticized. Saying you hope this ends ALW's career, the one person who hasn't really gotten any criticism for their actual work on the show, just shows people will happily jump on a "hate bandwagon" without even knowing where it's going.

And yes let's do play the "when will this show close" game. If anyone EVER attempted to post that when say, "Kimberly Akimbo" started previews to a not full house, they would have been run out of town but it's cool here? I wrote that I don't think it'll be a hit but JFC, the show started previews last night - give them a damn chance to try and fix things.

And I hate that y'all make me want to defend a show that I don't even love but the blood in the water thing is insane around here lately.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:05pm

Also School of Rock may not have been a mega hit but the show recouped. It hasn’t been that long since Webber had a hit on Broadway.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:09pm

Good lord, the doom and gloom mentality surrounding new shows is exhausting and old.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:21pm

Is Alexis Scheer still credited as "additional book material" or has that title been elevated?

Wonder how much the rewrites are hers vs. Fennell (and if Fennell even has any active involvement these days?)

[defenses]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:22pm

akhoya87 said: "Sutton Ross said: "How was the audience? Sold out show? Enthusiastic? Sad because it's poop as Carlos said? Just curious."

There was a smattering of empty seats, but the theatre was full and enthusiastic/generally supportive. I was personally expecting better energy for a first preview -- e.g., I expected to see extended applause for Linedy's reveal and her "Bad Cinderella" number, but the applause was average at best.”

I felt a different audience. I was surprised with how much applause Linedy got since she’s not a well-known name! I think she does a pretty good job on social media so people may feel connected to her. I also thought the final applause was pretty healthy - especially when Carolee pointed out those making Broadway debuts.

[mememe]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:27pm

Jordan Catalano said: "aaaaaand this is where I step in to tell you you're being ridiculous. Webber wrote the music and did the orchestrations for this, all of which nobody has had anything negative to say (until I post this and then I'm sure they'll start). David Zippel wrote the lyrics which I and others have criticized and Emerald Fennell wrote the book, which again, I and others have criticized. Saying you hope this ends ALW's career, the one person who hasn't really gotten any criticism for their actual work on the show, just shows people will happily jump on a "hate bandwagon" without even knowing where it's going.

And yes let's do play the "when will this show close" game. If anyone EVER attempted to post that when say, "Kimberly Akimbo" started previews to a not full house, they would have been run out of town but it's cool here? I wrote that I don't think it'll be a hit but JFC, the show started previews last night - give them a damn chance to try and fix things.

And I hate that y'all make me want to defend a show that I don't even love but the blood in the water thing is insane around here lately. "

Everything, every single thing in that show has had to pass the ALW taste test first. He is involved in every aspect, and micro manages each and every department. This is what he does 

it’s trash because of him 

[showbizkid2]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:37pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Good lord, the doom and gloom mentality surrounding new shows is exhausting and old."

and then there is SIX the musical that took over by STORM... Maybe because it is smart fun and fantastic?

Same with Kimberly Akimbo. 

People don't have issues with new shows - BUT BAD new shows. 

[akhoya87]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:42pm

defenses said: "akhoya87 said: "Sutton Ross said: "How was the audience? Sold out show? Enthusiastic? Sad because it's poop as Carlos said? Just curious."

There was a smattering of empty seats, but the theatre was full and enthusiastic/generally supportive. I was personally expecting better energy for a first preview -- e.g., I expected to see extended applause for Linedy's reveal and her "Bad Cinderella" number, but the applause was average at best.”

I felt a different audience. I was surprised with how much applause Linedy got since she’s not a well-known name! I think she does a pretty good job on social media so people may feel connected to her. I also thought the final applause was pretty healthy - especially when Carolee pointed out those making Broadway debuts."

Totally fair, and I guess I wasn’t looking at it in relative terms (i.e., taking her relatively unknown status into account). 100% agreed about there being very good energy during the intro of Broadway debuts. Carolee’s remarks were very gracious. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 5:47pm

Thanks for the audience reports you two! It's cute that people cannot trash a show that they've seen without others whining about said trashing. Everyone has A LOT OF FEELINGS about new shows (good and bad) and that's okay!

"Is this producer, Christine Schwartzman, the wife of billionaire Stephen Schwartzman who was chairman of the Strategic and Policy Forum for President Trump?
And should this show be cancelled (by the screaming theatre liberals) by association? Will any cast members who posted “Not my President” resign in protest? That’s how it works, right?
Oh wait. Theatre liberals love Broadway too much and the actors love their jobs too much. This one gets a pass. No cancellation necessary."

You're.........in the wrong place.
Updated On: 2/18/23 at 05:47 PM

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/18/23 at 6:05pm

mememe said: "Everything, every single thing in that show has had to pass the ALW taste test first. He is involved in every aspect, and micro manages each and every department. This is what he does

it’s trash because of him"

Not everything is trash but you are definitely right about his “taste test”. Some of the music is really good I will give him that. I just think that if he wasn’t so controlling over every aspect of the show and gave more time to work on it instead of rushing to get it on stage, it probably would’ve been a better show.