Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 11/5/17- Page 2

[binau]

Posted: 11/7/17 at 5:54pm

The three things I worry about with Bernadette’s grosses are 1. slow time of year 2. has Bernadette’s fan base already seen the show and many won’t necessarily return (anyone that knows of Bernadette likely knows of Midler) 3. Were Murphy’s grosses inflated with people who mistakingly thought they were seeing Bette? (Bernadette won’t have the same luxury).

Still, Bernadette is by far a bigger name than Murphy so I’m still hopeful.

Updated On: 11/7/17 at 05:54 PM

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 11/7/17 at 8:46pm

I'll just say it. I don't get all the 'Donna is INCREDIBLE, Bette was ok' love.

I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for both women. But in my opinion, there is no comparison folks. Dolly with Bette is an EVENT. She is a STAR. The anticipation and energy with her is ELECTRIC. I have had the great fortune of seeing her Dolly three times - the first time in previews and twice since it opened. And I have to say that she got even STRONGER in the roll each time. The last two times I saw it (in June and August), her voice was FINE. BEAUTIFUL. Yes... STRONG. She's not a belter, but this isn't Evita. Dolly doesn't "need" to be a belter. But she does need to be funny, warm and vulnerable. And Bette was all of these things and much, much more. Her monologue before Parade moved me to tears the last two times. Damn. No.. I have never experienced Donna's Dolly in person. I have watched and listened to recordings of her and to me, there was no comparison. YES.. I know you can't compare a bootleg to the real thing. I know. But several jokes fell flat. And I didn't love all of her vocal choices. Just my opinion.

Yes, it's more the 'Bette Midler' show than just 'Hello, Dolly!' And if it wasn't for the Divine Miss M, we wouldn't even be talking about a revival of this show right now. And this week's grosses prove that.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 11/7/17 at 9:08pm

"I'll just say it. I don't get all the 'Donna is INCREDIBLE, Bette was ok' love.

I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for both women. But in my opinion, there is no comparison folks. Dolly with Bette is an EVENT. She is a STAR. The anticipation and energy with her is ELECTRIC. I have had the great fortune of seeing her Dolly three times - the first time in previews and twice since it opened. And I have to say that she got even STRONGER in the roll each time. The last two times I saw it (in June and August), her voice was FINE. BEAUTIFUL. Yes... STRONG. She's not a belter, but this isn't Evita. Dolly doesn't "need" to be a belter. But she does need to be funny, warm and vulnerable. And Bette was all of these things and much, much more. Her monologue before Parade moved me to tears the last two times. Damn. No.. I have never experienced Donna's Dolly in person. I have watched and listened to recordings of her and to me, there was no comparison. YES.. I know you can't compare a bootleg to the real thing. I know. But several jokes fell flat. And I didn't love all of her vocal choices. Just my opinion.

Yes, it's more the 'Bette Midler' show than just 'Hello, Dolly!' And if it wasn't for the Divine Miss M, we wouldn't even be talking about a revival of this show right now. And this week's grosses prove that."

 

Zamedy;  I agree with you 100%.  And I have seen both ladies now a few times.  Donna was fine.  Loved her.  But she doesn't touch the magic of  Bette .  I think this Donna chatter is more of a chat board thing than a real life thing.  She is cheaper to see and one can get tickets.  So a lot of it I am sure comes from that.   And she is lovely in the role.  But this for most is all about Bette.  She is magnificent.  And the Bette nights at the Shubert are pure electricity.  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/8/17 at 2:08am

Having seen them both, I'd agree with you. Sure, the energy/excitement over seeing Midler in the show is there. And a guy, at intermission for Murphy, said to his partner "I think Midler would be great in this role." Like, duh. But Murphy brings something else to the role. She plays a fully fleshed out character. She is acting. Midler is playing herself, which if fine. She's very entertaining and funny, but Murphy actually does the correct choreography, sings the actual notes, and actually gives me a fully realized performance. I'm not saying either one is better or worse, but I think they're both to be seen. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 11/8/17 at 4:39pm

Zamedy154 said: "I'll just say it. I don't get all the 'Donna is INCREDIBLE, Bette was ok' love.

I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for both women. But in my opinion, there is no comparison folks. Dolly with Bette is an EVENT. She is a STAR. The anticipation and energy with her is ELECTRIC. I have had the great fortune of seeing her Dolly three times - the first time in previews and twice since it opened. And I have to say that she got even STRONGER in the roll each time. The last two times I saw it (in June and August), her voice was FINE. BEAUTIFUL. Yes... STRONG. She's not a belter, but this isn't Evita. Dolly doesn't "need" to be a belter. But she does need to be funny, warm and vulnerable. And Bette was all of these things and much, much more. Her monologue before Parade moved me to tears the last two times. Damn. No.. I have never experienced Donna's Dolly in person. I have watched and listened to recordings of her and to me, there was no comparison. YES.. I know you can't compare a bootleg to the real thing. I know. But several jokes fell flat. And I didn't love all of her vocal choices. Just my opinion.

Yes, it's more the 'Bette Midler' show than just 'Hello, Dolly!' And if it wasn't for the Divine Miss M, we wouldn't even be talking about a revival of this show right now. And this week's grosses prove that."

 

 

THIS!