DEATH BECOMES HER Previews- Page 2

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 11:38pm

Is it a spoiler for the wedding sponsors? We kept up to date with them in Chicago and hope we do here, too. Tonight was “Brought to you by Little Caesars. Pizza! Pizza!”

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 11:39pm

My post show thoughts largely echo Jordan’s.

A blast of a show with a rapturous audience. 
 
Hilty and Simard are terrific. Seiber is hilarious too.

Williams doesn’t fully work for me but she got the largest applause. I also don’t think her material is the strongest in the show however and feels like the show is putting her out there because it’s her/wants the character to be bigger than the film. 

The wedding bit was funny. 

Updated On: 10/23/24 at 11:39 PM

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 11:47pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I had a blast tonight. I honestly to God don’t remember the last time I heard such a LOUD reaction from an audience.
They’ve done a nice amountof work on it since Chicago and it shows. There’s a fantastic new addition to the beginning of act two for Helen and Madeline's fight that I just loved.

As someone said, this isn’t going to be a show where you listen to a cast recording and think the score is brilliant. In person watching the show, half of it is really very good and the rest is “serviceable”. But the stuff around it is so funny most of the time it doesn’t bother me.

I still think Michelle Williams is completely wrong for this but ifthe insane screaming every time she stepped on stage is any indicator, I’m in the minority on that. For me, everyone in the show is in on the joke, the camp of it except for her.

But Isabella Rossellini does the preshow announcement now and I just about gagged when I heard her voice. Great way to start this one off."

 

I just can't wait to see it! 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 11:59pm

This was very fun. Yes, the songs are mostly mediocre, but they work well enough in the moment. Sieber had a solo in the second act that killed--and I couldn't for the life of me tell you what it sounded like. But it was hilarious. And that was the show. The music was fine/okay/got the job done, but the book and the cast were really, really funny and that more than made it worth it.

Simard and Hilty--pure gold. Sieber had less to work with, but he made the most of what he was given (and that song did kill).

Williams had great presence, and it was clear that most of the audience was there for her, which made up for her not really conveying a/the character of Viola. She was just a beautiful woman serving attitude (but maybe all that's required?) I also didn't think the opening number was that flattering or fit her voice that well. The Act II opener was better.

A few first preview issues to work out. Some of the effects didn't work the way they were intended (i.e. the umbrella), and there was a minor issue with the curtain and Viola's door near the end. I also wasn't sure if it was supposed to be so obvious those were stunt doubles doing the second long Madeline/Helen fight and that was the gag, or if that was something they need to work out. The first big stunt was impressive though.

I had a blast, and for this material, that's all I need?

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:07am

I actually really like what I’ve heard of the score, but I might just be starved for a big, splashy Broadway score and clever lyrics that actually rhyme. I can’t wait to see this next month! And please keep track of the wedding sponsors!

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:09am

And yes, a very friendly audience with a lot of theatre folk in the house (and a lot of gays, natch--not surprisingly this was a show where the line for the men's room at intermission was much longer than the women's).

(Speaking of lines, the one to get into the theater was endless. The show also didn't start until 8:15 or later, I'm guessing they were still trying to get everyone in.)

Was the Viola Van Horn card that was handed out in the line and the pin handed out on the way out the swag everyone else got too, or was there more?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:14am

I think those were the only things given out and so was happy to get them. The last thing I need is another bag lol

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:17am

Heh. I never make it to first previews, so yeah...after seeing all the reports of other shows, I was hoping for a bag. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:35am

MemorableUserName said: "(Speaking of lines, the one to get into the theater was endless. The show also didn't start until 8:15 or later, I'm guessing they were still trying to get everyone in.)"

This could be purely coincidental (and I haven't seen DBH yet), but I find the Lunt crowd control situation to be terrible every time I visit. Long, chaotic lines, and the Nederlander staff seems more inclined to yell at patrons than other landlord staffs.

I don't know what it is in the water at the Lunt, from my viewpoint the entryway & box office aren't any worse than any other Bway house.

And because of the openness of the back of the house, latecomers are very audible when arguing with FOH.

Updated On: 10/24/24 at 12:35 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:44am

I will always advise people to never ever ever sit in the rear orchestra (or even do standing room) at the Lunt. The entire show all you hear is the staff running around talking LOUDLY to each other, like there isn't a show going on. It's been like that ever since I can remember and I'll never understand. 

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 1:38am

I think "Alive Forever" is actually a really good song. Mostly good melody, great crescendos, and great lyrics.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 2:33am

Jordan, is Seiber’s act 2 song the same as the one in Chicago? To me it was a clunker that he sold very well. But someone said he’s killing it so maybe they changed it some.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 2:53am

While I’m looking forward to seeing this, I’d rather hear reports from the second or third show. The first always seem to be full of fans who scream no matter if the show is good or bad ( Jordan I don’t put you in that group, and always look forward to your reviews ). 

[itsahopi]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 3:48am

starlightlocamotion said: "Wishing the show so much success ... but I truly think it will be gone by next summer."

Baseless theories like this always make me laugh. Reminds me of the Gatsby comments. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 4:47am

Alive Forever’s lyrics are actually pretty hilarious. “Our hatred escalated into murderrrr.” I cackled. 

[TheOnlyOne2]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 5:06am

I was the for the first preview, and I was blown away. Firstly, I was THE MICHELLE FAN! Yes, when she first rose from thr stage I was thr one who got up and started the clapping and screaming. I refuse to apologize ahahaha. The majority of the people I've seen in here seem to be unhappy with her since Chicago. Michelle objectively does what shes there to do very well, which is singing. 90% of her material is song. Aside from that, she has paid her dues and is an acclaimed stage star in addition to her recording career. She predates Hilty and Simard in terms of being on Broadway, and the woman was doing national tours which someone of her caliber usually wouldn't do. She's worked hard in the theater and deserves flowers. Also, just like Simard, it's nice to here two distinct voices. We here a lot of the same cookie cutter type of voices.

Hilty, Simard, and Sieber did well. Like most shows i feel it's too difficult to say how good the performance is until atleast 3 months.

I don't know what they did in Chicago, but this first preview was pretty tight. I could see a few places I wanted to cut. One of the things I know won't change is "Sempre Viva" which I found to be dragging and uninteresting. The reprise of it though is nice. (Michelle sang it well, and looked stunning doing it.)

I feel awful saying it, but I didn't care for the the actor who played the butler, and the part isn't integral to the plot. 

As mentioned before the only actual song I can remember is the opener. Other than that it was just serviceable songs which were good enough because these woman are squeezing as much comedy as they possibly can out of them. 

The actor who played the long suffering assistant was exquisite. It seems the character is part of thd ensemble which is upsetting. 

Im not sure why but I thought Cristopher Sieber played an elderly man very well.

Lastly, whoever said it will be gone by summer is goofy af. This show is objectively good and will be even better after previews.

P.S.- We were hearing that the long line was due to Bey coming first and getting situated. The validity of that I wouldn't know. In my mind it would make sense because all the girls are very supportive of eachother. 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 5:40am

Can anyone speak on what the physical production is like? Lots of huge sets or mostly a unit with smaller pieces? Hoping this is lush and looks like $$.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 6:58am

The largest set piece in Chicago was Madeline’s staircase. There was another location that only appeared for one song. The rest involved curtains, couches and columns.

Updated On: 10/24/24 at 06:58 AM

[Theater3232]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 7:00am

Someone wrote it started at 8.15pm..what time did it end?

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 8:12am

I took a video of the curtain call. The file name says it was 10:47.

[bwayfan1979]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 8:30am

I'm really looking forward to this one. Curious if anyone can tell me if there have been any major changes from the Chicago production? 

[terrilovesNY]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 10:06am

Can anyone who was there comment on merch? I thought I saw a picture of a sparkly purple tumbler type mug, but now cannot find it. Nothing on the website yet. Looking forward to this in a few weeks!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 10:18am

terrilovesNY said: "Can anyone who was there comment on merch? I thought I saw a picture of a sparkly purple tumbler type mug, but now cannot find it. Nothing on the website yet. Looking forward to this in a few weeks!"

https://aracaeventmerch.com/collections/dbh-shop-all

[DaveyG]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 11:55am

Robbie2 said: "pablitonizer said: "3 songs have been officially released!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMOxvkhXRgEdFwsqaVHOQQcUiQmTh2yBj&si=ISt_NZzNq-tIpS0K"

Just listened - I hope those are not the best songs because they are all disappointing and simply terrible! Why those 3 released?"

These songs didn't do much for me either. Serviceable. They went in one ear and out the other. 

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:55pm

RumTumJM said: "Something just dawned on me!

Since this & Back To The Future are currently playing, that means Robert Zemeckis has two of his movies on Broadway at the same time!

That's almost as crazy as The Power Of Love being feaured in two muscials playing on Broadway, at the same time, a few monnths ago!"

I forgot that I enjoyed the references to Zemeckis's other movies that popped up during the show, which immediately made me think of this post.