DEATH BECOMES HER Previews — Page 7

I sort of enjoyed it!
Last night was Olive Garden.
The audience loved the show.

This past Wednesday evening's sponsor was Digorno. It's not delivery, it's Digorno.

The show was a lot of fun. It helps to know the source material.

Hilty does the heavy lifting and nails it. She's a real pro and it's about time to see her lead a show from the getgo.

Simard has deadpan down. Her songs were a little pitchy, but her performance was entertaining.

Williams I wasn't so hot on. She was wooden and a one-note actor. While her voice was suitable for park-and-bark moments, she looked a bit fragile instead of slinking around the stage.

I would have loved to see them go with the many other big voices they approached about this role. Having friends who have been with this show since Chicago, I got to hear some of that interesting list.

I caught the show on Friday night and it was a mixed bag for me. Like a lot of people, I kind of grew up with the movie, catching it on TV for it's network television debut (remember those?!) at a very young age.

I hate to say it because I usually like her work, but Megan Hilty was the weak link for me. She plays everything with an exaggerated, affected manner and I think it undercuts a lot of her (pretty solid) material. I wish she'd let the mask drop a little, ground herself more and lean into some of Madeline's nastiness and misery in a real way. For me, that would have made her funnier. On the whole, I think the show could have afforded to be a bit more cynical. "Finding your person" is a lovely sentiment, but maybe not here?

Simard finds a better balance between groundedness and being over-the-top, but her character has a clearer arc. Sieber is reliable, as always. Michelle Williams, weirdly enough, gets the show's best songs.

I was really not a fan of

The effects are also hit or miss. Madeline on the staircase is a triumph, but other things feel like afterthoughts. The score is fine, I agree with others that it may not stand on it's own but it works in context.

I didn't have a bad time, I enjoyed a lot of about it, but it feels so close to almost there that it's more frustrating than if it had been an all out misfire.

Dolly80 said: "Why is everyone obsessed with the sponsors moment?"

I haven't seen the show, and I'm wondering that too. I imagine the sponsor moment must be presented in some kind of really hilarious context; otherwise, there's no joke there to speak of.

kdogg36 said: "Dolly80 said: "Why is everyone obsessed with the sponsors moment?"

I haven't seen the show, and I'm wondering that too. I imagine the sponsor moment must be presented in some kind of really hilarious context; otherwise, there's no joke there to speak of."

It’s just improvised every night and it’s a kind of out of pocket moment that can be funny. Like… at a performance in Chicago, hearing Madeline Ashton say that her wedding was “brought to you by KFC… it’s finger lickin’ good” is just ridiculously fun and worth a laugh. 😂

kdogg36 said: "Dolly80 said: "Why is everyone obsessed with the sponsors moment?"

I haven't seen the show, and I'm wondering that too. I imagine the sponsor moment must be presented in some kind of really hilarious context; otherwise, there's no joke there to speak of."

Yeah, it’s not really that funny, I was surprised by little impact it has considering how much attention this board gives it. I actually thought the funnier joke occurs right before the “sponsor”…

It’s definitely not tacky and fits the tone of the show (very wink wink), but it’s also one of the less hilarious jokes in the show. Its only novelty is that it changes every night, but it’s a quick throwaway gag in the grand scheme.

ChorusKitty said: "The wedding sponsor joke is silly, but also a nod to the culture where companies pay for their products to appear prominently in movies/television.

At a $30M+ price tag (CRAZY), maybe the lines aren't "improvised" each night but actually a tiny bit of guaranteed return?

On a totally different subject: does anyone know how long the leads contracts are for by chance?"

They're not brand deals, they're a joke about Brand deals.

ChorusKitty said: "I noted it was a joke about brand deals in my first sentence. However those lines are also copyrighted material."

...and? That doesn't mean the companies are getting any royalties or reimbursement. It falls under Fair Use, as it's satire/parody.

ChorusKitty said: "I noted it was a joke about brand deals in my first sentence. However those lines are also copyrighted material."

And in the same sense that you can quote lines from Trademarked movies in books and other movies without permission, you can do so with a company's tag line. They're not using any trademarked iconography and if brought in front of a judge it would be considered satire. You don't think they're actually getting the company lawyers involved to okay these references do you?

DiscoCrows said: "During today’s 11/13 matinee, the mansion set clipped the show curtain and tore a hole in it. This happened during the scenic change out of "Don't Say I Didn't (Warn You)" when the mansion visibly lowers into place. A small piece of white plastering was broken and fell to the stage deck.There was a ten-minute hold and they continued the show as normal afterward, visible rips and all.

Let's go previews!!"

I love that simard ad libbed "You two really need to fix your drapes" after the show resumed

Really enjoyed this tonight. Hilty and Simard are both in their elements and turn in phenomenal performances. The jokes are fast, nonstop, and FUNNY!

This is not life changing theatre, and never once does it ever try to take itself seriously - I think this is ultimately what makes the show a success. It leans into the camp and spectacle while allowing the two leading ladies to shine and do what they do best - make big jokes and sing big notes on a big Broadway set!

This is the most fun to be had on Broadway right now. It’s smart, silly, and FUN. And that’s just what I needed tonight.

Updated On: 11/13/24 at 11:23 PM