DEATH BECOMES HER Reviews - Page 34

[inception]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 10:00am

Papi2013 said: "ha ha ha. So.. if I want to see every original principal cast memeber together.. what is a good night?"

About 8 months ago

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 10:13am

The new vinyl is splendid.  The art work and the packaging are simply gorgeous. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 10:17am

Bette's Turban said: "The new vinyl is splendid. The art work and the packaging are simply gorgeous."

The linear notes, synopsis, booklet with lyrics, production photos , recording session photos, and especially the labels on the records themselves .., all stunning.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 10:46am

Papi2013 said: "ha ha ha. So.. if I want to see every original principal cast memeber together.. what is a good night?"

I went last Saturday and everyone but Sieber was on (he was on vacation). I have been the biggest fan of Simard, and I hope she was just having an off night because she was MAJORLY phoning it in and seemed over it. Megan, however, was sensational. Funny the first time I though Simard overshadowed Megan and the second time it was the opposite.

 

[JayVenclaw]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 11:04am

I know Jennifer has vacation coming up in less than a week so maybe she's just really ready for some time off?

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 11:49am

I'm seeing the show next week and will cheer wildly for whoever is on 

[DAME]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 2:30pm

I also found the vinyl to be outstanding . Really beautifully done.  A must for any diehard fan.  Sounds glorious for those of you with good equipment.  

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 7/19/25 at 9:53am

The four main principals were on again last night.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 7/21/25 at 12:44am

I saw the show last Saturday (July 19th) and...yup, Wiliams, Sieber, Hilty and Simard were all there! WOOHOO!!! I actually prayed it would happen, I was so hoping for it lol.

I was thinking with Hilty having off for a while she'd be ready to do a phenomenal job, and that seems to have been the case! I was worried Simard would "phone it in" like someone said they thought she did when they last saw her, but I think she and everyone brought their A game! I think her character is just low energy and sarcastic. Sieber managed to do some really funny stuff occasionally. Even Williams seemed perfectly suited for what her role called for. She has to be kind of calm and mysterious.

I was waiting to hear Hilty say "semester" the infamous way people said she did, but I think she must have tried a different, less funny reading this time because it wasn't hugely funny. But pretty much everything else was! I laughed so, so much. The show was just hilarious, from book to lyrics to performances, but a big stand out was the book. What they did with Helen dropping in at the wedding and the doves, OMG had me cracking up. I cracked up a bunch of times in the show. Speaking of the doves, the wedding sponsor was "Arby's. We have the meats", and Hilty said it in such a funny way. The running joke of Ernest's singing was great, too.


If I had to pick a favorite performance, it was Simard's. I did think we could tell Madeline was really transformed more beautifully in the scene where she drank the potion. The sets were amazing and clever, and those stairs that went on forever were so cool and thankfully Williams had assistants help guide her down those stairs.

The costumes were beautiful, especially Helen's red dress, and my favorite thing in the show was seeing Viola's Male entourage move in their costumes (how did any of her entourage get those on and they stay up?). The songs were actually pretty great. I can remember some parts of some of the songs (hey, I can't even remember how all of the songs go in beloved classics like Hello Dolly! or Gypsy, though with Gypsy I remember a lot more...).

I guess the final thing I'll say is the one Viola dancer that wore kind of a mermaid dress took their bows, and if it was that same nonbinary person that said they were going to stop bowing because people booed them, I guess they overcame that and took their bows now? I dunno, the last thing I'll say is I love this show, I love the "Maleficent" joke as a Sleeping Beauty fan, I have no idea how community theaters would put on this costly show with all the effects and what happens to these women's bodies, but maybe it could become a classic anyway. I'd love that.

If I have to pick between this and the movie, I pick the movie, but this musical is its own thing, and a wonderful thing it is. I really want a "For the Gaze" tee. Oh that reminds me, Toto being thrown with the bark was my other favorite part! And the moral of this show, that beauty and fame and power are great but eventually you'll want and ending, turned out very poignant. This musical is profound! At least in the end.

If you can, see this show!

Updated On: 7/21/25 at 12:44 AM

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 7/21/25 at 9:47am

Kolton Krouse, the nonbinary performer mentioned, stepped away from the curtain call for a few weeks, at a time that the current Administration was heavily targeting the trans community in their executive orders & ongoing news statements, which of course makes it a hot topic for the public as well. Since then, that focus has largely shifted to immigrants, tariffs, etc. 

Kolton made that announcement in March and had rejoined when I saw the show in May. They never said they were stepping out indefinitely, just “until further notice”. It was a personal choice that only directly affects them, so the minutiae of it all doesn’t really matter. 

What matters is that they feel comfortable enough to express themselves and show up with pride instead of fear or anxiety. I’m glad to see that is the case here.

Updated On: 7/21/25 at 09:47 AM

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 12:25am

Thank you for filling me in, GiantsinTheSky2, and I am glad about that, too.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 8:01am

Kaleigh Cronin made her Helen debut last night. Curious to see if Simard is out again for the matinee.

Updated On: 7/23/25 at 08:01 AM

[laurgirl220]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 8:42am

ACL2006 said: "Kaleigh Cronin made her Helen debut last night. Curious to see if Simard is out again for the matinee."

Simard is on her pre-announced vacation--she's out through July 27

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 8:44am

laurgirl220 said: "ACL2006 said: "Kaleigh Cronin made her Helen debut last night. Curious to see if Simard is out again for the matinee."

Simard is on her pre-announced vacation--she's out through July 27"

Thanks. Didn't see that. Guessing Natalie will be Helen the rest of the week?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 11:24am

ACL2006 said: "Kaleigh Cronin made her Helen debut last night. Curious to see if Simard is out again for the matinee."

Cronin is on as Helen for both shows today.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 3:52pm

Kaleigh and Natalie are splitting the week as Helen. Interesting that Dee Roscioli isn't going on as Helen at all during Simard's vacation.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 5:18pm

I think casting decisions are being made for the national tour.  Creatives are in the house all week..  

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 7/27/25 at 9:51pm

Natalie posted an Instagram story that she's out the next few days for a family trip, and then next week she's on vacation. That likely explains why they finally had Kaleigh go on as Helen to get some shows under her belt. Dee's already going on for Megan the next two Tuesdays, so if Jennifer needs to call out for either of them Kaleigh would get the call. (And if the rumors of a separate Helen alternate being hired are true, Dee may not get a chance/be needed for Helen soon anyway.)

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 8:50am

Does anyone know any promo / discount codes for the show? I am hoping to catch it over this weekend.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 10:43am

I believe the only code is the SAVE25 code for purchases 4 weeks in advance. I don't think there's anything that works on this short notice. The show's been selling well so they haven't really needed to. Rush, lottery, or the TKTS booth (where they generally offer only 30% off for DBH) would be the only options for something this soon.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 10:45am

I was able to get a front row ticket around noon the day before on TodayTix for $100. I think they were unsold lotto tickets.

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 8:35am

Finally saw this.

Funnier than the movie. When have we ever said that about a broadway adaptation? 
 

But make it a 90 minute one act like Xanadu was. It’s way too thin a plot. They wait way too long for Madeline to take the potion and that’s the actual inciting incident.

This is a Chuck Jones cartoon. If they had just reined it in, this would be one of our modern greats.

As is, it’s still super fun and Hilty and Simard are doing WONDERS. This is a legendary comic two hander. These ladies will be incredibly remembered for what they mined here

Updated On: 8/22/25 at 08:35 AM

[nmartin]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 10:36am

tomorrowBIGLITES said, "They wait way too long for Madeline to take the potion and that’s the actual inciting incident"

Exactly! I saw this last month and couldn't believe how long it took to get to the taking of the potion. It actually makes the

opening number less effective.

Admittedly, I greatly disliked this show, and that is the first reason why. 

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 11:21am

Also I would argue the show has TWO opening numbers which makes the pacing immediately off. We’re doing nothing for the plot for at least 10 minutes.

“For the Gaze” also never has later payoff. It’s just a joke number. It could’ve been anything

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 9:22pm

Has Meryl gone?