DEATH BECOMES HER Reviews - Page 38

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/16/26 at 10:33pm

HaveAGoodShow said: "Break legs to Betsy Wolfe tonight on her debut as Madeline! I can’t wait to see what she does with the role.

If anyone’s there tonight, please report back!"

I was there tonight. There was a tech hold about 30 seconds into the show. The opening music played, Williams rose out of the pit, stood there for ten seconds, and then there was about a five minute hold before the show resumed.

As for Betsy Wolfe… I’m hesitant to base too much on a first performance as a replacement in a challenging role. I will say that while she did a good job tonight, I think there’s plenty of room for her to grow and settle into the role a bit more.

She plays the role much more girlish than Megan Hilty. The jokes that Hilty landed effortlessly felt a tad forced when delivered by Wolfe tonight.

It’s no easy feat to replace in a role like this, and I do think she’s off to a solid start. With more performances under her belt, I’m sure she will get the comedic timing down. I’d say right now she’s about 70% of the way there.

[AlmostFamous3]

Posted: 1/17/26 at 12:03pm

I agree, she was good but she very clearly hasn’t found her footing yet. It’ll take time, her first rehearsal with the principal cast was just a couple of days ago. If this is what she can do in her first performance, a month from now I’m sure the comedy will land better and she’ll be outstanding. I always find it terrifying how little rehearsal time replacements get before performing in front of 1,500 people.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/17/26 at 3:22pm

After trying 3 times to see Megan (my husband went to school with her) we forgot about trying. I'm seeing the matinee tomorrow and I love Betsy, so I'm really excited.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/17/26 at 5:12pm

Is Wolfe doing all 8 performances or is Dee still deemed the alternate and doing one show/week?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/3/26 at 1:44pm

I saw this last weekend. It's still incredibly funny and entertaining. Betsy is still not entirely comfortable in this role. She obviously had big shoes to fill, but she is lacking a certain spark that Madeline absolutely has to have for everything to land. I hope she grows more into it soon because she's clearly having a lot of fun up there.

[Observation]

Posted: 2/3/26 at 5:26pm

Now that her talkshow is closing, I'd love to see Kelly Clarkson as Viola. Not sure if they're only casting a person of color in that role, but I think it'd be the perfect track for her. She's mentioned the acting part of Broadway intimidates her and this would be a way for her to show off vocally and do minimal book scenes. 

[franko3]

Posted: 2/23/26 at 5:10pm

i’m a little brokenhearted that they didn’t give the role to Dee. I absolutely loved her performance as much as Meghan’s. Different, but so funny, with an edge. If they’re gonna replace someone with a name, then replace them with a name. Currently the show falls a little flat in my opinion

[franko3]

Posted: 2/23/26 at 5:10pm

i’m a little brokenhearted that they didn’t give the role to Dee. I absolutely loved her performance as much as Meghan’s. Different, but so funny, with an edge. If they’re gonna replace someone with a name, then replace them with a name. Currently the show falls a little flat in my opinion

[Kad]

Posted: 3/14/26 at 11:12am

I caught this last night and while the production as a whole is in great shape, I think Betsy is just not well-suited to Madeline Ashton. She lacks the delusional diva grandiosity and sharp comedic instincts of Hilty, giving a performance that is far more dry and pushed. There's just sort of an inherent sweetness to Wolfe that doesn't work here, playing a woman who is plainly just the worst. She tries her best to find her way into Ashton's awfulness and make it funny but it just doesn't land. Wolfe looks and sounds terrific, to be sure, but when going toe-to-toe with the dynamo that is Jen Simmard, she just is blown out of the water. 

It did make me further appreciate what Megan Hilty can do, though- particularly with how she uses her speaking voice. Her extensive work as a voice actress has really honed her abilities there. 

Updated On: 3/14/26 at 11:12 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/14/26 at 1:12pm

franko3 said: "i’m a little brokenhearted that they didn’t give the role to Dee. I absolutely loved her performance as much as Meghan’s. Different, but so funny, with an edge. If they’re gonna replace someone with a name, then replace them with a name. Currently the show falls a little flat in my opinion"

It’s also entirely possible that Dee didn’t want to go full time and/or they renewed her standby contract with a better deal than a principal contract.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/14/26 at 1:21pm

quizking101 said: "franko3 said: "i’m a little brokenhearted that they didn’t give the role to Dee. I absolutely loved her performance as much as Meghan’s. Different, but so funny, with an edge. If they’re gonna replace someone with a name, then replace them with a name. Currently the show falls a little flat in my opinion"

It’s also entirely possible that Dee didn’t want to go full time and/or they renewed her standby contract with a better deal than a principal contract."

If I’m not mistaken, Dee has also been workshopping IMITATION OF LIFE lately. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/14/26 at 1:22pm

quizking101 said: "franko3 said: "i’m a little brokenhearted that they didn’t give the role to Dee. I absolutely loved her performance as much as Meghan’s. Different, but so funny, with an edge. If they’re gonna replace someone with a name, then replace them with a name. Currently the show falls a little flat in my opinion"

It’s also entirely possible that Dee didn’t want to go full time and/or they renewed her standby contract with a better deal than a principal contract."

Exactly. Standbys tend to have a nice contract. The standbys in COME FROM AWAY got a nice bump in pay after a year of the show running

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/14/26 at 6:22pm

How long is Betsy in the show for?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 9:25am

Joyce 9 said: "How long is Betsy in the show for?"

It's been reported that Betsy, Jen, Michelle and Christopher are signed through the end of June. Might see wholesale replacements for the summer.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 11:05am

I feel like this would be a good thing to have a Mad and Helen discover their characters together as opposed to trying to mesh into acting against someone who is already giving a comedy master act like Jen.