Posted: 11/18/21 at 12:17am
What can you expect from these critics? They suck.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 1:02am
I hope the New York Times is printing on asbestos these days because that might be one of the most incendiary reviews I've ever read on there.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 1:03am
Sure. It's all the critics who suck. That seems like a more likely explanation than the show being terrible.
The opening of the Daily Beast review is amusing.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/diana-the-musical-is-a-bonkers-mess-and-a-crazy-circus-of-truths/
"The best heckle so far of the post-pandemic Broadway era happened last Friday night, when Prince Charles (Roe Hartrampf) snarled at Princess Diana (Jeanna de Waal), “All you’ve ever done is marry me” during the shamelessly bonkers, somewhat terrible, and utterly mesmerizing Diana: The Musical (Longacre Theatre, booking to November 2022).
The silence and a few shocked sighs that followed were broken by a lone male voice from the audience.
“F*CK off!” this voice from the dark said straight at Prince Charles, earning a smattering of applause and laughs."
Sounds like a show that might actually be improved with audience interaction...and outright mockery? Green noted the same, so maybe that's how they can/should sell it.
Updated On: 11/18/21 at 01:03 AM
Posted: 11/18/21 at 1:05am
The Wrap praises the costumes...and nothing else.
https://www.thewrap.com/diana-broadway-review-a-musical-where-the-costume-changes-steal-all-the-applause/
Posted: 11/18/21 at 1:12am
Vulture: "Diana: The Musical Is Almost as Bad as Her Marriage"
https://www.vulture.com/2021/11/theater-review-diana-musical-broadway.html
(But the comments there offer another vote for the real problem being mean people being mean to poor musicals that are trying so hard, both taking and tearing them apart no less:
Updated On: 11/18/21 at 01:12 AM
Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:28am
I feel like Jesse Green perfectly explains here why I just never found any need to see anything based on her life. I never really feel like they're getting the real story, only what they can gather based on headlines and other people's memoirs:
"The Princess of Wales, in her short life and long death, has been dragooned into any number of commercial entertainments, including memoirs by her household staff, thinly sourced biographies, a multiseason story line on “The Crown” and, most recently, the movie “Spencer.” Whether middlebrow or low, these works reshape Diana to their own needs, borrowing her familiar, eventful yet unknowable story to sell mere gossip as relatable real-life tragedy."
Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:32am
Well, if they wind up leaning into audience participation, I'm calling this The Royal Horror Picture Show, which -- judging by the reviews -- is as apt a descriptor as any.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 10:19am
bwayphreak234 said: "That has got to be one of the most brutal reviews I’ve read in the Times!"
Naw, their review of the Liz Taylor/Richard Burton PRIVATE LIVES was far more vicious (and fun to read!)
Posted: 11/18/21 at 11:08am
Green's review is a rave next to Brantley's takedown of Good Vibrations:
A Singing Headache
Posted: 11/18/21 at 11:34am
NY Times interview with Jeanna includes her reaction to Netflix reviews: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/theater/jeanna-de-waal-diana-broadway.html
Posted: 11/18/21 at 2:12pm
MemorableUserName said: "Vulture: "Diana: The MusicalIs Almost as Bad as Her Marriage"
https://www.vulture.com/2021/11/theater-review-diana-musical-broadway.html
(But the comments there offer another vote for the real problem being mean people being mean to poor musicals that are trying so hard, both taking and tearing them apart no less:
Sorry -- but this is REAL life. There aren't any trophies given out for participation and "trying hard". People (especially professional critics) are allowed to be "mean" and Broadway is not a "safe space". End of rant.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 4:21pm
Just sad. Whatever you think of her, she was a real person. Sometimes it seems like people forget that. Like this creative team, for instance. I mean, did they honestly think this was good work? Damn!
Posted: 11/18/21 at 5:42pm
Someone should start a thread on shows that not only survived a savage critical onslaught, but flourished. (I'm not saying this will be one of them.)
Posted: 11/18/21 at 6:17pm
RWPrincess said: "NY Times interview with Jeanna includes her reaction to Netflix reviews:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/theater/jeanna-de-waal-diana-broadway.html"
Is it really possible that they all think the show is fantastic?
Posted: 11/18/21 at 7:04pm
Alexander Lamar said: "RWPrincess said: "NY Times interview with Jeanna includes her reaction to Netflix reviews:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/theater/jeanna-de-waal-diana-broadway.html"
Is it really possible that they all think the show is fantastic?"
That's what I wonder. Jeanna de Waal has a great voice. I would not call her a great actress, but she could become one. Is she really going to throw her career down the toilet?
Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:46pm
Impeach2017 said: "Someone should start a thread on shows that not only survived a savage critical onslaught, but flourished. (I'm not saying this will be one of them.)"
Wicked and the original Les Misérables immediately come to mind.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:50pm
Alexander Lamar said: "RWPrincess said: "NY Times interview with Jeanna includes her reaction to Netflix reviews:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/theater/jeanna-de-waal-diana-broadway.html"
Is it really possible that they all think the show is fantastic?"
what is she supposed to say?
what would you say?
Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:59pm
Alexander Lamar said: "RWPrincess said: "NY Times interview with Jeanna includes her reaction to Netflix reviews:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/theater/jeanna-de-waal-diana-broadway.html"
Is it really possible that they all think the show is fantastic?"
I can’t read it, but having been in some clunkers, sometimes you’re just so involved and so close to it you aren’t thinking of every little lyric and stuff. Also, she’s the lead and wants to work, so what else would she say but positive things? Especially since she’s currently in it and it’s still running.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 10:22pm
I once wrote (and suppressed) a review so caustic and savage it began with this line: “You've heard the old saw about a show so terrible that everyone in it should be banned from the stage? This production is a step beyond: a show so terrible that everyone involved in the production should be euthanized for the sake of the theatre.”
This Times review might be meaner than that.
Posted: 11/18/21 at 10:34pm
Jordan Levinson said: "Impeach2017 said: "Someone should start a thread on shows that not only survived a savage critical onslaught, but flourished. (I'm not saying this will be one of them.)"
Wickedand the originalLes Misérablesimmediately come to mind."
Oh god, again to the Wicked martyrs, the show got nowhere near to a "critical onslaught". Most reviews had something positive to say about iy.
Posted: 11/19/21 at 1:38am
The show… is a embarrassingly horrid mess. Shame on all involved. Jenna, pack up your dressing room and get on the 1st flight back to England and deny u were ever involved in the show. Everyone else, run for the hills.
Posted: 11/19/21 at 5:08am
Posted: 11/19/21 at 9:51am
unclevictor said: "The show… is a embarrassingly horrid mess. Shame on all involved. Jenna, pack up your dressing room and get on the 1st flight back to England and deny u were ever involved in the show. Everyone else, run for the hills."
Jeanna, I'm sure, is what you meant. I'm not saying this show isn't a heinous mess, but if there's anything I've learned about terrible shows, look at the material itself...not the actors. This poor cast is working with some of the most god awful material in recent memory, and I'm sure we all know there's been some...duds. I know it's an actors' job to make the material work, but that can only be taken so far. In the end, there is material out there that not even Streep herself could make work, so I'm not about place blame on actors when the real culprit is usually terrible material. Actors still need to be supported by good material to use, and going all "go back to where you came from' isn't something that should be thrown Jeanna's way. Or the rest of the cast for that matter. She, and they, are just trying to work in the worst time to find a job in recent show business history like everyone else. Regrettably, this is a double whammy for Jeanna. I can't even fathom playing such a beloved figure AND having to do it with some of the worst material in such a high profile way. At least The Crown is good writing, regardless of some of its historical inaccuracies.
I'm planning on seeing Spencer which looks like it could actually be great in many respects, but once this show closes, and I imagine it'll be pretty fast, I reeeaalllyy think Princess Di should be allowed to rest in much deserved peace and not dredge up her corpse again and again, much like that one review stated. No one really has been able to get her story right, because it really is a tall order for all involved. There's just still a lot of unknowns surrounding it.
That said...truly, what was anyone involved actually expecting review-wise for this? I really would love to know who actually told the creatives that this was a good idea, let alone a good show to greenlight at all. I can't imagine the cast truly believes it's good, but you know...P.R. and all that. I swore I'd never again judge a show before I saw it after I saw SpongeBob, it truly was just a fluffy, fun gem, but the show knows that, so it never took itself too seriously. This is the exact opposite, Netflix made me want to see it in person less that I already did.
Posted: 11/19/21 at 12:00pm
"This poor cast is working with some of the most god awful material in recent memory, and I'm sure we all know there's been some...duds. I know it's an actors' job to make the material work, but that can only be taken so far. In the end, there is material out there that not even Streep herself could make work, so I'm not about place blame on actors when the real culprit is usually terrible material. Actors still need to be supported by good material to use, and going all "go back to where you came from' isn't something that should be thrown Jeanna's way. Or the rest of the cast for that matter. She, and they, are just trying to work in the worst time to find a job in recent show business history like everyone else."
Before any actor signs up to do a show, I would think they were allowed to read book and hear some of the songs ( if I am wrong than I apologize). What possessed any of them to think this was not horrible and even many changes would not fix this "turkey". I totally understand in these times you need to try and work in anything you can but this must be torture for the cast.
