DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 12:54am

Today is Tuesday, April 21, marking the OPENING NIGHT performance for the Broadway premiere of the new musical DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, starring Tam Mutu, Kelli Barrett, Tom Hewitt, and Paul Nolan, at the Broadway Theatre. The epic musical, based on the 1958 novel by Russian author Boris Pasternak, began previews March 27. Having premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in May 2006, it was later revised for an Australian production in 2010. Des McAnuff, who helmed the American and Australian productions, again directs for Broadway. The stage production features the work of bookwriter Michael Weller, composer Lucy Simon and lyricists Michael Korie and Amy Powers. Kelly Devine serves as choreographer.  

According to producers, "Dr. Zhivago is an epic romance set during the final days of Czarist Russia, the First World War and the chaos of the Russian revolution. Raised as an aristocrat, Zhivago is a political idealist, physician and poet whose life is tossed by the tides of history as he is torn between a life with his devoted wife, Tonia Gromeko and the passionate and mysterious Lara Guishar. Zhivago is not alone in his yearnings for Lara, competing for her affections with the young revolutionary Pasha Antipov, and the aristocrat Viktor Komarovsky. Dr. Zhivago celebrates the strength of love and art, in the face of political oppression, war and revolution."

Post 'em here, kids!

 

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 1:00am

I adore the score for this. It's been a long time coming and I'm glad the show finally made it to Broadway. I'm hoping the critics will be kind and find some things to like but I'm not holding my breath.

 

Updated On: 4/21/15 at 01:00 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 11:00am

Hopefully, at least a cast album will come out of it.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 1:27pm

"This is not going to be so much as mud-flinging, as it's going to be like a landfill." -Bette Midler 

[tazber]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 1:30pm

I'm not expecting good reviews.

Is it me or does there seem to be a lack of buzz (good or bad) for this show?

 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 1:37pm

I'm rooting for this show. I like the music from what I heard. I hope a cast album is released. It seems like the show could be good but I know a lot of the user reviews haven't been to kind. I just hate to see new shows not be good. I want Broadway to continue to flourish and I want new original work that's great. It might be to much to ask. I wish the best for Doctor Zhivago 

[aj88]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 1:44pm

This is the one show this season where I kept forgetting it was coming in and sometimes I forget it is currently on Broadway.

I like the book and the movie but hardly know anything about this production. I do agree the buzz is very minimal and not really anything exciting has been said about it so I just imagine maybe lukewarm reviews at best but probably mixed-to-negative overall.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 1:50pm

Speaking for myself, I'm not talking about it because it was so bad I'm trying to forget about it.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 2:04pm

I also sense the lack of buzz. Their advertising and social media presence has been fairly minimal. Whoever runs their Twitter page keeps telling those who ask to stay tuned for any updates about a cast album but that's probably just the standard line. 

[TheLadyoftheWood]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 2:17pm

^^^ They need a cast album if at least just for Paul Nolan's glorious Act II number "No Mercy At All." That man's voice is like butter! 

 

***** Spoilers*****

And so I can relive the fields of Kansas opening of Act II. Or even the trip into Disney's Frozen near the end of that same act. 

 

******End Spoilers******

 

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 2:22pm

Oh lord, those plastic icicles were the worst.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 2:44pm

I thought the show was very well done and it has good elements such as very dramatic scenes, very passionate moments, great costumes and sets, good music and good performers and nice Russian dancing. But just like Les Miserables and An American in Paris; I couldn't connect with the characters and lost interest really quick. Do I think it will get good reviews? No. Did I think Les Miserables or An American in Paris would be well received and box office hits? No. I guess we'll see tonight. I thought that Zhivago was much better than Les Miserables to be honest.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 5:27pm

I certainly wish them all the very best but I'm not anticipating high praise.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 6:45pm

I wish them the best as well..but I can't deny that this is one of the shows I was looking forward to the most since I have great memories of the movie....that also disappointed me the most.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 6:53pm

Although I enjoyed it more than you, I too was surprised how radically different it was from the movie. I knew certain things would be cut ( for time) but it was much different than the film. Which was truer to the novel (Film or Show) I do not know.

One thing I noticed that the romanticism on stage was not as apparent as it was in the film. The framing device in the film with Alec Guinness & Rita Tushingham (I believe) as Lara's daughter was sorely missed here.

It was good on stage but the movie was more powerful. I doubt it will find favor with the critics but I wish them luck. This may be a case where it was simply was too massive and involved to be musicalized on stage.

Updated On: 4/21/15 at 06:53 PM

[firebolts]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 6:56pm

I really hope it does well, too. The score is beautiful, and I enjoyed "Now."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 6:58pm

I fear Lord Brantley's knife will be out tonight.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:14pm

He's been reviewing a lot lately. I wonder if he'll pass this one down to Isherwood. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:15pm

One can hope.

If so, they may catch a break. He may not like it but doubt he would be as vicious as Big Ben would be.

Updated On: 4/21/15 at 07:15 PM

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:23pm

"I too was surprised how radically different it was from the movie."

Well, the fact that it's based on the novel rather than the movie may explain that.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:24pm

I think it'll be Isherwood, too. Brantley will most certainly be reviewing Something Rotten tomorrow and following up on The Visit, Thursday.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:26pm

To Wilmington

You just answered the question if it was closer to the novel than the film.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:37pm

Yeah, no way Brantley is reviewing this clunker. I also keep forgetting this show even exists. I don't envy any musical that has to open within a couple days of FUN HOME, SOMETHING ROTTEN,and THE VISIT.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:50pm

"Yeah, no way Brantley is reviewing this clunker. I also keep forgetting this show even exists. I don't envy any musical that has to open within a couple days of FUN HOME, SOMETHING ROTTEN,and THE VISIT."

 AKA…. this musical. Haha. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 7:55pm

As usual, Talkin' Broadway is up first, and it is pretty much a pan

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/index.html