"Death Takes a Holiday" Reviews

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 9:51pm

Tonight marks the opening of "Death Takes a Holiday"! So thrilled that Mr. Yestons music can be heard once again on the New York stage.

Backstage is up. Pretty negative, unfortunately.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-off-broadway/ny-review-death-takes-a-holiday-1005288472.story

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 9:56pm

Very positive from AM New York.

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/theater-review-death-takes-a-holiday-3-5-stars-1.3042905

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 9:59pm

Positive from DC Theatre Scene

http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/07/15/death-takes-a-holiday/

[GatorNY]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:06pm

Thanks for starting this thread. I've been waiting for the Times' review. I really enjoyed this show, and look forward to visiting it again. FWIW, I was glad to see 3.5 stars from AM New York earlier this evening.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:13pm

Of course Gator! Im happy you enjoyed it; I so wish I could make it to the city to see the show before it closes.

Not too hot from NY Magazine

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/07/theater_review_death_takes_a_h.html

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:17pm

Mixed from Variety

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117945688

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:20pm

Positive from Talkin Broadway...

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ob/7_21a_11.html

Updated On: 7/21/11 at 10:20 PM

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:24pm

NY Times is up...
http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/theater/reviews/death-takes-a-holiday-at-laura-pels-theater-review.html?ref=theater

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:24pm

Mixed from Variety

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117945688

[Kad]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:25pm

Decidedly mixed, leaning negative, from Isherwood. "Pleasant but bland [...] Deathless it ain't."

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 10:38pm

Quite positive from Bloomberg, except for Doug Hughes' directing. A rave for the score.
Brilliant Songs Give ‘Death Takes a Holiday’ Spark of Life: Jeremy Gerard

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 11:14pm

I would love to hear how Kevin Earley did seeing as he went on as Death this evening.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 11:17pm

I didn't know Kevin Earley was understudying Julian! He's great!

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 11:34pm

I have no frame of reference as I've never seen Julian Ovendon, but I thought Earley was very good, especially for it being his second performance in the role (I saw it last night). I really enjoyed him.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:20am

These reviews should probably squelch any transfer rumors.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:22am

Pity that, even though he's the understudy, the Times couldnt even acknowledge Earley's presence with a mention by name.

[Skip2]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 12:55am

Earley was fine with a beautiful voice. And he's taller than Ovendon which helps especially against Paice. He's a little white bread, though. He's playing a Russian prince. Nothing Russian or exotic about him at all. But his acting was very good (kind of played it like a fish out of water - which worked). And his voice was smooth as silk. He has a long extended musical phrase which he seemed to sing without taking any breath. And it was breathtaking.

People talk about this being a star making role for Ovendon. I wasn't crazy about him. His singing is very forced. I think it's more of a star making role for Earley.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 1:15am

Did anyone catch this line in the Bloomberg review --

Yeston, best known for two other film adaptations, “Nine” and “Titanic”

Nine - yes; Titanic - uh, no.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 7:33am

^ HA!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 8:43am

Pity that, even though he's the understudy, the Times couldnt even acknowledge Earley's presence with a mention by name.

None of the reviews I read acknowledged Earley. Ovendon's performance was reviewed more than once. I even started using the "find" option on Firefox and found no mention of his name at all. I stopped looking before I went to bed so if he's mentioned in any new reviews I'm unaware. That's why I posted about him here - because he wasn't mentioned.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 11:10am

I'm reading some of these reviews, and I'll agree with some critics on the often pedestrian lyrics, but Backstage note imperfect rhymes. I didn't notice any. Did anyone else? (And I'm the first to note a false rhyme!)

[Q]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 11:13am

I didn't know Kevin Earley was doing this. He has one of my favorite voices ever. Hopefully this leads to some NYC work for him.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 11:20am

Unless Earley went on during press night, why would his performance be reviewed?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 5:47pm

It looks like a Bway transfer is out. Hopefully it will be recorded

[Rockyfan2000]

Posted: 7/23/11 at 11:20am

I hope it's recorded too! Saw the show at the end of June and loved it.