Is Burlesque in Trouble? — Page 3

Ohhh I love mess.

Kad said: "Even setting aside his personal failings, I truly cannot wrap my head around how Todrick was made director, choreographer, and composer when he has no experience doing any of those things for something of this scale. Giving him just one of those positions I could understand- choreographer particularly- but all of them?On top of being a lead in it? It's a recipe for disaster for anybody, let alone someone like Todrick."

A year ago his ass was playing Donkey in Shrek. Dude's a massive con artist.

Underneath the WhatsOnStage article that recently hit about equity investigating (http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&subId=6399984&u=https%3A//www.whatsonstage.com/news/equity-says-number-of-issues-have-been-raised-over-burlesques-west-end-production_1687500/) on Facebook, Steve Antin has commented;

“Hi there! And thank you for the article! ❤️ Just a friendly correction: Diane Warren’s song Last Of Me is in the show. Many of the new costumes are in the show, we’re in previews and more fabulous costumes coming for the Gala/Press night! Come join the fun and see the show! ❤️👏👏👏”

(https://www.facebook.com/share/1B4gqF31Vf/?mibextid=wwXIfr)

Updated On: 7/18/25 at 08:45 PM

Great producing. What was the need to change the original plans and schedule?

macbeth said: "Well, I saw it for a second time. There are still flashes of something fabulous here, but it’s still buried under layers of Todrick, and what still looks like missing costumes. Maybe Christina Aguilera was there to lend them some clothes from her wardrobe along with some producer promo?

Here's my thoughts:

Let’s start with the obvious question of why, in a show that’s about female power and connection, is there no big duet between Ali and Tess? Two powerhouse vocalists on that stage, and we never get to see them go toe to toe? Huge missed opportunity. If there is a version of this show that centers on the women, I’d like to see it.

And yes, in a moment of actual full-circle brilliance, Orfeh, who has never looked or sounded better, and that’s saying a lot, finally gets her shot at “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me”, and the audience exploded. It was the moment they’d been waiting for. The show desperately needs more of her vocals and please, for the love of good taste, far less Todrick.

Meanwhile, Todrick is everywhere. The emcee character (think a mashup of Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming) is suddenly a main character and inserts himself into every single number save for a couple of the women’s ballads. It’s hard not to feel like the show was reverse-engineered around him, rather than the other way around."

I saw this last year. Does he still also triple as the church lady, as well? I couldn’t stand the fact that it basically became the Todrick show when I saw it. And whoever mentioned earlier the frustration of not having a great power duet between the two women (in the production I saw it was Jackie Burns), I completely agree. A missed opportunity.

macbeth said: "Meanwhile, Todrick is everywhere. The emcee character (think a mashup of Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming) is suddenly a main character and inserts himself into every single number save for a couple of the women’s ballads. It’s hard not to feel like the show was reverse-engineered around him, rather than the other way around."

The most unsurprising turn of events to ever befall a show. Who and I mean WHO wants to see Todrick do anything for 2+ hours? I hate to root for a show's failure, but considering the likelihood of Equity transgressions coming to light, I don't feel quite as bad hoping it gets raked over the coals in the reviews so Todrick's ego gets punctured and they take another look at this before bringing it over because it really could be something fabulous based on how it was resonating in its developmental runs. Todrick just ruins everything doesn't he.

Oh gurl. Gurl.

When Todrick Hall said 'My back hurts from carrying this show' I thought I was going to lose my godd*mn mind. This show was MESS. But, Jesus, did the people scream for it.

I was there the night Xtina was in the house (also Alison Hammond which excited me more). There was so very much wrong with it. Why was there a pregnant dancer in this show when they no longer use that as the inciting incident for Ali to become one of the performers? That was a mighty weird sight gag throughout act 2. Why was 'You Haven't Seen the Last of Me' literally a reprise? Like...they did the last 32 bars of the song like we'd heard the song earlier in the evening. Why, when we first meet Ali who is supposed to be a once-in-a-generation vocalist, was the focus on Todrick's Medea-like Church Choir Lady?

Spoilers ahead...

And if you are fundamentally changing the relationship between Tess and Ali to be that of actual mother and daughter, why do you not have them sing something????? Nothing made sense. By the start of Act 2 I just decided to shout out 'WHAT????' whenever the plot became incomprehensible. I was hoarse before the 11 o'clock number.

As I left the theatre, I turned to my husband and friend and stated, 'I never thought I'd say this, but the movie was a model of construction and plotting over that disaster.'

I mean...a fun disaster. But good lord.

Save your money. There’s a plenty of things happening in the world around us to yell at.

That didn't take long... The British equivalent of Actor's Equity is investigating "concerns about working conditions" and "missing costumes".

Granted, the article is thin on details, and certainly doesn't say anything has been worked or corrected -- but the fact Equity has been contacted regarding working conditions and hours is not a good look -- least of all for Todrick.

Updated On: 7/23/25 at 11:49 PM

It won’t close early; it’s a short run plus somebody connected with the production was telling me just today that sales have gone through the roof since opening night. I guess the sort of people likely to book for this don’t care about reviews (despite the Guardian’s 5 stars -lol) or an Equity investigation.

It seems like this falls under the “it’s not good, but it’s a fun time” category. I hope it comes here, if not on Broadway than maybe PAC?

Five stars from The Guardian