Out of those choices I’d skip “bad Cinderella” (at least based on its West End debut).
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
inception said: "Edit: bwayphreak234 Sounds like you are having a good trip from your reviews so far. Your review of SLIH is part of what made me decide to stop hesitating & book tickets for Funny Girl instead of seeing SLIH. I know & love the songs vs something with lacklustre music"
Between yesterday's matinee of INTO THE WOODS and last night's performance of FUNNY GIRL, it was a GREAT day of theatergoing! Today is & JULIET!
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
inception said: "bwayphreak234 said: " If you saw this before and didn't like it, GO BACK. This feels like a brand new production in the best ways possible. She really is "the greatest star", and this will be performance that goes down in history."
What if you saw it and liked it? At least parts if it?
Eh, that's a moot question as I already bought tickets to see it again in March.
But this reads like a lot of hyperbole. "
I was expecting the worst with staging, direction, and lighting based on all the reviews, but I left with the exact same experience. She was so good that she brought the whole cast and story together that you don’t even notice all the flaws. The ginormous cylinder just faded into the background as my eyes were glued to her and the cast.
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "CatLady3 said: "Confirmed!
"
Lea's Instagram comment section is WILD! LOL!
Anyhoo, kind of a silly more general show question, but I got into a conversation with a friend about Princess tracks. Ever since I came across the term a couple of months ago I have been fascinated. As many shows as I did back in high school and college, I don't think I had ever heard the term. Maybe it's a newer term and I"m just old now.I started thinking if Funny Girl had one. Would it be the soloist for His Love Makes Me Beautiful? Or am a missing another character?
Robbie2 said: "The Pesky Pescatarian said: "CatLady3 said: "Confirmed!
"
Lea's Instagram comment section is WILD! LOL!
Anyhoo, kind of a silly more general show question, but I got into a conversation with a friend about Princess tracks. Ever since I came across the term a couple of months ago I have been fascinated. As many shows as I did back in high school and college, I don't think I had ever heard the term. Maybe it's a newer term and I"m just old now.I started thinking if Funny Girl had one. Would it be the soloist for His Love Makes Me Beautiful? Or am a missing another character?
CatLady3 said: "Rehearsal for Macy's! So THIS is how the entire cast is participating."
LOL! Literally just beat me to it, CatLady. Just randomly boredscrolling tiktok and it popped up. Cute! I wonder if Lea sings that song in her sleep at this point.
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "CatLady3 said: "Rehearsal for Macy's! So THIS is how the entire cast is participating."
LOL! Literally just beat me to it, CatLady. Just randomly boredscrolling tiktok and it popped up. Cute! I wonder if Lea sings that song in her sleep at this point."
inception said: "Yikes! How cold is it that people have to dance in parkas? Hope they survive the parade!"
Obviously you don't live in NYC as it was in the 30's felt like 20's yesterday and very windy! Weather on Thanksgiving day early morning in the 30's going up to the 50's.
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
It's definitely cold, but I thought that was about par for the course when it came to the Macy's Parade. Like rehearsal is in the dead of night, and often it can be quite cold during the actual broadcast as well, though they wouldn't wear parkas for that. I remember in the 2018 parade when Ashley Park and Ariana DeBose bonded over needing to do their number in mini skirts when it was 20 degrees or so out (I think Beth Leavel also added a bit of extra choreo just to try to stay moving).
Robbie2 said: "inception said: "Yikes! How cold is it that people have to dance in parkas? Hope they survive the parade!"
Obviously you don't live in NYC as it was in the 30's felt like 20's yesterday and very windy! Weather on Thanksgiving day early morning in the 30's going up to the 50's."
No, I'm on the other side of the continent. I wasn't questioning the need for parkas; my comment was meant to be in sympathy with the cast for having to be outside in obviously quite cold weather.
Just curious, is Feldman like a make or break critic on the New York theatre scene? Is it like getting a stamp of approval from the NYT? I ask because I notice his name keeps coming up on the thread?
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "Just curious, is Feldman like a make or break critic on the New York theatre scene? Is it like getting a stamp of approval from the NYT? I ask because I notice his name keeps coming up on the thread?"
I wouldn't say he is, but I personally do normally seek out his reviews, as I find his style to be a bit more conversational and his reviews are generally more enjoyable for me to read (even when I don't agree with him), though I'll say that the "it justifies the Bean" might've been a little harsh.
Did anyone else just catch the Funny Girl performance at the Macy’s parade? We’ve heard Lea sing this song so many times, but my God, it was so life affirming. There’s something so moving about a performer giving it their all and truly delivering. Finally buying my ticket.
Watched it! Loved it! What a perfect song to open the big parade with! The cast must have been so hyped! And now they can all go somewhere and be warm. LOL!
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "Just curious, is Feldman like a make or break critic on the New York theatre scene? Is it like getting a stamp of approval from the NYT? I ask because I notice his name keeps coming up on the thread?"
I think his thoughts were anticipated as his initial review was pretty… harsh.
So to see him change his tune about the show as a whole with Lea at the helm is really something.
CarlosAlberto said: "Lea deserves a special Tony award, if only for the fact that she saved this show."
At the very least, I especially hope that she had a clause in her contract where she gets a significant bonus if the numbers were above $x in a week. If not, her agent better be doing some strong contract renegotiation behind the scenes.
It's astounding how well this is doing for a show that was open for months and basically pawning away tickets for used clothing during Beanie's last few weeks.
Does anyone have some reasonable insight into the compensation model for a headline star in this type of situation?