Posted: 10/8/24 at 12:42am
Not sure how I feel about the title song from “Promises, Promises” being used in this. I think I would personally find it pretty distracting, more so than other songs from that score if they were recycled for this show.
Posted: 10/8/24 at 12:48am
Same goes for the various Gershwin and Irving Berlin catalogue musicals.
In this case, I have a harder time wrapping my head around the choice because it feels like more recent history. It’s only going to be distracting to critics and musical diehards: the majority of people in the audience won’t know a thing about Promises Promises the musical. And I’m just gonna assume this show never makes it to Broadway and gets licensed out after.
Posted: 10/8/24 at 3:21am
I get what you mean about musicals using pre-existing songs—it can feel a bit lazy sometimes. But I think with a movie like My Best Friend’s Wedding, the mix of humor and those classic Burt Bacharach songs could actually work pretty well. It’s definitely a fun story, and the music will probably bring a nostalgic vibe that could make it entertaining. It’s just a matter of how they pull it off on stage. I’m curious to see if they can make it feel fresh! you can also visit this website to hear the latest Portuguese songs into english: songstraducoes.com
Updated On: 10/9/24 at 03:21 AM
Posted: 10/8/24 at 10:53am
Kyle Riabko’s “What’s it All About” which ran at NYTW offered a “fresh” take on the Bacharach catalog. I had mixed feelings. I love Bacharach so I’d like to see this but I’d be happy with a “Promises, Promises” revival too.
Posted: 10/8/24 at 11:46am
Melissa25 said: "I’d be happy with a “Promises, Promises” revival too."
That seems EXTREMELY unlikely. The last revival was only 14 years ago, it was greeted with a shrug by critics (though it did recoup due to its two stars), and the show was frequently cited as feeling dated. Great as the score and source material are, it might be better left alone.
Posted: 10/8/24 at 3:31pm
Posted: 10/8/24 at 7:17pm
This looks and sounds terrible judging by that video. Who is that woman singing hopelessly off key ? Cant believe they released this.
Posted: 10/8/24 at 9:44pm
I saw it it was very good the cast wast Krystal joy brown Telly Leung Matt doyleand soarer-joye ross I gave it a b+
Posted: 10/8/24 at 11:36pm
we saw this. director kathleen marshall is not the right person for the job.
Posted: 10/9/24 at 10:15am
Here's a video with clips of some of the numbers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKf6fHiuZog
Updated On: 10/9/24 at 10:15 AM
Posted: 10/11/24 at 12:03pm
Broadwayworld review
"[Y]ou might want to call the production a jukebox musical. But it really doesn’t play like one. The songs flow seamlessly with the plot and fit in remarkably well. The tunes, mostly written in the 60s and 70s, have a contemporary feel to them and never feel outdated."
Review: MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING at Ogunquit Playhouse (broadwayworld.com)
New York Stage review
"So kudos to whoever matched the music to the moments – as a guess, Bass and Harvey – though at least one of the song choices is less than felicitous. Leung, a more flamboyant George than Everett but equally suave and likable, deserves a better showcase than “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” conceived as an unmotivated Gene Kelly tribute with a full complement of yellow umbrellas."
From Maine: My Best Friend's Wedding Deserves a Grateful RSVP - New York Stage Review (nystagereview.com)
Portland Press Herald review
"At roughly two hours and 25 minutes, plus intermission, it would likely benefit from just a bit of judicious editing... And a couple of tunes are more show-slowing than show-stopping."
In its unveiling at Ogunquit, ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ overflows with memorable songs (pressherald.com)
Posted: 10/12/24 at 7:50am
I'm a Bacharach die-hard (I probably have at least as many CDs and records of his stuff as I do with Sondheim--including his underrated, adventurous 1970s post-Hal David work, and even the largely super mediocre easy-listening 80s stuff he did with then-wife Carole Bayer-Sager.) And I will say Hal David's lyrics lend themselves to being incorporated into the plot of a musical better than a lot of pop lyrics (often either being story songs, or character songs, that go from point A to point B and don't just merely repeat the same exact thought.) And the cast and creatives here are good. But those clips leave me confused--WHAT is going on with the set? And at least some of the performances (and not just the dinner Say a Little Prayer like in the movie) seem to be sung as if the characters are aware they're pre-existing pop songs?
And it doesn't look like they've exactly mined the lesser known songs from the catalogue (but that's no surprise.)
I will say, as to a comment above, I think most audiences would know the song Promises, Promises as much from the Dionne version (even if it wasn't one of her biggest hits with B/D) as from the musical (and I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that they also use I'll Never Fall In Love Again...)
