Missing The Woman in White...

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:05pm

I know that I might regret starting this, but here goes...

I just listened to "The Woman in White" again, and still am at a loss at how quickly it left NY (and while we're at it, London). What a shame that this cast, this creative team should not have had a longer run... and a chance to compete for the Tony's. Back in November, her courage only second to her amazing performance - Maria Friedman seemed a lock for Best Actress.

Listening to the music again, I really think that ALW could have grabbed the award for Best Score (even if they bypassed WIW for Best Musical). I fear that it's quick exit will make these recognitions unlikely.

Anyway - just venting. Any word on that US Tour (said with sarcasm...)

Jim

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:14pm

Lloyd Webber will live to right this wrong...

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:15pm

chernjam just said what I was afraid to say for three weeks

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:21pm

blaxx - as I was writing that post I was trying to think of a lyric - That was perfect!

And thanks Fabrizio2 - I'm still waiting for the vultures to descend!

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:24pm

I hope there is a tour...I really miss it

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:30pm

Why did this show hve to close over here so quickly? It had a really juicy story, great characters, excellent performances from two amazing leads Maria Freidman and Michael Ball (that you were gambling on if you wanted to see, but were amazing nonetheless.) and the rest of the cast. Too bad.

Oh, and chernjam, don't feel like you'll get bashed. From my "Perspective", this show had a rather large fanbase over here. The show also had it's haters on here, I won't deny that, but still. At least we have the Cast Recording to live by, although I think they should have also recorded the Broadway cast in addition to the London cast. Too bad.

Updated On: 4/3/06 at 05:30 PM

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:31pm

I saw it and it was one of the few Broadway shows that I didn't really enjoy. I'm not overly harsh usually with shows and I usually come back from any Broadway show saying: It was my new favorite! But WIW didn't do it for me.

I felt like the sets were distracting and the plot didn't really interest me until Act II. Maria Friedman did well, but I wasn't up close so I couldn't even see her face. I was just disappointed over all, I think.

It could also be that there were no rush seats left so I had to pay 50-something dollars to sit in the row RIGHT IN FRONT of the rush seats which weren't any better I'm sure. Maybe I was bitter towards the show going into it, Lol.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:32pm

As much as I love her, Maria NEVER had a lock on the award for Best Actress.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:36pm

Yes, I agree. LaChanze and Patti LuPone are the front runners in my opinion.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:51pm

I think the show suffered mostly of a poorly planned production and marketing.
They skipped the pre-Broadway tryout, announced the leads almost two seconds before it opened, and I think they expected ghosts to publicize it... it certainly had potential for more, the London run was much more succesful.

The producers should have built the suspense a lot more...pun intended.

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:56pm

Yeah, blaxx - I think you're right about why the show collapsed so quickly. Part of the problem I think is that there was so many producers. With Sunset, Phantom, etc - it was Really Useful Group either alone or with one other partner - Paramount, Cameron Mackintosh. With a whole group of producers, I wonder if it was that no one was really in charge of this ship...

[Lori]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 7:17pm

Miss it too...beautiful score...fabulous cast (understudies included)...just WAY too many obstacles to overcome.

But if they'd had one iota of the support from the producers that "Drowsy" is getting they might have at least made it through the June booking period.

Updated On: 4/3/06 at 07:17 PM

[CDuffy5062]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 7:25pm

I never understood the lack of promotion for WIW whereas I am inundated with promotion for Drowsey Chaperone.

Pity.

[brad3]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:00pm

I miss it

[jo]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:31pm

The season could have been a lot better if this show ran for a more decent length.

The show seemed to have been treated quite shabbily in terms of promoting it - no major media appearances ( if at all, it focused only on Maria's illness), no glittering premiere ( it seemed like an ordinary night for its Opening Show - only a handful of celebrities showed up), no ALWebber interviews ( he was here for POTO anyway) plugging this show, etc.

I feel sorry for such a hardworking cast, plagued with health problems as they had been.

I would have enjoyed seeing the show competing for the TONYs.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:41pm

the score wasnt my favorite, but i still would have liked to see this.
anyone know what maria is doing now?


but at least we have DROWSY to keep us all happy now!

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:45pm

These threads are still popping up? Geeeeez.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:48pm

I never got a chance to see it, and I wanted to badly. I got the cast recording last summer, and liked it from the first listen. The story was dark, but so wonderfully Victorian. I can't wait to see it on tour.

[ALWrules]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:57pm

Yeah, the show was badly publicized, and I think illnesses hurt it as well.

[Lori]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 9:15am

bway...Maria will be appearing at the Cafe Carlyle from May 2nd-June 3rd.

Have tickets for the first and final performances...it will be great to see Maria again.

[paphillyguy]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 9:22am

I think it failed because the show just was not that good. I can not think that word of mouth was that great. The 4 people I went with would never have recommended the show to anyone. I thought it was just a bad show.

Again, just my opinion.

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 9:29am

I have to agree that the show itself was just not put together in the most positive manner. It seemed rushed. One day the Marquis was empty and then BAM...here's The Woman in White. Maybe a little more time letting us get excited about it would have helped the production thrive.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 10:13am

The show's biggest downfall was the marketing. When my best friend and i went to see it we both were under the impression that it was going to be like some Victorian spook show. I mean even the website had that erie chant to it. "The Woman in White will haunt you, The Woman in White will haunt you forever."

I didn't enjoy the projections at all they were too big and looked to much like something from an x-box or a computer game. I feel like for this show it should have been actual shot footage or much better CGI graphics. In my opinion the show was written to be a movie with all it's locals and such. But the thing that drew me most and got me hooked is how great the acting was.

Side Comment : I don't understand with people saying Patti has a lock for a nod. If she gets one it is for the fact that she is Patti Lupone. Really her role is very blaisy and no character is exsiting in this interpretation of the show. But then again that is just my opinion.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 10:16am

The show didn't have enough promotion, it was a masterpiece, people just didn't get it. It helped to be familiar with the score to enjoy the show more. The story was complicated also, and people don't like to think, sometimes.

[firescape]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 10:22am

sure, its faults may have been distracting to some. I will say, having the cd that its score is brilliantly written. I was just discussing with friends who i go to nyc with every summer that we might be cancelling our trip this year. This season, while once hopeful and exciting, is now seeming to be a disappointment. All the negative reviews on LESTAT ( I will one way or another see for myself) the minimized staging of some shows and the Pop flavour of others have gotten me down. There just isnt a musical there this season that has that amazing "sweeping score." In fact I dont know that there has been in the past several seasons. Wicked was the closest but not quite. I wish WIW had stayed too. I would have held strong through the projections to be bathed in the amazing orchestrations.