Mrs. Doubtfire - Seattle Pre-Broadway Thoughts

I was there tonight for the first preview. I believe the show ran just about 2:45 with intermission and folks really seemed to enjoy it. There was a lot of laughter throughout both act 1 and 2 and I will say, I found it charming, and being only its first night, I was impressed. Is it the best thing I've ever seen? Not really, but it was a fun night out and sort of gave me the vibe that I got when I saw Tootsie. It strays from the movie just a bit, but for the most part stays fairly consistent to the original story line. The song list was not printed, but there were a lot of songs and a lot of dancing---and a good number of them could probably be cut down or out entirely. I liked most of the portrayals---thought Rob McClure was pretty good in the role---though I have to admit, I didn't find his Daniel to be very likable, but really enjoyed him as Mrs. D. Loved Brad Oscar who played Frank and J. Harrison Ghee who played his husband Andre Mayem.

Interested to hear what others think as this show goes though edits!

Thank you for the song list, Bobby. Looks interesting!

Standard red velvet show curtain.

The main family house set was a unit that rolled in from upstage to include foyer, stairs, living room and kitchen. Proscenium arch flew in to frame it. Made me think of a three camera sitcom set.

Most of the other sets were a combination of a back piece flying in and wagons that came in from the wings. Daniel's apartment (the other main location) had an accordion door that went to the bedroom/bathroom area with the front wall cut out so the audience could see the shenanigans going on back there. Similar fly in/wagon combo for Mr. Jolly and the gym at the beginning of Act 2.

They used some fly ins of the San Francisco skyline (up to date, of course the Golden Gate Bridge but also Salesforce Tower) and the iconic row houses for outdoor or general location scenes.

The restaurant scene had the two separate parties on opposite sides of the stage with a screen upstage that could be lit from behind to show the mad dash costume changes - but it really looked like it was a rear projection of those moments.

There was also a center stage lift they used for some singular set pieces like the court scenes, but also for a couple entrances and exits.

Nothing groundbreaking, but it was detailed, looked high quality and allowed for seamless transitions. No projections (as sets). I honestly couldn't believe how smoothly it all ran for a first preview.

Updated On: 11/27/19 at 04:09 PM

The Tootsie production team right now:

Tag said: "A few questions:...
Is McClure using a similar Robin Williams-ish accent for Mrs. Doubtfire?"

I think the teaser give a slight idea of McClure's accent, and while that could have changed between the teaser and now, they seem to be very similar.

Love this thread! We fly up to Seattle and see it on the 15th. I keep thinking deja vu after flying to Chicago to see Tootsie last fall. I’m hoping this isn’t Tootsie 2, but the main themes and storylines are different enough. I didn’t care for Tootsie.

Re Miranda’s profession, if I recall she was an interior designer in the film and Stuart was a wealthy client, and wasn’t there some hint that they had a relationship before she married Daniel? The new gym and workout clothing angle lends itself better for action in a stage musical.

Fun to hear the Salesforce Tower is in the skyline. Can’t believe how it seems you turn around from anywhere in the Bay Area and you can see it. LOL Was up on the 61st Floor a couple weeks ago for the first time for a charity event and the view is beyond spectacular.

Call_me_jorge said: "It seems like the show invited representatives from GLAAD to inform the writers on any jokes that may seem inoffensive... Interesting to the least.

https://twitter.com/abegoldfarb/status/1199712513639751680?s=21"

someone who works in wardrobe at tootsie (according to their bio) said Tootsie did too

"You know what’s funny? Tootsie did the same thing. They had reps here from GLAAD as well as the Trans community. The cast met with then before and after they saw the show. The reps loved the show and suggested a few changes to which the writers did."

Sounds like another phoned-in set design by David Korins.

FANtomFollies said: "Sounds like another phoned-in set design by David Korins."

I have never found any of David Korins set designs to be "phoned-in"... David Rockwell, on the other hand, is hit or miss, but his design for Pretty Woman and Tootsie last season were pretty darn bad. Hard to believe that he's the same designer behind the GORGEOUS set for the She Loves Me revival...

bwayphreak234 said: "FANtomFollies said: "Sounds like another phoned-in set design by David Korins."

I have never found any of David Korins set designs to be "phoned-in"... David Rockwell, on the other hand, is hit or miss, but his design for Pretty Woman and Tootsie last season were pretty darn bad. Hard to believe that he's the same designer behind the GORGEOUS set for the She Loves Me revival..."

Couldn't agree more. I thoroughly dislike a lot of his set design, especially for Tootsie. I didn't think Pretty Women was nearly as bad, but it wasn't great by any means. Falsettos was serviceable and I think it worked for the show, but it certainly wasn't groundbreaking, as was Catch Me If You Can. It seems like most of his work is just, simply put, serviceable and very very ordinary. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the Kinky Boots design and She Loves Me is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life. It's strange I suppose. Certainly respect the amount of success he has found within the industry, however.

That being said, I really enjoy pretty much all of Korins' work, with a slight exception for Bring it On: The Musical. I know it was over a decade ago, but it just didn't do much for me. Hands down, one of my favorite scenic artists out there.

Updated On: 12/4/19 at 02:15 AM

David Korins is so up his own a** it’s embarrassing!