ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME Broadway Previews Thread — Page 7

OhHiii said: "BroadwayNYC2 said: "I don’t necessarily have the same concerns with Briga. I’d rather it be an acting part (which I think she bails) with the self awareness of it not being a belting part. I’d rather her than an empty Broadway belting leading lady."

...it's a Britney Spears musical. You do not need a captial A Actor for this. It isn't Virginia Woolf."

No, it needs an actor who conveys warmth, humanity, and likeability, especially when surrounded by a cast of characters who are mostly cartoons, while playing both comedy and some heavier moments (that, no, aren't Virginia Woolf). That's the acting part that's required and which she delivers more than capably.

If we're judging it by the standards of "just" being a Britney Spears musical, why would a show based on the music of Britney Spears need a belting singer in the lead, when Britney Spears herself doesn't belt in her music?

Updated On: 5/24/23 at 01:06 PM

MemorableUserName said: "If we're judging it by the standards of "just" being a Britney Spears musical, why would a show based on the music of Britney Spears need a belting singer in the lead, when Britney Spears herself doesn't belt in her music?"

Pardon me for thinking that a lead in a MUSICAL that isn't that deep story-wise should be able to carry a tune, much less in a show where Aisha and Jennifer blow the roof off when they open their mouths. Briga cannot sing. Point blank. And "handles the acting capably" isn't exactly a glowing review. lol

And Britney doesn't belt on her songs? Tell me you haven't listened to "Stronger without telling me you haven't listened to Stronger.

And Britney doesn't belt on her songs? Tell me you haven't listened to "Stronger without telling me you haven't listened to Stronger."

Don’t know many of her songs, so just pulled that one up… I don’t hear any belting. I DO hear Autotune, old school studio-echo/doubling effects and backup singers added to her voice. (ducks)

Updated On: 5/24/23 at 02:22 PM

Saw this last night and fully agree with Dirty Rotten Scoundrel’s detailed “great/good/meh/bad” breakdown on the previous page, except that I would move the choreography from the good column to great. “Circus” was simply one of the best choreographed and executed numbers I’ve seen on a Broadway stage, made even better by Justin Guarini’s solid triple-threat performance. And Jennifer Simard was, as always, a delight, albeit an underused one.


As for the rest, it was a miss for me. Briga Heelan’s voice is just not good enough, and I kept longing for someone with Lorna Courtney’s pipes in the role. And the book is a complete mess, particularly the second act. I’m not even sure what was supposed to happen at the end, though that might be a result of the poor little girl playing the Reader going up on her final lines (kudos to the company for stepping in to help her out and comfort her, but ultimately it just…ended).

I honestly want to go see it a 3rd time closer to opening to see if they manage to fix act 2. I feel like the changes they made since the first preview didnt help at all. Yeah, Stronger is a better ending than Passengers but overall that **** still feels rushed

Also, this is my first time seeing Aisha in anything and holy f*ck..mama is killing it.

Updated On: 5/24/23 at 04:54 PM

I find interesting from users who did not like this musical or found it to be not good, but had a great time. I usually when I don't like a musical/I find it to be bad, I just don't have a good time. I don't mean it to shade anyone, I just find it pretty interesting

maybe they can borrow Bad Cinderella's costumes after it closes?

bwayphreak234 said: "pablitonizer said: "I find interesting from users who did not like this musical or found it to be not good, but had a great time. I usually when I don't like a musical/I find it to be bad, I just don't have a good time. I don't mean it to shade anyone, I just find it pretty interesting"

It's such an odd show... While I found it to be pretty terrible, I won't deny I had fun... Not many (bad) shows can pull that off.

"

I understand! But probably if you had fun, perhaps it was not a terrible show after all. I believe there has been some serious terrible shows along Broadway history, but I think this one is far from that. Could it improve? Absolutely!

This was…something - more appropriately titled “Oops, Six Bad Cinderellas & Juliet Again”

I think the “fractured fairytale” musical has really kind of shown the genre is completely out of steam. I think the premise is interesting but it seems to drag out in some places and lose focus in others, creating overall incoherence set to a dizzying roulette of Britney songs. Act I was certainly entertaining, but it lead to a very sour Act II that brings the mood down a lot

The feminism angle feels bungled and takes WAY too long to get to - and I feel like there could be a bunch of cuts that could make this a 100 minute, intermissionless show.

The upside is that Guarini and Simard absolutely EAT and the way they can sing, deliver the comedy, and dance the house down boots, and with better timing, they could’ve been contenders for Tony nominations, same with the choreo. Ironically another musical where Prince Charming and the Stepmother outshine the main character to a huge degree

Updated On: 5/26/23 at 11:56 PM

Of all the many things wrong with the book, this is very minor, but it did seem off that they had the OFG say, when asked her name, "Elizabeth...but people call me Betty," like we're clearly supposed to think she's Betty Friedan. But Betty Friedan's first name wasn't Elizabeth. So why not just have her say, "People call me Betty" and leave it at that?

I saw this on the 24th with a friend who’s a huge fan of this show. I had an excellent time, personally. Simard, Guarini, and Jackson were all top notch and depending how long the show is able to last, need to ALL be marketed upon heavily. Heelan wasn’t pitchy when I saw her, but I’ve heard a number of people on this board (and in person) say that she was. If it doesn’t improve, maybe this could be a fun opportunity to recast the role down the road? Lastly, while I understand the other 4 princesses are only meant to be supporting characters, I wish more had been made of their stage time (specifically Pea & Sleeping Beauty). Rapunzel’s and Little M. get their moments, but it never truly feels as though the other two do.

BossBroadway said: "The wednesday matinee advance sell of this show is....absolutely terrible."

Oh wow. There are probably less than 200 seats sold in a 1600+ seat theatre.

And here I thought seeing the poor sales for Saturday night was a bad omen.

When I was at the stage door on Thursday, the cast were telling us to "tell your friends" - which always means they know they are in deep trouble.

I bet you there are less than 100 seats sold, it's almost worse than Bad Cinderella's sales. I thought this show could last through January and close New Years' Weekend, but not it's looking like labor day.