devonian.t said: "As an aside, I thought the revival of Half a Sixpence "improved" by Cameron was utter agony."
couldnt agree more more and Stemp was nothing more than a perfectly adequate chorus boy performance.
I predict Bernadette will play Dolly like... giggly voiced Bernadette Peters. I’d still want to see her though. And I’m pretty sure they will release some kind of recording with her as Dolly.
I don't know Mr. Stemp's work (personally, I think, by his pics, he looks perfect for Barnaby), but Dolly can get by with a so-so Barnaby. We need a Dolly. And I think Ms. Peters will do just fine.
I think they'll have to put out all the stops on the press for her run. They were taking promotional pictures yesterday at the theater. Here's hoping she performs on some TV shows (daytime and evening) and gets out there.
The show is following the same trajectory as the beginning of the Follies or War Paint runs - it may not be an instant sell-out but I think it’s far too premature to suggest the show is in dire straights right now. In fact, I personally predict the first week grosses will be the highest of Bernadette’s career.
"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
MoveOnGypsy said: "That's not comforting. Both of those productions were commercial failures."
It's pretty near impossible for anything Bernadette does to turn this into a commercial failure, that ship has already sailed. She can show that people only wanted to see Bette as Dolly and not run for long, but she has no ability to make the show a commercial failure.
It's also the fact that people don't have to buy tickets 6 months in advance for Peters. I think she'll be fine. I'd base her grosses on Donna Murphy's four weeks where she filled in. I still see Peters bringing in ~$1 million/week.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I"m excited for Bernadette, but really looking forward to seeing Victor Garber in this production. I've never had the pleasure of seeing him on stage. Also, this production is first class and should continue to do well with this cast. It won't have the advance sellouts, but it will do enough to stay afloat for a while.
qolbinau said: "The show is following the same trajectory as the beginning of the Follies or War Paint runs - it may not be an instant sell-out but I think it’s far too premature to suggest the show is in dire straights right now. In fact, I personally predict the first week grosses will be the highest of Bernadette’s career. "
I have no doubt the first and even the second week will be fine. It’s after that where the gloom starts .
I don't know why everyone is being so negative before she's even BEGUN performances. Can't we just wait and see? The grosses might become pretty good. Yes it's been a successful revival because of Bette, but it's also been a crtic beloved revival. When I saw the show with Donna the entire theatre was sold out. People will come see it regardless of who's playing Dolly. Did Bette help? Of course. But I have faith that Bernadette will have a great run.
broadwayboy223 said: "I don't know why everyone is being so negative before she's even BEGUN performances. Can't we just wait and see? The grosses might become pretty good. Yes it's been a successful revival because of Bette, but it's also been a crtic beloved revival. When I saw the show with Donna the entire theatre was sold out. People will come see it regardless of who's playing Dolly. Did Bette help? Of course. But I have faith that Bernadette will have a great run."
Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. But I do enjoy talking financials and speculating at BO. It has nothing to do with how brilliant I think Bernadette and Victor will be. I just wish discussions wouldn't take such a mean tone.
My opinion from looking ahead: the show has a good month of steam built into it. There is a risk that they won’t sustain a long run but hopefully after tomorrow night this new casting will be seen as an unmissable Broadway event and word of mouth spreads.
It is clear this show is not going to sell out a 6 month run in advance based on Bernadette’s name alone. But that is a rare feat. I guarantee you if we went back in time and looked at the FOLLIES advance or WAR PAINT advance right now they’d be similar to the status of this show. - in fact this show is about to have a stronger start than both of them with this weekend already basically sold out and a very heavily sold week next week. I realise both of those shows didn’t smash it out of the park but the point is they were able to sustain a healthy run for a short amount of time, which is what Bernadette only needs. Bette has already done the heavy lifting. Bernadette just needs to get enough in the door to meet the running costs and pay back what I assume is a small amount of capital invested for re-casting and marketing the relaunched show.
"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
What a mean article that is. No one could duplicate Bettes extraordinary box office.. but give Peters a chance! If the tImes does indeed give her a rave-it might give a huge boost
Or better yet can she do the full "Hello, Dolly" number after last year's fiasco?
Bernadette looks great in the photo - I don't know why but I'm kind of annoyed they pretty much just trotted out the same photo as the one with Bette though. Couldn't they have done something a little different?
"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