PRETTY WOMAN Reviews- Page 4

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 2:32am

The NY Times review is one of the worst I have read in ages. I do not even think I would see the show if I were given a free ticket. Ben made it sound just wretched. 

[bear88]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 3:31am

Sara Holdren in Vulture panned it.

http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/theater-pretty-woman-and-the-trouble-with-onstage-nostalgia.html

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 5:13am

With very few exceptions, recent productions show that mostly indie films are the ones that Broadway audiences respond to, when it comes to film to stage adaptations.

All your Rocky, Sister Act, Catch me if you Can, Footloose, Saturday Night Fever, Ghost, Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde, 9 to 5, and all upcoming mainstream hit films from the past will continue flopping on Broadway.

Audiences need a faithful recreation or can just stream the original at home. Nostalgia doesn't sell if you can't find all things you loved about the original within the show. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 5:29am

blaxx said: "With very few exceptions, recent productions show that mostly indie films are the ones that Broadway audiences respond to, when it comes to film to stage adaptations.

All your Rocky, Sister Act, Catch me if you Can, Footloose, Saturday Night Fever, Ghost, Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde, 9 to 5, and all upcoming mainstream hit films fromthe past will continue flopping on Broadway.

Audiences need a faithful recreation or can just stream the original at home. Nostalgia doesn't sell if you can't find all things you loved about the original within the show."

Legally Blonde I feel like is an exception to the ones you listed.

[froote]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 6:48am

Knew the NYC critics wouldn't fall for the Barks praise that is always, always based around her being pretty and having a good voice. Good.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 6:56am

I did not expect the reviews to be this bad! I thought there would be a lot more middle of the road.

It will be interesting to see how this fares 6 months from now, because it does seem to be selling quite well- they just put another block of tix on sale thru June, I believe.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 7:44am

YvanEhtNioj wrote: "Legally Blonde I feel like is an exception to the ones you listed."

You may have liked Legally Blonde, but it was undeniably a flop - it closed without making back its investment.

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 7:57am

Call_me_jorge said: "I’m really interested to see if there will be any mention of Allison Blackwell, who I thought was the surprise star of the night."

Well, NY Times's Brantley loved her:

"No, the loudest clapping came when Allison Blackwell, the soprano performing Violetta in “La Traviata,” sang her character’s farewell declaration of love. Something like real passion had finally entered the building."

Kudos to Allison Blackwell!!!

 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 8:14am

RippedMan said: "A Lauper 'Pretty Woman' could have been fun. She's got that 80s pop thing down.

This just sounds so boring, and all the clips I've seen are pretty boring.

In reference to Barks, I think people tend to get swept up with a good belt. She might hit some high notes, but doesn't make her performance a breakthrough."

Lauper, incidentally, is working on a Working Girl musical, which is not only a superior film from this era but I think a better choice for a musical adaptation. 

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 8:27am

RippedMan said: "A Lauper 'Pretty Woman' could have been fun. She's got that 80s pop thing down.

This just sounds so boring, and all the clips I've seen are pretty boring.

In reference to Barks, I think people tend to get swept up with a good belt. She might hit some high notes, but doesn't make her performance a breakthrough."

No. Samantha Barks was a delightfully fresh presence in a role that required her only to be a Julia Roberts clone.  She may not have been able to override the Roberts stamp on the character but she was a pleasure to spend a night in the theatre with.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 8:33am

"Lauper, incidentally, is working on a Working Girl musical, which is not only a superior film from this era but I think a better choice for a musical adaptation."

I know that Kinky Boots is a success, but I do hope that Lauper stretches herself when it comes to her lyrics for this. I'd be disappointed to hear another score that consists of phrases like "The most beautiful thing in the world" or "Everybody Say Yeah" repeated hundreds of times.

What could be the repeated hooks in Working Girl, the Musical? "It's not even leather!" "Coffee? Tea? Me?" "Head for business, body for sin." 

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 8:38am

newintown said: ""Lauper, incidentally,is working on a Working Girl musical, which is not only a superior film from this era but I think a better choice for a musical adaptation."

I know thatKinky Bootsis a success, but I do hope that Lauper stretches herself when it comes to her lyrics for this. I'd be disappointed to hear another score that consists of phrases like "The most beautiful thing in the world" or "Everybody Say Yeah" repeated hundreds of times.

What could be the repeated hooks inWorking Girl, the Musical? "It's not even leather!" "Coffee? Tea? Me?" "Head for business, body for sin.""

Oh my god, there's IS going to be a "Head for Business, Body for Sin" number...isn't there...? Gawd....

[thealtoslament]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 9:04am

Kad said: "RippedMan said: " Lauper, incidentally,is working on a Working Girl musical, which is not only a superior film from this era but I think a better choice for a musical adaptation.

“

Now I can’t stop thinking about that episode of Bob’s Burgers where the school musical is Working Girl. 

[newintown]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 9:06am

"Work hard... or die tryin', girl!"

Oh, I'd SO much rather see a stage version of that than what's actually going to happen.

Updated On: 8/17/18 at 09:06 AM

[natashalost]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 9:57am

I'm surprised Alison Blackwell is being praised! She did give a great performance but I felt the stand-out was Tommy Bracco, who plays the bell-hop. He has about 10 lines but got the biggest applause at curtain call (I was at the first preview).

 

My guess is it will get maybe 2-3 years on Bway and maybe get a tour.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 10:26am

Elegance101 said: "I at first thought this would close very quickly, but now I'm pretty sure this show will be critic-proof. It won't run for years and years, but so many people love the movie and kind of want to see a recreation onstage. Kind of low-hanging fruit."

This thing is very, very well sold through at least the holidays, and the couple of times I've been by the theatre during the day, there's a line. This thing ain't going anywhere. And while I'm happy Andy Karl has landed a hit show, does it have to be this one?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 10:36am

I'm just always surprised by what sticks with audiences. Like why something so bland and boring and clearly driven for profit and not art can become a hit but other shows just don't make it. Guess the masses just want bland, easy to digest shows.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 10:42am

blaxx said: "With very few exceptions, recent productions show that mostly indie films are the ones that Broadway audiences respond to, when it comes to film to stage adaptations.

All your Rocky, Sister Act, Catch me if you Can, Footloose, Saturday Night Fever, Ghost, Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde, 9 to 5, and all upcoming mainstream hit films fromthe past will continue flopping on Broadway.

Audiences need a faithful recreation or can just stream the original at home. Nostalgia doesn't sell if you can't find all things you loved about the original within the show."

This is so true - at least in terms of Broadway audiences -- but most of these shows - especially Footloose, Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde, and Sister Act seem to have gone on to huge success in the regional /educational market.  So maybe it has more to do with the Broadway ticket price.  Audiences seem willing to pay 35 dollars to see these things in their own hometowns but not 150 to see them on Broadway.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 10:55am

RippedMan said: "I'm just always surprised by what sticks with audiences. Like why something so bland and boring and clearly driven for profit and not art can become a hit but other shows just don't make it. Guess the masses just want bland, easy to digest shows."

Except since reviews JUST came out, no one knew it was mediocre.  And the very casual theater goer doesn't know its mediocre. This is going to be big with the bridge and tunnel peeps.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 10:57am

I imagine this will have a trajectory similar to Bronx Tale- an undistinguished run that goes a lot longer than anyone thought by appealing to the nostalgic impulses of bridge and tunnelers and tourists.

(Incidentally, I suspect the audience that  Gettin' the Band Back Together wants is actually spending their money here).

 

[Up In One]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 11:16am

dramamama611 said: "RippedMan said: "I'm just always surprised by what sticks with audiences. Like why something so bland and boring and clearly driven for profit and not art can become a hit but other shows just don't make it. Guess the masses just want bland, easy to digest shows."

Except since reviews JUST came out, no one knew it was mediocre. And the very casual theater goer doesn't know its mediocre. This is going to be big with the bridge and tunnel peeps."

If Bronx Tale could run on bare minimal margins lose a ton of dough on Broadway and still tour - this will do just fine. Both were/are in less than desirable theaters with bland original scores. This one will draw the bridge and tunnel Jersey Boys/Bronx Tale crowd and the aging Wicked to Waitress crowd. That girl power troupe has legs regardless of how they warp it.  

 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 11:27am

Kad said: "I imagine this will have a trajectory similar to Bronx Tale- an undistinguished run that goes a lot longer than anyone thought by appealing to the nostalgic impulses of bridge and tunnelers and tourists.

(Incidentally, I suspect the audience that Gettin' the Band Back Together wants is actually spending their money here)."

My bet would be a similar trajectory to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That show was posting some really strong grosses for its first few months, most likely based on familiarity with the property, but word of mouth caught up fairly quickly and the show entered a downward spiral that proved fatal. (Summer seems to be following the same pattern as well)

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 11:38am

SmoothLover said: "The NY Times review is one of the worst I have read in ages. I do not even think I would see the show if I were given a free ticket. Ben made it sound just wretched."

Or described it accurately?

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 11:57am

I saw the show in Chicago with Steve Kazee, where I felt it was the absolute epitome of okay. It seems very little had changed. I was disappointed to read that Andy Karl seemed detached and like he wanted to be anywhere but on that stage. Steve wasn’t perfect for the role, but I didn’t get detached from him.

Some one else pointed out that for this is lame Jerry Mitchell choreography. It’s flat out disappointing for Mitchell choreography

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 12:28pm

oncemorewithfeeling2 said: "I saw the show in Chicago with Steve Kazee, where I felt it was the absolute epitome of okay. It seems very little had changed. I was disappointed to read that Andy Karl seemed detached and like he wanted to be anywhere but on that stage.Steve wasn’t perfect for the role, but I didn’t get detached from him.

Some one else pointed out that for this is lame Jerry Mitchell choreography. It’s flat out disappointing for Mitchell choreography"

I was pretty surprised at how awful the choreography was. But I think Mitchell not being visionary/the show not deterring from the movie is to blame. There isn't a moment that's really developed/fleshed out at all.