PRETTY WOMAN Reviews — Page 5

These reviews were worse than I expected. I think this boosts SJB's chances for the WIN. I also thought Eric Anderson had a shot a nomination - not so much now.

Marlothom wrote: "I also thought Eric Anderson had a shot a nomination - not so much now."

I found Anderson's performance as Happy Man to be vulgar and overdone, a poor impersonation of Ben Vereen in Pippin. Although vulgar and overdone can be real crowd-pleasers, the problem with Anderson's role(s) is that he is set up as an omniscient narrator at the top of the show, but isn't used in that capacity with any consistency or imagination. And as the hotel concierge, he becomes Vivian's fairy godmother, but for no apparent reason - is he some sort of magical sprite, following Vivian though her life? Perhaps making something out of that idea might have brought something to the show; but then it wouldn't have copied the movie closely enough, and it would have confused the target audience - those who just want to see a perfect replica of the film on stage.

Auggie27 said: "I'm still not quite over the demise of "Groundhog...," a superior work, with an act two that actually deepened the source material and made the premise an existential question worth pondering. And was wildly entertaining. It's presumptuous to say "wish Karl was doing that now," because it's history. But it was a brilliant showcase for him, and he was an indefatigable triple threat. I say that as an indifferent fan prior to GD"

I'm not over the loss of Groundhog Day either. I absolutely loved it, thought Mr. Karl was brilliant in it, and came away from it thinking that I'd give anything else he does a shot.

Other than Hamilton, what other musicals that opened in the summer have turned out to be critical and commercial juggernauts?

Updated On: 8/17/18 at 02:48 PM

Miles2Go2 said: "Auggie27 said: "This is the show people can see if they can't get into "Frozen" or "Mean Girls." I guess we see the obvious pattern here."

But is this any easier to get a ticket to than those two shows or to put it conversely, are those well-selling shows that much more difficult to get a ticket for in comparison to PW?"



Not necessarily an impact on grosses, but you have to wait 2-3 hours in a rush line for Pretty Woman vs 8-12 for the same seats at Mean Girls.

singer234 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Auggie27 said: "This is the show people can see if they can't get into "Frozen" or "Mean Girls." I guess we see the obvious pattern here."

But is this any easier to get a ticket to than those two shows or to put it conversely, are those well-selling shows that much more difficult to get a ticket for in comparison to PW?"



Not necessarily an impact on grosses, but you have to wait 2-3 hours in a rush line for Pretty Woman vs 8-12 for the same seats at Mean Girls.

"

Not a fair comparison because Pretty Woman has rush tickets available every day, Mean Girls only on Wednesday.

IdinaBellFoster said: "I still can’t believe there isn’t 1 woman on the creative team."

Yup . . . and check out the creative team on TOOTSIE. There was a subversive feminist viewpoint in the movie, due in no small part I think, with in inclusion of Elaine May on the script. Take note . . . she's still around and still brilliant.

natashalost said: "I'm surprisedAlison 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."

2-3 years...lol! The only reason kinky boots stayed open this long is because it won the tony then stunt casted the heck out of it. If Matilda would have won that tony kinky boots would have closed in a year. Pretty woman might make it a year but no longer. It could also close January .

singer234 said: "Not necessarily an impact on grosses, but you have to wait 2-3 hours in a rush line for Pretty Woman vs 8-12 for the same seats at Mean Girls."

Is there a correlation between how long people will wait for discounted seats compared to weekly grosses, though?

Re hit August openings: the original "La Cage aux Folles," 35 years ago this month.

Updated On: 8/17/18 at 05:50 PM

Back in the day, the phrase "critic proof" applied. I'm old enough to remember the disillusionment about the "Wicked" reviews, which though not as bad as these, were pretty dreary, at least the overnights. (Remember the reactions at this very board, any of you?) But it grew quickly, and the rest is history.

This show has that "brand" factor. "Pretty Woman" is a title that suggests a certain kind of charmed romantic evening in a way, say, "Groundhog Day" does not. (And that's too bad, I say, subjectively speaking.) I posted above without considering the preview numbers, which are impressive indeed. One can imagine this show's first challenge being January 2 - spring break. The usual winter issue. But still likely a hit. I'm sure the reviews were a 'thud' among the creatives, but probably won't impact box office. They'll run the hell out of the Chicago paper review.

Updated On: 8/17/18 at 05:55 PM

I remember the "Bridges of Madison County" discussions. (What a score, still by the way.) The ending was not a small factor in its inability to catch on, I do believe. That show had real musical theater stars with a following. (Karl has, too, but he couldn't pull in GHD, not to hit that point too hard.) People who remembered the film remembered the sad scene at the traffic light. Expected a downer based on a pulp-ish novel. It has Marsha Norman and Brown, a most respectable pedigree. And its numbers were just dismal, almost to the end. I saw one of the last Saturday matinees and got center orchestra at TKTS.

So romantic nights out do matter in the musical theater. A known love story, no matter the dated sexism or cliches, promises a certain stylishness. You don't look at Kelli O'Hara in a shirtwaist dress, you get gowns, Rodeo drive. That stuff matters to "average ticket buyers," whoever they are. A brand with a promise, that's what's selling here.

Updated On: 8/17/18 at 06:27 PM