Princess Diana Musical, DIANA, Set for World Premiere at La Jolla Playhouse- Page 3

[HereAndThere2]

Posted: 12/17/18 at 7:21pm

This production has now been extended to run February 19 - April 7, 2019.  I am a true Anglophile and have spent many happy hours on the other side of the Atlantic.  However, for whatever reason, I had very little interest in seeing "Diana:  A New Musical," even though I can practically walk from my home to the La Jolla Playhouse.  But now I have seen the recent ads for the show on local TV, and WOW, I'm ready!  Bought my ticket this morning before they're all gobbled up.  Anyone else going?

Updated On: 12/17/18 at 07:21 PM

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 12/17/18 at 7:24pm

HereAndThere2 said: "This production has now been extended to run February 19 - April 7, 2019. I am a true Anglophile and have spent many happy hours on the other side of the Pacific. However, for whatever reason, I had very little interest in seeing "Diana: A New Musical," even though I canpractically walk from my home to the La Jolla Playhouse. But now I have seen the recent ads for the show on local TV, and WOW, I'm ready! Bought my ticket this morning before they're all gobbled up.Anyone else going?"

LOL what do you for the production?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 3:41am

n2nbaby said: "LOL what do you for the production?"

Busted!

[HereAndThere2]

Posted: 2/2/19 at 10:20am

An article from "The New York Times" regarding the soon-to-be musical.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/theater/charles-and-diana-musical.html?action=click&contentCollection=arts&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&utm_source=Email_marketing&utm_campaign=DIANA_in_NYTimes&cmp=1&utm_medium=DIANA_email

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 2/2/19 at 12:37pm

I will be really interested to see the reviews on this one.   As fascinating as her life was, I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around this one.

The queen breaks into song?  Now, I can see a musical with an imaginary queen in an imaginary kingdom doing this.  But QE is still alive, she's very real to all of us, we've seen her image, and we know too much about her to ever envision her breaking out into song.  It almost sounds comedic.  But I don't think that's the direction this musical is taking.

Diana?  We know how progressive she was.  How modern.  We know she loved Elton John, and MJ was on record as saying she was fine with him keeping in his song "Dirty Diana" when he was playing London.  But the Idea of even her breaking into song, and even more so, dance, again, seems bizarre.   As "cool" as she was, I don't even see the real Diana letting down that much.  That's not even how she came off before she was married to the future king.

A very odd concept, overall.  And again, will be interesting to see how it plays on stage.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 2/2/19 at 2:49pm

I think one of the interesting things is that we don't actually know much about the Queen and Royal Family --- or at least we don't know what goes on behind closed doors. The Queen is fascinating and mysterious because she's so private. All we see is a stiff public presence. 

This musical has a similar challenge to 1776, Spielburg's Lincoln, and even Hamilton: turning lionized people into three-dimensional humans. (But then within 1776, you still have Ben Franklin, who feels like a caricature next to the more dynamic John Adams.)

If they can humanize the Royals, it could be thrilling. Otherwise, it risks being very corny.

[JoshTodos]

Posted: 2/3/19 at 4:48am

TONY AWARD

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 2/4/19 at 12:51am

While we might not know everything about the royal family, if the queen is breaking into song, Broadway-style, behind closed doors, that would have to be the biggest 180 degree turn in personalities I've ever seen from a public persona.   Same goes for a song and dance Diana.  

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 3:22am

This makes me think of LaChiusa's First Daughter Suite at the Public a few years ago. Who would imagine figures like Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan breaking into song, but still it worked so well. The composer is challenged with finding a style of music that fits with the rest of the piece, but doesn't betray the true nature of the various figures represented. 

[JoshTodos]

Posted: 2/11/19 at 5:15am

bump

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 2/11/19 at 12:48pm

bwayboy22 said: "This makes me think of LaChiusa's First Daughter Suite at the Public a few years ago. Who would imagine figures like Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan breaking into song, but still it worked so well. The composer is challenged with finding a style of music that fits with the rest of the piece, but doesn't betray the true nature of the various figures represented."

 

Interesting. I guess you could argue that Nancy was an actress before anything else, so song isn’t totally out of the question. And Barbara? Nothing would surprise me. She was at once direct and opinionated, but also grandma-like in many ways. So I could see it. More than the queen anyway. 

All opinion though. In the meantime, I have friends who have asked me to go, so maybe I end up seeing it after all.

I do agree with the previous poster. If they can tap into something that actually humanizes the royals without it appearing corny, it will be an interesting concept as well. 

 

[JoshTodos]

Posted: 2/11/19 at 8:51pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It all kind of depends on who will play Diana.

I heard Kristin Chenoweth is attached to play Diana, Princess of Wales.

"

I am too dumb to get this

[JoshTodos]

Posted: 2/11/19 at 8:52pm

If Memphis an get the Tony so will this

[JoshTodos]

Posted: 2/11/19 at 8:55pm

I have seen a video of WIL's costumes and they are amazing.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 2/20/19 at 6:09pm

Anyone familiar with La Jolla know if they offer standing room or rush? I waited too long and the run is practically sold out and can't find anything on secondary markets. 

[pathman2]

Posted: 2/20/19 at 7:44pm

Marlothom said: "Anyone familiar with La Jolla know if they offer standing room or rush? I waited too long and the run is practically sold out and can't find anything on secondary markets."

Keep checking their website. Lots of tickets popped up for last night’s show over the weekend (I assume from subscribers who couldn’t make it). I was nervous about seeing the first performance, but it was the only one I could attend. It will definitely have a life beyond La Jolla even if they don’t change a single thing. Show ended 2 hours and 25 minutes after the posted showtime but started late (thankfully since our Lyft driver’s app didn’t know where to go). It’s supposed to run 2 hours and 10 minutes including a 15 minute intermission. 

SPOILERS

It was very polished with only minor mic issues and one necklace that fell off. I loved the whole show, great songs and performances. It comes off as a warning to not buy into the whole romantic notion of marrying a prince. It was interesting that Camilla has almost as much stage time as Diana and Charles. Great comedic moments from Judy Kaye as both QEII and Di’s romance novelist step-grandmother (I can’t remember her name and the role isn’t listed) who is credited for developing Di’s romantic expectations. Also funny moments with the James Hewitt role. Costumes are divine with almost every famous dress of Di’s recreated (some only seen for a few seconds.) The stage is rimmed by the gates of Buckingham Palace with the gates opening to roll on set pieces. The climax comes when Diana is granted a divorce and allowed to leave the royal family and walk out of those gates (there’s brief narration at the end about her continuing charity work after the divorce and her death). Here’s the song list from the program:

Act I

Once Upon A Time

In the Pages of Her Books

Snap, Click

This Is How Your People Dance

Whatever Love Means Anyway

The Wedding

Welcome to the Windsors 

Perfect Princess

Happiness

Simply Breathe

Princess Di Floating

Diana (The Rage)

As I Love You

Pretty, Pretty Girl

 

Act II

Here Comes James Hewitt

Him & Her (& Him & Her)

Just Dance

Secrets and Lies

The Show

The Words Came Pouring Out

Diana (reprise)

The Dress

An Officer’s Wife

If

 

Updated On: 2/20/19 at 07:44 PM

[HereAndThere2]

Posted: 2/20/19 at 8:37pm

I purchased "Diana" tickets soon after they went on sale.  Later, the run was extended by one week.  Today, I received an e-mail from the "Playhouse" announcing that the play is being extended for another week, April 9-14, eight performances.  I was offered the opportunity to purchase tickets for the April 9-14  dates before they go on sale to the general public, but the message didn't say when that option would be open to the general public.  So.......I'm guessing that tickets will soon be available for that one week.

[HereAndThere2]

Posted: 2/20/19 at 9:08pm

^^^^^^

Checked the "Playhouse" website.  Their calendar shows those additional dates, but states "Tickets Not On Sale".  Maybe the tickets will open soon to the general public?  Good luck to those hoping to see "Diana".

[broadwayblondes]

Posted: 2/21/19 at 3:07am

Saw this tonight, absolutely LOVED it. I was not sure what to expect, even as a Lady Di fan, but I was thoroughly impressed. The way they chose to portray her death/how quickly everything came to a close/the amount of storyline they tried to squeeze into the last number was a bit off-putting, but altogether it was so well done. Quite the jerker. And honestly much better than a lot of things I've seen on Broadway as of late. I agree that it could transfer immediately, which makes me excited to see what they end up doing with it.

The "This Is How Your People Dance" number was SO enjoyable. I keep replaying it in my head wishing I could watch it over and over. This thing is pretty brilliant. 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 2/21/19 at 9:13am

Thanks! hoping to see it next Friday or Saturday.  Will keep checking the website.  

[Olivia11]

Posted: 2/21/19 at 11:48am

New block of tickets now on sale to the general public - April 9-14th. I just purchased online.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 2/23/19 at 8:02pm

Caught this last week and.... oooof. It was a big old mess. I knew very little about Princess Diana and after having seen the musical, I still know very little. The show should be called Prince Charles as he is the protagonist (and most unlikeable character ever).

I'm a Memphis supporter, and while I admit that show has its flaws, the music and overall tone amount to an enjoyable evening at the theater. This has none of that. The music does not fit the tone of the piece at all and the lyrics are cringe-worthy bad. There's a song with reporters called "Snap Click," which is as horrible as it sounds. It felt like the creators watched Smash and decided that that REALLY is how you make a musical (though Bombshell is significantly better). 

Jeanna de Waal is given about 100+ costume changes and very little character to work with so she honestly gets forgotten in the mess. Judy Kaye is wasted in two completely thankless roles (one of which being the Queen; how a part like that becomes thankless is beyond me). The costumes are of course beautiful. The set and lighting are dark and ugly. 

Having been lucky to see lots of out of town tryouts recently, this is by far the worst of the lot. I see no potential for this show to get better without a complete overhaul. 

Updated On: 2/23/19 at 08:02 PM

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 4:43pm

Having seen this at yesterday's matinee, I find myself somewhere between broadwayblondes and Dobson.

While I didn't love it, I also didn't consider it a complete mess either.   I found the music way more enjoyable than I thought I would, and I personally connected more with the lyrics than Dobson did.  I even found them rather clever in places.

The choreography was highly engaging at times, especially the numbers when the paparazzi made their appearances.  The show held my interest throughout, even though I knew the story of Diana pretty well.  Nothing surprising really came out of this storyline. 

Overall, I'm glad I saw it, and I actually did enjoy myself.  The performances were quite good.  I though de Waal, Davie, Hartrampf and, of course, Kaye were all in good vocal form.  I really liked Roe's and Jenna's voices, in fact.  

The LJ Playhouse is fairly intimate, but I was sitting toward the back, and even from the rather short distance they both really looked the part.  

Is it Broadway-caliber?  Will it get to the Great White Way as it is?  

Who knows?   But let's just say I've seen less entertaining on Broadway and leave it at that.

Now, as for the issues I had with hit.   I was a little skeptical going in as I just could not shake that feeling of 'How do you buy into the Queen of England, Prince Charles and Lady Diana breaking into song and dance?' For the most part though, this wasn't terribly bothersome to me.  

I do have to admit that the musical hung somewhere between the serious and the campy.  It was hard to sink your teeth into what they were trying to do with it at times.  Seeing as she was such an icon, I guess I was looking for something more concrete in its delivery.

 In her real life (as it was portrayed to the world), we saw very little of Diana before she became the princess.  We know she was more progressive and less square than Charles. But did she ever cut loose, or did we ever really see her as that type of personality to let down her hair?   I guess we'll never know because she never made it beyond her teens to experience that open and freewheeling life that she may have had had she not married a prince.  What you did learn about her though, prior to marrying the prince, she didn't exactly come off as a wild and crazy girl.   I was still able to suspend some disbelief to let that go a bit.

Many will say she was edgy in the sense that she shook up the monarchy.  Indeed she did.  

But while shaking hands with AIDS patients, walking through minefields and entering the inner city to meet the people is admirable (and yes, out of the range of what the royals were known for), it was hardly an indicator of her being a rock star in any sort of wild and crazy, cut loose manner.

So seeing her in the scene where Charles is enjoying his classical music while she breaks into this rock and roll number, only to return to her seat so prim and proper again, wasn't really all that convincing.  It seemed momentarily kind of silly.

And again, I think that's another issue I had with it.  It seemed to "be bop" back and forth between the serious and campy.  And again, a little difficult to wrap your head around when thinking about the royals.  Artistically and musically creative, yes, but not always convincing within the context of the play.

One thing I was telling my friends driving home from the theater is, on occasion, I almost got a little bit of an "Evita" feel with the show.  And as I thought more on that, I couldn't help but think that maybe this show would work better as a rock opera, or something more akin to Evita.   Tell the entire story through music.

Princess Diana was an icon and had a bigger than life persona.  She was bigger than life.  Trying to wrap up her life in a two hour show seemed limiting to me.  Again, it was entertaining, but I think more could have been done with it.  Perhaps a different approach.

 

[Princeton2]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 5:06pm

The comparison to Evita is a fair one and it's why I don't think a musical on Diana will ever really work, because it's already basically been done. I remember watching the VHS of the movie with my mum in the 90s and we both turned to eachother (having never seen the show before) how it both reminded us of Diana. So many moments, lyrics, even full songs could be tweaked slightly and then use for Diana.

Diana was no angel and a show that portrays her as a 100% victim with no critical angle is basically just going to end up a lifetime movie. you could have a paparazzi or newspaper editor as a Che type figure to add balance but again it's kinda already been done.

As for her childhood, it's easy to find out that she wasn't some repressed rock and roll chick. She was a bit of a tomboy, loved ballet. She was still a member of the aristocracy and she was never a rebel to that degree.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 9:57pm

Very true.  And it's very possible that setting it to the Evita concept might not work.

I do feel that with someone the caliber of Diana in both her fame and influence though it has to be more than what this musical is presenting at present.  The music does have an upbeat, rock(ish) edge to it, but it definitely has its distinct differences from Evita.    

Diana was huge, and I think a more contemporary opera with that pop/rock edge would work if a musical is going to do justice to her life.

I concur that Charles (and even Camila) take on pretty significant roles in this musical.  But they almost have to though since they were behind Diana coming into the picture, and then leaving the relationship as she did.  

Is Diana painted as a sympathetic figure in the musical?  In a way, yes.  But she is also portrayed as the woman scorned who confronts Camila, contacts Andrew Morton, and then ultimately shows up in "The Dress" (a pretty funny song, by the way).  Her own extramarital escapades are also brought into the fray as are references to Harry's ginger hair.

As much as she did for the disenfranchised and those in need, I agree that she was less than angelic. And I don't think they necessarily tried to hide this impression of her in the musical.  In fact, I think you leave the musical with much the same impression of the trio as you probably had going into the theater.  They even address her relationship with the paparazzi, clearly showing that she liked the attention at the same time she didn't.  That conflict was pretty well addressed as well.