Promises Promises, Dry as ever!

[bundy5000]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 10:16pm

Yesterday was the 4th time I have seen Promises Promises, and will be the last.

When I saw the show in previews, I thought the show was painful. Big stage small set, long scenes, and terrible comedic timing. After it opened I liked the show a lot more. The actors got comfortable in their roles, some of the scenes were trimmed, and the score suddenly was catchy(I think the score got lost in the over extended scenes in previews). I saw the show a third time just for Katie Finneran (after her tony win) and she was a lot more comedic with her part. I also noticed Kristen made the best with her character. I liked Sean a lot in his role, he had non-stop enthusiasm and looked liked he enjoyed it thoroughly.

Well yesterday I saw it a fourth time. Maybe since I knew how the show plays out, I was only looking forward to specific scenes but I was happy I paid the student rush price because I usually don't mind paying full price or close to it. Right after the overture I was swept up into a blabbering Sean Hayes who would not shutup. Once again maybe I just wanted to fast forward to another scene. I actually found Kristin to have more of an effect than Sean this time. Sean's character became very boring for me and tedious, while his singing seemed a little lackluster than usual.

Kristin did not make good use of, what I feel, her two best songs in the show " Knowing When To Leave" "I Say A Little Prayer For You". I remember he putting more emphasis in different parts of the song when I saw the show before. "A House Is Not a Home" sounded the same to me nothing to comment there.

Tony Goldwyne was not disappointing but his charm was not quite there like usual. Dick Latessa was on the ball like usual. He makes the best out of the material.

Molly Shannon. I was very much looking forward to her role as Marge and had somewhat high expectations for her. I loved her characters on SNL and wanted to see how she would play out her small part. I think anyone who have seen both Katie and Molly would agree Katie was the best but Molly was very dry and lacked a lot of energy. She most likely will never be cast in a musical vocally again but I wanted to see her comedic acting more than anything. I was unimpressed to say the least. I didn't expect her to mimic everything Katie did but Molly didn't bring anything to new to the role either. I know with more time and material Molly would show a much better performance but her Marge MacDougall showed no promise to me.

The score is very much a hit and a miss. Some songs shine while the other songs, well I feel liking filing my nails during.I know after seeing a show a few times, the appeal fades away but Promises Promises only has a few scenes that make it worth while. The best scenes for me are, Grapes of Roth, Opening act 2, and Dick Latessa's in act 2. I have to give the show credit though, it brought me back 3 times.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 10:22pm

Tony Goldwyne was not disappointing but his charm was not quite there like usual.


Why in the world should that character be charming? I expect the opposite. Goldwyn is perfectly greasy and loathsome. If he's too charming, it would take away from having the audience root for Fran and Chuck.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 10:52pm

Despite the "bad guy" that his character represents his presence on the stage is not loathsome by any means.

[PurpleFanta]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 10:58pm

I'm sad to read that Molly Shannon hasn't done anything great with Marge. I've seen the show several times, and was hoping to see it again with her in it, but maybe I'll pass. Katie Finneran made such an impression on me, so I think anything else is going to be a disappointment.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 1:17am

Tony Goldwyne was not disappointing but his charm was not quite there like usual

What charm? Must have missed it the few times I saw him.

Last time I saw his understudy Brian O'Brien who was miles better.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 1:44am

Like some of the other members with one or two gray hairs, I wish you could have seen the original. I loved every minute of it, even when Jerry Orbach went slightly off pitch (no autotune in 1968!). The dancing was amazing, the acting great and the score sounded like you were somehow inside a high-fi record player which back then was a fantastic experience.

It's such a shame so many liberties were taken with what was a pretty sound show (although what they did with the overture is clever.)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 6:18am

You loathed it.
Then you liked it.
Then you liked it more.
Now you dislike it again.

So....how is it "dry as ever"?


I can't understand why you'd even watch a show that you didn't love more than once.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 6:23am

I don't even think the producers of the show have sat through it 4 times

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 6:37am

^lol.

I didn't HATE it, but no way I would sit through it a second time. (Although I did love Katie Finneran's performance.)

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 6:47am

I've seen it 4 times so far. Most of the times I went back just to see Katie. I loved Kristin and Sean, they were both amazing. But my nothing can compete with Katie. I haven't seen it since she left so I'm very hesitant because I hear Molly isn't as good.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 6:55am

I would think almost anyone after Finneran would disappoint.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 9:51am

I wonder how many times he sees a show he likes.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 10:41am

I loved it. I focus more on the musical numbers and its wonderful music though. I've seen it 3x and loved it each of those times.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 12:42pm

I don't hate the show. I am simply stating that it is not the same shape it was earlier this year. Whether it was the Katie leaving or just the actors toned down their performances. I have seen A Little Night Music 9x, LA Cage 6x, Billy Elliot 12x and still enjoy them.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 1:06pm

I saw the show once and only saw Molly Shannon as Marge. I thought she did a great job. Of course, I can't compare her to Katie but she's not as bad as some people who haven't seen her are saying.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 3:09pm

Oh my, I wish I had that kind of time...and money...

[Kev]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 3:30pm

Molly Shannon is not bad. AT ALL. Shannon certainly doesn't rip the role of Marge to shreds in the same genius way that Finneran did but, it's a genuinely fun performance and a perfectly fine account of the role.

I caught up with the show recently and, while my criticisms of certain elements remain, it's in great shape. Hayes was delightful, Chenoweth sounded better than ever, the dance execution was clean, and understudy Brian O'Brien nailed it.

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 3:46pm

Bundy5000

You like it and then flip and say you don't like this and that. Your credibility is too scattered. You need to take a position and be firm on it. Were you feeling OK when you went to see it? Sounds like you went in already in a negative manner and maybe you were not really into it anyway.

Criticize, criticize, criticize. Sounds like you had a bad night out from the start. Have a wonderful day and be positive.