"Promises, Promises" reviews -- Page 2

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/2/10 at 2:22am

The score is the BEST part of the show.

[Liz7]

Posted: 4/2/10 at 8:49am

I loved this show! I went into it knowing that I was seeing a preview perfomance and that the leads were playing roles that I was not used to seeing them in. I went to be entertained and to hear some great music. I was very entertained and heard some great music and well performed songs. I can't wait to see it again after the official opening.

[Endweezy]

Posted: 4/2/10 at 5:36pm

i enjoyed the show quite a bit. you can't keep your eyes off of cheno - and people that were sitting around me were all "amazed at how good she is live." she's a pleasure to watch - even if the role is more of a stretch in comparison to what we're used to seeing her do. i'm used to laughing at her more - so it's an adjustment.

hayes' comedic timing is exceptional. i thought he was actually perfectly cast. his voice is much better than expected - even if it's not perfect.

finneran STEALS the 2nd act - and got one of the louder audience roars i've heard in awhile.

the show will be a hit - there wasn't a seat to be had - and expect nominations for all three mentioned above.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 7:54am

Jeeze, Ed, do you work for the producers?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:08am

Ok, I'll say it. And no this isn't me being a bitter queen; it's just true. The only jokes that Sean landed were the ones he delivered as Jack. And I LOOOOVE Jack, so i didn't mind so much. But, he is going to get called out for it when the reviews come out. Kristin is terribly miscast and TOO OLD. She turned out exactly how everyone thought she was going to. Katie was fantastic in Act 2, and Tony Goldwyn's performance was numbing to the point that I actually had to pinch myself while he was on stage to see if it was actually happening. Not nuanced and subdued, as someone said... just boring.

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:37am

Wow. This production is either "loved it" or "hated it" huh?

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:31pm

I didn't think Kristin looked too old and I was sitting fairly close (row M). She obviously is older than the character, but it didn't show. She is by far the best thing about the show IMO.

SPOILER:


When she was passed out on the bed and the action was taking place elsewhere on stage, I was watching Kristin. That's how much star quality she has.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:36pm

"When she was passed out on the bed and the action was taking place elsewhere on stage, I was watching Kristin. That's how much star quality she has."

That, or how crappy the rest of the show is.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:38pm

Well I didn't want to say that, but...

[kchenofan]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:41pm

I don't get the "too old" comments. You guys are making it sound like she's 60 trying to play 16.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:43pm

Well she IS 41 trying to play early-to-mid 20s!

[kchenofan]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:49pm

But honestly, does she really look 41? And where does it say she has to be early-to-mid 20s?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:52pm

There is a song called "A Young Pretty Girl like You." 41 is middled-aged, not young. I do think Cheno still passes for mid 30s. But it is very clear Fran is a young woman.
Updated On: 4/3/10 at 03:52 PM

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:56pm

There are no references to her age in the show. If it was stated that Fran is 21, then I could see it being a problem. But it doesn't specify her age and Kristin does look younger than 41 (though more like early early-mid 30s than early-mid 20s), so I don't think it's a problem. It's a big theatre and most people can't see her up close, and she comess across as younger anyway because of her height and her voice.

[kchenofan]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:56pm

I consider mid 30's or even early 40's young in the context of the song in the show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:57pm

I thought Chenoweth was excellent, but definitely too old for the role. If Fran is not young and naive, then she's no different than the secretary, Miss Olson, who has been around the company long enough to know what Sheldrake is up to. Miss Olson actually warns Fran about Sheldrake in the middle of act 1. The whole point is that Fran is young and naive, and actually believes Sheldrake is in love with her.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 3:58pm

There is no sense in arguing about this. I will let one of the Promises experts handle this one!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:05pm

I only said that from MY perspective she's not too old. You think she is? Fine. I'm not trying to shove my opinion down anyone's throat. Can't we agree to disagree?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:10pm

That's fine. We can all have our own opinions. But I think it's more of a fact that Fran is a young woman.
Jill O'Hara (the original) and Kerry O'Malley (Encores!) were both very young. Easily mid 20s.
And Lorna Luft was the final replacement in the original production, and she was just shy of 19 when she played the role!

Here are some pictures of the fantastic O'Hara



And here is a video of O'Malley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIx5xkUECcc
Updated On: 4/3/10 at 04:10 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:11pm

And Lorna Luft was the final replacement in the original production, and she was just shy of 19 when she played the role!

Insane! That would be like Jennifer Damiano playing Fran in this production!

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:12pm

Who played the Orbach/ Hayes role at Encores?


ETA: I see it was Marty Short - interesting.

Updated On: 4/3/10 at 04:12 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:15pm

Martin Short

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:48pm

If ever a role fit an actor/personality like a glove -- Martin Short was born to Chuck Baxter. His control of the role was simply insane to watch. He could sing the role, break the fourth wall with ease, and delivered every single comic line to sheer perfection. His scenes with Marge (played to exquisite perfection by Christine Baranski) were gems to witness.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:20pm

He was very good Brody. I felt that O'Malley was miscast from a singing viewpoint and the above clip shows why. She hacked and sawed her way through the songs. Jill O'Hara (as I remember from the third row, once and midway back at the Shubert several times,) effortlessly tossed off her songs. She had an amazing voice, a real one-of-a-kind. It wasn't the standard Broadway voice. It sounded weird and probably wouldn't have worked in a cabaret or even a rehearsal hall, but somehow, up on that stage, with that amazing orchestra, it was the most colorful instrument in the mix. My parents also thought she sounded quite different from what we were used to hearing in a New York show in the 60s.

O'Malley is trying way too hard to bellow out that song, when O'Hara just let it slide out so simply and with painful emotion.


EDIT: On second watching, that song is WAY too fast. O'Malley is out -of-breath all over the place. They're galloping through the number and she's trying to keep up and belt. Poor girl....

Updated On: 4/4/10 at 08:20 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:49pm

A member on ATC sums up the age issue perfectly.

http://talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1840026