REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Reviews- Page 2

[hayden6]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 10:44pm

The energy in the theatre tonight was electric! There was so much love for this cast and crew & they really earned the mid-show standing ovation after the title number.

I did notice some tightening in the book after having seen it during previews. I love everything they’re doing — the cast, the score, the costumes, the lighting, the sets are all beautiful! I’m already looking forward to seeing it again.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 12:00am

So the best reviewed new musicals of the season look like Maybe Happy Ending, Dead Outlaw...and Real Women Have Curves.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 12:13am

MemorableUserName said: "So the best reviewed new musicals of the season look like Maybe Happy Ending, Dead Outlaw...and Real Women Have Curves..."

My problem with quick analysis like this is that they aren't ...weighted or curved. For instance, MHE got 14 positives, no mixed or negatives, from a total 14 reviews -- but Just In Time was reviewed a total of 19 times, receiving 13 positives, 5 mixed, 1 negative. What if five more reviews came out for MHE and weren't all raves?

I think you have to correct for the difference in total number of reviews to be most accurate.

[djoko84]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 12:37am

TheatreMonkey said: "MemorableUserName said: "So the best reviewed new musicals of the season look like Maybe Happy Ending, Dead Outlaw...and Real Women Have Curves..."

My problem with quick analysis like this is that they aren't ...weighted or curved. For instance, MHE got 14 positives, no mixed or negatives, from a total 14 reviews -- but Just In Time was reviewed a total of 19 times, receiving 13 positives, 5 mixed, 1 negative. What if five more reviews came out for MHE and weren't all raves?

I think you have to correct for the difference in total number of reviews to be most accurate."

You also can't just go by a thumbs up or thumbs down. Each review has to be read because not all thumbs ups are all-out raves. Siskel and Ebert popularized the thumbs up and thumbs down and most of the thumbs ups were not Best Picture material.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 12:58am

djoko84 said: "TheatreMonkey said: "MemorableUserName said: "So the best reviewed new musicals of the season look like Maybe Happy Ending, Dead Outlaw...and Real Women Have Curves..."

My problem with quick analysis like this is that they aren't ...weighted or curved. For instance, MHE got 14 positives, no mixed or negatives, from a total 14 reviews -- but Just In Time was reviewed a total of 19 times, receiving 13 positives, 5 mixed, 1 negative. What if five more reviews came out for MHE and weren't all raves?

I think you have to correct for the difference in total number of reviews to be most accurate."

You also can't just go by a thumbs up or thumbs down. Each review has to be read because not all thumbs ups are all-out raves. Siskel and Ebert popularized the thumbs up and thumbs down and most of the thumbs ups were not Best Picture material."

Exactly! That's one reason I don't like the BWW Review Roundups because they assign thumbs to non-starred reviews, and then assign a percentage at the end; how do you decide a numbered score on a review that doesn't have one and is now being subjectively rated based on one editors read of it? (What, if any, is the criteria to make one mixed review a 75% or another 60%?)

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 9:28am

Sometimes I forget how exhausting the people on this board can be...but I'm always reminded.

A) "Best reviewed new musical" is not that serious and was certainly not intended to be a determination made with absolute scientific and mathematical precision. 🙄

B) Reviews and the way people read them are inherently subjective. Different people can interpret the same review very differently (as we've seen in the many arguments on these boards over what's positive/mixed/negative, or in the differences betweek DTLI and BWW's determinations), and yes, full reviews should always be read.

C) It was supposed to be just a fun (remember fun?) little comparison based on easily accessible and nicely visual information. DTLI collected most (though not all) reviews from major sources, made their own determination of what was positive/mixed/negative based on their reading (so that was at least a constant, as much as it's possible to have one), so that could be compared. Everyone is welcome to take as much or as little from that as possible, or dig deep and provide their own weighting and mathematic analysis as desired.

dramamama essentially did the same here comparing the DTLI reviews if anyone wants to reprimand her for improper weighting. (Oh, the weighting!)

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 9:31am

To throw more fuel on the fire, someone on Reddit did their own chart comparing DTLI and BWW's scores (though BWW is still missing some of this show's reviews). Take as much or as little from it as desired.

[THDavis]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 8:18am

Did anyone catch Quincy Hampton’s debut as Henry last night?

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 9:28am

I did! He was FANTASTIC!

 I saw this for the first time last night and LOVED it. A real shame they weren’t nominated for “best musical” - really with there was a tie for that 6th slot. Justina got a great entrance applause and a little love at curtain call with the cast jumping around both her and Quincy. Wished there had been a speech like at other shows. They got a very well deserved standing ovation after the title song; bringing tears to my eyes! This is truly a show with so much heart and I really hope they can find an audience. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 10:28am

Wonder how much CHICAGO money Barry & Fran will be willing to pour into this to keep it afloat? They closed SCOTTSBORO BOYS after a mere 49 performances, and on that show they had a longstanding relationship with Kander; can this survive that long?

Updated On: 5/2/25 at 10:28 AM

[alovingfan]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 2:29pm

I think this Tuesday we will know just how quickly this will shutter.  

[THDavis]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 2:46pm

I feel like they’ll wait until after the Tony’s if they believe they have any shot at either of their awards (I do think we could see a “Best Original Score” win). Especially with positive word of mouth: they could be hoping they pick up some steam through summer. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 2:55pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Wonder how much CHICAGO money Barry & Fran will be willing to pour into this to keep it afloat? They closed SCOTTSBORO BOYS after a mere 49 performances, and on that show they had a longstanding relationship with Kander; can this survive that long?"

Remember how they put up a website for Scottsboro claiming that there were updates to come and hinting that it would return to Broadway? I wonder if that was just a stunt aimed at goosing Tony chances. It is such a disappointment that I never got to see that show because I was out of town for a couple months. 

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 3:01pm

Scarywarhol said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Wonder how much CHICAGO money Barry & Fran will be willing to pour into this to keep it afloat? They closed SCOTTSBORO BOYS after a mere 49 performances, and on that show they had a longstanding relationship with Kander; can this survive that long?"

Remember how they put up a website for Scottsboro claiming that there were updates to come and hinting that it would return to Broadway? I wonder if that was just a stunt aimed at goosing Tony chances.It is such a disappointment that I never got to see that show because I was out of town for a couple months."

Yes.  The company returned for a Los Angeles engagement. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 3:33pm

It is pretty rare that a musical doesn’t get nominated for Best Musical but wins for Best Score. I would say RWHC unfortunately has almost no chance of winning either of its nominations. If grosses don’t pick up, it will be gone by the end of June if not sooner.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 3:39pm

The Scottsboro Boys was soooooooooooo good.

 

Sorry. Just had to say it.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 3:59pm

SO SO GOOD. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 4:03pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "It is pretty rare that a musicaldoesn’t get nominated for Best Musical but wins for Best Score. I would say RWHC unfortunately has almost no chance of winning either of its nominations. If grosses don’t pick up, it will be gone by the end of June if not sooner."

 

Sooner Memorial Day!

[DAME]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 11:15am

I don’t know how it lasts past next week.  Have you looked at sales?  The house is eerily empty.  Breaks my heart .  It’s a sweet show deserving of love.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 12:27pm

THDavis said: "I feel like they’ll wait until after the Tony’s if they believe they have any shot at either of their awards (I do think we could see a “Best Original Score” win). Especially with positive word of mouth: they could be hoping they pick up some steam through summer."

There's no reason to do that. They're not winning their awards and even if they did, there would be no box office bump from that. They also won't perform at the Tonys so I dont think that will factor at all into their plans.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 1:39pm

RWHC was really failed by opening on the literal last day of the season. It's a small show that needs to build and 4 weeks isn't quite enough time to build when there are other shows opening every other day.

I know sometimes hands are tied –– and there can also be a strategic move of "we struggle through previews, then reviews + Tony noms give us a huge boost", which in this case didn't turnout the way they wanted –– but everything about this show felt like an afterthought in this crowded season.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 2:29pm

I think the title is a turn off - at least for me. It all comes across as cringe and cheesy so I did not see it on my last trip to NYC. But hearing all the positive word of mouth and reviews I would have checked it out. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 2:38pm

.

Updated On: 5/3/25 at 02:38 PM

[THDavis]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 2:55pm

RippedMan said: "I think the title is a turn off - at least for me. It all comes across as cringe and cheesy so I did not see it on my last trip to NYC. But hearing all the positive word of mouth and reviews I would have checked it out."

Agreed. I understand it’s based on a play/film, but the title doesn’t quite lure folks in. 

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 5/3/25 at 4:45pm

I have never seen the movie, so I can’t compare the movie and play. But I assume the movie was more about the family dynamic and the show spends so much time hitting you nicer the head about illegal immigration, undocumented workers, DACA, ICE, etc.  It was way too message-y for me.   I wanted to like it, and I appreciated the performers, but it was all a bit too much for my taste.