Riedel on Lestat, The Palace, & The Wedding Singer

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 2:15am

"WHAT'S more anemic than the victim of a vampire?

Try the box office of "Lestat."

A week after opening to some of the worst reviews for any show this season, Elton John's $10 million vampire fiasco finds itself on the critical list.

Ticket sales are averaging about $50,000 a day, which simply is not enough to keep the show going for long. (Rule of thumb on Broadway: To stay in the black, a $10 million show has to take in about $90,000 a day.)

A production source says Warner Bros., the show's producer, is monitoring the financial situation week to week, hoping a TV ad campaign will boost ticket sales.

But that's wishful thinking, and there's plenty of talk that "Lestat" will fold before the June 11 Tony Awards.

The vultures are already circling around the Palace.

The producers of "The Pajama Game" are considering transferring their hit revival there after it finishes up its sold-out run at the nonprofit American Airlines Theater.

The producers of both "Curtains," John Kander and Fred Ebb's very funny new show, and "Legally Blonde," yet another musical based on a movie, are also sniffing around the Palace.

"Lestat" certainly can't count on getting a bump from Tony nominations; in fact, it's likely to be shut out of the Tonys - although it's possible director Rob Jess Roth could get a special citation for Worst Direction in the History of the Broadway Musical.


ANOTHER dog of a show, "The Wedding Singer," isn't in quite as bad shape as "Lestat."

It's been taking in around $70,000 a day, and is benefiting from a skillfully produced TV commercial. (Don't be fooled: What looks good on TV will bore you to tears in the theater.)

Unlike "Lestat," "The Wedding Singer" will probably pick up a few Tony nominations.

Not, God willing, for Best Musical, but probably for Felicia Finley, the only genuinely witty performer in the show, and possibly for pretty leading lady Laura Benanti, who sings the show's one halfway decent song, "Come Out of the Dumpster." (And Get into a Better Show!)

At the opening, comatose first-nighters were trying to figure out what went wrong with "The Wedding Singer," which is based on the hugely popular 1998 movie.

The consensus is that the movie was essentially a vehicle for two terrific movie stars - Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Take them out of the equation, and you're left with pretty flimsy stuff."

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/68043.htm

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 2:34am

Margo, do you know anything about "Curtains". I always thought the last show Kander and Ebb wrote was "The Visit".

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 2:40am

Previous CURTAINS thread

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 2:55am

the wedding singer is far from boring and lestat is certainly not my favorite, but i have seen worse musicals. i hope these shows stay open and the cast/crew of these production don't lose their job.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 2:56am

<----- "One should learn to use the search feature before asking questions" :)

Thanks Smaxie.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 3:41am

I haven't seen "Wedding Singer" yet but even a few of the bad reviews pointed out that the audiences seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Updated On: 5/5/06 at 03:41 AM

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 4:15am

That's funny, because "Come Out of the Dumpster" is my least favorite part of WS. It makes me want to kick things violently.

Well, my second least favorite. The Pong thing? Blows.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 10:11am

The Pong thing is funny for about two seconds, until you realize that it's the wrong time period for the show. I agree with whoever said they should have used Pacman instead.

"Come Out of the Dumpster" is my least favorite song, too. Both times that I saw WS, Laura's "accent" went in and out phrase by phrase.

WS has SO many good production numbers, and it is a fun show. I just wish the stuff between the songs was as interesting.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 10:17am

can we subtitle this "the chronicles of snarkia"?

i just hope that roth's special tony will include a montage with copious footage of him taking during the rehearsal process.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 10:22am

Here's a link to the Ahmanson web site. Curtains is playing July 25 through September 10 with David Hyde Pierce attached...
Curtains on the Ahmanson schedule

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 10:47am

Highly doubtful that Laura Benanti will receive a Tony nomination. So many strong women this year - No room for Ms. Benanti.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 11:38am

If Sutton is supporting not leading, Rose, Laura stands a huge chance.

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 11:45am

I think it's funny that we now consider Adam Sandler a "terrific movie star" considering how despised he was by critics until Punch Drunk Love. Ashton Kutcher movies get better reviews than his did.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 11:46am

I love Benati, but she should not get a TONY nom for WS.

[angelic1]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 12:07pm

I ditto the Benanti love, but I think she's the least likely to get a Tony nom from Wedding Singer. Not that I didn't like her in the role, but I seem to be in the minority.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 12:14pm

The Pajama Game should NOT move into the palace. A smaller theatre would fit it better, just in terms of the scale of the show itself...

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 12:34pm

So long as it stays open until the Tony Awards I dont care. Reason: Holiday to NYC 6th-12th and I must add another flop to my list!

That and I do love Carolee

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 1:46pm

Without big stars, THE PAJAMA GAME opening at The Palace would be sudden death for the show.

Sutton Foster is absolutely a featured role, and I don't understand HOW she can be considered as leading, at all.

Chita Rivera is also up for best actress, and may just get the extra slot due to lack of strong female performances this year, and just because she's Chita Rivera.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 4:47pm

I agree, Pajama Game in the Palace is the wrong move. I don't think the revival will sell without any "names" in the show. Legally Blonde would probably be a good fit, plus its in Times Square and its a recognizable name.

Wedding Singer a bore? He must have horrible tastes, or just not enjoy comedy.

[musicman89]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:08pm

I wish that A CHORUS LINE could open at the Palace instead of the Schoenfeld. It is going to be difficult to turn a profit in that theatre.

I agree with the consensus that THE PAJAMA GAME is going to have a tough time once its original limited run is completed, especially without Connick's name attached to the project.

Benanti is not going to get a nomination. It seems pretty clear that LuPone, LaChanze, Friedman, Rivera, and O'Hara are going to be the likely nominees. Foster will be Featured, she'll have a better chance at winning in that category than in Leading.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:12pm

I night be nuts but I think Sutton will be in leading for sure! And agree that Benanti is going to get the diss...she's a talent but needs another show.Who do you think is in the running for featured actress anyway?

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:13pm

It's so sad what he said about LeStat. No show should be doing that badly. But hey, that's life.

The Wedding Singer is amazing at the very beginning and very end. Otherwise, it just kinds of sits there, though I do love the show. And I hate "Dumpster" as well.

[zepka102]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:13pm

"Out of the Dumpster" wasn't a favorite of mine either. i think Laura did a much better job during "Someday" and "If I Told You." Felicia was really great, but i think if anyone should be nominated in that show, it should be Amy Spanger.

[Roger246]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:17pm

I think Grey Gardens should move into the Palace Theatre. Well, at least, I can hope!

[Testing1232]

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

I love his comments on the "Wedding Singer". To me, they were dead on !! I was surprised at how many people on the boards liked
"TWS"- To each their own, I guess.