SMASH Previews — Page 9

Now we wait and see if Robyn is back tonight and if Nielsen makes her debut.

Hurder is out again tonight.

BdwyFan said: "How about Kristine Nielsen?"

Haven't heard. Hurder made a IG post about how physically demanding the role of Ivy is. Hopefully she's able to handle this role 8/shows per week.

Sounds like a case of creative differences.

I also saw last night’s show with Katie Webber in the Ivy/Marilyn role, as myself a former longtime fan of the music of the tv series and agree that she got the job done but lacked that extra “something” vocal-wise (though was a “trouper&rdquo. Also interesting that the actual creative team came out, upfront to announce that she’d be assuming the role over not only the expected lead but the understudy that was scheduled to be her substitute, and that later this “third choice” idea was mirrored in the show’s actual plot with Chloe (as if the show wasn’t already “meta” in concept enough!) - complete with the “director” also addressing the “audience”. I agree that the audience was to me almost disproportionately enthusiastic based on the material. However - notwithstanding all of the criticisms - my family and I thought that the first half was surprisingly effective and funny and made good use of the material from the show.


I wish I could say the same for the second half where the story to me really fell off the rails. Anyone who is a fan of the show I’m sure came to see the rivalry between Ivy and Karen. So why introduce a 3rd Marilyn? And why so completely sideline the prospect of Karen ultimately assuming the role (after opening night when she was “sick”?) “Random” (as my teen daughter might say).

Not enough was made upfront about Ivy and Karen being friends, such that their reconciliation at the end (to me inexplicably and forcedly to the “Second Hand White Baby Grand” song) felt abrupt. Why only after this have Ivy fire her dramaturge? Why have them “explain” how Ivy apologized to the cast without showing it? Why were Ivy’s feeling of guilt done so inelegantly overall in the first place? It all felt so rushed and tacked on.

Also: as others have pointed out - how does one close out the show with the assistant character doing a song? Where’s the big Bombshell finish (with Karen assuming the role) that many might naturally have instead expected? And others have pointed out that - as good as the songs are from the tv show - that I can think of only 2 instance where they functioned theatrically - to advance the actual plot and the character’s inner thoughts and feelings so I’m surprised they didn’t find a better way to insert at least SOME sort of double meaning like they did routinely on the tv show (notwithstanding their attempt to do this with “White Baby Grand” during the Karen/Ivy reconciliation scene that felt so “tacked on&rdquo.

I truly hope they re-address some of these mostly second half issues as it could be a solidly entertaining show with appropriate “fan service” - if it had some significantly better payoffs and second half plotting. But as a fan of the tv show I wish them well.

Updated On: 3/18/25 at 08:51 AM

rj433 said: "I also saw last night’s show with Katie Webber in the Ivy/Marilyn role, as myself a former longtime fan of the music of the tv series and agree that she got the job done but lacked that extra “something” vocal-wise (though was a “trouper&rdquo. Also interesting that the actual creative team came out, upfront to announce that she’d be assuming the role over not only the expected lead but the understudy that was scheduled to be her substitute, and that later this“third choice” idea was mirrored in the show’s actual plot with Chloe (as if the show wasn’t already “meta” in concept enough ) - complete with the “director” also addressing the “audience”.I agree that the audience was to me almost disproportionately enthusiastic based on the material. However - notwithstanding all of the criticisms - my family and I thought that the first half was surprisingly effective and funny and made good use of the material from the show. I wish I could say the same for the second half where the story to me really fell off the rails. Anyone who is a fan of the show I’m sure came to see the rivalry between Ivy and Karen. So why introduce a 3rd Marilyn? And why so completely sideline the prospect of Karen ultimately assuming the role (after opening night when she was “sick”?) “Random” (as my teen daughter might say). Not enough was made upfront about Ivy and Karen being friends, such that their reconciliation at the end (to me inexplicably and forcedlyto the “Second Hand White Baby Grand” song) felt abrupt. Why only after this have Ivy fire her dramaturge? Why have them “explain” how Ivy apologized to the cast without showing it? Why were Ivy’s feeling of guilt done so inelegantly overall in the first place? It all felt so rushed and tacked on. Also: as others have pointed out - how does one closeout the show with the assistant character doing a song? Where’s the big Bombshell finish (with Karen assuming the role) that many might naturally have instead expected? And others have pointed out that - as good as the songs are from the tv show -that I can thinkof only 2 instance where they functioned theatrically - to advance the actual plot and the character’s inner thoughts and feelings so I’m surprised they didn’t find a better way to insert at least SOME sort of double meaning like they did routinely on the tv show(notwithstandingtheir attempt to do thiswith “White Baby Grand” during the Karen/Ivy reconciliation scene that felt so “tacked on&rdquo. I truly hope they re-address some of these mostly second half issues as it could be a solidly entertaining show with appropriate “fan service” - if it had somesignificantly better payoffs and second half plotting. But as a fan of the tv show I wish them well."



so well articulated.


re Robyn’s return. One can speculate that she was read the riot act. The creative team making excuses and Katie’s lack of vocal power, suggest that nerves are one edge and investors are uneasy. Although, they had a way better week than Boop!

At least Robyn performed 4 performances.

Nielsen still has not

nativenewyorker2 said: "At least Robyn performed 4 performances.

Nielsen still has not"

Robyn's a trooper. I highly doubt Stroman, Shaiman, Wittman, etc. read Hurder the riot act. Hurder's attendance was very good in A Beautiful Noise. She suffered two injuries while playing Velma in Chicago last year and missed about a dozen shows plus had a week off for a vacation. Not sure about her attendance in Moulin Rouge.

Curious to know what's going on with Nielsen.

Jordan Catalano said: "ACL2006 said: "Curious to know what's going on with Nielsen."

She read the script."

Is the show that bad?!?

Is the show that bad?!?"

🤣

Sorry – was typing on my phone as I wanted to get my thoughts out right away. Hope the paragraph breaks help.

rj

"She read the script. "

OK Jordan. What would you have kept from the TV series (Season One) to satisfy TV fans of the show and hopefully make the script better?

Curious if anyone thought that the original version of Let Me Be Your Star should have been saved for the end of the entire show, with Ivy bowing out and Karen taking over. It felt like ending Act 1 at the height of the point of no return with all the current comic craziness (but without the song) would have been fine.

To me it just feels like the full fledged version of the original song feels much more like an “ending” to the whole musical (if they additionally worked out more of the act 2 plot issues). My additional two cents at any rate.