Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I am here at the Smash intermission. I love Robyn Hurder's singing and dancing. Caroline Bowman is thrilling up watch. I didn't expect to see and hear what the director decided to present. I was thrilled to anticipate Karen going on as Marilyn. I really was hoping ho see it. But they come up with a silly plot line about Karen eating a tampered cupcake and being unable to go on. WTF! Irealize that the producers didn't want to replicate the tv show, but their choices are insane. It's almost unrecognizable . Granted , the lady who went on for Karen had a good voice,. slightly soprano like. The audience liked her. At this point, I frankly don't know what to expect. Also, the old lady in black is frankly annoying. P.S. There was a good deal of extended applause when she finished Don't Forget Me. She was visibly moved. Uh oh, intermission is almost over. I am typing on one finger."
Continuing on.....I thought the 2nd Act was better. The whole premise of having the asst. director thrown into the show is kind of not great. Throughout much of the show, I thought the character of Karen was being given short shrift. Even after Karen recuperates from that dumbass tampered donut business, it is ridiculous that Chloe is being considered to take over the role. It was one frigging song. Just because she suddenly gained online praise doesn't mean she is qualified for the role. That's whu there's an understudy!!!! Granted the actress playing Chloe is vocally talented. I had hoped for a more familiar scenario. Whoever wrote the book must have been out of his mind. I did love the duet between Karen and Ivy Lynn. Robyn Hurder and Caroline Bowman were wonderful in their solos. You could see they were visibly moved by the thunderous ovations. Firing the director before previews? Give me a break. Once the show was over, there was an extended standing ovation of course. After hearing some of the speeches, I decided to exit the theatre and go around back to the Smash stage door. I planted myself in front of the entrance. As the cast came out, they started on th right and worked their way around to the left. I did manage to take some pictures.
Caroline Bowman
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
