Sean Hayes/Sarah Jane Everman in Promises, Promises

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 12:47am

I finally saw the show I was most looking forward to seeing this season.
I absolutely loved it, the dancing and the choreography were Tony-worthy, the songs, the book. It was the perfect evening at the theatre.

Sean Hayes is a surprise. Wonderful, hilarious, he truly leads the show and does an amazing job. A top notch performer.

Sarah Jane Everman sounds a lot like Kristin Chenoweth, but her voice is even richer and her belting was a joy to hear. She was thrilling tonight. Any fans of the show should run to the Broadway Theatre this week to see her as Fran.

Tony Goldwyn is perfect for this role, this famous "villain" looks great and sounded great. Who would have guessed this Hollywood hunk could sing? Loved him.

Katie Finneran...how can I begin? What a great role for a comedic actress, she nailed it. She was pure joy, the audience went crazy over her at the end. I haven't seen anything like this in a long time. She got applauses when she appeared onstage(probably from people that knew she was nominated for a Tony or fans seeing the show multiple times). She truly stole the 2nd act. Brava!

Updated On: 5/27/10 at 12:47 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 12:50am

Katie Finneran...how can I begin? What a great role for a comedic actress, she nailed it. She was pure joy, the audience went crazy over her at the end. I haven't seen anything like this in a long time. She got applauses when she appeared onstage(probably from people that knew she was nominated for a Tony or fans seeing the show multiple times). She truly stole the 2nd act. Brava! A star is born.

How could she be giving a "star is born" performance? She already has a Tony and is a well established theatre actress, with a slew of credits. She's not some newbie whose talents are being "discovered" in this show.

Updated On: 5/27/10 at 12:50 AM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 12:51am

Ooops, I forgot that. Thanks for the correction.

[CandiceElyse]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 1:18am

i saw the show this month and loved it too, i just don't understand why they didn't merit a best revival tony nom so sad. but oh well, it doesn't take away from the greatness of the show!

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:00am

How could she be giving a "star is born" performance? She already has a Tony and is a well established theatre actress, with a slew of credits. She's not some newbie whose talents are being "discovered" in this show.

Another self-proclaimed theater aficionado who don't know jack about what they are talking about and toss around a lot of "buzz phrases" and words for in their posts for effect.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:05am

i just don't understand why they didn't merit a best revival tony nom...

Huh? You've got to be kidding me. Have you read the reviews on this one? I'm surprised they didn't re-title the show "TURKEY LURKEY TIME". It didn't deserve a Tony nomination for Best Revival.

The only thing sad about this production is that it was such a wasted effort...that there was no trust in the material and that because of this we will probably never again see this show mounted on Broadway ever again after this...

[Liz7]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:00am

This seems to be turning into a word of mouth show and the reviews are become less and less relevant. That is a good thing for the average theatre goer, who would miss a wonderful night of entertainment otherwise.

I actually had the pleasure of overhearing a couple the other night talking about Promises, Promises. They had seen a few shows that weekend and while Promises was not their favorite, they enjoyed it very much and said "I don't know what that Times critic was talking about. Promises, Promises was delightful. He must be losing his ability to reason properly." I chuckled all the way home.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:13am

LOL

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:30am

Yeah it's sad that mediocre is what's the public is settling for. I mean at the prices being charged to go see a show nowadays you would think people would be getting there money's worth...ad I can understand if maybe 1 or 2 critics didn't care for it, but the fact is that the production as a whole wasn't very well received by a majority and the exclusion of even a Tony nomination for Best Revival says a lot. But then again who am I? If people are actually enjoying this half-baked misguided effort then more power to them. I personally didn't care for it.
Updated On: 5/27/10 at 09:30 AM

[Piper3500]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:38am

People will say what they will about Sean Hayes but he is a huge draw for this show. (and why he is hosting the Tony's) i am sure many opinions echo the reviews but I would still see it.

I am pretty certain Sean won't win the Tony but glad he was nominated and that the show is doing well.

Posted: 5/27/10 at 10:23am

As Elaine Stritch says, never take the advice of a poster who doesn't know the difference between "there" and "their."

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 10:30am

The majority of the audience (the vast majority) seem to be enjoying it. While it may be a sign that the general masses are settling for "mediocrity", they are just enjoying themselves. It's a perfectly enjoyable show, though I think it's sadly outdated and embarrassing, and not a critical or impressive piece of theatre. It's like seeing a silly romantic comedy instead of an Oscar-worthy drama. No harm in that. I don't think it deserved a Tony nom, but you can't fault people for enjoying something that is pleasant and harmless.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 10:50am

LOL...the film it's based on won the oscar for Best Picture.

It's a great show that got a mediocre and misguided treatment. The book is still funny, if dated, the score is glorious, if not particularly well sung, Hayes is winning and Finneran is hilarious.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 10:58am

I can't agree with that Promises, Promises is a great show. It may be the best of the 'tired businessman' shows, but lordy it's still tired. The book is hoary (with none of the real bite of the movie) and the score. Well. I'll Never Fall In Love Again is a nice song.

I will say I was shocked at how well-received it was by the sold-out crowd I saw it with...on a Sunday afternoon. And Sean Hayes and Katie Finnernan were absolutely terrific. Chenoweth was definitely cast against type...but there is absolutely nothing for her to play. What a cipher of a role!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 11:05am

I've loved this score since I first heard it...so maybe it's just my cuppa...

Although I dont blame Cheno for taking the role, she was just so charm-free! Kerry O'Malley was quite charming at Encores, and frankly sang the role much better.

I really only blame the misguided concept and choreography, which was just odd...the flying businessmen during "Basketball"...what the eff was that?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 11:10am

"I am pretty certain Sean won't win the Tony but glad he was nominated and that the show is doing well"

I think he has big chances of winning actually.

To respond to some posters: I never claimed to be anything. I am just a theatre goer, and I am well aware I'm not a professional critic and I don't intend to be, but I do know the difference between "their" and "there", thank you.

Posted: 5/27/10 at 12:23pm

And that is good enough for me, 23!!!

[boardwalker2]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 12:53pm

Although I didn't care for Promises nor did I think Sean Hayes was very good at all; I'm glad you enjoyed the show muscle23. There's nothing worse then spending money on a ticket and wasting 2 hours at a show that isn't enjoyable.

Maybe Sarah Jane Everman elevates the production and Sean's performance. I saw it with Cheno. Bad. Just bad.

As for best revival; IMO Promises wasn't nominated because it's just not very good. It's doing well, but I'm not sure if that's not because of the expectation of a great score and memories of great choreography - neither of which I found particularly entertaining in this revival. (I didn't see the original so I don't know how much of the choreography is recreated or changed).

Ragtime was the best revival, bar none, that I saw this season. It deserves to win IMO. It won't because of La Cage. Another mediocre show (again IMO) which I think will win because it's La Cage.

Updated On: 5/27/10 at 12:53 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:02pm

Oh please JoeKv99 who died and made you the spelling Nazi of BWW. I was typing fast sue me...and no I'm not going to update or change it because if it bothers you that much then it stays.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:26pm

I just saw this last night. I was a bit disappointed that Kristin was out, but I totally changed my mind about that. Sarah gave a good performance, in my opinion. The music and choreography were great too.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:30pm

The music is always going to be great. It's Bacharach. He's music royalty and this is one of his crowning achievements.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:41pm

>>"She got applauses when she appeared onstage..."<<

The sound of "applauses" must be close to remarkable.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:03pm

Kristin Chenoweth's next starring role will be in the upcoming revival of APPLAUSES. Which for effect they are re-naming APPLAUSES, APPLAUSES. Lea Michele will be playing "Eve" to her "Margo", because as we ALL know she has to be in just about everything that's announced, whether she's right for it or not. I think it's scheduled to go into the Sondheim.

Updated On: 5/27/10 at 09:03 PM

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 10:16pm

Do we know how long Kristin is expected to be out? Does anyone think she will be out through this weekend?

[CandiceElyse]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 1:08am

on her twitter she said maybe she would return tomorrow...

@KChenoweth: Miserable still out of show. Prayers. Maybe tomorrow. Prayers!!!!!

or at least i assume that is what "maybe tomorrow" means.... i hope she gets better soon, poor Cheno