So 'witch' was worse, Redwood or Queen of Versailles?

[binau]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 3:07am

In defence of Redwood, I actually think much of the score is excellent and Idina did the right thing going for a fresh new writer. "Drive" could be a club banger if re-arranged, "The Stars" has a beautiful melody, "In the Leaves" is incredibly joyous and high energy, "No Repair" gives Idina a next to normal-like moment and the show stopping "Still" with that gorgeous high note. 

I don't like much I've 'heard' from Queen of V. 

To save face Kristen and Idina should capitalise on the Wicked hype and come back to Broadway with a Mary Martin and Ethel Merman style concert. THAT would sell out quickly. Maybe as a tongue-in-cheek reference to their recent failures they can open with "I wanna be a producer" from The Producers 

Updated On: 11/25/25 at 03:07 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 5:55am

Redwood definitely had a stronger score than Queen of Versailles. However, I had a much better time at Queen of Versailles than I did at Redwood...

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 9:10am

I'll bite here: I actually liked REDWOOD and will carry it with me for some time. Even if its metaphors didn't always make sense and the book wasn't always coherent, I had a nice evening. Pleasant visuals (Stella is wondrous), and the cast album is def worth a listen with some highlights throughout. "Still" is indeed the high-water mark, that and the scene with Piser + Menzel leading into it ("It was not your fault." ) were genuine tearjerkers. And I heard echoes of Gavin Creel's final text message to his good pal Benj Pasek:

"Everybody dies / So while you're still alive, live." ;(

As for VERSAILLES, I haven't seen it and it isn't really my thing. I'm just hoping for a cast album in that regard.

 

 

 

[dirty dog]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 12:35pm

The Queen of Versailles is a million times better than Redwood.  Versailles is a book musical with a dramatic score.  Standout songs include Caviar Dreams, Little Houses, Pretty Wins, This is Not the Way my Movie Ends, that song where she’s becoming a personality, watch?  Redwood is more of a concept musical with pop songs. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 1:00pm

I’d also like to add that I appreciate how REDWOOD treated the theme of child loss and how painful it can be for parents (miscarriage or not). Tina Landau has said before that the Spencer character was inspired by her nephew, who took his own life early in the pandemic. 

Hopefully people that may be grieving someone or something discover this show + music in the future and know they’re not alone.

Updated On: 11/25/25 at 01:00 PM

[dirty dog]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 1:08pm

I thought all of that was half assed honestly.  The monologue at the end when she reveals what happened to the son felt way more elitist than anything I saw in Versailles.  Both have kids who die of drug overdoses, Idina comes across as a Karen the entire way through, and puts her entitled kid on a plane to LA.  
 

Kristin Chenoweth plays it like she wants this big house full of friends and family and pets, she even takes in her brother’s kid and treats her like her own.  On top of the fact that she started from nothing.  

[Sauja]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 1:41pm

I think Queen of Versailles failed on a number of levels--primarily because it didn't seem to take a strong point-of-view about the main character. I'm sure the fact that she's listed in the Playbill means she had some degree of feedback, which I strongly suspect kneecapped the project. All of that said, if it failed, it did so with ambition. It was all over the place, but it TRIED.

 

Redwood, for me, was borderline unwatchable. One of the ugliest physical productions I've ever seen, but more than that, it somehow found a way to make the most sympathetic character, a woman grieving the loss of her only child, seem...not UNsympathetic, but...borderline. 

 

My completely subjective take: Queen of Versailles didn't work, but I HATED Redwood. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 2:07pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "I’d also like to add that I appreciate how REDWOOD treated the theme of child loss and how painful it can beforparents (miscarriage or not). Tina Landau has said before that the Spencer character was inspired byher cousin, who took his own life early in the pandemic.

Hopefully people that may be grieving someone or something discover this show + musicin the future and know they’re not alone."

On the other hand, I know many people who would avoid a musical about losing someone, especially a child. I can't speak to the current plays, but I think people want escapism in terms of their musicals especially since last January, when Redwood opened. Has there ever been a long running, successful Broadway show that ever opened in January?

Both women love creating new material, but both of these shows were actively bad. However, if they get together for a concert, it will sell incredibly well. Both women are popular, but when the shows suck that will never matter.

 

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 2:07pm

I thought both were just okay, and I think Idina gave the better performance (despite sounding pretty tired when I saw her) but The Queen of Versailles is 100% the better musical. I will always enjoy Idina on stage, and love that she champions completely new musicals on Broadway, but Redwood was a bewildering watch (to put it kindly.)

[binau]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 3:11pm

I fully get and understand exactly what you are talking about RE: the final lines leading up to "Still". The piano underscoring, Idina an emotional wreck talking to someone that isn't real. You just know that it was tearing her apart not knowing whether it was an accident or something and the relief when the son says "It was an accident". Idk, I have been through a lot of **** myself, I don't really think anyone that is obsessed with musical theatre are the kind of people that haven't been through trauma so I really get it. Those high "Still" notes are like a cathartic release. 

A lot of the show gave me next to normal vibes and Tom Kitt I didn't even realise was actually involved in the music production in some way. 

Sometimes shows get so panned that it becomes embarrassing to say you're a fan of the material or even suggest it's good but I think the scores for Redwood, Lempicka and Boop for example are some of the best new scores I have heard in years and years. 
 

Updated On: 11/25/25 at 03:11 PM

[dirty dog]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 4:48pm

Lempicka and boop, for sure.  But redwood?  I enjoy it like I enjoy pop music, but not as a dramatic piece watching/listening to it in a theatre. 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 5:07pm

Sutton Ross said: "Has there ever been a long running, successful Broadway show that ever opened in January?"

Curiously enough, The Phantom of the Opera opened in January, so the answer is yes. I know that's almost 40 years ago now, so it doesn't much affect your point.