TAMMY FAYE Previews — Page 5

Gone are the days where shows would make MAJOR changes during previews. These days Sets, lights, etc are way too complex to make big changes. Nips and tucks sure, but big changes require going back into tech and also requires that the show has time and money to do it. Playing an 8 show a week schedule does not allow much time to make big changes to a show.

BUT…. It sounds like TF built tech time into their performance schedule so, I would not be surprised if they address most of the problems.

TBFL said: "

You really weren't kidding when you said little things bothered you.

JPII has probably 5lines in the whole show, if that, and 1 word was an issue? Yikes."









Your lack of self awareness is astounding.

No, this is not done in a way to poke fun at Tammy Faye, in any way.

Caught this last night and agree and disagree with what''s been said here.

If this was opening cold on Bway, I'd be hugely impressed and think it's gonna be incredible. Because there are some brilliant performances and some pretty unique and memorable sequences. A really great show in there.

But as it is now, it's at least 20 minutes too long, can't figure out in Act 2 what story it's telling and tries to tell them all. As things spin out of control, it both moves too quickly through important events but also spends too much time on minor characters. Ultimately it feels like it has 7 endings. And since this is the 3rd major production, I'm not hopeful this gets solved.

Also, you could feel the audience frequently unsure of when to laugh or applaud. Some of that will get fixed with preview tightening, for sure. But some of it also feels like narrative uncertainty.

A bit thought on the end, besides being overwritten and messy, the end feels like a missed opportunity:

Will this even make it to opening night? Looking at next week dates not good at all

Thanks to this board and show-score I was really afraid to see this last night ... I'm old enough to know a little bit about tammy and her husband but not much ... I wanted to see the Jessica Chastain film before the show to familiarize myself but I didn't get around to it ..

The first act was enjoyable even if the music isn't memorable and not all the jokes land. It's very campy and that was fun and some of it was truly funny. The second act is another story. At least 20-30 minutes too long so besides just being bad, it draaagggged. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

It ran 8:05-10:50 or so -- including the intermission that was probably too long. Why is it starting at 8pm anyway?

My seat was via TDF and was orchestra row L on the right side of the venue.

I thought Christian Borle was great. Cerveris and Brayden were awesome too. I doubt casting Andrew Rannells would have made a difference.
When I watched the show this week, people around me kept looking at their watches or phones during act 2. I think something else is the issue.

Updated On: 10/24/24 at 04:51 PM

TBFL said: "TotallyEffed said:

"Your lack of self awareness is astounding."


Thanks! I was going for 'mysterious and unpredictable'




Hi! So you actually come off as unhinged

Updated On: 10/27/24 at 11:30 PM

Just listened to the three tracks the show released on their YouTube channel. The songs are surprisingly earnest for a couple I remember as a pair of clownish con artists. Are there any memorable comedy songs in this show?



I remember Andrew Rannells singing a song on TV about Jesus being "Inside Him." Though this joke is recycled from "God Put the Rhythm in Me (Put it in Me)" from Altar Boyz.

Updated On: 10/25/24 at 09:26 AM

lilpunkin said: Are you suggesting that Andrew Rennells is actually the devil?

I’m sure the cast and creatives would agree with you!


Can you clarify which cast members had/have a problem with Rannells? Based on social media they seem like a close group, even after the Broadway "cast change." From a recent London meetup, to the many social media comments, birthday wishes, etc flowing both ways, well this seems suspiciously like normal interaction between friends. Or is Rannells using his satanic powers to force his former castmates into friendship?

Updated On: 10/25/24 at 10:11 PM

BorisTomashevsky said: "Looking at Tuesday and Wednesday, they may as well just close on Saturday."

Oooof. This one is ROUGH. There’s no other way of putting it. The biggest problem at hand is that this is an inherently small show that has been bloated into an overstuffed production. I did not see this across the pond, but I can 100% see how this would have worked better in a much smaller venue. The show feels out of place in the (beautifully renovated) Palace Theatre.

The score is very one note. Lots of upbeat Gospel style numbers that drag on too long about 2-3 minutes each. The story is interesting, but the book is plodding. The cast does their best. Katie Brayben is REALLY good as Tammy, and her numbers definitely fare the best. Christian Borle seemed lost at sea. He’s not BAD, but I’ve certainly seen him do a whole lot better. Michael Cerveris, god bless him, is saddled with some of the worst songs I’ve heard in a new musical in quite some time.

The cheap set and flashy lighting designs are gaudy and garish. The act 2 opening camera gimmick is merely a bad rip off of what they’re doing down the block at Sunset Boulevard. The orchestra sounded extremely tinny and canned in.

This was a miss for me. The cast was taking their bows at 4:37PM this afternoon, so the good news is that it is no longer 3 hours. The bad news, though, is that it still feels like 4.

Updated On: 10/26/24 at 05:31 PM