TAMMY FAYE Reviews- Page 7

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 2:05pm

Kad said: "It should be noted that the musical whitewashes Jim Bakker’s relationship to Jessica Hahn. It’s portrayed as simply an affair- her allegations of being drugged and raped are not mentioned at all."

I would be fascinated to know why they made this choice.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 2:22pm

It's a sort of sympathetic depiction of Bakker overall, or at least one that treats him as pitiful. He comes off as a doofy beta male who lacks Tammy Faye's star quality and charisma but is desperate for adoration and success. He's depicted as more of a victim of his own need to be liked and of Falwell's scheming than anything else.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 3:23pm

DramaTeach said: "EricMontreal22 said: "Isn't this a similar trajectory to what happened with American Psycho? Both opened with limited runs at the *350* seat Almeida Theatre in London, sold those 6-8 weeks very well, and got good reviews, etc. And then their next stop was opening on Broadway in a theatre four times the size, for an open ended commercial run, which got bad (very bad in this case) reviews and didn't sell well... My question is, with shows playing very differently on Broadway, and playing very differently in a significantly larger house, why wouldn't the producers think to try the show somewhere else before Broadway as another try out? A west end transfer, an out of town American run, etc? I mean, I know that adds significantly to the cost, and there are other factors to think about, but it just seems foolish to think that if I show plays well for a few weeks in a tiny, intimate theatre in London that the next stop should be a Broadway house."

Maybe transfer-wise, but American Psycho was actually very good."

I mean... that's irrelevant to the point I was making (I mostly really like AP too.)  The Broadway critics certainly didn't think it was compared to the British ones.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 3:26pm

TheatreMonkey said: " Instead of a West End run, or more smartly, a Stateside pre-Broadway engagement to test out how the material lands on the home audience, they must have thought time was of the essence -- and riding the wave the initial production generated would be the wisest course. (Hindsight is 20/20, of course.)


ETA: And there was also probably a feeling of "insulation" with the pedigree of the creative team attached, rightly or wrongly. "The New Elton John musical!" "Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters!" "Award-winning James Graham!" In prior seasons, that may have meant more to the general public than it does currently."

Oh, I think those are great points.  Although, does Jake Shears have much traction in the US outside of gay audiences?  Scissor Sisters had some MASSIVE hits in the UK (I was living there when their first album was absolutely everywhere) but...  (It didn't make much impact when he co-wrote the score for Tales of the City the Musical which I saw in SF and... I seem to be in the minority, but thought the score was one of the aspects of that mess that worked.)

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 3:47pm

They also may have been competing with Devil Wears Prada if they opened on the West End this season too. 

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 3:57pm

Charley Kringas Inc said: "Kad said: "It should be noted that the musical whitewashes Jim Bakker’s relationship to Jessica Hahn. It’s portrayed as simply an affair- her allegations of being drugged and raped are not mentioned at all."

I would be fascinated to know why they made this choice."

Just a small modification, she does mention being coerced, which is a form of rape. Musical Jessica specifically states "He took the most important thing to a woman and stripped it away from me." It's not framed consensually at all. I don't think him drugging her is mentioned by in act two it's very clear he raped her, even if Jim is portrayed as not believing that. 

I saw it again opening after seeing third preview and whatever changes occurred (besides the bathroom scene and some choreography changes) were not noticeable to the audience, and I watched the biodrama from 2021 between seeing these show and definitely think that gives a fuller picture of the story than this musical ever could.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:01pm

BWAY1430, ARE YOU OK?!?!

[Kad]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:07pm

dearalanaaaa said: "Charley Kringas Inc said: "Kad said: "It should be noted that the musical whitewashes Jim Bakker’s relationship to Jessica Hahn. It’s portrayed as simply an affair- her allegations of being drugged and raped are not mentioned at all."

I would be fascinated to know why they made this choice."

Just a small modification, she does mention being coerced, which is a form of rape. Musical Jessica specifically states "He took the most important thing to a woman and stripped it away from me." It's not framed consensually at all. I don't think him drugging her is mentioned by in act two it's very clear he raped her, even if Jim is portrayed as not believing that."

I don't think it's clear at all- and from the context, I thought it was referring to her virginity (she explicitly states, as they leave the motel, that it was her first time). The entire vibe I got from the depiction of her grievance was that she felt used and cast aside.

 

Updated On: 11/16/24 at 04:07 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:13pm

But of course, Bernadette Peters and Kevin Spacey were the best Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker in the 1990 TV movie FALL FROM GRACE: 

 

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:17pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "But of course, Bernadette Peters and Kevin Spacey were the best Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker in the 1990 TV movie FALL FROM GRACE:

 

"

Wow. Just wow...something I never knew I needed in my life before now!

[MezzoDiva47]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:28pm

RippedMan said: "They also may have been competing with Devil Wears Prada if they opened on the West End this season too."

 

devil wears prada sounds like a mess

how long has it been gestating

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:29pm

Jordan Catalano said: "BWAY1430, ARE YOU OK?!?!"


They’re like Richard Burton in BOOM! but way weirder. They manifest but once a season to obsessively defend Broadway’s greatest flop that year then disappear into the Italian sunset.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 4:34pm

MezzoDiva47 said: "RippedMan said: "They also may have been competing with Devil Wears Prada if they opened on the West End this season too."

devil wears prada sounds like a mess

how long has it been gestating

A newly tweaked and with a different creative team production from Chicago is currently in London, starring Vanessa Williams: 

 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 6:02pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "MezzoDiva47 said: "RippedMan said: "They also may have been competing with Devil Wears Prada if they opened on the West End this season too."

devil wears prada sounds like a mess

how long has it been gestating

A newly tweaked and with a different creative team production from Chicagois currently in London, starring Vanessa Williams:

 

"

Holy Hell did that first song feel like Kinky Boots and then reading the comments? I wasn't the first to think so...

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 10:35pm

I just got out of tonight’s show (someone sold me a $300 seat on Theatr for $30) and they did do a LOT of work on it. A lot of small details seem to be clarified with some nips and tucks, as well as the omission of a song (which I’m trying to still figure out which one).

It’s still middling and Tammy isn’t as much of the focus as she should be. I don’t think it’s as bafflingly terrible as it once was, but I’m still not out here praising the Lord for the show’s existence. Brayben definitely was more leaned into the drama of it all, but her and Borle are still on different wavelengths. He can’t seem to strike any balance between stiff and manic - he’s so wrong.

Somehow, Michael Cerveris still seems to walk away with the whole damn show.

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 10:59pm

Michael Cerveris is to the morally repugnant antihero/snake what Patrick Page is to the classic villain. Given a role like Falwell, it's almost a guaranteed home run for the man who gave us Bruce Bechdel and one of the more unsettling Sweeney Todds.

[bway1430]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 3:51am

TotallyEffed said: "Jordan Catalano said: "BWAY1430, ARE YOU OK?!?!"


They’re like Richard Burton in BOOM! but way weirder. They manifest but once a season to obsessively defend Broadway’s greatest flop that year then disappear into the Italian sunset."

I haven't gone anywhere. Dealing with other things in life including a relative who isn't long for this world so pardon my disappearance but thanks for noticing. :-)

To back up a bit to earlier hateful posts, I'm also not a "shill", just an avid theatre fan who occasionally gets behind a show that shows a bit of promise and likes to see an underdog occasionally come through. Many of them don't. Like TAMMY FAYE, I also had a lot of hope for critical flops like CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, AMERICAN PSYCHO and too many more to mention in my 48+ years of attending shows. Sue me.

Looks like TAMMY FAYE may not be the hit some of us had hoped for when we saw it at the Almeida a few years ago. It has no tangible consequence to me either way....but wow, what a hatefest on this thread. Perhaps I got Jordan wrong but I don't think I was that far off the mark given what could be percieved as snarky posts once the reviews came out. But posts can be misinterpreted so maybe he well and truly missed me. :-)

In any event, like it or not, I am still lurking in the shadows.

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 8:15am

EricMontreal22 said: "Oh, I think those are great points. Although, does Jake Shears have much traction in the US outside of gay audiences? Scissor Sisters had some MASSIVE hits in the UK (I was living there when their first album was absolutely everywhere) but... (It didn't make much impact when he co-wrote the score for Tales of the City the Musical which I saw in SF and... I seem to be in the minority, but thought the score was one of the aspects of that mess that worked.)"

Tales of the City WASN'T a mess, that's what was so sad. I can't remember who wrote the book, but they somehow got almost all of that story in without the say, Lestat-like "let's hit every point or this big ass narrative but not explore any character or real motivation". What the problem was, was the score which was beyond mediocre and that, again, lays at the feet of Jake Shears (well, partially) I don't understand why these untalented musical theatre writers keep failing UP!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 5:28pm

Owen22 said: "EricMontreal22 said: "Oh, I think those are great points. Although, does Jake Shears have much traction in the US outside of gay audiences? Scissor Sisters had some MASSIVE hits in the UK (I was living there when their first album was absolutely everywhere) but... (It didn't make much impact when he co-wrote the score for Tales of the City the Musical which I saw in SF and... I seem to be in the minority, but thought the score was one of the aspects of that mess that worked.)"

Tales of the City WASN'T a mess, that's what was so sad. I can't remember who wrote the book, but they somehow got almost all of that story in without the say, Lestat-like "let's hit every point or this big ass narrative but not explore any character or real motivation". What the problem was, was the score which was beyond mediocre and that, again, lays at the feet of Jake Shears (well, partially) I don't understand why these untalented musical theatre writers keep failing UP!"

I’m not sure why Shears keeps getting opportunities in theatre. Tales From The City score was mediocre at best. Jake could not sing the Kinky Boots score. It was truly embarrassing to watch-flat and couldn’t hit any of the money notes. His voice would just break. His solo albums have been duds. I tried listening to both and they never grabbed me.  He's really coasting on the modest success of Scissor Sisters or Elton must really like him. I don’t know how he was in Cabaret but I guess you can distract from your voice with that role. 
 

Autumn actually sounds more like Tammy Faye and laughs like Tammy in real life. A high pitch bellowing laugh.  I wonder if she’s better than Katie. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 6:09pm

Although she has had only one public performance, the word from inside the house (based on rehearsals) is that we’ve got another “Wonderful World” situation on our hands - the alternate is the superior version.

Additionally, although not confirmed, it’s looking like closing will either be 12/1 or 12/8, so opportunities to see Autumn may be very limited

[Voter]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 7:32pm

Any new update to a spring tenant?

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 8:01pm

Voter said: "Any new update to a spring tenant?"

Ragtime

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 9:15pm

Why ‘Tammy Faye’ the Musical Feels Like a Redemption

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/theater/why-tammy-faye-the-musical-feels-like-a-redemption.html?unlocked_article_code=1.a04.UJU-.cNtRb1u2QeKg

[Markie27]

Posted: 11/17/24 at 10:40pm

jkcohen626 said: "Voter said: "Any new update to a spring tenant?"

Ragtime"

If this would indeed come to fruition then so far, among all the already confirmed Spring shows coming, I believe Joshua Henry would finally win his mulch deserved Tony Award.  
 

For Best Revival, they would need to improve their set design, and for George C Wolff to fail miserably (highly unlikely) for it to beat Gypsy.  

[bway1430]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 4:54pm

JORDAN CATALANO, ARE YOU OK?!!!!

You seemed so concerned about my wherabouts since you posted it many times on this thread....and now you are nowhere to be seen.....so strange (weird in fact)  that folks send messages asking where you are then disappear into the sunset never to be seen again.....

Just me asking....the old skool "shill", in case you forgot. :-)