THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Musical - News & Discussion Thread- Page 17

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:39am

Chris Jones

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-devil-wears-prada-musical-chicago-review-20220808-y6nxcuksa5byvp25obrbonuiza-story.html

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:32am

Wow Chris Jones and Johnny Oleksinski both really hated it.

Updated On: 8/8/22 at 01:32 AM

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:40am

I hope this (and hopefully other bad reviews to come) kill the show.

Enough with the mediocrity of these movie to musical productions. It’s not good enough. Audiences deserve more.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 2:19am

Dolly80 said: "I hope this (and hopefully other bad reviews to come) kill the show.

Enough with the mediocrity of these movie to musical productions. It’s not good enough. Audiences deserve more."

Reviews can be as fair as you think. But aiming for a show to close is low. If the audience doesn't connect with it, sales will reflect that. Yet, this is income for hundreds and they deserve their jobs as stage professionals.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 7:32am

“ You’ve Prada be kidding me.”

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 8:45am

Does anyone think that these notices may give the producer’s second thoughts of bringing this to Broadway?

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 8:54am

Another local review

New City Stage

”But the story insists on grounding itself in the maudlin morality tale of Andy and her friends, earnest and striving but, well, dull, a tone the production design reinforces by setting their scenes in dark and drab palettes at a pool hall or in a dingy apartment, with songs that sink as soon as they are sung.”

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 9:58am

CarlosAlberto said: "Does anyone think that these notices may give the producer’s second thoughts of bringing this to Broadway?"

I hope so. Unless it’s completely reworked, what would be the point? I’m not sure if they have a theater locked in yet (TroyNow?)

Serious question - in recent memory, Has there ever been a show that got really bad out of town reviews and transferred anyway? 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 10:15am

Serious question - in recent memory, Has there ever been a show that got really bad out of town reviews and transferred anyway?"

Maybe Pretty Woman?  The thing with PW though was that it had an audience, those who LOVED the movie, because liked it or not, the production was a good representation of the movie on stage - book by Garry Marshall, and all of the elements you expect to see were in the show (including dead on costumes).  Those expecting to see "theatre" were disappointed by a lackluster score, an outdated/offensive storyline, and poor production values.  Their audience dried up quickly though, particularly once the show got shut out during awards season. 

TDWP tries to distinguish itself from the movie (new looks, diverse cast, many cut iconic lines/scenes) so you can't please that audience, and it's bad theatre.  Not sure who their target audience is here.  

Updated On: 8/8/22 at 10:15 AM

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:11pm

A very kind video review from Dean Richards on WGN. He gives it a B+. Not sure if that has anything to do with the fact that his segment is sponsored by Broadway in Chicago. 
 

Dean Richards - WGN

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:17pm

Marlothom said: "Serious question - in recent memory, Has there ever been a show that got really bad out of town reviews and transferred anyway?"

Maybe Pretty Woman? The thing with PW though was that it had an audience, those who LOVED the movie, because liked it or not, the production was a good representation of the movie on stage - book by Garry Marshall, and all of the elements you expect to see were in the show (including dead on costumes). Those expecting to see "theatre" were disappointed by a lackluster score, an outdated/offensive storyline, and poor production values. Their audience dried up quickly though, particularly once the show got shut out during awards season.

TDWP tries to distinguish itself from the movie (new looks, diverse cast, many cut iconic lines/scenes) so you can't please that audience, and it's bad theatre. Not sure who their target audience is here."

Great point(s). Say what you will about Pretty Woman as a musical, but it stayed very true to the film. It was literally the movie onstage. They didn't try to do anything "unique". The show ran for a year on Broadway and is currently doing well on tour. It sounds like part of Prada's problem is that it is trying to be "unique" and not just copy the source material, which is, in theory, great, but it doesn't sound like the execution is right... Anyways, VERY curious to see this for myself this weekend... 

 

[East Village]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:21pm

How have they dealt with the race switch of the Anne Hawthaway character to a young black professional? I imagine having Miranda & Emily berate and browbeat her for being overweight and dressing poorly could come off as truly clueless — and an example of privilege 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:31pm

East Village said: "How have they dealt with the race switch of the Anne Hawthaway character to a young black professional? I imagine having Miranda & Emily berate and browbeat her for being overweight and dressing poorly could come off as truly clueless — and an example of privilege"

Race isn’t mentioned or dealt with in any way in this production. It might have been interesting to include that in the overall storyline, but many potentially interesting ideas were avoided. 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:34pm

Menken Fan said: "East Village said: "How have they dealt with the race switch of the Anne Hawthaway character to a young black professional? I imagine having Miranda & Emily berate and browbeat her for being overweight and dressing poorly could come off as truly clueless — and an example of privilege"

Race isn’t mentioned or dealt with in any way in this production. It might have been interesting to include that in the overall storyline, but many potentially interesting ideas were avoided."

Same with Emily being Asian-American,  Nigel being hispanic, (and to some extent) Christian Thompson (the character) being African-American like Andy (and one of her roommates being non-binary?).   It could have elevated all of these characters - but no. It's just ignored. 

Updated On: 8/8/22 at 12:34 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:43pm

Marlothom said: "Menken Fan said: "East Village said: "How have they dealt with the race switch of the Anne Hawthaway character to a young black professional? I imagine having Miranda & Emily berate and browbeat her for being overweight and dressing poorly could come off as truly clueless — and an example of privilege"

Race isn’t mentioned or dealt with in any way in this production. It might have been interesting to include that in the overall storyline, but many potentially interesting ideas were avoided."

Same with Emily being Asian-American, Nigel being hispanic, (and to some extent) Christian Thompson (the character) being African-American like Andy (and one of her roommates being non-binary?). It could have elevated all of these characters - but no. It's just ignored."

 

That's because race has ZERO to do with this particular story!  Would you be happier if they fired the current cast and replaced them with white actors??  And please spare me with the talk of "privilege", which has become one of those meaningless buzzwords (like "woke" that is thrown around by keyboard social justice warriors in every scenario-- regardless of context.

[Fetus]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:55pm

JSquared2 said: "Marlothom said: "Menken Fan said: "East Village said: "How have they dealt with the race switch of the Anne Hawthaway character to a young black professional? I imagine having Miranda & Emily berate and browbeat her for being overweight and dressing poorly could come off as truly clueless — and an example of privilege"

Race isn’t mentioned or dealt with in any way in this production. It might have been interesting to include that in the overall storyline, but many potentially interesting ideas were avoided."

Same with Emily being Asian-American, Nigel being hispanic, (and to some extent) Christian Thompson (the character) being African-American like Andy (and one of her roommates being non-binary?). It could have elevated all of these characters - but no. It's just ignored."



That's because race has ZERO to do with this particular story! Would you be happier if they fired the current cast and replaced them with white actors?? And please spare me with the talk of "privilege", which has become one of those meaningless buzzwords (like "woke" that is thrown around by keyboard social justice warriors in every scenario-- regardless of context."

Why do you bother even breathing when you're so clearly over the world? You sound insufferable.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:01pm

I think the optics might be weird, but I don't think the show needs to address race or anything like that? It's a fluff piece. It's just pure entertainment. 

Sounds like it needs a major overhaul. I wonder how it's selling? Maybe they'll just push on anyway if it's doing okay business. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:01pm

Wait what?

"...and Nigel’s sexual orientation is open rather than implied—”I am not your gay fairy godmother."

Did anyone anywhere on the globe believe the Tucci Nigel was 1) straight or 2) purposely not revealed? If anything, the subtly of portraying Nigel without some baldly stated identification sounds more 2022, as if they've actually got the updating backward. Gay characters announcing their gayness seems more Duane-Margo Applause. And that was 1970. Also, is it really a step forward to give Nigel a husband? One of the critical components of the internecine sacrifices in the story is Nigel's complete investment in his career. It has nothing to do with straight or gay and feels extraneous. 

Updated On: 8/8/22 at 01:01 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:06pm

Why on earth would you want to make race an issue in this show? Miranda is already the boss from hell and now people want to have it implied she’s a racist, too?

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:24pm

Of course, making Miranda racist isn't the only way to address race in the show should they want to do it. Not saying it needs to be done, but I could understand the temptation given longstanding criticisms of the fashion industry.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:24pm

Fetus said: 

Why do you bother even breathing when you're so clearly over the world? You sound insufferable."

 

OK -- let's see which of us can hold their breath longer -- you first, doll!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:28pm

Race isn’t mentioned or dealt with in any way in this production. It might have been interesting to include that in the overall storyline, but many potentially interesting ideas were avoided. 

The film didn't cover it and we all survived. Honestly, most people go to theater to escape, especially a show like this. The Devil Wears Big Lots. 

This ain't Black No More or Thoughts of a Colored Man.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:30pm

Auggie27 said: "Wait what?

"...and Nigel’s sexual orientation is open rather than implied—”I am not your gay fairy godmother."

Did anyone anywhere on the globe believe the Tucci Nigel was 1) straight or 2) purposely not revealed? If anything, the subtly of portraying Nigel without some baldly stated identification sounds more 2022, as if they've actually got the updating backward. Gay characters announcing their gayness seems more Duane-Margo Applause. And that was 1970. Also, is it really a step forward to give Nigel a husband? One of the critical components of the internecine sacrifices in the story is Nigel's complete investment in his career. It has nothing to do with straight or gay and feels extraneous."

100% agree. I thought it was very forward thinking and writing to not even address his sexuality as it's not important to the plot or his character.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:32pm

I can see both sides of the argument in addressing the race of the characters and wasn’t suggesting they make Miranda a racist. They make a somewhat big deal of Nigel youthful struggles with being gay by giving him a whole song about it (which somehow seemed like a dated concept in current day musical theatre).  If they include that and cast the show as they did, why not acknowledge the struggles of minorities in the corporate world or the fashion industry? I think it could have been interesting, but obviously not what they were going for. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 2:10pm

The cast came after the material. Remember it was originally for Audra, so that angle wouldn't have really worked. Unless it was about her personal struggle to the top given her race, but again, that's a totally different show.