THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#1
Posted: 7/12/11 at 7:32pm
Some of you may be too young to remember this, but July 17, 2009 was the date of the first preview of The Old Globe's pre-Broadway (Broadway itself remains to be seen) production of THE FIRST WIVES CLUB starring Karen Ziemba, Barbara Walsh, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
To commemorate the second anniversary of this groundbreaking American musical, I wanted to start a thread for interested parties to share memories and/or testimonials about what THE FIRST WIVES CLUB means to us.
I'll be posting mine, of course, but first I'd like to open the floor to anyone else who'd like to participate.
"Ready for Change / Jump for Joy" clip
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#2
Posted: 7/12/11 at 7:34pmHas it really been two years already? I guess it's true what they say about healing. The pain never goes away completely but it does get easier to manage.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#2
Posted: 7/12/11 at 7:38pm
I'm red-day for change!
Seriously though, I never saw the show live but watching The Old Globe's preview videos gave me the impression that it was one of those so-bad-it's-good type shows, like In My Life or Good Vibrations.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#3
Posted: 7/12/11 at 7:40pmJennifer North WAS right all along!
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#4
Posted: 7/12/11 at 7:42pmIt was, James. It was... (sheds tear)
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#5
Posted: 7/12/11 at 9:37pm
It was something else entirely. a beautiful two and a half hours.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#6
Posted: 7/12/11 at 9:48pmStill awaiting a cast recording.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#7
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:20pm
As if I already didn't have enough reasons to dislike Barbara Walsh as a performer and along comes this mess of a show and video accompaniment.
Updated On: 7/13/11 at 10:20 PM
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#8
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:41pm"Gonna be outrageous! Contagious!"
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#9
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:43pmIt was red-day for broad-way
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#10
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:46pmI remember the video blogs Sam Harris used to do while he was driving.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#11
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:54pmI'm red-day for a revival.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#12
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:57pmGonna have a remembrance! Dismembermence!
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#13
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:58pmI sent an email to Jack Viertel asking for him to consider it for Encores next season.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#14
Posted: 7/12/11 at 10:59pm
They couldn't Jump For Joy. 
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#15
Posted: 7/12/11 at 11:03pmComing next year in 3D!
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#16
Posted: 7/12/11 at 11:09pmI want the revival to star Frank Wildhorn, Bono & Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Leading Actor Joined: 3/21/11
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#17
Posted: 7/12/11 at 11:19pm
"I remember the video blogs Sam Harris used to do while he was driving."
Yes! I remember this too. I had to dig them up.
Sitzprobe & Opening night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJE-GrrRYM
Reaction to the first reviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghEVEX-cxB4
"WHO THAT IS? MY BABY DADDY!" was like my favorite thing for a good week or two.
Updated On: 7/12/11 at 11:19 PM
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#18
Posted: 7/12/11 at 11:28pm
Ladies, gentlemen, and (first) wives,
I give you Barbara Walsh's stirring Act 1 finale. A few highlights:
:40 - Watch her forlornly wipe that counter. This woman is truly in pain.
:45 - "Just keeps hold on..." Wha?
1:23 - Twirls necklace. I bet cheating hubby gave her that necklace! (At least in the backstory she's worked out in her head, no thanks to the script).
1:30 - Reaches out during lyric "I keep reaching out." Literal staging, thy name is Zambello.
1:38 - Clutches heart during "love."
1:44-1:45 - Keyboardist messes up. Listen carefully.
1:54 - I am obsessed with this production's use of chimes.
2:03 - Turns on phone, reaches friend's voicemail without even dialing.
2:27 - Picks up wedding ring. Could she really be ready to try again??
2:37 - Bad ass rock star pose.
2:43 - Vibrato getting intense.
2:50-2:52 - Slips ring on her finger, holds it close. She's willing but still bruised. Heartbreaking!
2:56 - Spreads her arms, ready to fly!
3:01-3:03 - "Annnndddd aaahhhhh wiiiiil..." Vibrato reaches a thrilling crescendo!
3:11 - Those pesky chimes again!
3:25 - Craziest vibrato yet as Zambello rips off the Act 1 finale of DREAMGIRLS.
3:32 - Could the rest of the cast look any less enthused to be back onstage?
3:36-3:38 - Particularly the black female ensemble member. Just look at that swagger!
3:45 - Barbara puts her hand on her heart "one more time" as history is made!
"My Heart Wants To Try One More Time"
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#19
Posted: 7/12/11 at 11:58pmtime to play that shaky audio in the honor of First Wives.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#21
Posted: 7/13/11 at 12:22am
Keyboardist messes up. Listen carefully.
That sounded intentional to me.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#22
Posted: 7/13/11 at 12:46amI love Barbara Walsh, but... yikes.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#23
Posted: 7/13/11 at 1:15amNot to forget Sam Harris' botox. His forehead could not jump for joy.
THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread#24
Posted: 7/13/11 at 4:21amI'd rather watch Deliverance the musical!
Videos
