THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread- Page 10

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 1:08pm

The actresses imitating Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton succeed very well, Faith Prince comes across more as a truck driver instead of imitating Bette. The actresses have done no television publicity at all for the show, that could be why the box office for the show is so bad...
They are giving away tickets to tonight's performance as well...
Updated On: 3/11/15 at 01:08 PM

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 1:48pm

Just watched the video montage of clips from the show. Very sad to see that with a new original score the only song prominently featured is "Reach Out (I'll Be There)"...

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 3:44pm

Where is this video at?

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 3:48pm

It's on this site, Playbill.com, Broadway.com...

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 4:35pm

I just found it! From the looks of the video, it doesn't look dreadful. With that discount, there is no reason for me not to go see this. Looks like a spur of the moment trip is in store for this weekend!!

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 4:42pm

Be warned, it is dreadful. If you know that going in, you won't feel too cheated.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 4:51pm

I tend to love things that are awful. It's a curse. I love Scandalous, Carrie, Women on the Verge, 9 to 5, etc. So this show seems right up my alley. Plus, getting to see Faith Price for cheap is a deal I would take any day of the week!

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 5:00pm

I didn't think it was dreadful.

The songs aren't bad, they're just really bland. Several of the book scenes landed pretty well when I saw it, and I thought the structure was effective. The acting is good. It seems like they're making a lot of changes and they all seem to be good ones.

However. Too many ballads that accomplish the same thing. The last number is terrible. The chorus has nothing to do. The husbands (who are so talented) have very little to do. It's got a long way to go, I think, but it seems like it could get there.

The middle-aged ladies around me LOVED it. I know because they talked through the whole show (in between sips of champagne) and keep telling each other how much they LOVED it. This applies to the group in front of me, behind me, and to the right of me. The group of ladies to the left of me might have loved it, I don't know as they were silent through the show.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 10:48pm

I can't believe they are calling this Broadway bound...from what I have heard and from many of those in the industry that have seen it... is that it will never make it and BOMB and nobody wants to see it as they are giving tickets away.
The reviews will tell!

[mpd4165]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 9:39am

Kris Vire of Time Out Chicago is the first review out. It's completely spot-on for me.

The ladies ARE charming and great when together. Faith Prince sells these one-liners like no one else.

But good lord, the music is just awful. Ballads that say the same thing over and over, none that really capture the humor of the film, even with one titled "Whirlpool of Emotion." The book and the score clearly are not speaking the same language. The structure as KJisgroovy mentioned is there and CAN work...but you need composers that understand their songs need to propel this story forward.




First Wives Club Updated On: 3/12/15 at 09:39 AM

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 10:30am

Has anyone gone to the stage door? Do Faith and Carmen come out to sign/take photos?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 12:41pm

The video reel is just bizarre.

On one hand, they seem to have Annie wearing almost exact replicas of Diane Keaton's costumes from the movie, but Elise (who looks a lot like Goldie Hawn) is wearing one hideous ensemble after another. Is this the costume designer's version of chic? And what the hell is that wig they have on Shelly? She looks like a member of an 80s metal band. The character is tacky, yes, but she's also someone who's trying to make a legimtate impression on society. I'm also puzzled by the dresses the women are wearing in the finale- I gather they're supposed to be three variations on the same dress, yet it looks like Annie and Elise are matching while Brenda wears something completely different.

As far as the material goes, what is there to say that hasn't already been said? It looks like yet another complete misfire.

[Tom5]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 12:55pm

The problem I had with the video reel wasn't what was in it (all good) but what was missing: Namely a compelling story arc or for that matter a story arc at all.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 1:02pm

Man, Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune HATED it. And he's usually pretty kind to pre-Broadway tryouts.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-first-wives-club-review-20150312-column.html

[smallworld]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 2:33pm

Does this have a window card?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:12pm

Chicago productions don't really have window cards, although if you contact Broadway in Chicago maybe they'll sell you a poster. Get it now, 'cause after these reviews there ain't gonna be no Broadway production.

[smallworld]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:22pm

That's exactly what I was thinking... I have a feeling this will be it! Thanks for the tip!

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 5:30pm

They should update and take off > Broadway bound from all their press releases etc.
Cuz it ain't happening with those reviews...

Updated On: 3/12/15 at 05:30 PM

[Matt Legg]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 6:21pm

I did stage door with a crowd of about eight. Everyone does come out, though Faith did take quite a while. She could not be more lovely. Took multiple photos per her request. Discussed her cabaret show she did her a couple years ago. The three leads are the sole reason to see the show.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 8:38pm

What?!? I thought this show was gonna be Outrageous Contagious!

[ABB2357]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 8:46pm

The show itself may be "red-day for change" but it seems the creators aren't!

Also, Variety weighs in and it doesn't look good:


Pre-Broadway Review: ‘First Wives Club,’ The Musical Updated On: 3/12/15 at 08:46 PM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 9:00pm

I wish that Carmen Cusack had found a better project to appear on Broadway. She was fantastic in both 'Wicked' and 'South Pacific'. She apparently did not want to return to 'Wicked' because she did it for two consecutive years, in Chicago and on tour, and then temporarily returned the role in 2009 as a standby in the Australian production.

[indytallguy]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 11:38pm

Just met a couple of the producers tonight who said they are taking the feedback to heart but are a bit perplexed as they are getting very strong positive reactions from audience. This could be one of those shows that, while not necessarily critic proof, may never win their favor in significant amounts.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 9:21am

The night I was at the show, there were definitely pockets in the audience that loved it. That being said, it was about 50% full and those that loved it seemed to be groups of middle aged women out for a girls night.

The husbands sitting with their wives around me were commenting on their dislike for the show, and those with me (late 20s) were certainly disappointed with the show. Is there an audience for it? Perhaps, but from the audience reactions I saw, it's a pretty limited one.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 9:44am

Is Ready For Change in the show still? I sorta liked that song and Wedding Belles. In a so bad its kind of good. Like Wonderland. If I only lived in Chicago to see this production.