THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread — Page 11

Sadly it appears some of the best WTF songs (Ready for Change, Wedding Belles, Jump for Joy) are no longer in the show

Lets play pull quotes!

"Three cheers for this hilarious, fun new stage hit!"
- nwi.com

"Weed, who has worked in Chicago, has talent."
- Chicago Tribune

"Prince and Sherrill and Cusack all have comic and vocal chops"
- Variety

"Morgan Weed, as the tasteless, talentless, vapid aspiring actress Shelley Salem, acts her scenes with delicious comic relish."
- Variety

Summary of reviews for First Wives Club in Chicago.

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/first-wives-club/reviews/7287/

Not very good. Having seen it in previews I would agree with most of the negative comments indicated here and in the reviews. I think this one unfortunately is dead in the water. Too bad considering that the three leads are all very capable of selling this show big time.

DESPERATION ALERT!!!

Just received an email from Broadway in Chicago announcing they are selling $17.00 main floor seats on St. Patrick's Day for "First Wives Club"...

Updated On: 3/13/15 at 05:48 PM

I'll look forward to the 2021 production starring Orfeh.

---

I saw this show on Thursday. It was definitely....interesting. Its a mixed bag of EVERYTHING. Not great. Not awful. Just. MEH. Everything they COULD or SHOULD have changed to differentiate themselves from the movie, they didn't do or didn't really follow through with. And everything they should have left alone (signature one-liners or the, at this point, iconic white outfits at the end) they decided to do a 180.

Not a single person in that theater seemed to understand what kind of a show they were performing. Not the actor's fault at all. They were the mainstay of the production. Its always a treat to see good actors act, even if it is rehashed 90's sitcom dribble. Bloodworth has lost it it seems. Pee jokes at every turn. Inserting gratuitous curse words for no reason. And being a HUGE Designing Women fan, it seems she just rehashed some things from that, even giving Duarto a Julia Sugarbaker type monologue to the vapid sales girl at a department store. If this was all done right and the whole show felt this way then it could have been a gay wetdream but here it just feels sad and lazy. Oh and when the 60s motown songs and rhymes feel like Sondheim in comparison to the elementary level hat/bat rhymes of ALL the other songs, you know you're in trouble. That being said, the Act 2 auction scene is the highlight of the show. A weird place for an extended ensemble musical number, but hey it worked. And it seemed to say to the rest of the show, "I've raised the bar here, wont you join me".

I stupidly paid 55 dollars in advance for our tix. My gal pal and I were pretty much alone in our upgraded loge seats and once that damn coffin fell in decided to play mystery science theater for the rest of the show. If you have a fun bitchy friend and can get seats for 17 bucks go see it for that. And be a little drunk the entire time.
,

I'm on my way back from today's matinee (I drove from Louisville), and after deliberation with my father, we came to the conclusion that we both LOVED it! I thought the music was the weakest link, but serviced the show well. I listened to the a naughty recording from the first preview and SEVERAL things have been evolving and changing. Many scenes have been tweaked and a whole song/scene has been cut (Remember Jerusalem). I don't remember how the book was at the first preview, but today the show flew by and before I knew it, the show was over. I could tell that they have been working on pacing/blocking/etc. Faith, Carmen, and Christine are golden and lead the show without reservation. As others have said, the husbands are not used a lot, but it's not their story! While I would always love more Gregg Edelman, he and the others were used as much as would be expected. Morgan Weed was fantastic and steals every scene she's in. It was a very sad sight seeing a giant theater so empty. The orchestra center was full with a few scattered on the sides and a few in the mezz, but the balcony was unused. I went to the stage door afterwards and chatted with Christine and Faith (Carmen didn't come out), and when we mentioned Broadway Christine said, "That's the sprit! Keep saying that! Tell everyone you know!" So it seems that they are not expecting a transfer. I for one, found it very entertaining and a very fun time in the theater! I'm going to try to see the final show just incase it doesn't transfer. I know I'm in the minority but I wholeheartedly recommend this show!

Updated On: 3/16/15 at 08:43 PM

Robbie2- Why do you feel the need to bash it every chance you get? As you said earlier in this thread, you have not seen it! If you approach something with a g=negative frame of mind, you will fell negative towards that thing. I went in with an open mind and enjoyed it immensely. It's not the show that will change the face of musical theatre, but it's fun and the talent is impeccable.

---

Does anyone have anymore discount codes that go through the 29th?