THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (2009-2009): Remembrance Thread- Page 9

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 1:09am

Seeing this in a couple of weeks.... Has anyone actually enjoyed this show?

How empty is the theater? 50%? 30%?

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 1:21am

Easily 50% empty.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 8:40am

I received a message yesterday that I did not win tickets for free to see the show on Thursday night. I don't understand how they can be sooo picky on who gets in to see the show for free. They did however offer me $15.00 balcony tickets with the code LOTTERY on March 10, 11 and 12...

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 8:48am

I got the same message.

I wonder if anyone actually got them?

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 12:46pm

I'm heading to the show tonight. I'm strangely intrigued to see how rough it really is.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 1:19pm

I saw the show last night as well and am a bit baffled by it. It’s not horrible, but it certainly doesn’t make sense for a production/show that feels so amateur to be up on that big stage.

There just wasn’t much to it. Rather than feeling like it’s set in the 90s, it feels like it was created in the 90s…by a small, educational or community theatre.

The biggest problem is definitely that score. The already known songs just don’t fit (and enhance the rookie feel of the show – like a community college group trying to write a revue around their favorite songs) and the new songs are all light pop…it’s just plain boring. Every time a song starts, it totally halts any momentum the show has going and makes it immediately feel schmaltzy.

The book isn’t terrible – there are awkward moments in the dialogue (especially leading up to the songs), but I would say, more often than not, the book is fairly strong and there are a good amount of dialogue moments that are downright hilarious. I watched the movie a bunch of times as a kid, but haven’t seen it in so long, I essentially forgot most of it, so I can’t speak to how close the script follows the screenplay in terms of its dialogue.

The structure of the plot begins to feel plodding when you realize that near 80% of the show is structured as: Elise scene, Annie scene, Brenda scene, repeat. It just feels like not very much happens.

The talent is good, but the amateur feel of the production makes them look unlike the professionals they are.

The show, overall, is not very good. That being said, it was still a generally fun time and there were some quite hysterical moments. But, it’s baffling if, with this script/score and the production quality, this was ever really on the track to Broadway. I can’t imagine it making there without almost an entire overhaul of the score (and, hopefully, new composers).

I keep waffling because it definitely wasn’t a great show, but it didn’t feel like a waste sitting in the audience because there are fun moments and the talent is good. It’s just hard to think that anyone involved sees this going any further.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 3:34pm

I agree with you, it very much has a feel of regional theatre, not a show that's on it way to Broadway...good perfromance, really bad songs...

[broadwayboy223]

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

I hope they consider redoing the score if it's as bad as everyone says it is..

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 4:07pm

It has problems with WAY more than just the score.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:52am

Adding my two cents. I've seen a number of pre-Broadway runs, and while I many have issues, most have solid bones to the show that can be built upon. This one? I don't think it can be saved at all.

I left with many of the same thoughts that have been stated on here already- the score is unmemorable, the book is bad, and the story itself is needlessly confusing (when Brenda ended Act 1 saying she didn't understand the plan of revenge, I just nodded my head as I was just as confused by what had been stated). Faith Prince's wig is one of the worst wigs I have ever seen (and yes, she really does look just like Red from Orange is the New Black).

By the finale, it looked like the cast was just as sad by the show as I was. While there were a smattering of cheers from the audience at the finale (some large contingents of middle aged women out for the night with the girls, it appeared), there was no standing ovation, which was the biggest surprise of the night. House was about half full- friends who were in the balcony where moved down to the orchestra by house staff, and the orchestra was still not full.

I can't imagine this making it to Broadway without a complete overhaul. I'm anticipating this getting raked over the coals by the critics here. Considering how talented the show's three leading ladies are, I really hope they get better projects the next go around.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 6:09pm

I was given a free ticket to last night's preview. There are camp moments but I left the show feeling depressed.

The biggest laughs came in the opening scene. Cynthia has a drunken flashback set to Motown songs then commits an awkwardly staged suicide. Her coffin fell from the flies to a "Sweeney Todd" steam whistle and the audience laughed and laughed.

The leads spend act one moping and belting. Things perk up in act two when the revenge plot and the comic relief characters take over. The gay best friends' material is cringe-worthy but the Sarah Jessica Parker mistress is fun.
We also get some eye candy when the husbands drop their pants. Hello Gregg Edelman. HELLO Mike McGowan!

The three leading ladies are dressed like their film counterparts and sing interchangeable "I miss my husband" ballads. The husbands are too cartoonish for us to care about the broken marriages. I wanted a "Defying Gravity/ Astonishing/ So Much Better" moment where the wives shift focus to revenge. I snorted in act two when the wives and husbands sang to the ghosts of their younger selves as though they were suddenly in "Follies."

The song that stuck with me was the frequently reprised Motwon song "I'll Be There." If the score is this weak after 6 years they may be better off sticking with Motown songs and wooing the "Mamma Mia" crowd.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 6:27pm

I think what this show needs is new composers. That's really the only thing that can save it.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 8:33pm

Just looked on my facebook, it seems that their new way of promoting the show is to provide photos of the show-inspired drinks to make people enjoy the show more...they all have names based on songs from the show...

Updated On: 3/6/15 at 08:33 PM

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 8:39pm

If ticket sales are as bad as everyone says (50% empty) and critics dislike it as much as those who have posted......Any chance it would close early?

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 8:45pm

Press night is on March 11th, I think that if the show does not receive the kind of reviews that would guarantee a ticket straight to Broadway, an early closing could happen...

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 10:50pm

To the guy that said, "Singing to their younger selves as though they were suddenly in Follies."

Actually made me laugh out loud. You win.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 11:11pm

Broadway in Chicago did end the run of "Billy Elliot" early due to poor ticket sales...

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/6/15 at 11:15pm

Is First Wives Club being produced by Broadway in Chicago?

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/7/15 at 11:56am

The show is playing in theatres operated by Broadway in Chicago, it is an outside group of producers...

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 3:30pm

"Xanadu" also closed early due to poor ticket sales...and it has amazing reviews...

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 4:57pm

I doubt they'll get new composers. Part of the whole sell is that it's an orginal score by the most famous motown composers. With the the popular songs of that time mixed in. For some reason I think Lawerence O'keefe could make a pretty good score to this. It could have a mix of legally blonde type songs and heathers.

[jon5202]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 5:03pm

Interesting news. Broadway in Chicago just sent me an announcement saying that you can buy tickets in the balcony only for all performances of First Wives Club through March 22 for $9.99. It implies that changes have been made in the show. Use code CHANGE before selecting your seats through ticketmaster.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 5:20pm

Every discount ticket outlet in Chicago (Hottix, Goldstar, etc.) all have this show listed...when I first read that this was coming to Chicago, I was very excited solely on the basis of Linda Bloodworth-Thomason contribution. After seeing the show, I believe that an overintelligent chimpanzee could have contributed more...

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 7:23pm

I really want to know if Broadway in Chicago would shell out the money to have Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton come to Chicago for the official opening night next week or would they just be embarrassed?...

[broadwaytbay]

Posted: 3/11/15 at 12:49pm

Ok they have pics and video up and it doesn't look atrocious... though it does seem a little like we are doing SJP, Bette, Goldie and Diane impressions... hard to tell from the clips