THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES Previews- Page 10

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 10:25am

I firmly believe this family is worth adapting to the stage, but not at all how this production has done it. 

There’s an ever growing “eat the rich/there shouldn’t be millionaires” sentiment in our society and this could have been a spectacular biting take on that, which the show IMO just scratches the surface. Especially with someone like Chenoweth who has an audience that can skew younger and are more on the pulse of that moment. 

Also, I hate that they end with the house being finished. I wish they had ended more in line with reality - the house has yet to be completed after two decades of construction, both David and her sister have passed away, etc. I know I keep bringing up Grey Gardens in comparison, but it makes more sense to me to end on a “more of the same/two steps forward, five steps back” note. 

It feels like this team was afraid to really go there and say something. I’m sure that’s because of Jackie’s direct involvement, which they probably needed financially. 

Updated On: 10/17/25 at 10:25 AM

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 9:41am

How are the changes playing? What are the latest adjustments? 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 12:12pm

Jordan Catalano said: "inception said: "bwayphreak234 said: ", but is ultimately left an empty and lonely shell of a woman.
I should be so lucky to be left empty & lonely like that.”

Exactly. Try making a difference on this planet with your hoards of cash instead of wasting it on a mansion and then maybe you’ll have an interesting story worthy of being musicalized.

"

This should be fused with Idina’s REDWOOD.

Middle class girl grows up, marries rich, starts building a mansion with her spouse’s money, and then the financial crash bankrupts her and her daughter overdoses, leading to her having a nervous breakdown and driving cross country to the California forests, where she meets a lesbian having a midlife crisis after losing her child. Hijinks ensue…

[dan94]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 12:27pm

And that show naturally ends with Jackie realizing Stella the Tree is the exact centerpiece her ballroom is missing, so she cuts the tree down and ships it back to Florida.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 12:30pm

Jesus that’s a busy musical. But I’m here for it. As long as the Redwood now sings like Mother Willow and is played by a raunchy Bette Midler, who talks dirty to any woman who climbs her.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 12:49pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "... Also, I hate that they end with the house being finished ..."

Don't they say it's unfinished? Maybe that was added this week when I saw it but I'm pretty sure Jonquel and Jackie have a few lines at the beginning of the last scene about only the grand staircase being done with work on the rest of the house still being done (hence the construction worker who turns out the lights later in the scene).

If I were Jackie Siegel I would be incredibly embarrassed to be portrayed as she is in this musical. But of course her whole thing is that as long as she's getting attention, she doesn't care if it's positive or negative. Could Ferrentino and Schwartz have gone harder at her? I suppose, though she already comes across as a terrible person with basically no redeeming qualities. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 1:55pm

dan94 said: "And that show naturally ends with Jackie realizing Stella the Tree is the exact centerpiece her ballroom is missing, so she cuts the tree down and ships it back to Florida."

THANK YOU! You get a co-book writer credit 

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 5:13pm

theatreguy said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "...Also, I hate that they end with the house being finished ..."

Don't they say it's unfinished? Maybe that was added this week when I saw it but I'm pretty sure Jonquel and Jackie have a few lines at the beginning of the last scene about only the grand staircase being done with work on the rest of the house still being done (hence the construction worker who turns out the lights later in the scene).

If I were Jackie Siegel I would be incredibly embarrassed to be portrayed as she is in this musical. But of course her whole thing is that as long as she's getting attention, she doesn't care if it's positive or negative. Could Ferrentino and Schwartz have gone harder at her? I suppose, thoughshe already comes across as a terrible person with basicallyno redeeming qualities."

In Boston they definitely said it was unfinished...

Yeah Siegel just seems to be one of those people...  Remember she also produced and promoted her documentaries.  I do think she actually thinks all this attention *is* positive though?  

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 5:34pm

This show I would see...it is not lost on me that these two women picked shows about defying gravity and wanting to be popular. 

 

 

quizking101 said: "dan94 said: "And that show naturally ends with Jackie realizing Stella the Tree is the exact centerpiece her ballroom is missing, so she cuts the tree down and ships it back to Florida."

THANK YOU! You get a co-book writer credit"

 

Updated On: 10/17/25 at 05:34 PM

[violetsandroses]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 6:02pm

EricMontreal22 said: "theatreguy said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "...Also, I hate that they end with the house being finished ..."

Don't they say it's unfinished? Maybe that was added this week when I saw it but I'm pretty sure Jonquel and Jackie have a few lines at the beginning of the last scene about only the grand staircase being done with work on the rest of the house still being done (hence the construction worker who turns out the lights later in the scene).

If I were Jackie Siegel I would be incredibly embarrassed to be portrayed as she is in this musical. But of course her whole thing is that as long as she's getting attention, she doesn't care if it's positive or negative. Could Ferrentino and Schwartz have gone harder at her? I suppose, thoughshe already comes across as a terrible person with basicallyno redeeming qualities."

In Boston they definitely said it was unfinished...

Yeah Siegel just seems to be one of those people... Remember she also produced and promoted her documentaries. I do think she actually thinks all this attention *is* positive though?"

Jackie definitely thinks the attention is positive. Per the NYT piece with Kristin, she'd like to do fundraisers out of the house and thinks the musical will "help her save lives".

[KrupYou]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 6:27pm

She owns a hotel/time share  in Vegas.......

[BroadwayLuv2]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 12:24am

Went to this tonight not expecting much after reading this thread.  Have to say I was so pleasantly surprised by this show.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Thought it was entertaining and  really liked what it was saying about the price of money/greed/fame.  Act 2 I really hits this home and is stronger than Act 1.  Thought Chenoweth was excellent and will likely return to see Sherri in it. 

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 12:35am

BroadwayLuv2 said: "Went to this tonight not expecting much after reading this thread. Have to say I was so pleasantly surprised by this show. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought it was entertaining and really liked what it was saying about the price of money/greed/fame. Act 2 I really hits this home and isstronger than Act 1. Thought Chenoweth was excellent and will likely return to see Sherri in it."

No you didn’t. Nice try though.