THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES To Close January 4, 2026- Page 8

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/5/25 at 5:38pm

joevitus said: "Anyone know why Chenoweth has been out repeatedly? It couldn't have been scheduled this early on. Is she ill? Or ducking out because of bad reviews?

I'm glad Sherie's getting praise and getting a moment, but it feels a bit uncofortably like she's getting some of thisas a rebuke to Chenoweth (for we all know what). I think itsucks if that is the case."

…Girl what? This is actually the first time Chenoweth has been out unscheduled during the entire run. She also did Colbert on Monday and the Rockefeller Tree Lighting on Wednesday. This week has probably kicked her butt and her body just said NOPE! Whatever you said doesn’t even remotely make sense. 

Sherie is a beloved and uncomplicated figure in musical theatre and a lot of the chatter surrounding her is the result of her turning in a performance that is, by all accounts, better than the headlining leading lady. Press has cooled on the show and Chenoweth since the closing announcement, so all the chatter about Sherie has basically invigorated some excitement into this otherwise tragically gauche show

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/5/25 at 11:02pm

After missing Sherie during her scheduled performances due to a nasty cold, I was thrilled to finally catch her tonight. This was one performance I did not want to miss, and she absolutely delivered. Her acting and vocals are impeccable.

I’ll admit it.. I’m one of the few people who genuinely enjoys this show for the hot mess it unabashedly is. I liked Chenoweth’s performance in previews well enough, even if is just her classic, familiar schtick.

Sherie’s take on Jackie is wildly different from Kristin's. While Kristin brings her cloying “aw shucks, y’all” ditzy charm to the role, Sherie leans into something colder, sharper, and almost dead-behind-the-eyes. Never once does Sherie's Jackie try to win the audience over or be likable - something I thought Kristin tried a little too hard for.

Both actresses offer interesting interpretations in a show that is fascinating and bizarre in equal measure. After seeing both performances, I think Sherie’s approach is ultimately more effective and better suited to this material.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 11:59am

Sherie’s take on Jackie is wildly different from Kristin's. While Kristin brings her cloying “aw shucks, y’all” ditzy charm to the role, Sherie leans into something colder, sharper, and almost dead-behind-the-eyes. Never once does Sherie's Jackie try to win the audience over or be likable - something I thought Kristin tried a little too hard for."

 

Now this sounds more compelling. Which brings up a bigger issue: was the piece too tailored for the star, since she was attached via Schwartz's commitment quite early? I have no faith that the show as conceived would've necessarily been a clearer piece of storytelling. But Scott seems to understand that the only hope to make this theatrically sharp is to strip the character of any traditional musical comedy trope characteristics: to de-sentimentalize a Cinderella story wherein Cinderella tricks mice and birds to get her to the ball, sans godmother. The show's biggest flaw has always been its bifurcated POV: enjoy this woman, and don't judge her -- but judge her just a little. It's kept the damned thing from building cohesively to her eventual entrapment in an windy, empty house - though as I pointed out on the other board, the finale ain't close to "Another Winter in a Summer Town."  The show was designed to allow Chenoweth to stretch beyond her sunny optimistic demeanor; and yet in pushing her to find ruthlessness - and then finding the results too chilly for audience expectation -  the creatives undercut her characterization by allowing too much Chenoweth sunniness to take over. Did they end up with a performance too often working against the material?

Updated On: 12/6/25 at 11:59 AM

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 1:02pm

Sherie is on again for the matinee. No word on whether Kristen will be back for the eve.

It’s just so so so so so unlikely, but I wonder if there’s a world where this may have some more oxygen in the tank for an added few weeks with Sherie at the helm.

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 1:07pm

Hearing kc “fell” back stage and is out indefinitely…not sure of my source. 

Falsettolands said: "Sherie is on again for the matinee. No word on whether Kristen will be back for the eve.

It’s just so so so so so unlikely, but I wonder if there’s a world where this may have some more oxygen in the tank for anadded fewweeks with Sherie at the helm."

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 1:25pm

If that fall involved her head, considering she has Meniere’s Disease, this might really jack her physical equilibrium up

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 1:40pm

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 2:16pm

I saw Sherie on Wednesday. I think Kristin definitely sung the score better (Sherie held her ground but Cavilar Dreams was graciously a bit rough).

Stealing from another commenter - whereas Kristin definitely plays this with the bubbly southern “shucks, y’all” demeanor, Sherie is so much more tonally reserved. The way she carries herself is a full 180 from Kristin, and her comedic and dramatic dialect fit the book really well. The ethos and delusion of Jackie just felt a lot more grounded, less like a caricature.

The show was going to fail either way but I loved her and would prefer to see her over Kristin again. I am just shocked at how much a single performance can feel like it shifts the entire show into feeling so different.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 2:19pm

It’s just so so so so so unlikely, but I wonder if there’s a world where this may have some more oxygen in the tank for an added few weeks with Sherie at the helm.

That would be so incredible but sadly, so unlikely at this point. I had a feeling people would love Sherie in this role, and I love that she gets to go on more than she was scheduled. Would also love to see Ryah's take as well.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 3:53pm

From what I heard from someone at the theatre, Kristin was injured severely (details nonspecific) and so it’s looking like Sherie may be on the rest of the weekend at least - possibly may get a Ryah show, but Kristin is down for now