Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/19
Theatermania
https://www.theatermania.com/news/review-the-queen-of-versailles-kristin-chenoweth-in-the-big-house_1811208/
"More isn’t always more. That’s painfully clear in The Queen of Versailles, a white elephant of a musical playing at Broadway’s St. James Theatre. It’s the first new score Stephen Schwartz has written for Broadway since Wicked, with a book by Lindsey Ferrentino (Amy and the Orphans) and direction by two-time Tony winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending). It reunites Schwartz with Kristin Chenoweth, the Broadway superstar who originated the role of Glinda.
This A-list team has been able to create some genuinely arresting moments, but they are fleeting in a busy show that still doesn’t quite know what story it wants to tell. It’s like a house that continues to expand, the plaster seams of each new addition hideously apparent."
Leading Actor Joined: 6/18/16
The NYT reviews mattering left years ago. Now it’s click bait.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/22
EDSOSLO858 said: "Not a surprising write-up at allfrom Collins-Hughes, who quite liked this in Boston, too, despite a weaker second act.
"
Jesse Green might have enraged you all by also giving its a critics pick, but he would at least offer some insight and illumination via his writing. Collins-Hughes' review reads like a book report for middle school, and despite her best efforts, does not make me interested in seeing this show.
Sara Holdren, on the other hand, writes so brilliantly and hilariously that her searing criticism DOES make me want to see this mess.
Swing Joined: 11/5/25
Joey sims needs to stop reviewing. Not only is he a terrible writer, he has spelled Kristin Chenoweth’s name wrong. Theatrly’s gotta go
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/19
Cheesecake2 said: "Joey sims needs to stop reviewing. Not only is he a terrible writer, he has spelled Kristin Chenoweth’s name wrong. Theatrly’s gotta go"
And you spelled Theatrely wrong...
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
That NYT review read like a high school musical review in the school newspaper, particularly when she was giving individual praise. This is even stranger than the Smash review.
Swing Joined: 11/5/25
Who cares. It’s a stupid fake name of a terrible website.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
I wonder if BroadwayWorld is getting kickbacks for their assessments of reviews. The said that Vulture and NY Post are mixed, when they are clearly pans.
I am shocked about The NY Times review and the fact that the Chicago Tribune/Daily News reviews were positive.
It is terrible that I actively want this show to be a total disaster, but I think it is just so vile and can’t understand how anyone could give it a decent review, let alone a ‘critic’s pick’.
I wonder if the few positive reviews (and the praise for Chenoweth) will lead the producers to keep this open longer than fiscally responsible.
Swing Joined: 7/28/22
I didn't think it was possible for the New York Times to become a repository for even more pathetic theater criticism than we saw last season with Jesse Green providing idiotic shill rave reviews for shows that didn't even rise to the level of community theater. But damned if they didn't make things worse by giving Laura Collins-Hughes the "Queen of Versailles" assignment. The woman writes like a very lightweight feature reporter who clearly has a thing for Kristin Chenoweth. Whatever the NYT's plans for theater criticism may be going forward, they will fail. The paper of record has lost all credibility when it comes to assessing theater. It's so so sad. What's even sadder is it's all going to backfire badly when what few people are still reading reviews find out it's all a sham.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/26/24
Swing Joined: 11/5/25
Sounds just like how I felt with all the love for Sunset Blvd, which you were panting over. People love The Queen of Versailles. Get over it. It’s running all the way to June so Kristin gets her Tony award. Caissie Levy, no chance.
DTLI Consensus: With its all-too-busy staging and incoherent, convoluted book, even a fabulous Kristin Chenoweth can't rescue Versailles from its impending doom.
8 mixed, 6 negative, 3 positive (including the NYT).
https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/the-queen-of-versailles/
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/19
Cheesecake2 said: "Sounds just like how I felt with all the love for Sunset Blvd, which you were panting over. People love The Queen of Versailles. Get over it. It’s running all the way to June so Kristin gets her Tony award. CaissieLevy, no chance."
Oh, are you BroadwayFlash again? Got it.
Jarethan said: "I wonder if BroadwayWorld is getting kickbacks for their assessments of reviews. The said that Vulture and NY Post are mixed, when they are clearly pans.
I am shocked about The NY Times review and the fact that the Chicago Tribune/Daily News reviews were positive.
It is terrible that I actively want this show to be a total disaster, but I think it is just so vile and can’t understand how anyone could give it a decent review, let alone a ‘critic’s pick’.
I wonder if the few positive reviews (and the praise for Chenoweth) will lead the producers to keep this open longer than fiscally responsible."
RIGHT. In what world are 1 star reviews not a pan and considered negative?!
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