THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES Reviews- Page 3

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 12:39am

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."

[sppunk]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 12:41am

The NYT reviews mattering left years ago. Now it’s click bait. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 12:46am

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. 

[Cheesecake2]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 12:52am

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

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 12:58am

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...

[pmensky]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 12:59am

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. 

[Cheesecake2]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:02am

Who cares.  It’s a stupid fake name of a terrible website. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:03am

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.

[Adeliciaboy]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:04am

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.

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:07am

SMASHED another review!

[Cheesecake2]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:08am

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. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:13am

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/

Updated On: 11/10/25 at 01:13 AM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:32am

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.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:52am

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?!

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 4:47am

Poor girl we wanted Soapdish. Not this

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 6:02am

"Mixed" reviews? Really? I've scanned them, and in box office and any other terms, these "mixed" appraisals are the industry's idea of fate sealers. Touting the star as herculean or carrying a near shambles on her fragile shoulders cannot inspire ticket sales. ("Let's spend $600 for two seats to that debacle that Chenoweth damn near kills herself trying to rescue, shall we?"  But since most critics welcome Chenoweth back and find some sort of artistic courage in taking on this bloated bombast and performing it 8 times a week, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's the lede in the new campaign: "Star almost saves sinking ship! Go!" 

And as a 50-year subscriber to the NY Times - dating to homeroom in high school - I ... I ... I got nuthin'.

Updated On: 11/10/25 at 06:02 AM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 6:55am

If we don't get another musical or tour stop in here in the spring we should get a concert series or something... maybe Illinoise 2.0? /sarcasm

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 7:21am

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."

I see we have yet another MAGA shill with multiple accounts and the mods do nothing.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 7:53am

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."

my goodness, just go away.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 8:31am

sppunk said: "The NYT reviews mattering left years ago. Now it’s click bait."

As are their political endorsements.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 8:41am

The Times giving these reviews to this and Smash, two of the most widely panned (among pretty much everyone whose seen them) musicals in recent memory is absolutely insane to me. 

[binau]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 8:45am

Both Redwood and QoV get critics picks in a sea of negativity. Likely a coincidence but I kind of love the parallels between Idina/Kristin continuing..

[east side story]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 8:51am

I’m sure that NYT critic’s pick will keep this turkey open for longer than originally thought. What happens when KC starts missing shows? Her attendance gets spotty after the flash of opening night is in the rear view. 

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 9:01am

Jordan Catalano said: "The Times giving these reviews to this and Smash, two of the most widely panned (among pretty much everyone whose seen them) musicals in recent memory is absolutely insane to me."

Dazzled by divas and not nearly critical enough of the show that surrounded them.

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/10/25 at 9:05am

MemorableUserName said: "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..."

It's the gay male assumption of spelling - see Drew Goins' spelling "Tindr" on Jeopardy.