A lot of what everyone said is pretty spot on.
Saw the show in London and maybe ten times on Broadway, and never grew tired of the amazing score. Regrettably, the concept of George not playing George was probably a real sticking point (even though Euan was just brilliant), so it left the audience not caring about the whole Leigh storyline. I will say Busch did a better job on the book than the London production, which was a horrible soap opera of a thing.
I'll also point out that Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane returned to The Producers that same year, which sucked a lot of press from newer shows. And when she was in the press, it was always about how she invested all her own money.
And the public simply wasn't not liking her at that point, after being so angry in the press with the lawsuit, and all the allegations. I think also being newly out and outspoken, with the weird hairdo, freaked out a big portion of the public (hate to say it, but it's true).
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008