The Cher Show- Page 13

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 3:15pm

Yup.

Not only gay but intelligent enough to know the difference between “your” and “you’re.”    

[DAME]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 3:23pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Yup.

Not only gay but intelligent enough to know the difference between “your” and “you’re.”"

Not just gay.  But a bitchy queen I see.

Updated On: 6/20/18 at 03:23 PM

[Solipsist234]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 4:36pm

DAME said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Yup.

Not only gay but intelligent enough to know the difference between “your” and “you’re.”"

Not just gay. But a bitchy queen I see. "

Beauty at its finest, I guess! 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 4:58pm

 

Pardon my bitchery, but Mitzi Gaynor is hardly to be included in the ranks of "Gay Icon." 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 5:00pm

Does a show about Cher that features a Bob Mackie costume parade *really* need to specify that she's a gay icon?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 5:23pm

2 of Bob Mackie’s GAY icons: Cher & Mitzi Gaynor

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 5:41pm

Gaynor is one of the many female entertainers dressed by Mackie that some gay men may enjoy, but I've never heard of her referred to as a "gay icon" before now.  She had those fun TV specials from the late 60s to the late 70s, but it's not like you see clips of them played in gay bars all the time or drag queens constantly doing Mitzi Gaynor acts.  I love Mitzi (my dog is named after her!), but "gay icon" is a bit of a stretch.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 11:06pm

 

Surely it takes more than being dressed by Bob Mackie to be considered a Gay Icon!

I would put someone like Carol Burnett ahead of Mitzi Gaynor in terms of talent and fanbase, and she not only wore Bob Mackie, she gave him the opportunity to develop his genius!

[Observation]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 12:48am

Just got out of the show. 

I'm not entirely sure what to think, to be honest. My initial reaction was "this is going to Broadway?" But as I thought about it more and more, I did like it. 

A Few Thoughts:

When the show started, I was a little bummed for no overture, no opening number, just Babe Cher sitting at the sewing machine, singing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes." Then we are transported to "The Cher Show" where the action stops and we find Cher who wishes to change the opening of the show. 

The three Cher's were phenomenal and I loved how they interacted with each other. What didn't make sense to me is at times they would step in for each other. It made it a bit confusing. And the "show within the show" premise got muddled along the way. So at times, the action would stop abruptly to remind us we are not seeing the moment in real time. Then the other two Cher's would give commentary as to what just happened. What confused me the most is at times Star (Stephanie J. Block) would act as if she doesn't know how the action plays out, when she appears to be the wisest of the three, she's lived through all of this and is the pillar of knowledge for the other two as they are growing into themselves. 

Another moment that confused me was when we reach the moment in time that Star Cher is beginning her movie career, she hands it over to Babe (Micaela Diamond) or the youngest of the three. During this number, Babe would sing us through pivotal moments and Star Cher would arrive wearing the gown that was worn to that Oscar ceremony.

One question I had going in was, how they would discuss Chaz, or if they would? In scenes taking place where Chaz was an infant, Cher referred to Chaz by his name, Chaz. I for some reason appreciated that. 

There is a Cinderella through line that is woven throughout the show that honestly adds nothing. It even goes as far as having Georgia Holt bring on a glass slipper for Star Cher to slip on. 

The set is GORGEOUS! So many lights, mirrors, and curtains. 

I think with some tightening and some edits the show could be great. I enjoyed myself. It got a standing ovation (of course).  I'll give it a B-. 

Updated On: 6/21/18 at 12:48 AM

[Broadwaygirl202]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 6:34pm

Has anyone tried the digital lottery and if so, where were the seats located?

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 6:50pm

Broadwaygirl202 said: "Has anyone tried the digital lottery and if so, where were the seats located?"

My lottery win 2 nights ago placed me on main floor E13.  Another poster from Chicago won first night seats in the front row. Both great seats.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 8:28pm

At the show tonight. Showtime in a few moments.

What the heck are the letters - white letters on black background - that are hanging from the front of the stage above the orchestra pit?

G R Y G R E W Z Y W G Y and a few other letters that I can't make out.

Are these letters used by the creative team to assist with their blocking notes?

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 11:43pm

Had a great main floor aisle seat tonight 4 rows from the back of the house opposite the giant tech board.

The lighting designs of Kevin Adams are MUCH more enjoyable further from the stage. Fine work Mr Adams! I have been a big fan ever since Passing Strange at the Belasco.

At the show 2 nights ago, the scene at the Chinese Theatre entrance was simply a red outline. Tonight, the entry has been enhanced with projected yellow lettering and a green dragon. Credit Darrel Maloney.

Tonight's W2 seat was overall better than Tuesday's E13 seat.

The Bob Mackie costume revue in Act 1 continues to be a big crowd pleaser.

This is turning into a show worthy of repeat viewings.
 

Updated On: 6/21/18 at 11:43 PM

[bk]

Posted: 6/22/18 at 1:32am

These posts are hilariously hilarious.  In the words of the wonderful Sheridan Whiteside: "I may vomit."

[David10086]

Posted: 6/22/18 at 8:14pm

I'm wondering how this compares to "SUMMER". This one sounds rather confusing. LOL

[BJR]

Posted: 6/22/18 at 11:07pm

Yeah sounds like they have some work to do, especially on the book and the 3 Chers device. But sounds like they've begun the work.

SUMMER rushed to NYC even though no one thought it was in great shape in La Jolla, but raced in to beat Cher. Let's hope Cher keep the work going and keeps digging deeper and reaching towards more clarity.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 1:43pm

Saw last night's performance. Ran about 2:45.

As has been discussed ad nauseam, the show looks INCREDIBLE - the costumes are stunning, the set and live video effects are incredibly impressive - this is a VERY well produced show.

Block is incredible in the role and I foresee a Tony nomination. The scene where she auditions for Robert Altman - the woman brings the roof down. Teal Wicks is also very strong and sounds the most like Cher of the three leading ladies. I was not as much of a fan of Micaela Diamond, though you can't deny that the girl is going to grow into a massive star. Jarrod Spector was pitch-perfect as Sonny and I predict a Tony nom if not a win. Michael Campayno also really made a terrific impression as Rob Camelleti. They felt to me the show's leading men. Michael Beresse was adorable as Mackie. Emily Skinner made a lovely impression as Georgia, if she was a bit underused. Matthew Hydzik left very little impression.

Act 1 felt like a train wreck and we almost walked out. Glad we didn't because Act 2 was ASTOUNDING. Similarly to Beautiful, the show and material get more interesting as Cher ages into a superstar. And it also helps that Block carries most of Act 2 as she is the strongest actress of the three Chers. Act 2 is also very streamlined as the book scenes are mostly played as an honest memory play, with many scenes rooted in realism (more on that below). Act 1 is totally fixable though.

The big problem with the show is that there are just too many devices. It starts off as a "Cher show within a Cher show" - we're watching Cher shoot a variety retrospective performance of her career...but then, when she finally enters, so do the other two Chers, who then start communicating with each other, and stepping in and out of communicating as one unit to the people with them in a scene (even though we assume that the scene partner can only see one Cher). Additionally, the show drifts into hardcore book scenes with only one Cher present, or two Chers, or all three. And sometimes, other Chers comment on the action in these scenes - which are sometimes played in realism, and other times, feel like they're a sketch within the Cher retrospective we're watching be filmed, and OTHER times, they are played as if a musing or thought in Cher's mind (like when Georgia enters and speaks to all three of them). This makes the show feel convoluted and in fact, flat-out confusing at times. At one point, one of my friends actually expressed out loud - "I truly have no idea what's going on". I think they are doing the work, and getting there - but they need to simplify. The conceit of having the three Chers works- in the end, we get the message "there's Cher in all women - and all women are superstars" - which is a message we need and the emotional through line of the evening. But we don't need the additional device of the "Cher show within a Cher show". There is a ton of buildup to the Chers' entrance(s?) in which the TV crew runs around looking for her and so on and so on - and it's just not necessary - and that device makes the audience question just what exactly is going on in each scene - is this a part of the filming? Is this a memory? Is this a book scene? Just have the three Chers enter, and set up the device that Cher is going to walk us through her life, as three parts of herself, and do the thing as a memory play. It's still very theatrical and we don't need an additional framing device. Otherwise it becomes like Cher inception.

Other small note is that "Bang Bang" is reprised an INCESSANT amount of times and with a catalogue as deep as Cher's, I think the team can find other songs that work rather than doing close to three small reprises of Bang Bang (one or two of which happen before Lady Cher - played by Wicks - gets her big moment singing the song).

Tons of potential with this one though. I could see this becoming a MASSIVE hit by the time it reaches New York.

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 2:26pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "2 of Bob Mackie’s GAY icons: Cher & Mitzi Gaynor



Mitzi Gaynor's body! Just WOW! 

[CukorLover]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 2:37pm

Thank for that insightful report, inlovewithjerryherman! I've been waiting for an astute review!

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 2:43pm

I'm on the fence with this one. Cher gave an incandescent performance and won a very well deserved Academy Award for her performance in "Moonstruck" - but I can understand that before that performance, or maybe even before she was cast in "Come Back to the 5 and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" that she was looked at as camp.

I had a sleepless night on Wednesday and while channel surfing came across a re-run of "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" on get tv at 2 in the morning so I decided to watch it. I couldn't get past Cher's incessant mugging: the calculated hair flips, the never endless licking of the lips and flicking of her tongue, the limp wrist, the shouting of "whoo" after every third song lyric. It really bordered on the ridiculous but I have to give her props for transcending that extreme image. The talent was always there - - - she didn't need all that other nonsense. 

I don't think I will be prepared to sit for 2 and a half hours of limp-wristed, hair flipping, lip licking caricature.

Updated On: 6/23/18 at 02:43 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 3:29pm

I don't think I will be prepared to sit for 2 and a half hours of limp-wristed, hair flipping, lip licking caricature.

Wrong show, bro.  Actresses are playing Cher, not drag queens.  Though they infuse their performances with little Cher nuances, they are not doing full-out cliche’d Cher imitations.   Same thing when Stephanie J Block played Liza Minnelli in THE BOY FROM OZ — she didn’t play her with all the Liza Minnelli drag queen mannerisms.  

[David10086]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 8:18pm

BJR said: "Yeah sounds like they have some work to do, especially on the book and the 3 Chers device. But sounds like they've begun the work.

SUMMER rushed to NYC even though no one thought it was in great shape in La Jolla, but raced in to beat Cher. Let's hope Cher keep the work going and keeps digging deeper and reaching towards more clarity."

Yes, I think that's the problem with SUMMER - they wanted to get to the finish line first. I remember when it was in La Jolla, many said the show could be a hit in NY if they worked on the book and a few other knots.Then it was announced rather quickly that it was Broadway bound. But if Cher perseveres, and gets it right - it will be an interesting hit.

However, SUMMER is pulling in the ticket buyers, no? 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 8:48pm

Shopping news!

Between shows today, Micaela Diamond visited Sephora at the Block 37 mall.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 6/23/18 at 8:55pm

David10086 said: "However, SUMMER is pulling in the ticket buyers, no?"

by some miracle of god, its pulling in around $1,000,000 a week. 

 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 12:53am

Won the lottery for Saturday evening show, June 23. A great main floor C10 seat.

Several changes have been made within the last 2 days.

Dropped: the sewing machine scene near the top of the show in which Babe Cher sings A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes.

Change: the fast tempo snippet of Half Breed by Cher's mother Georgia is now a lovely moment as a tender arrangement first by Georgia, then Babe Cher joins in.

New: Babe Cher departs Grauman's and sings a short verse of A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes - mesmerized by just seeing Cinderella at the theatre.

Dropped: the short scene with the twin beds and the long orange phone cord. By axing this scene, two skinny Cher jokes also bit the dust.

Costume change: Sonny was not shirtless tonight in the double bed scene. He was instead wearing a gray sleeveless tee.

I Got You Babe: love the new, helpful stagehand who receives the mikes after the tune.

Run time narrowed to 2:40. Maybe less - I did not look at time at start of Act 1.

 

Updated On: 6/26/18 at 12:53 AM