The Cher Show- Page 14

[Marlothom]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 3:00am

Caught the show tonight too - finally sat center (what a difference).   A lot of great changes (mentioned above).  They continue to work on the top of the show to establish the many Chers.  Tonight Stephanie Block started alone on stage and said something to the effect of "a variety show about me, ok, well if you want variety, I give you a bunch of Chers" and then female ensemble came through the mirrors .

I am surprised they have kept the Lucille Ball bit, as well, as the small part of "Different Kind of Love Song" sung by Emily Skinner, slimmed down the monologue prior.   They've also shortened the "Napoleon/Josephine" bit at the top of Act 2 with the ensemble.   I did hear a few mentions of Chaz though.  '

Frankly, I wanted to see it tonight because it is Pride weekend in Chicago and I thought the crowd would be more livelier on a Saturday night.  This was the tamest crowd of the three performances I've seen.   They did not get any of the Sonny likes/jokes at all (crickets). 

I am really excited about where this show is going.  It's tighter and they keep making improvements.  

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 4:29am

Georgia's final speech in the show now references tweeting and "20 years of Farewell Tours."

[Marlothom]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 11:10am

As mentioned a few comments back - they've cut the Sonny's apartment scene (with two beds and Georgia visiting) and with that cutting the song "All I Really Want to Do" which I thought was a crowd pleaser.  

I hope now that they've found the places to cut, they consider extending some songs.  The current version of "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" is far too short for such an iconic song.  You can sense that the audience wants more of it.  

[BJR]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 12:45pm

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

I so agree. Very astute. I hope they keep simplifying while retaining the depth they're aiming for. It would also be a shame to let the whole thing be camp (easy to do when the costumes need equal billing) or a surface telling of her life (like SUMMER).

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 1:41pm

BJR said: "CukorLover said: "Thank for that insightful report, inlovewithjerryherman! I've been waiting for an astute review!"

I so agree. Very astute. I hope they keep simplifying while retaining the depth they're aiming for. It would also be a shame to let the whole thing be camp (easy to do when the costumes need equal billing) or a surface telling of her life (like SUMMER)."

You guys are sweet, thanks! I'll try to see it again closer to closing.

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 1:47pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "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."

My concern is based on what MarloThom posted earlier in this thread, please refer to #4 in his post below:

 

Ok just got done. A few changes. 
1. They added some scene work at the top of the show to establish the three Chers working together. 
2. They’ve cut the Hilton scene where they get kicked out. They just reference it before the “I got you babe” number. 
3. They have cut “Superstar”. 
4. All around all the Chers are hamming it up a little more. More tongues out, more hair flipping, more jaw to the side while singing 
5. Stephanie’s wig in act 2 seems bigger. 
6. They’ve worked on the ending, all three Chers now sing the final song. It now signals “we’re ending the show”. 
Something I noticed tonight, Jarrod sings a lot better than Sonny Bonno ever did.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 4:19pm

While they are referencing Cher's mannerisms a little more (since first preview), it is not quite at drag queen levels.   I saw it last night and I can report that they seem to have "frozen" the wrists, hair flips, and crooked jaws.  It's at a similar level to where SJB referenced Liza.  

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 6/24/18 at 11:11pm

Cher was at the show tonight. Sitting mid-orchestra. Standing ovation and applause while she bowed in the aisle just before Act Two.

[pawneeruraljuror]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:51am

Delete

Updated On: 6/28/18 at 01:51 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 7:57am

THREADJACK:

Gay Icon in Mackie



 

We now return you to "The Cher Show" - already in progress...

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 12:26pm

Cher = unsurprisingly honest. Not 100% happy with the current state of the show. Nice words for Emily Skinner.  At least none of it made her want to gouge her eyes out. High praise.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-cher-interview-0626-story.html

Updated On: 6/25/18 at 12:26 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 12:33pm

Menken Fan said: "Cher = unsurprisingly honest. Not 100% happy with the current state of the show. Nice words for Emily Skinner. At least none of it made her want to gouge her eyes out. High praise.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-cher-interview-0626-story.html"

Cher got the ladies and the parts they play wrong in the interview:

Q. You have three Chers in the show?

A. You can’t have just one, right? Actually, they’re often performing together. They sing and talk to each other. Babe (Micaela Diamond) is me when I met Sonny when I was 16. Star (Stephanie J. Block) comes out with the TV show. Lady (Teal Wicks) takes us to “Believe.”

[CukorLover]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 12:43pm

Menken Fan said: "Cher = unsurprisingly honest. Not 100% happy with the current state of the show. Nice words for Emily Skinner. At least none of it made her want to gouge her eyes out. High praise.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-cher-interview-0626-story.html"

 

Menken Fan--Do you think if they take Cher's suggestion of adding three songs to the finale ( ala Mama Mia) that it will help the show? Or, is the first Act still not coherent? They open on Thursday!

 

[BJR]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 1:44pm

How refreshing. I love reading her blunt honesty. And I'm pleased she's pushing them to be more honest about her. I agree the sanitized versions of everyone's lives in these biomusicals is obnoxious.

[Elegance101]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:08pm

Agreed, especially because she doesn’t want them to sanitize her. God, I love her.
It made me want even more tea from her, though! Favorite Cher? Who would you recast? Spill it, Cher!

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 2:25pm

Menken Fan--Do you think if they take Cher's suggestion of adding three songs to the finale ( ala Mama Mia) that it will help the show? Or, is the first Act still not coherent? They open on Thursday!

"

I hope so. I was thinking they could have a voiceover saying something like “Live from [insert venue], it’s Cher”, then just have a recreation of her concert events. That would give the audience a high to go out on. I hope they make other small, immediate changes based on her feedback to the creative team. Would be great to get a final product that she approves of 100%. I’m also hoping her good words for the mother character get that role expanded. More Emily Skinner would be terrific. I was thinking they should do more with the TV show segments and have a few celebrity guest stars, all played by Emily....

Updated On: 6/25/18 at 02:25 PM

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 6:15pm

We have tickets to this in a few weeks. We're driving from Kentucky and will be staying in the theatre district near the theater. Can anyone help with some information?

1. What's the current running time for the show?

2. We looked up a couple of restaurants nearby, Petterinos and The Dearborn. Any feedback on either of these for a pre-show dinner?

3. Any sightseeing must-sees while we're in town? We were thinking of taking the train to Boystown one evening. We also have Taste of Chicago and The Art Institute of Chicago on the itinerary. What else would you recommend for first-time visitors?

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 7:23pm

MadAboutTheBoy said: "We're driving from Kentucky ..."

Run time is 2:40 or thereabouts.

Both of your restaurant choices are excellent.

When heading from the Loop north to Belmont, you may take the red or brown line train. The red line is a subway for about 5 or 6 stops, then above ground as an el for 2 stops.  The brown line is all el, and offers better scenery - such as when the train crosses the Chicago River and snakes its way through urban and neighborhood vistas.

Both the red and brown lines connect the Loop to Belmont - aka the Boystown stop.  The purple line also connects the two hoods but has a limited schedule.

The Chicago Bagel Authority has some of Chicago's best bagels.  There is a shop on Belmont immediately west of the Belmont stop.

Have a great visit.

 

Updated On: 6/25/18 at 07:23 PM

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 7:52pm

Going to definitely try the lottery for Thursday's official opening, hopefully Cher will still be in town and I get to see all of the changes that were made!  I have been a HUGE supporter of this show ever since it was announced and am hoping that it will be a big success on Broadway!...

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 7:58pm

There are over 400 seats available for Thursday's opening - many priced for under $40 in the top rows of the balcony.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 8:03pm

Just looked at the Ticketmaster website and was very happy to see that all but four seats are sold for the Main Floor, the mezzanine is completely sold out and the back two-thirds of the balcony are all that are left!

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 6/25/18 at 9:03pm

BalconyClub said: "MadAboutTheBoy said: "We're driving from Kentucky ..."

Run time is 2:40 or thereabouts.

Both of your restaurantchoices are excellent.

When heading from the Loop north to Belmont, you may takethe red or brown line train. The red line is a subway for about 5 or 6 stops, then above ground as an el for 2 stops. The brown line is all el, and offers better scenery - such as when the train crosses the Chicago Riverand snakes its way through urban and neighborhood vistas.

Both the red and brown lines connect the Loop to Belmont - aka the Boystown stop. The purple line also connects the two hoods but has a limited schedule.

The Chicago Bagel Authority has some of Chicago's best bagels. There is a shop on Belmont immediately west of the Belmont stop.

Have a great visit
"

Thanks for the information and the rec, BalconyClub! Appreciate it!

[phinasamaj]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 2:08am

I saw a picture of the set. I see a tony

[Tag]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 5:35pm

Cher's thoughts: It needs work.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:01pm

Scroll up.  We already discussed that Chicago Tribune article 2 days ago after she attended the show this weekend.