The Cher Show- Page 16

[jon5202]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 1:13am

Sun-Times review

https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/the-cher-show/

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 1:56am

Just having read the this thread, I fear the whole conceit is confusing. Just wonder how much overall they will do before Broadway. I know workshops are a thing, but why not invite a critical eye to workshops to see if you're going in the right direction? 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 3:32am

jon5202 said: "Sun-Times review

https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/the-cher-show/

"

I emailed the reviewer re the mix up with her Chers.  Of chorus Teal Wicks is Lady and SJB is Star.

So many Chers, so little time (to write under a deadline).

Sent

 

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 3:45am

Saw it tonight (Thurs 6/28, Press night) .  Though the show is super FUN by virtue of the music alone, and is on its way to being freaking fantastic, I agree with many of the comments on what needs fixing. Some of the storyline gets muddled with the "show within a show" breaking off into songs/dramatizations of memories, and back to the "show" again. 

The part with Gregg Allman is over in mere minutes, and there is either a problem with the sound...or the actor...as a lot of his dialogue meant to come off as hippie-philosophy or funny jokes, doesn't land, because you couldn't really understand him.  You understood that he came on very directly to Cher  mostly via body language, and they were very blunt with each other, and I guess that was the attraction, but two brief song-and-dance sequences and baby-Elijah later...poof, he was gone without having made much of an impact to the story on stage. He clearly had enough of an impact on her life to marry him and have a kid with him. One song is a "duel" between him and Sonny that is mostly dominated by a fantastic Tango dancer and doesn't really get the point across about the two men, at all.  The dance in the bar ends, the audience goes wild for this truly captivating dancer who has nothing to do with Cher, and then you're like "oh, that song was supposed to be Sonny and Allman duking it out...or something." And did that really happen--the two men fighting over her after one had divorced her and another had married and was about to divorce her--or was that artistic license?  I don't remember that, historically.  Anyway, the reality is, they probably don't need to devote more than 2 song-and-dances to Allman, but maybe...different ones?  I dunno. I realize they have been cutting for time, but the whole Allman period needs clearing up.  

Another part that really bothered me was...if you didn't live through Sonny Bono actually passing away nearly 21 years ago, or were too young to know...there's not much on stage that cues you into why Stephanie Block is pouring her guts out and rocking that song in sadness in this dimly-lit scene.  The sets, while fantastic, are comparatively "minimalist" in this sequence, just with lots of blue church-y looking disco lights, but nothing to indicate she's actually in a chapel giving a eulogy. She gave SUCH an emotional eulogy for him in real life, and it's been on video all these years. They use a few lines of her speech, but then she swoops into song a bit too early to tell what actually happened, plot-wise. I was hoping they'd take it all the way to the end of her saying at the time that, for all their ups and downs, he discovered her and usually had a solution for whatever problems came up, choking up at his actual funeral: "...that person has always been Son, for me."  The scene literally writes itself, with that material. They didn't even include that in the show, and they should.  (In one of the articles posted above, Cher actually tells the writer that she's been giving the director ACTUAL quotes from the situations in her life that they use; they should use that one.)  There's only a brief blowing of kisses between the two of them signifying he's...out of her life, but not any indication to anyone not fully up on this part of her history and seeing the show, that a person in her life--this significant person, career svengalie and father of her first child--has actually passed away, and tragically young, and suddenly, in a skiing accident, at that.  Those of us old enough to remember were tearing up, though; again, Block blows the roof off of that number, and much of Act 2.

Super fun fashion show included to showcase all of her career-defining, noteworthy outfits over the years. Emily Skinner as Cher's mother (and as Lucille Ball) is absolutely fab and you kinda wish you had more of her, but really, her stage time and content is just right. 

Updated On: 6/29/18 at 03:45 AM

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 6:36am

Chris again provides a constructive review

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-cher-show-chicago-review-0629-story.html

[BJR]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 8:54am

I wondered why the producers had Cher give that interview last week and of course, it was to set expectations and frame the reviews: Cher knows it needs work, and she's the expert here, critics.

Also, BettyBoy, I can absolutely see what you mean by Teal being the wrong type. One of the things that made so remarkable in that Cher show era was her distinctive look (hell, and nose).

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:17am

I love that the reviews were really constructive towards the show and makes me realize that they are probably rooting because it's not just another ''bio-musical'', that is - actually - an ambitious one!

 

And based on them, Jarrod Spector and the costumes could win some Tony's.

[jon5202]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:32am

Opening night curtain call

https://www.facebook.com/seanlewiswgn/videos/2179634442051894/UzpfSTExNzc2OTg0NDQ6MTAyMTU3NDgyNjM4Mzc3MzY/

 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:57am

I’m just wondering if they added turn back time to the show. As that is one of her biggest hits I would honestly have gotten a hold of all of Cher’s notes when she saw it and incorporated them. She wants a three song dance finale (even if it makes for a longer show. Cut the fat. Make it a spectacle. Whatever). But do a finale of like woman’s world (?), turn back time and believe. (With her signature arielists ).

Also. Anyone have a current song list used in the show.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 11:29am

Is Jason Moore's direction the biggest problem with the show? The reviews seem to imply that the show needs directorial focus. 

[brightbroadway]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 11:39am

Something tells me that Teal wicks will be cut before the Broadway Transfer. 

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 11:46am

If they cut Teal, they should bring back Lesli Margherita. They would sell tons of tickets to the younger crowd.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 11:50am

I was at last night's performance, as well as the very first performance.  Last night was a definite improvement over the first performance, but I can still see that there needs to have more things changed.  I agree that Teal Wicks is the weakest of the three Chers, she doesn't being anything "extra" like the other two do.  The best part of the evening was when Ms. Block appreared in Cher's Oscar outfit the year she wasn't nominated for "Mask".  The audience cheered for sooo long that it ruined the rhythm of what she needed to say, she paused, smiled and showed a bit of shoulder to show appreciation.  I would cut the "Dark Lady" duet between Sonny and Gregg Allman and add more of a mini concert to the end of the show since this is mainly what she is known for at the present.  Having the show end when Sonny dies kind of does a disservice to everything that she has done since.  It's still an enjoyable show, but it needs more energy added...

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 11:51am

I hear a lot of people saying they don't remember "If I Could Turn Back Time" being used in the show.

Which is weird because I think it's a very memorable part of the show. The three Chers sing for the first time by harmonizing on it. Then there's a big scene with the choreo "turning back time" from Star to Lady to Babe.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 11:57am

Something tells me that Teal wicks will be cut before the Broadway Transfer. 

I was thinking this as well.  Recasting between an out-of-town tryout to Broadway has happened countless times throughout Broadway history, not just recently.  

Also, countless shows have changed from tryout to Broadway so I see this happening to THE CHER SHOW. Expect that remix curtain call Cher wants to be in the Broadway production.  Sadly, her visit to the show happened too late prior to Opening Night so it was too much to try to tackle in just a few days.   Notes have been taken and I'm sure Cher now has chosen to be more involved from this point on, especially after the reviews.  

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:00pm

Before I saw the show, I was expecting it to be more of a chronological telling of her life story.  But this show is about Cher and it cannot be conventional.  I did like the song choices and how they were used, for the most part all of the songs were performed very well and also helped with the progression of the story...

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:10pm

Agree, RevolutionaryCostume.  "If I Could Turn Back Time" showed up in the first 15 mins of the show!  It was disappointing that it was used as more of a throwaway, though, and should be more featured since it's one of her biggest hits.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:15pm

RevolutionaryCostume said: "I hear a lot of people saying they don't remember "If I Could Turn Back Time" being used in the show.

The melody is also sweetly heard in the oversized Fairy Tale book moment.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:17pm

If they cut Teal, they should bring back Lesli Margherita. They would sell tons of tickets to the younger crowd.

Stephanie J. Block is 5'9" and Lesli Margherita is 5'4" (not sure how tall Micaela Diamond is).  Even in heels, which both wear on stage, the height difference having all 3 Chers side-by-side would be distracting.  

Plus, the 70s costumes the long and slim Cher wore wouldn't suit Lesli in any way and THAT is sadly, a huge demand as countless people have already mentioned how ill-fitting the costumes and wig look on Teal.  

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:17pm

jon5202 said: "Opening night curtain call

https://www.facebook.com/seanlewiswgn/videos/2179634442051894/UzpfSTExNzc2OTg0NDQ6MTAyMTU3NDgyNjM4Mzc3MzY/"

Is that Teal Wicks on the right of the threesome? I don't know who she's supposed to be, but I don't get Cher at all.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:23pm

I thought Teal Wicks was the weakest of the three the first time I saw the show, but she's really growing on me.

I think she has a thankless job. She gets the best costumes but the transitional Cher. She has to be tougher than Babe, but more vulnerable than Star.

I watched a lot of clips of Cher's show on YouTube recently, and I actually think Ms. Wicks is doing the most accurate Cher impression of the three.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:29pm

Lesli played Star Cher when she was apart of the show so I don't think they'd bring her back to play the middle Cher. 

[FanofGreen]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:30pm

I agree, Revolutionary Costume.  Most of the negative comments I have read are about her "look."  Well, that's the fault of hair and make-up, not Ms. Wicks.  Most accounts say she sounds fabulous.  Caveat:  I have not seen the show yet.  I'll get back to y'all a week from today.  Honestly, I don't tend to get distracted by whether an actors look fits the character.  I mean, Aaron Burr was never as tan as the actors who have portrayed him in Hamilton.  That didn't distract me from appreciating their performances.

[A Director]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:50pm

FanofGreen said: Honestly, I don't tend to get distracted by whether an actors look fits the character. I mean, Aaron Burr was never as tan as the actors who have portrayed him in Hamilton. 

WTF?  None of the actors who've appeared in Hamilton look like the characters they portrayed.

 

[A Director]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 12:51pm

Why does the show need THREE Chers?  According to the reviews, the costumes are the best part of the show.