Victor / Victoria; Julie, Liza and Raquel- Page 2

[CurtisTaylorJr2]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 11:04pm

There is a video of Minnelli doing Le Jazz Hot on YouTube and it's pretty painful. She was singing the rhythm of the melody, but not even attempting to do it on pitch. Just an observation from seeing that video which might have just been a bad night.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 11:27pm

When did the filming and the cast recording occur during the run? In some places Julie's voice sounds better in the filmed stage production than she does on the cast album.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 8:28am

The show is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Image Entertainment for anyone interested!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 9:25am

I thought Raquel Welch was pretty good in that Le Jazz Hot clip.

I had no desire to see this show when it was on Broadway. I didn't realize it played as long as it did.

[markypoo]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 10:09am

Just one of the ironies of this show is that shortly after it opened on Broadway, the Times ran an article stating that it was on its way to recouping within a relatively short time.
But as it turned out, it never did recoup, or perhaps even come close.
I was never certain as to just why.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 12:33pm

markypoo said: "Just one of the ironies of this show is that shortly after it opened on Broadway, the Times ran an article stating that it was on its way to recouping within a relatively short time. But as it turned out, it never did recoup, or perhaps even come close. I was never certain as to just why.”



Did Julie A have a lot of attendance problems during the run because of her voice? IBDB says she was in it from October 1995 to June 1997 (though I know Liza was in there for about a month in the middle of that). Maybe returned tickets were a factor in the financials?

I found a Playbill article that said at the time of closing they were in the middle of a lawsuit about getting insurance $$$ for the performances she missed: http://www.playbill.com/article/victor-victoria-closing-july-27-com-329200

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 3:40pm

There is a video of Minnelli doing Le Jazz Hot on YouTube and it's pretty painful. She was singing the rhythm of the melody, but not even attempting to do it on pitch. Just an observation from seeing that video which might have just been a bad night.

Please read the thread before posting.  I already posted and included links to all the videos on YouTube of the various actresses who have appeared in VICTOR/VICTORIA - yes, including Liza Minnelli.  

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 9:01pm

I’ve previously shared my love of this show, though I frankly don’t care for a revival. My memories and the exceptional professionally produced DVD satisfy me. Though I’ve often mused I’d be first in line if Rachel was cast as ‘Victoria.’

[David10086]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 9:28pm

Wow, by all accounts it sounds as though the Tony voters weren't exactly wrong in not nominating the show for anything - except the 'thank you for coming back to Broadway' nomination to Julie Andrews. And she was hurt that the show and the rest of the cast was not nominated?

From what I'm reading, if the show ever did go toe-to-toe with "Sunset Boulevard" in that previous season, SB would have still won. 

If there ever was a revival, I could probably see Catherine Zeta Jones in it as 'Victor/Victoria'.  

[CurtisTaylorJr2]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 1:13am

BrodyFosse123 said: "There is a video of Minnelli doing Le Jazz Hot on YouTube and it's pretty painful. She was singing the rhythm of the melody, but not even attempting to do it on pitch. Just an observation from seeing that video which might have just been a bad night.

Please read the thread before posting. I already posted and included links to all thevideos on YouTube of the various actresses who haveappeared in VICTOR/VICTORIA - yes, includingLiza Minnelli."

Oh well, it's not a big deal. It's just a message board, lol.

 

Updated On: 11/2/17 at 01:13 AM

[Buscee]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 9:20am

I was actually in attendance the evening they shot the DVD version. This was not a good show. It was very big, but not good. Could not compare with the original film which was brilliant. The only thing that made it viable was Julie Andrew reprising her film role. Rachel York was brilliant in this. But the show lackluster. Liza did have problems, but hell its Liza. She was helping out a friend because everyone knew this show could not continue with a HUGE name. I wish I had seen Liza. I did see Raquel. She was very good. Unfortunately the audiences  she was able to draw into WOMAN OF THE YEAR. (Which she made a Huge Hit) she could not bring to a show written for Julie.  I believe what caused the show not to payoff was the fact it was a very expensive show, no Tony Nominations, and when Julie returned after LIza she only did a 7 performance week. With Ann Rufolson doing Tuesday nights.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 10:13am

Robin Wagner's set design should have been nominated. The Paris street and the hotel suites were very good, and Toddy's apartment was good, too. 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 1:26pm

I did see Raquel. She was very good. Unfortunately the audiences  she was able to draw into WOMAN OF THE YEAR. (Which she made a Huge Hit)

Woman of the Year flopped, despite being led by Bacall, Welch and Reynolds over its 2-year run.  Raquel might have brought in some people as she was stunt cast in her Broadway debut in 1981, but by her second go-round in 1997, interest in her as a performer was waning.

[Buscee]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 3:41pm

WOMAN OF THE YEAR with Raquel was usually a sell out and with the help of TKTS. She broke records. Even with the Tony wins Lauren Bacall was rarely a selling out the theater. It was a very expensive show to run. Debbie was wonderful, but the show was also not the best.  BETTER THAN Victor/Victoria.

VICTOR/VICTORIA was only good because people wanted to see Julie Andrews play her famous movie role. It was her vehicle. Didn't work without her.  It was hard to watch even with her.

[Balthazar Chasen]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 8:13pm

I'm glad to hear favorable comments about Louis Says.  I've heard from a reputable source that the song was cut, in part, because of the high cost of maintaining & cleaning all the wigs that were used in the number.  It seems the production costs skyrocketed because of this song.  Just FYI. 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 8:30pm

It was already cut by the time I saw the show but glad it’s preserved on the DVD. I assumed it was cut because it was a fluff piece that didn’t advance the plot, other to illustrate ‘Victor’ has become a big star after the build up in Act 1. It did rather jumpstart Act 2. After the cut didn’t it just start with Toddy and Victoria in her dressing room and Norma saying goodbye. Was it put back in for the tours?

[markypoo]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 8:48pm

And did anyone else see the show when Hillel-The-Balloon-Man (and his novelty act) was still in the show?
Rumor had it Andrews had him fired.
He later appeared on an episode of Theater Talk and reminisced. I have the VHS somewhere.

[NoName3]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 12:52am

I've read that the version that was shown on the pay-per-view cable broadcast is different from the DVD/Blu ray. I can't remember whether it was a different performance or the same performance but edited differently. Does anyone know?

ETA that Wikipedia doesn't mention a PPV broadcast but says that the production shown on TV in Japan. Updated On: 11/3/17 at 12:52 AM

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 1:18am

I know this thread is drifting far from the original post...I know, I know, THAT never happens here.  

But speaking of the DVD, I've always wanted to know who all the red carpet people are. Only a few are recognizable: Barbara Walters, Suzanne Sommers, Sherry Lansing, Cindy Adams, Chita, a few others. But I have no idea who 80% of the VIPs are...maybe they are celebs known in Japan where the pay-per-view was aired. 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:40am

After the pre-Broadway tryout in Minneapolis, the show moved to Chicago for more tinkering. I snuck into the balcony on a Monday - one day before the first Chicago performance. The cast was rehearsing the new Louis Says number - which was added after Minneapolis. I ushered many of the nights during the 6 week run.

The 6 million dollar set was stunning.

One Saturday between shows, Julie invited all the ushers up on stage to help celebrate Blake's birthday.

[Gorlois]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 7:10am

Not sure about the PPV, but the performance on the Blu ray is a different one than the performance on the DVD.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 11:29am

The show was filmed exclusively for Japanese Pay-Per-View - never aired in the US.  The filming was sponsored by some product brand.  And yes, the DVD version is the Japanese television airing and the Blu-ray is a different filmed performance.  I'm assuming the Japanese television airing was filmed in standard definition for regular TV airing and since the Japanese were already developing HD televisions they wisely filmed another performance with HD cameras which is what the Blu-ray contains.  

Also, the red carpet arrival footage seen on the DVD is from Opening Night of the show.  The filming was not a red carpet affair.  

[markypoo]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 1:31pm

One of the local public libraries has the DVD. I just finished watching it a short time ago, and for me it was like travelling back in time 22 years.
Glorious.

[Balthazar Chasen]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:23pm

Here's a direct quotation regarding "Louis Says" & why it was cut:  "First reason was that by cutting it, Julie's vocal demands were diminished significantly. Second reason was that the cleaning/maintenance cost for that numbers costumes and wigs was insane, so they also saved a lot of money on weekly production costs." ""

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/4/17 at 10:08pm

Balthazar Chasen said: "Here's a direct quotation regarding "Louis Says" & why it was cut: "First reason was that by cutting it, Julie's vocal demands were diminished significantly. Second reason was that the cleaning/maintenance cost for that numbers costumes and wigs was insane, so they also saved a lot of money on weekly production costs." """

Liza was terrible and this number was simply a BAD opening act 2 # .