WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread- Page 9
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#200
Posted: 7/17/16 at 11:49pm
I saw it Friday night and enjoyed it a lot, largely because of the two leads (not to look too far into the future, but this is a show it's really hard to see surviving without two very charismatic and well-known stars). As others have noted, the men are not very interesting (I'd either like more of them or a lot less of them, since the only thing that distinguishes them now is that one's gay and one isn't). It definitely feels like the work of the "Grey Gardens" team -- and, as in that show (which I love, btw), it seems odd to me that there are many solos and a couple duets for the female leads but virtually no numbers in which they work with the chorus. I'm not asking for "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" but it would be nice to have a song or two that involved the prominent characters with the chorus.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#201
Posted: 7/18/16 at 9:19am
best12bars said: "I didn't realize Patti Cohenour is in the company! I'm assuming she's standing by for both leads?"
I believe she's only covering Ebersole. I think Joanna Glushak is covering LuPone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#202
Posted: 7/18/16 at 11:02am
Costumes are stunning - especially the NY social elites. Christine and Patti create a relationship without communicating directly. Christine's Pink is anthem for many women, my wife wept. Orchestrations are great.
Patti is hilarious. We loved the show, so happy we got to see it!
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#203
Posted: 7/18/16 at 1:40pm
Costumes are indeed stunning but they sure make LuPone look diminutive. I've seen her in other things but, based on this, she sure does not look 5-2 (and, of course, Ebersole's heighten increases the contrast). I was guessing under five feet tall.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#204
Posted: 7/18/16 at 1:44pm
KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "Costumes are indeed stunning but they sure make LuPone look diminutive. I've seen her in other things but, based on this, she sure does not look 5-2 (and, of course, Ebersole's heighten increases the contrast). I was guessing under five feet tall."
Standing next to Douglas Sills also really draws attention to her height.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#205
Posted: 7/18/16 at 3:19pm
BWW has posted production photos. The costume and set design are great!
WAR PAINT production photos
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#206
Posted: 7/18/16 at 3:28pm
I thought this was disappointingly bland. It certainly wasn't unpleasant... but not much happened. It was like a wikipedia page with songs. No real character arch, no real conflict.
The Act 1 closing song was terrific, as where the final two solo numbers for the leads... everything else was generically lovely but had no real impact.
It was very glamorous.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#208
Posted: 7/18/16 at 4:11pm
Those pictures look lovely. I wish I could hear some of the score.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#209
Posted: 7/18/16 at 6:47pm
Forgot to mention that I attended a pre-show talk on Saturday and the speaker indicated that was the first frozen performance (and that they were "out of rehearsal time"
, which would make sense since it opens tonight. Take it with a grain of salt, since he also said that no one knows if the show is going to Broadway and that Christine Ebersole was the original choice for her role. (One interesting thing he did note is that the show was specifically dreamed up as a way to bring together two great ladies of the musical theater.)
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#210
Posted: 7/18/16 at 9:33pm
JeaniusIsMe said: "KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "Costumes are indeed stunning but they sure make LuPone look diminutive. I've seen her in other things but, based on this, she sure does not look 5-2 (and, of course, Ebersole's heighten increases the contrast). I was guessing under five feet tall."
Standing next to Douglas Sills also really draws attention to her height.
"Well, Helena was actually quite tiny so it fits.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#211
Posted: 7/18/16 at 9:39pm
Is anybody attending the evening performance on the 24th? I will be there. My group has taken up one of the boxes. Can't remember which one.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#212
Posted: 7/18/16 at 10:45pm
KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "Forgot to mention that I attended a pre-show talk on Saturday and the speaker indicated that was the first frozen performance (and that they were "out of rehearsal time", which would make sense since it opens tonight. Take it with a grain of salt, since he also said that no one knows if the show is going to Broadway and that Christine Ebersole was the original choice for her role. (One interesting thing he did note is that the show was specifically dreamed up as a way to bring together two great ladies of the musical theater.)
"
See, the composer said on a radio interview recently that although they hope to go to Broadway - nothing was set in stone. Yet Liza (if I recall correctly) seem to have a different idea - that it is confirmed and going to the Nederlander. I hope they're right, but surely if it was confirmed they would say so. Unless they are waiting for the official announcement.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#214
Posted: 7/19/16 at 6:25am
Ouch Nytimes 
. Positive for the two leads though and certain moments.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#215
Posted: 7/19/16 at 7:28am
Washington Post is Positive.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/much-anticipated-musical-with-patti-lupone-christine-ebersole-opens-in-chicago/2016/07/18/7d4861b0-4cfd-11e6-aa14-e0c1087f7583_story.html
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#216
Posted: 7/19/16 at 7:32am
Chicago Sun Times is positive
http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/war-paint-a-musical-whose-beauty-is-far-more-than-skin-deep/
Brantley and the Tribune are mixed.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#217
Posted: 7/19/16 at 7:39am
Brantley: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/theater/review-war-paint-recalls-two-cosmetics-titans.html?_r=1
Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-war-paint-goodman-patti-lupone-review-ent-0719-20160718-column.html
Funny how some are quick to call the reviews bad, but don't offer any links for others to read them.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#218
Posted: 7/19/16 at 9:08am
Brantley's review really wasn't that bad. He seemed to echo a lot of what's been said here, actually. High praise for the two women and the score, but thinks the story is predictable and perhaps generic.
I don't think any of these reviews will sway anyone one way or the other about a transfer to Broadway.
Joined: 12/31/69
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#219
Posted: 7/19/16 at 9:31am
Can anyone with a program please tell me who the makeup designer is?
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#220
Posted: 7/19/16 at 9:42am
I found Brantley's review to be weirdly bitchy and dismissive.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#221
Posted: 7/19/16 at 9:47am
Mr. Nowack said: "The Headband is a prophet of the Gods and all words that come from thine big mouth are true.
"
It's fine if you don't want to believe me ... I'll lose no sleep over that ... but there's no need to besmirch or criticize me. I have not said anything about you in this thread. Why must you attack me? Asshole.
P.S. Stone is the lead producer. He usually gets what he wants and he wants this playing in NY come spring 2017 at a Shubert house. Unless something goes horribly wrong, it is a safe assumption that this will be on Broadway.
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#222
Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:04am
So it's not going into the Nederlander?
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#223
Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:04am
Perhaps the music box
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread#224
Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:11am
Kad said: "I found Brantley's review to be weirdly bitchy and dismissive."
Bitchy and dismissive, yes. But from Brantley, that's not weird.
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