WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread- Page 9
WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
KnewItWhenIWasInFron
Leading Actor Joined: 6/23/14
#200WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#201WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#202WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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!
KnewItWhenIWasInFron
Leading Actor Joined: 6/23/14
#203WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#204WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#205WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/18/16 at 3:19pm
BWW has posted production photos. The costume and set design are great!
WAR PAINT production photos
You Can Disagree Without Being Disagreeable
#206WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
Jesus saves. I spend.
#208WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/18/16 at 4:11pm
Those pictures look lovely. I wish I could hear some of the score.
KnewItWhenIWasInFron
Leading Actor Joined: 6/23/14
#209WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.)
#210WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#211WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#212WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#214WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/19/16 at 6:25am
Ouch Nytimes 
. Positive for the two leads though and certain moments.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#216WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#217WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#218WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#219WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/19/16 at 9:31am
Can anyone with a program please tell me who the makeup designer is?
#220WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/19/16 at 9:42am
I found Brantley's review to be weirdly bitchy and dismissive.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#221WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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.
#222WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:04am
So it's not going into the Nederlander?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#223WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:04am
Perhaps the music box
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#224WAR PAINT - Pre-Broadway Thread
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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