WAR PAINT Reviews — Page 3

Yes, Brantley's opinion can change for better or worse when he returns to a show.

For the better: Patti's Gypsy (Encores to Broadway)

For the worse: A Little Night Music revival (London to Broadway)

Newsday is mostly Positive, but wishes for a little more from the score.

"War Paint” may not be one of the great musicals, but it is an enormously satisfying one. Yes, it is a showcase for established artists hungry for new material. But the show, sleekly and compassionately directed by Michael Greif and created by the team that made the haunting “Grey Gardens,” looks at American women from 1934 to 1964 through a new lens — from the lives of two business titans who took lipstick from harlots to high society.

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/war-paint-review-patti-lupone-christine-ebersole-as-cosmetics-queens-rubinstein-arden-1.13372028

An aside....

I heard Hillary attended the opening and got a standing ovation. I passed by the Gotham where the party was held at about 11:00 and it looked packed.

Updated On: 4/7/17 at 01:08 AM

I don't think ThePone will like that Ebersole got the last. better word in Brantley's review, even though he praised them both. Is Patti's "diction" really made fun of in her songs? Or is it the combination of diction versus accent?

Since when do a bunch of mixed reviews gurantee a Best Musical nomination?

Jeremy Gerard, Deadline: (Adding to the muddle, LuPone's heavy, unplaceable accent makes her frequently difficult to understand.)

Haha! Has he never seen LuPone before? It's the same in every show.

I'm reminded of "The Rink"'s reception in the 80s. Two powerhouses, a show that was mostly received as "meh." This show, while criticized, is given more points for ambition. (the McNally book for "Rink" was ridiculed cruelly.) But in terms of commercial viability being tethered to stars, "The Rink" is a useful enough model, even if neither lady here has the international stardom of Minnelli.

Happy to see LuPone and Ebersole getting the raves they deserve. They are the only true reason to see this production, which feels more like a stellar Encores mounting of a long-forgotten flop musical of yesteryear than an original, contemporary one. The good news is that, as long as it recoups before the leading ladies depart, it will most definitely not flop. I thought it was a total snooze with a sometimes willfully ugly score ("Pink" being the exception) and two exceptional lead performances from two of musical theatre's greatest actors.

newintown said: "No surprises in these reviews - good for the gals, not so good for the show. I have a feeling that it will close before it recoups; there's just too much competition for the tourist mob's attention (and how many of them care about [or have even heard of] Christine Ebersole, Elizabeth Arden, or Helena Rubenstein?)."

They are rumored to have an almost 10 million dollar advance. I'd wager to say it's doing much better than some other new musicals this spring.

I agree, Piano. There was only one pan, and that's fine. Most critics seemed to have a lot of respect for the show while noting its shortcomings.

This slate of reviews seems fair to me- it's a frustrating show without a doubt, but it's not a disaster in any way, and LuPone and Ebersole are in rare form.

I think this really is a special show. I'm so glad I caught it in Chicago. I hope I can catch it this summer in NYC.

givesmevoice said: "Kad said: "I've seen several critics note that, for all its flaws, they would not have missed the production."

Because the chance to see these two, together, at the top of their vocal game, in roles tailor-made for them, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.



"

Exactly, and I'm sure the producers are banking on this for the box office. There's certainly enough great pull quotes. Some Tony nominations won't hurt. And how wonderul would it be to see them sing "Face to Face" on the Tonys?

Updated On: 4/7/17 at 10:56 AM