WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN begins previews TONIGHT!- Page 5

[alawhat]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:37am

It's a star-studded $5,000,000 limited run LCT production, don't be retarded, of course it will open.
I really hope it becomes good. How it got this far without being good confuses me, though. I'd like to think disappointment is making the preview-goers see immutable awfulness when it's just mediocre.

We'll see.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:39am

^ I always wonder the same thing. What did the actors see in the script or through workshops that's missing on the stage in front of the audience?

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:41am

So sad to read these disappointing first impressions. WhizzerMarvin and Michael Bennett are usually right on the mark IMO.
Sounds like that terrific photo shoot and radio commercial may have been as good as it gets.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:41am

Each reader be damned should they take WhizzerMarvin as gospel. To begin, her/his writing isn't exactly the model of thoughtful criticism (nor very interesting writing, but whatever). To be frank I find it unsupported and callow. I will be there tomorrow and address it as it is: a very early preview.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:41am

Thanks!!!!!!! I knew Alma would probably cover patti.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:43am

The tone feels off, but has its moments. 

Updated On: 3/28/22 at 01:43 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:46am

So Patti does wear the blonde wig in act 2?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:47am

Wow, I apologize for all the typos. It's so very late.

Yes, Patti goes back and forth between her blonde and black wigs.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:53am

Thank you so much for that detailed review americanboy!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 1:56am

Play Esq- I have never encouraged anyone one this site to take my opinion as gospel (I know you didn't imply that, but just to clarify). I have also never professed to be an English major. My goal in these review threads is simply to share my thoughts. Sorry that you finding what I have to say so uninteresting.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 2:03am

Ignore him, WhizzerMarvin. Personal attacks on this board are such a bore.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 2:17am

This will certainly be a fun month.

[heo1128]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 2:32am

Updated On: 9/25/16 at 02:32 AM

[amoni]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 3:07am

"Ignore him, WhizzerMarvin. Personal attacks on this board are such a bore."

Yes, personal attacks should only ever be aimed at actors, directors, producers and crew, of course.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 3:30am

a bit of insight:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/theater/10women.html

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 4:25am

Can someone post a picture of the show curtain and briefly describe Laura Benanti's character please?

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 4:55am

SHOCKINGLY the reception on ATC is more positive than here!! wow.

Posted: 10/9/10 at 5:02am

Wow...people here are Dou**e bags!!!!!

Tonight was fantastic, if a little...hesitant...for a first preview...I very much admired the score and the performances...specifically, I enjoyed Sherie and Justin WAYYY more than anticipated...

Laura stole it, sure, but she had the best material NOT the best performance...

LuPone was rock solid, as was Stokes Mitchell...

These negative reviews are coming from dork-os who don't know better, but this is a terrific show -

There are SEVERAL kinks to work out...which they will in previews, i'm certain...

The older gal (Peil?), and Danny B's characters need a bit more clarifying, and we need to know WHY LuPone is "narrating" in the beginning, and yet can interact with folks at the end...and WHY is Burnstein "narrating" in act II?

Other than that, I followed it all easily, and don't see why in the world people are calling this a "Disaster"...did they SEE Addam's Family??

xo

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 5:18am

I'm feeling a bit more optimistic now. This sounds fixable. Sher does a lot work in previews. Songs can be cut and added. We just need to wait and see.
Updated On: 10/9/10 at 05:18 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 6:38am

For example we find out in an early book scene ***possibly spoiler (for the movie, but not really the musical I guess)*** that Lucia is the mother of Carlos, and he is Ivan's son.

This was in the press release announcing the characters/cast MONTHS ago.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 7:29am

Who sings each song?

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 7:31am

Did anyone do the stage door? Who comes out?

(YES, I had to be THAT guy)

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 8:26am

Yikes!

I had really high hopes for this one, and am seeing it next week.

From reading the the first preview reviews, apparently Benanti is terrific, that is the concensus.

But how is the score? No one talked about that to any degree. I've read that Patti has no part, Sherri is floundering, and that Benanti is terrific. The song list was interesting, but what did you think of it?

How is the score?
Updated On: 10/9/10 at 08:26 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 8:53am

This will certainly be a fun month.

This was my thought as well. I'm not seeing it until the 24th, so hopefully in the next two weeks they'll get things straightened out!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 9:08am

bjh- Sorry, I was not aware they said that in the press release. I assume most people in the audience over the course of the run didn't read that press release though. The reason I labeled it a spoiler is because later on in the phone booth scene Lucia throws all that stuff out the window near Pepa. She sees the photo with Ivan and Carlos, on which Ivan has written an inscription saying "To my son." This is the first time Pepa learns he has a son (and in the movie the first time the audience learns). We are able to experience the shock of discovery with Pepa, rather than just watch her learn revealing information we have already been privy to.

I would say most Almodovar films that I've seen have an element of mystery about them. I found the musical to be missing this because they took out any element of surprise with the plot throughout.

I agree with most of americanboy99's comments. I think he is pretty spot on.