"You’d think that any show involving the talents of Matthew Broderick, Kelli O’Hara, Kathleen Marshall, and the brothers Gershwin would be a sure-fire Broadway stunner, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” despite a few bright spots, fails to hold together as a glittering entertainment, unlike previous efforts such as “My One and Only” and “Crazy for You.”"
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
5 reviews so far (Variety, EW, AM, PhiladelphiaInq. and Backstage) say (or imply) that Broderick is the weak link of the cast. He'll have a hard time getting a Tony nomination.
"Call it a Franken-musical, stitched together out of body parts from different shows. But "Nice Work If You Can Get It," which has been sewn together with a grab bag of wondrous Gershwin songs and a preposterous new-old bootlegging comedy, is a happy creature -- loose and larky and altogether comfortable in its snappily dressed patchwork skin."
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I don't know why Broderick keeps getting hired. THE PRODUCERS was a one-off for him; his other performances (including an insanely miscast Harold Hill on TV) feel like walk-throughs.
To me, Steve Kazee, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, and Danny Burstein should be locks. I really think the last spot is between Esparza and Broderick. Broderick has still received solid notices in a show that so far seems pretty well received. A nomination for him would be far from surprising.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I would imagine he would be shut out. With Ron Raines, Norm Lewis, Danny Burstein, Ricky Martin (if deemed leading), Steve Kazee, Jeremy Jordan, and Raúl Esparza, I'd imagine O'Hara and Kaye will get most of the awards attention as far as performances go in NICE WORK. But maybe that's just me.
"In another season, perhaps, this good-looking, amiable production would be a must-have ticket. As it is, I found myself thinking of another work about bathtub gin and flappers running wild, Billy Wilder’s great movie farce of the Roaring Twenties, “Some Like It Hot.” An alternative title for “Nice Work” might be “Some Like It Lukewarm."
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
"True, Nice Work If You Can Get It (* * * out of four) doesn't use an inane story line to simply string together a beloved band or singer's catalog or a bunch of disparate rock chestnuts. Instead, it uses an inane story line to string together the timeless songs of George and Ira Gershwin.
This distinction shouldn't make Nice Work, which opened Tuesday at the Imperial Theatre, any more encouraging to people who care about keeping musical theater fresh and vital. But director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall and a stellar cast ensure that the show is as charming in execution as it is disheartening in theory."
Does NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT have a shot at the Tony for best musical? It's looking like it will be the second best-reviewed new musical of the season and it may be a safer and more tour-appropriate choice than ONCE. I haven't seen NICE WORK yet so I'll withhold judgment on the race but am wondering what others think.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I think the general consensus is that NEWSIES will win. I really, really hope ONCE does though. As I (and mostly everyone else on this board) have said before, it's an infinitely better show. And, for what it's worth, I thought it was more entertaining than NEWSIES as well.
I really doubt NICE WORK has a shot at winning, but it'll surely be nominated.
If it's between ONCE and NEWSIES I really hope ONCE takes it. ONCE is one of the best new musicals I've seen in a long time. NEWSIES isn't bad but I really don't think it deserves the title of best musical. I agree the consensus seems to be it's between those two, I was just wondering if NICE WORK had any chance (though I assume the answer's a no.)
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Based on these reviews, I would doubt it. I would imagine their best shot at winning a major award would be for the book (though I'd think ONCE will take this award) or for Judy Kaye.
I really don't think it deserves the title of best musical If only this mattered in the Tony voters' minds...what show ACTUALLY deserves the title of Best Musical of the Year.
^Sad, but true. Besides 2011 (where I was conflicted and am still not sure if Mormon deserved it over THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS), the show I thought deserved it most hasn't won since 2003.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
"The result is mostly a flop-sweat inducing affair. However appealing Broderick and O’Hara are individually, as romantic leads, they’re weak sparks on damp leaves.
Fortunately, a pair of first-rate second bananas -- Judy Kaye and Michael McGrath -- partly salvage this misguided enterprise."
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Both Nice Work and Newsies has touring potential especially Newsies which could tour without any major changes, I think it's between Once and Newsies for best musical, I would be happy if either show wins but Once deserves it more.
"With nothing on its tiny mind but pulchritude and parody, Nice Work If You Can Get It, a dumping ground of cornball clichés woodenly directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with tinned arrangements of early tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, has landed on Broadway at the Imperial with a mechanical thud. Except for one or two exceptions, it is so vulgar, boring and stupid that it will probably be a hit."
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
These reviews aren't damning, even if they are not filled with glowing superlatives. No one has seemed to take serious notice (until the critics arrived) of what a fine cast this really is -- Judy Kaye and Estelle Parsons in the same company? -- and that's one of the elements in this production: it's a homegrown, New York-centric piece of theater. This show seemingly has a built-in audience. Maybe it's just me, but its profile seems curiously under the radar. Maybe because it's technically all new, but with an jukebox collection of old songs and set in a vintage that suggests a revisal rather than brand new creation. New marketing challenges await this production tomorrow. Many good notices, many viable pull quotes, but a show that still seems to be without a specific, identifiable character. Someone needs to find a strong way to reach its target audience.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
^Agreed. The reviews aren't spectacular but are mixed enough overall to give them some good pull quotes and hopefully have a solid run. I think it's been under the radar because it's marketing hasn't been particularly aggressive. Besides some ads on Broadway World I haven't seen anything and it hasn't performed on any television shows yet. I think it's also the show (based on source material, cast, and the way it's being promoted) that appeals to an older crowd that just won't generate the same internet buzz and obsessive fans as a show, like say, Newsies. That doesn't mean they won't buy tickets and give the show a nice run, but it's never going to be the madness that goes on at the Nederlander.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.