What did people think of Victor/Victoria (1995)?

[Jay94]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 12:14pm

I think the only good thing to come out of this show is that it has arguably the best filmed version of a stage production ever. Other than that the book is full of lame sitcom humour and while the score is nice in parts, the lyrics by Leslie Bricusse are so lazy and underdeveloped. Just listen to King's Dilemma or If I Were a Man for some examples.

What did you think of the show? I imagine there was a lot of buzz when it came out.




Updated On: 6/29/13 at 12:14 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 12:34pm

The fact that Julie Andrews was returning to Broadway in a musical after more than 30 years away was a huge event. I think people were a bit disappointed in V/V, but at the same time, people also wanted to see a musical theater legend.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 3:00pm

The stage production is a mess! Once again - just as happened with SUNSET BLVD - a wonderful film has been trashed by inept handling, poor writing and complete lack of understanding of how to use songs to develop plot and character. (King's Dilemma being once key exception.) Andrews is competing against her screen performance filmed 15 years earlier and no longer had the voice.

Strange that some of the funniest dialogue in the film is cut from the stage script. And really, what is there to gain from taking successful film and merely re-creating it on stage? Nothing as far as I can see, unless the stage version creates some unique theatrical concepts to eclipse memories of the original film. (The current Toronto production of WIZARD OF OZ is dreadful because it tries to slavishly copy the movie.)

As for the hyperbolic claim that is is "the best filmed version of a stage production ever" I direct you to the TV versions of SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Even the TV version of MEMPHIS is at least as good as VICTOR/VICTORIA.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 3:40pm

"As for the hyperbolic claim that is is "the best filmed version of a stage production ever"

I don't know how old the original poster is, but I feel sorry for the young kids today who didn't get to see the productions that were filmed for "Live From Lincoln Center" but not made available for commercial purchase.

The 80s House of Blue Leaves was wonderful. Also in 89 or 90, there was a production of A Little Night Music that was nice. In the 90s, the beautifully designed Twelfth Night is another example.

Darn it, I have to get all my video tapes digitalized. I think I have all of those shows somewhere.

Updated On: 6/29/13 at 03:40 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 4:04pm

I have the DVD of the stage production of V/V. I've never been able to get through it. I think the longest I've lasted is 45 minutes. Then I watched Le Jazz Hot and realized that this just wasn't any good at all.

If by "best filmed," you're talking about the quality, at least it was filmed in HD. That makes it "better" (in quality only, not content) than other videos of shows.

But everything else about it was unwatchable. And I agree that seeing Julie compete with the memory of her own Oscar-nominated film performance from 15 years earlier was ... unfortunate.

I do think, because of the weak year, had she accepted the Tony nomination, she would have won.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 4:19pm

Paris makes me horny,
It's not like Californ-y...

And I will leave it at that.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 4:43pm

That song is one of the most excruciating ever.

Posted: 6/29/13 at 5:26pm

1) This show was egregiously overlooked by the Tonys.

2) While the show had some awful rough spots, the "Louis Says" production number (Did they cut it for Broadway) was 6 of the most delightful minutes I've ever spent in a theater. (It was in place of the "Shady Dame From Seville" number in the film)

[ABB2357]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 5:33pm

Been to Munich
Where every guy's a eunuch

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 6:46pm

"Louis Says" was cut during the run. It was in the show when it first opened (I think it may have been cut when Liza covered for Julie's vacation, but maybe even before then).

I think if she had accepted the nomination and won it would have been more of an award for being Julie Andrews than for her actual performance, which, as best12 and others have said, was a pale shadow to what she did on film. Donna Murphy, as I recall, was getting raves for The King and I and the possibility of Daphne winning for Rent doesn't seem like it would have been entirely unlikely. I think Crista Moore winning for Big would have been the only real surprise that year. And, as I recall, even though she said she declined the nomination she was still eligible, as I remember them still reading her name and showing a photo during the telecast when announcing the nominees.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 6:59pm

I didn't even realize the stage version was filmed.

I saw one promotional broadcast of the title number. When I got to:

"Victor/Victoria,
What a victor you are!"

I was done. (I grew up doting on Julie Andrews and loved the original film, but oy!)

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:03pm

For those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing you like.



On Blu-ray and DVD

Updated On: 6/29/13 at 07:03 PM

[theatredk]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:07pm

I saw it in December of 1996 and Louis Says was out buy then and replace with a reprise of Crazy world. I saw it three weeks later with Liza and I think they added if I Were a Man

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:32pm

The show was so bad I wondered how it ever made it to Broadway.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:35pm

The show was a total hot mess. Rachel York stole the show and chewed the scenery as Norma. Probably the only bright spot. Anyone who can make a song like "Paris Makes Me Horny" tolerable deserves some credit in my book.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:46pm

"Living in the Shadows" is a guilty pleasure:

One thing I can tell you,
Life should be your lover...
Help you to discover
Your reason for being!

LOL/Oy

[Gorlois]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 9:13pm

I was born in '95, so obviously even if I had seen it, I'd have no recollection of it. However, Julie Andrews is my favorite performer, so I am familiar with the show and I own it on DVD and BD (two different performances, by the way).

Firstly, it holds no candle to the movie which is a highlight in the careers of everyone involved. But it has its pleasures-- I love "Louis Says" (what can I say?), the Victor/Norma tango was a great idea, and the DVD preserves the only example of an on-stage performance by this particular musical theatre icon. And in my case, the movie introduced me to the very talented Rachel York.

Yeah, the lyrics are bad. Sure, much of the cast remains in the shadow of the movie's originals. Not to mention, the musical seems to think the story was just as cutting edge as it was in 1982. And Blake Edwards was REALLY more of a movie director. But you take what you can get, and I rather V/V than nothing.

Btw, the OP is not the first person I've heard to call the taped performance one of the best professionally filmed performances ever. No one claims the content is, but the way they did it. I haven't seen enough filmed performances to make a statement.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 10:50pm

The "Cat and Mouse" sequence is wonderful, though.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:27pm

I agree about "Live From The Lincoln Center." I'd love a DVD of "Light In The Piazza." I wish more shows were taped, and that they would be on DVD. Heck, I'd love a DVD of "Legally Blonde."

Updated On: 6/29/13 at 11:27 PM

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:30pm

I saw it. It was not very good, and deserved its lack of Tonys. But I absolutely loved seeing Julie Andrews. I have the DVD too. To this day, I have not watched it though.

[Jay94]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:01am

What a fabulous pursuit,
Hands in pockets, running things;
I must say, it appeals.
In my hundred dollar suit,
Toying with my golden fob-watch
As I make my deals.
Lucky man who is not made to feel
Like an also-ran.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:17am

Note to Leslie Bricusse: "suit" and "suit" don't rhyme.

[BroadwayBrat]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:23am

I saw it from the front row center and was so excited to be seeing Julie Andrews up close and singing, I didn't really care about the score....which, as others have said, was nothing special.

The show did introduce me to Rachel York! I was entertained by the song "Paris Makes Me Horney" and all the physical comedy going on during the song.

"Living in the Shadows" is a decent song.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:32am

It could have been a perfectly good show if they had gotten Jerry Herman or K&E to write the score. I like the movie.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:56am

To be fair, it makes sense to keep the composers form the movie, unfortunately Henry Mancini's death interfered. Strangely enough, Frank Wildhorn's songs are probably the better ones in the show.