Onward Victoria (1980) anyone see it?

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/22/16 at 4:08pm

The closest I came was when I was in NYC briefly later in '80 and passed by its location (was it the then-Martin Beck?).  It had not yet begun previews but the scenery - some of the ugliest, gaudiest I've ever seen - was being unloaded as I stood there and watched.

Reviews upon opening were terrible - closed in one night.

Any survivors out there who care to share authentic memories?  Much appreciated.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/22/16 at 4:15pm

I liked the score and costumes. The set looked rather cheap, though, and the book was utterly deadly. Jill Eikenberry tried her best, but was just too bland an actress to front a Broadway musical; soap opera actor Michael Zaslow as her enemy/love interest was... a soap opera actor. Beth Austin as Victoria's sister had/sold the best number ("Respectable"/), but the big show tune was reserved for a non-character, Charlie Delmonico (Lenny Wolpe), and it had little to nothing to do with anything ("Unescorted Women"/). Laura Waterbury, as Elizabeth Cady Stanton (a character who had little to do with the actual plot) had a very effective anthem ("You Cannot Drown the Dream"/). The story was disjointed, unfocused, bordering on incoherent, and the book was written to be boring verging on soporific.

Updated On: 7/22/16 at 04:15 PM