Anyone attend the first preview of THE FIRST WIVES CLUB at The Old Globe in San Diego tonight?
I'm curious for a report on how the show is with all the contradictory buzz that's gone around recently.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Ew to that picture. Lol to Phyllis' botox comment (it's funny 'cause it's true). Still interested in hearing from someone not involved with the show who has actually seen it and wants to write more than 150 characters about the show.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Sheryl Lee Ralph looks fantastic, and from that rehearsal video, is the only reason to see the show.
oh. and Barbara Walsh looks like the most awkward person ever.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Does Barbara Walsh' performance in this consist of a single expression? I have no interest in seeing her as Brenda. Having said that, I am actually looking forward to Sheryl Lee Ralph. She just looks fabulous in every way possible and from the rehearsal clips, she also sounds fabulous. God, so looking forward to seeing her on Broadway (and I admit I was a nay-sayer when Adriane Lenox dropped out and Ralph came in...what can I say? girl sold me). Karen Ziemba looks good, at least she has different expressions in each picture unlike Walsh.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Those photos make it look as if the women know they have egg all over their faces but were told to "Smile, Baby!" And poor Sam. Did he get in trouble for posting that video of rehearsals?
I watched First Wives Club this weekend. My overall reaction was that it was bland. The production was totally unexciting and seemed like a waste of its talented cast. The sets were lacking, mostly white with transparent plastic sheets that weren't really well illuminated by the lighting. The people I went with said it was reminiscent of a college production. By the end of the first act, the story hadn't gone anywhere. The First Wives were still figuring things out. The most exciting part of the story is when the ladies make their moves to take revenge on their husbands. There should be more of this in my opinion.
The ensemble seems wasted too. The best number in the show was during the auction. This was because they actually used the full company, musically staged them well, and the scene was somewhat more colorful than everything else that went on in the show. The opening number should be spruced up to include more of the entire company to get the audience more excited about what is to transpire in the next two hours.
The three leads were great. I was expecting much from Sheryl Lee Ralph and she delivered. I was most pleasantly surprised by Barbara Walsh. She brought life to her character very nicely. Nevertheless, none of the solos for the leads were that memorable nor were their voices truly equipped to handle notes and higher registers. Sara Chase was excellent in her roles and had the juiciest part in the show although she did tend to overact in certain scenes.
Of the three husbands, Brad Oscar performed the best. Kevyn Morrow was forgettable, or rather someone I'd like to forget. His solo was off key, doesn't advance the plot, and was just totally horrible. Sam Harris was very good in his best friend role and stole the scenes he was in.
Overall, it still needs A LOT of work before it is Broadway-quality. Not to diss off-Broadway shows because a lot of them are very good but the only way this show would feel appropriate in NY is in some smaller off-Broadway house. Since the theme of this show is so close to the more superior 9 to 5 (which isn't really a WOW musical to begin with), I would rather watch the latter again if I wanted a dose of female empowerment.
Wildcard, was there a song list in the program? If so, would you mind posting it?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.