It’s Manhattan. It’s the '60s. And the city is back in full swing, in Broadway’s first-ever revival of Promises, Promises - starring Emmy® Award winner Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as the enterprising associate on the way up, and Tony Award® winner Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked) as the cafeteria waitress whose romantic troubles have got her down. Don’t miss this smart and sexy musical based on the Oscar®-winning Billy Wilder film, The Apartment.
The creative team is a perfect cocktail: a splashy score by the Academy Award®-winning team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including such songs as "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and the straight-up swinging title tune… Add a book that takes turns tickling your funny bone and breaking your heart, courtesy of the legendary Neil Simon… Top it all off with a sparkling blend of direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Rob Ashford—and you’ve got an intoxicating evening of Broadway magic.
The new production, directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford, is stylish and handsome, but only occasionally memorable. Aside from the pop gems, catchy as ever (try to shake the brassy title number and 'I'll Never Fall in Love Again'), the dancing is dynamic and Katie Finneran is side-splitting as a boozy bar crawler. Otherwise, it's a so-so mixed bag. Blame the show itself and the new redo.
I haven't said anything about Rob Ashford's staging because there's not much to say other than that it's bland and unamusing. Rarely have so many jokes been stepped on so firmly. The only scene that takes off is the one in which Mr. Hayes picks up a drunken bimbo in a bar. The bimbo in question, fortunately, is Katie Finneran, who steals the show right out from under her famous colleagues. Ms. Finnernan received most of the applause during the curtain call at the preview I saw, and earned it. Also worthy of note is Scott Pask, whose elaborate set is a knowing sendup of corporate midcentury modernism (even the paintings on the walls of the offices of Consolidated Life are clever parodies of Arshile Gorky and Morris Louis). Mr. Pask and Ms. Finneran both deserve to be remembered when this year's Tonys are handed out. Saving their redeeming presences, 'Promises, Promises' is slick, pointless and forgettable.
1968 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1969 | West End |
London Production West End |
1970 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
1997 | Off-Broadway |
Encores! Concert Off-Broadway |
2010 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2017 | West End |
Off-West End Revival West End |
2018 | Off-Broadway |
Transport Group Concert Production Off-Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Leading Actress in a Musical | Kristin Chenoweth |
2010 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Katie Finneran |
2010 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Promises, Promises |
2010 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical | Brian Ronan |
2010 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Sean Hayes |
2010 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Rob Ashford |
2010 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Dick Latessa |
2010 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Katie Finneran |
2010 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | 0 |
2010 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Rob Ashford |
2010 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Jonathan Tunick |
2010 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Sean Hayes |
2010 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Katie Finneran |
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