Yazbek says WOMEN ON THE VERGE may head to West End

[ClapYo'Hands]

Even if it was a huge flop on Broadway, I'd be very excited about it coming to London. It is a great score, and it'd be great to have an original(ish) musical opening in London - something that doesn't happen nearly enough.

[emilyfaye48]

if they cut that wig scene than WHAT'S THE POINT?

[EponineAmneris]

I saw the show and loved it. I hope this happens, that it is a hit and then it re-opens on Broadway, re-tolled and better than ever

[Roscoe]

I'd say the West End that gave us CORAM BOY, ENRON and GHOST would just love WOMEN ON THE VERGE.

[Mister Matt]

Did anyone actually see this show?

I did. It was my favorite musical of the season.

[FindingNamo]

I saw the first performance they got through without interruption. I thought it had great potential. The cast recording reflects changes that were made after I saw it. I thought it was well on its way. I recall such a vitriolic response on this thread, that arguing anything other than "it's the worse thing ever put onstage" felt futile. Somehow, that weird narcissist poster came to dominate the whole thing.

[ljay889]

^ Exactly, it was such a strange experience. That Kyle4 was insane. The show had no chance on this board after the first preview. But I knew people would start warming up to the show/score, and they have.
I saw the production 7 times, and am proud to admit that.

[Roscoe]

Saw the play, thought it was really dreadful, one of those car wrecks that occasionally happen when really talented people just can't get their acts together.

[Owen22]

"Women on the Verge" was fantastic fun. I saw it twice. Could have used some concise direction and a modicum of different casting. But the score was fantastic. I always think of the bitches on here every time another rave for the CD came up. The hatred toward this wily and sweet musical, along with the critical drubbing it got gave me that thing, you know, where you wonder if you'd actually seen the same show these bitches saw? Cause I didn't get the hate at all.

[FindingNamo]

"I always think of the bitches on here every time another rave for the CD came up."

Me too.

[newintown]

Wow, that's some idiotic producing - throwing away more money on a boring, stupid, banal, bad adaptation of a really good movie. The show was unbearable and loathed by critics and audiences (except for a small, vocal handful) alike.

Why would anyone put more money into it, even with re-writes?

[FindingNamo]

Your memory is more bilious than the reality at the time.

[Mister Matt]

I almost didn't see the show because of the reviews and all the negativity on these boards, but I was a huge fan of the film and I wanted to seize the opportunity of seeing that cast together, so I bought a ticket at TKTS. I am so glad I did not take too much stock in the opinions of others, especially those I find to be utterly ridiculous most of the time.

[beaemma]

In need of some tightening and editing, it was a crazy mess at times; and I loved it--especially the score, design, and most of the performances. It was my second favorite show of the season, after SCOTTSBORO BOYS. SCOTTSBORO was perfection. WOMEN wasn't; and I nevertheless found it funny, sad, and satisfyingly entertaining. I certainly think it could be successfully reworked.

[gvendo2005]

One change I certainly hope they address:

Danny Burstein's performance as the Mambo-Loving Taxi Driver set him up to be a narrator or Greek chorus, but failed to deliver on this potential. Instead, he appeared at a few crucial moments as a supporting comic character. Meanwhile, a number of smaller, one-scene-only male roles (the judge, the police officer, a matador) appeared briefly and did little but appear and then leave.

The more effective approach would have been to make the Mambo-Loving Taxi Driver appear from time and time again in various guises and smaller characters, creating a comic lead from what is a rather minor supporting character.

Just my two cents.