NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT Reviews

[Copperfield2]

The New York Times review is a pan, not mixed. Brantley says that only 15 minutes of 150 minutes of the show recapture the joy of the old musicals. He does like O'Hara and some of the supporting cast but he doesn't like Broderick.

He doesn't even have much good to say about Kathleen Marshall and he loved Anything Goes.

If the show runs, this is a show that may play better when Broderick leaves the cast.

[broadwaydevil]

The Huffington Post is up (the actual Huffington Post review, not the AP review) and is mixed but is strongly critical of Broderick.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fern-siegel/stage-door-inice-work-if_b_1450902.html?ref=arts

"Nice Work If You Can Get It has a glorious Gershwin score, frothy, screwball plot, strong ensemble and Kelli O'Hara. What it doesn't have is a leading man. Instead of adopting the role of a wealthy, irresponsible twenties playboy with light-footed élan, Matthew Broderick suffers through his dance routines, moving as little as possible, and frequently mopping his brow after a number. Worse, there is no chemistry with O'Hara."

[CurtainPullDowner]

I don't know why people are still harping on this "will it tour?" thing. After the AVENUE Q mess, it was stated that the tour people are a rather small percentage group after all. And they have different tastes also. They do not get together and say, let's all vote for a show that night tour.

[broadwaydevil]

The Faster Times is mixed to negative and is also very critical of Broderick.

http://www.thefastertimes.com/newyorktheater/2012/04/24/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-review/

"Given the talent assembled to fashion a new musical out of 21 of George and Ira Gershwin’s durably tuneful and witty songs, it should come as no surprise how entertaining “Nice Work If You Can Get It” can be. What’s surprising is how bad it gets.
More surprising is the main reason it gets bad: the performance by Matthew Broderick."

[mc1227]

It's actually playing much better with the crowds than the reviewers it seems. Broderick is a ticket seller and crowd pleaser which is why he was cast in this in the first place. That will not change based on some of the critics remarks. We all know he's not Fred Astaire. One knows that going in. His thing is comedy and he's very good in that department in this show. You either like his style or you don't. I happen to think it works in this show.

[broadwaydevil]

Copperfield2 - we can quibble over semantics but read the New York Observer's review (the harshest review of the night - a pan in every sense of the word) and contrast it with Brantley's. Brantley certainly wasn't a huge fan but it was far from a pan.

He calls 15 minutes of the show brilliant and the rest mildly entertaining (not a ringing endorsement by any means but again, not a pan.) He raves about a lot of the supporting cast and even says in another, less-crowded season, NICE WORK would stack up quite well.

[Jonwo]

I wonder how the show would have been received had Harry Connick Jr been in the role of Jimmy, I imagine the reviews would have been a bit better. It should have a good run though.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

It wouldn't be the same show if Harry Connick, Jr. were in it. That role, as currently written, seems tailored to Broderick's mannerisms. I find him charming in the role, though I was dreading seeing him going in.

[bjh2114]

The Times review isn't even close to a pan. Not even close.

[broadwaydevil]

The L.A. Times is mostly negative and is again very critical of Broderick.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-nice-work-review-20120425,0,3161857.story

"Well, apparently, the brothers — long dead, if I'm not mistaken — have a "new" musical comedy, which opened Tuesday at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. The show, which stars Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, is called "Nice Work if You Can Get It," but please don't get the idea that the songwriting legends have been granted a second coming."

[givesmevoice]

No, it's not a pan, but this:

"Ms. O’Hara brings professional proficiency to her comic bits, including a Cockney maid impersonation that’s a tip of the hat to Lawrence. But she’s not a natural exhibitionist. And without a real character to play, she becomes almost as recessive as Mr. Broderick. In other words, aside from that “ ‘S Wonderful” duet, don’t count on chemistry between them."

isn't really a good pull quote.

[Copperfield2]

Broadway Devil -- Well when Brantley ends his review with Some Like It Lukewarm, that doesn't make me want to run out and buy tickets.

If it's not a pan, it's certainly mixed to negative.

Anyhow I was resisting seeing this show because I'm not crazy about Broderick and the Times didn't exactly make him sound very good at all.

[broadwaydevil]

Neither do I, but it also doesn't make me want to run away and never see it. If I have the time and the opportunity arises, I'll see it but it's nowhere near first on my list. I think that's exactly the type of attitude Brantley was conveying.

[broadwaydevil]

The New York Daily News is mixed .

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/review-nice-work-matthew-broderick-kelli-o-hara-article-1.1066738?localLinksEnabled=false

"Swirling with bootleggers and bathtub gin, the Prohibition-era musical comedy cocktail “Nice Work If You Can Get It” is a light-hearted romp, but unfortunately, it’s not as intoxicating as you’d hope."

[Copperfield2]

I think if they offer some good discounts on the show, I'll go see it. Otherwise, I'll enjoy my memories of My One and Only and rewatch Funny Face on my TV.

[jayinchelsea]

How can anyone still expect Broderick to get a Tony nomination when most of the critics singled him out as the weakest link in the show? Esparza would have to get all pans to not beat out Broderick for a nomination.

And folks, these are not money reviews; the major critics were only mildly positive. Press people are now working overtime to make the reviews sound good, but lots of luck.

[bjh2114]

isn't really a good pull quote.
No, but "Kelli O’Hara [has] a sweet silver voice that shimmers with wistfulness" is.

I'm sorry, but this quote would not appear in a pan:
"In another season, perhaps, this good-looking, amiable production would be a must-have ticket."

The review is definitely mixed. That quote is the definition of ambivalence. He doesn't love it, he doesn't hate it.

[broadwaydevil]

^Absolutely, bjh2114.

Could Ron Raines actually be nominated? I was sort of dismissing him but I don't really think Ricky Martin will be nominated which really only leaves Raul Esparza in contention.

[egghumor]

I decided many years ago that for most readers, a mixed review can be just about as deadly as a negative one because I think it leaves most people feeling like they'll ultimately pass on buying a ticket (except for diehards).

I'm not implying that critics should be more positive than they genuinely feel about a show, but the results can be almost as damaging business-wise -- and then again, there's always the critic-proof, popular hit. Too soon to tell with NICE WORK. I think it could go either way...

[bjh2114]

Could Ron Raines actually be nominated?

I think we'll see Jeremy Jordan double nominated or Paul Nolan nominated before we see Ron Raines nominated. In fact, I think Ron is the least likely eligible person to be nominated other than Hunter Parrish and Harry Connick Jr.

[CurtainPullDowner]

I'd love to see Raines sneak in a nom.
I still believe Ricky will get a nod.

And I repeat: Critics can be a hint at things but they do NOT nominate. If they did CRYBABY would have never gotten a nom.

[egghumor]

New York Post is FAVORABLE, but with a fatal blow to Broderick:

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/hardly_seems_like_work_w6xpwER90xyH5uwqEuF1xL

[Jonwo]

The general consensus seems to be good show, shame about the leading man. I imagine the Gershwin estate will want Nice Work to be as successful as Crazy for You and be able to export to different countries and eventually schools and regional licensing.

[After Eight]

"In another season, perhaps, this good-looking, amiable production would be a must-have ticket."

This has got to be the biggest laugh-getter of the night, if not the year.

"In another season," says Brantley? This has been one of the worst seasons for musicals in history.

And "Nice Work" is the only quality one in it.

[srg129]

"In another season, perhaps, this good-looking, amiable production would be a must-have ticket."

Brantley pegged this decrepit production to a T...

[srg129]

Theatermania is positive:

http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/reviews/04-2012/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it_55258.html