War Paint tells the remarkable story of cosmetics titans Helena Rubinstein (Patti LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Christine Ebersole), who defined beauty standards for the first half of the 20th Century.
Brilliant innovators with humble roots, both women were masters of self-invention who sacrificed everything to become the country's first major female entrepreneurs. They were also fierce competitors, whose 50-year tug-of-war would give birth to an industry that would forever change the face of America. From Fifth Avenue society to the halls of Congress, their intense rivalry was ruthless, relentless and legendary- pushing both women to build international empires in a world dominated by men.
After a shaky opening, War Paint heats up in the second act. The first zigzags a little fruitlessly in a search for plot and animus between its leads. It begins with a nice idea: An unseen voice baits a group of women about their beauty regimes and why they would benefit from makeup. This mini-circus of insecurities is awkwardly scored, and the orchestra-as happens occasionally elsewhere-is so loud it plays over some of the sung words.
Somehow this all manages to be a huge bore though not for want of trying and effortful lung power from the leads in director Michael Greif's high-voltage production. The score, by the talented duo of Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics) is as hard on the ear as the book, by their Grey Gardens colleague Doug Wright, is clunky and predictable. The Big Numbers seem equally apportioned between LuPone and Ebersole, but none of the songs achieves a necessary emotional payoff, perhaps because the authors are so intent on not letting one overshadow the other. (Adding to the muddle, LuPone's heavy, unplaceable accent makes her frequently difficult to understand.)
2016 | Chicago |
Goodman Theatre World Premiere Production Chicago |
2017 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christine Ebersole |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Michael Korie |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Bruce Coughlin |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical | Brian Ronan |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair | David Brian Brown |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway of Off-Broadway Musical | War Paint |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christine Ebersole |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Catherine Zuber |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Kenneth Posner |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Christine Ebersole |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Patti LuPone |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | David Korins |
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