CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
Annotated Listings
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CurtainUp The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
Annotated Listings |
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Better Late Than Never. . .Or Better Not At All? Now that the musical about the "people's princess" has finally had its official Broadway opening, can it overcome the disastrous reception of the Netflix filmed version? Have the actors and the cr to an eative team used the time since that final pre-opening filmed performance to make it better, deeper, more worth adding to the ever growing archive of takes on the long dead Diana's all too short life? According to the theater critics the show remains an unnecessary and flawed now as it was when filmed just before the long lock-down. In fact, they've probably been even more dismissive than the movie critics. While the marketing folks insist this is a Diana like none you've ever met on stage, screen or page before, this IS just another in a long line of Dianasm which makes the musical's book, more hummable than any of its songs. That said, everyone credits the show for its clever costumes, energetic choreography and the actors for doing their utmost to keep this wobbly showboat from sinking. So are the producers cockeyed optimists to open the show despite its Netflix history? Maybe not. It could be that they're counting on theatergoers for whom all the bad reviews triggered an urge to see just to see if it's really all that trashy and thus their chance to see a classic flop (shades of Carrie). What's more, critics look for fresh, new work, with solid plots and memorable music. But for a show like this there's a whole other audience: The Diana cultists, who have made Diana a legendary figure. Apparently quite a few of them have already filled quite a lot of seats at the Longacre Theatre — wearing Diana masks, applauding rapturously and buying mugs at intermission. Wh knows, their word-of-mouth may just turn Diana, the Musical into a money-making fabulous flop. While there's no shortage of songs, there aren't any show-stopping hummers. Diana, the musical is as unnecessary and The consensus from theater critics is a decided While the marketing blis he kibg dead but still subject to endless ovies, plays, documentaries and books for those obsssed by everything about the British royal faily-- and especiall D iana The box with my up date text here in grey and with space |
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