u/Key-Flan-6996

A friend got me a free ticket for Beaches... zero Tony nominations in a low-competitive season... how truly bad can it actually be? I was intrigued. Let's go.

The Verdict Up Front

A for effort. It's basically what you would get if Lifetime made a Broadway musical with a stronger second act. Acting was solid, but the whole thing felt like it should have been off-Broadway in a smaller room (think New World Stages), where the intimacy lands and the background doesn't have to do so much work.

The Cast

Jessica Vosk: she was good, had some funny moments and hit the high notes, though tbh that's the minimum I expect on Broadway.

Kelli Barrett: started to shine in Act Two.

I do want to highlight Samantha Schwartz, who played younger Cee Cee. I think we'll be hearing from her when she's older.

The Set

It should be illegal to use an LED screen to knock on a door. Who signed off on this? As other reviews have called out, it's lame. This could have been beautiful painted backdrops and the show would have been better for it.

The Songs

Cute but forgettable. Mike Stoller wrote 'Hound Dog' and somehow none of this sounds like he wrote it

Seating

The room was half empty. I moved because the guys next to me were unwrapping cough drops every 10 minutes, hated all the paper sounds (yes they threw papers on the floor), all the chewing sounds, and talking through the performances. Uurgh what happened with old skool let's wear a suit and behave going to a show?

Pre-Show Dinner

Quick Chipotle, I was on a time crunch. No post-show, had to get home for Eurovision.

Would I See It Again?

Fine seeing it once. I do think it's gotten more negative reviews than it deserves, there are some good moments, but nothing here I haven't seen on stage before. I think it'll do well on tour with an older crowd. Again it's watching a Lifetime movie on stage.

My partner is a huge fan of Bridesmaids... hearing that Rose Byrne would be on Broadway... say no more ... let's go!
(and yes, manifesting cheaper Oh Mary tickets to see Maya Rudolph in Oh Mary)

The Verdict Up Front

Basically two rich white b*ches getting drunk and hungover on stage. If that's your thing (totally mine) you'll have a great time. The show really starts when the champagne toast happens and the whole show just unlocks. From that point the physical comedy takes over and it's genuinely chaotic and entertaining, and you stop caring about plot (as there is none?)

The Cast

Kelli O'Hara
The drunk physical comedy she does in this show is incredible. The couch slide alone should be a gif. Watching her on this show, made me convinced that she would be a PERFECT Madeline in Death Becomes Her. The physicality, the timing, the commitment to chaos. I would pay so much money for that. How can we do this?

Rose Byrne
She gives everything and is just so fun to watch when she's being her goofy self. The chemistry between her and Kelli is the whole show. Cast chemistry honestly should have its own Tony category because what these two are doing together is a skill. Last year it should won by Megan and Jennifer. This year it's Rose and Kelli. Those chaos agents together top casting!

Mark Consuelos and the other guys:
Forget about them. Mark only had seven minutes of stage time. The guys had no added value, could have cut the men entirely and called it a two-woman show and it would have been better. No shade, just facts.

The Set

Gorgeous Art Deco. Very Great Gatsby.

Seating and Audio

We were last row and had great views honestly, no complaints there.
But the acoustics were rough, a lot of echo, and I was missing dialogue throughout as actors werent micked up I think...
I checked GalaPro for closed captions halfway through and this show didn't have them nor a closed caption device (I asked Ushers). I'm spoiled from other shows with this app, and I really missed it here. Ended up leaning fully into the physical performances to fill in the gaps, which is maybe why the plot went over my head.

The Cadillac Lounge

We did the pre-show lounge, $50 each, open bar with two reds or one white option (Chardonnay). We filled our glasses and brought to-go cups into the show. High ROI. Relaxing peacful vibe and I would do it again immediately.

Would I See It Again?

Not this show specifically, but these two women in literally anything else? ABSOLUTELY!

"Dear Bill" of Operation Mincemeat was just on my Broadwayshow music playlist and made me flashback on how much I unexpectedly cried during the show...

It made me think on what shows have caught people totally off guard emotionally? Not the obvious ones, but the ones where you were like having fun and then suddenly the tears are there...

Top of mind Dear Bill as mentioned and the Phantom of the Opera...