Hello! This video has left the circle once again so if you're new here, welcome! I'm Kayla, my pronouns are she/her, and I make video essays about pop culture, generally speaking. Just a few things: 1) I really enjoy theater but I'm pretty casual, so if I get some terminology or references wrong in here, you probably know better than me, you don't need to dunk on me for it lol. 2) Regarding my choice to skip the Tuesday preview and eat the cost, we do a lot of budget friendly options around here but I also understand that my perspective when it comes to theatergoing is definitely one of privilege and that this review is a little shortsighted in that regard. If you're coming to the city for a once in a lifetime broadway experience I would definitely say see something else, and I'm happy to provide you recommendations that will give you the most bang for your buck! 3) I saw Great Comet back in like 2017 when Josh Groban was in it, I think that musical was definitely a little ahead of its time for the NYC theater regulars. During the sequence with all of the techno strobe light stuff I saw multiple rows of people get up and leave, and I recall several people leaving during intermission as well. I'm happy to talk more about that experience if people want me to, I know I'm like one of 5 people who actually got to see it live lmfao. 4) Go follow me on twitter @KaylaSaysYT !!

@Turtlee.

Жыл бұрын

i would love to hear you talk about The Great Comet! it deserves more attention 😭

@nonathetiger349

Жыл бұрын

Please talk about Great Comet, I absolutely loved it, it's such a great show. My only experiences of seeing anyone walk out of a theatre was during The Book of Mormon once people realized it wasn't *that* Book of Mormon 😆

@MissaBrevis

Жыл бұрын

I think some of the marketing / surrounding aesthetic didn't help Great Comet - it's based on a 19th century novel, the poster design is very old-school verging on baroque, and then in the actual musical you get dissonant harmonies, techno-strobes, the whole experimental package. I saw it as part of a class on Tolstoy I was taking in college, and feelings among my classmates were ... very mixed. (I mostly love it, and my only complaints are about how it functions as an adaptation, not as a musical)

@ccziv

Жыл бұрын

Hi Kayla! I’m new here but appreciate your review very much. I’ll be back. (Your theater taste/judgement seems spot on to me. Thanks for posting.)

@pollyhedron7998

Жыл бұрын

I'd love to hear you talk about Comet...

Something about taking Cinderella, the story of an abused girl managing to get away from her family with the help of people that care for her and finding her happily ever after, and changing it because said abused girl is “too weak” and “not feminist enough” is so disrespectful to me.

@bobsburgers8497

Жыл бұрын

RIGHT

@themedia1271

Жыл бұрын

It's like they took the girl boss memes seriously.

@mikeyjamieson4715

Жыл бұрын

I hate how people complain about the princesses not being 'strong' enough, but is ESPECIALLY pisses me off when they say it about Cinderella. She didn't stand up for herself, and she didn't escape because she was a literal ABUSE VICTIM! She was made to feel worthless, yet she still displayed kindness and never gave up on her dreams. People calling her 'too weak' is blatant victim blaming.

@HandmadeDarcy

Жыл бұрын

@@mikeyjamieson4715 Yes! Of all the princesses to do it to, Cinders is the wrong one! Even Prince Charming actually falls for her real self, because of the time she spent with him, not the ballgown and carriage - he had plenty of empty gowns to choose from, he liked Her.

@FrenkTheJoy

Жыл бұрын

The whole point is that she's still kind and caring despite being abused and having no real power. In the fairy tale versions, in the original Disney movie, in basically every single version of it that isn't trying to make her "not like other girls".

I love how Mickey accidentally became the Bad Cinderella village elder

It's been said before, but my biggest issue with this characterisation of Cinderella is that she's the "Not Like Other Girls" archetype that got stale a decade ago. This version of Cinderella is supposed to be 'progressive', and she complains about others judging others for her looks, yet she judges the female villagers for being interested in typically 'feminine' things. Why should we sympathise with her when she's being a hypocrite? There's also inconsistency here because if she has the stones to clap back at the physically abusive villagers, then what's stopping her from clapping back at her step family? I haven't watched the full show, but I feel like the way ALW rewrote the titular song really hurt her character. In the West End version it had pick-me vibes, but you at least got the feeling that her anger at the villagers was justified. The Broadway lyrics just make her come across as holier-than-thou and morally superior.

@ondiiina

Жыл бұрын

Oh she's always been a pick-me, not like other girls, holier than thou, brat. The WE version of the titular song was still very bad in that aspect and the rest of the show cemented it. The show overall came across as deeply misogynistic instead of progressive and criticizing the obsessions with "beauty" and "perfection". From the sounds of it, the biggest flaws of the show, and those that were often pointed out, haven't been changed. Not too surprising considering how ALW has been acting and how quickly it got transferred to Broadway. There wasn't time to make the big changes the show needed. Hopefully the cast won't be blamed for the incoming criticisms this time!

@mikeyjamieson4715

Жыл бұрын

@@ondiiina Yeah, the show clearly wants to be seen as a paragon of female empowerment, but it all just reeks of internalized misogyny. I think that Carrie Hope Fletcher at least sold the character (that is a common saving grace with the WE version, that Fletcher and the cast performed the hell out of it which is why it garnered somewhat of a fanbase) but the problems were still there. I feel like a show like this could work if it was a PARODY of this NLOG princess trend we've been seeing. Things like Amazon's Cinderella or the live action Disney princess remakes where they proudly boast that the princesses have been 'updated' to be more independent and stronger, only for them to look worse than their original counterparts. Again, a show like this could be a campy parody of this trope, but it just adds to the problem.

@simpleandpink

Жыл бұрын

Ol

@gavinlogan1743

Жыл бұрын

Yes. AND THEN she learns her lesson, and realizes that she's just like them, after what happens between her and Prince Sebastien.

@gavinlogan1743

Жыл бұрын

@@ondiiina Why do none of you ever mention the fact that ALW wrote MUSIC and that Emereld Fennell, a feminist who wrote "Promising Young Woman" wrote the actual script????

I can’t wait for Carrie Hope Fletcher & Patti LuPone team up on a “fuck ALW album”

@ccdaly2561

Жыл бұрын

They'll record it beside Patti's ALW Memorial Pool

@ccdaly2561

Жыл бұрын

Special guest, Sarah Brightman

@MadameCorgi

Жыл бұрын

Oh hey Iain. I love that out of the thousands of people on the Internet, there are some I just happen to keep seeing

@ashleydean8895

Жыл бұрын

Big question What did ALW do to Patti LuPone?

@acetheblackfalcon

Жыл бұрын

@@ashleydean8895 Just looked it up and he fired and replaced her with Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard back in the 90s.

Part of the reason Cinderella lasted so long in the West End was because of its star. Carrie Hope Fletcher has a large following due to her social media content and books and has a famous brother (singer) and sister-in-law (author). All could be called successful social media influences if they didn't also have very successful careers of their own. This gave a ready made audience. A bit like Funny girl casting Lea Michele - a confirmed ticket seller. That audience was extremely supportive despite the bad reviews, but turned after the closure fiasco. The Broadway production only has the ALW name to appeal to audiences. I'm not sure that is enough these days.

@Sabrinajaine

Жыл бұрын

Lasted so long but still less than a year lol

@alexander-laurens501

Жыл бұрын

Especially with the controversy surrounding him

@cgm530

Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure that's totally true. Carrie is a big name as far as the West End goes, but she's still pretty much unknown to most of the general public. Her name doesn't draw in much of an audience beyond the core audience that would already want to attend a new ALW show. The show only lasted twelve months, and I don't think that needs any explanation other than the fact it was a fun new ALW show which received a lot of publicity due to his efforts to keep it open during Covid.

@SamanDroid

Жыл бұрын

@@cgm530of I fundamentally disagree with your assertion that she doesn’t have a draw beyond people already interested in a new ALW show. Contemporarily, Carrie Hope Fletcher’s active fanbase consists predominantly of youths who were deep into the Mean Girls / Heathers TikTok era. They don’t give a single hoot who Andrew Lloyd-Webber is

@ondiiina

Жыл бұрын

@@cgm530 Carrie's audience is significantly younger and more dedicated than ALW's. Just look at how Heathers did. More than the musical's fame, it was Carrie's that carried it (I know, hilarious pun). People came back MULTIPLE times for her (which some also did with Cinderella and props to them because I wouldn't have gone again for that, at those prices, AND considering that Carrie herself had begun to show up less and less (on purpose or not, one can only wonder with ALW's nasty temperament)), people went WILD for everything (to note that even after the revival in the UK, the audience was never this loud and rowdy). Carrie was big enough of a draw that they lowered the score to get her on board (which they should have kept because it's too hard in general, luckily they now rotate the cast often). They had other bigger names like Jamie Muscato! But they're more niche to the UK theater hardcore fans. If you're not really into it, you won't necessarily recognize them when you hear them. Carrie's fanbase might be small, but they're dedicated. They support her no matter what she tries (the books, the different kind of events, every show and play no matter the style). Carrie herself seems to have a name in the theater community. So yeah, having her was a HUGE draw especially when the show was rightfully getting trashed and when ALW started being a dick to the point where the audience noticed. Of course, the Queen and Stepmother were played by well-known actresses (and they carried the show NGL) but let's not minimize the impact CHF had. ALW himself doesn't have that much of an audience, people in the UK are getting quite fed up with him and his flops. His audience is also a bit too old to enjoy the musical and they aren't the kind of people who would go twice in such a short lifetime. The show was also surrounded by amazing, often sold-out, shows nearby. You may google it lol, I remember distinctly thinking that damn, he really chose the worst time for this. Also also to note that the theater was half empty most of the time after like 6 months. I don't think it was really full at all. People were mocking it left and right, the only constant praise was that the cast was worth seeing and the only interesting thing in the show. The theater was running at a loss! I remember seeing people confused as to why it was getting dragged, it was obvious early on that it wouldn't last long. The whole thing was a mess!

During Covid ALW wanted to be one of the first to reopen with no restrictions against the Theatres wishes, they had to threaten legal action to stop him from opening with no restrictions. Also they were in the middle of changing casts when it was announced they were closing, many of the new leads had moved only to be told they weren’t needed anymore. Carrie Hope Fletcher, Cinderella herself wasn’t even told the show was closing and learned about it on her day off thanks to social media.

@micahcook2408

Жыл бұрын

And his reputation proceeds him because he did this with Patti… the “WHEN ARE YOU GONNA LEARN THIS LESSON OLD MAN” SpongeBob meme rings true with him each time he creates a new musical because he never learns 😂

@carriew5106

Жыл бұрын

I was coming here to say this. The booing on closing night was not just his appalling letter (there are videos on YT for the full thing - watch the cast reactions), but for the way he announced the closure of the West End show, whilst simultaneous moving forward with the Broadway version. None of the cast transferred because none of the cast wanted anything to do with it. Don't forget it's not just the cast who is impacted when a show closes. All the front of house staff and crew found out on social media too. That's a really horrible way to find out you are about to be unemployed.

@salty_pearl05

Жыл бұрын

@@carriew5106 one of the only cast members that I think was gonna stay was an actress who was previously in the ensemble and was offered to take over the role of Adele, one of the stepsisters, so I can only wonder if any other remaining cast members got those same opportunities

@micahcook2408

Жыл бұрын

@@salty_pearl05 Probably; that usually tends to happen when shows extend, unless you were awful to work with. *Usually* the Producers will look to see who can they keep that’s already in the cast (cause it’s cheaper, they can keep you at the same rate of pay, and it’s less paper work), but by that point, people are usually already going on to something else, taking vacations, or auditioning/in callbacks for other productions.

@iwakeupandboomimarat

Жыл бұрын

he was insane for that sorry

Something that shocked me about the soundtrack was that there was no duet between Cinderella and the Prince?!?! SO many solos and it's missing a very obvious duet - I have no idea how that was overlooked.

@ondiiina

Жыл бұрын

They do! At the very beginning, after "Bad Cinderella". I believe the title was "So Long". They barely interact afterwards and then they have a fight and only meet up at the end. To be honest, Cinderella was barely in the show. If I remember correctly, word was that in earlier drafts the Queen and Stepmother were the center of the show which would explain why they have the most depth and the most work out into them and their interactions

@alexzagorac2781

Жыл бұрын

@@ondiiina ah, I guess what I meant was like a love song together! It's so weird that she's barely in it!

@ondiiina

Жыл бұрын

@@alexzagorac2781 Ah yes! It's so strange they ONLY fight or have friendly banter. The only "romantic" moment they have together is at the end of the show and even then it feels like friendly banter. I don't mind them not getting together at the end but there's barely any pining moments so it's hard to feel like they love each other and have romantic chemistry. I'm okay with Cinderella not being there that much if it was made clear she wasn't meant to be the protagonist. The Queen and the Stepmother make the show and are the best thing out of it! If we could just focus on them more, get rid of the Queen's thing for her son, lean into a comedic and almost parodic tone (like everyone being cartoonishly evil and superficial, it's played seriously most of the time but if it were more like the Stepsisters' duet then the show would be so much better). The show is two things meshed together that do not mix

I don't think it's bad to voice your opinion during previews for this show in particular. ALW had plenty of time to fix what was wrong with the show during its West End run. It sounds like it hasn't changed much and there is no way they'll be able to fix the show by the end of March. ALW just refuses to accept that the material he created doesn't work, so nothing improves. The only consistently outstanding aspect of the show is the talented cast and crew, and if ALW's fragile ego is rocked again, he'll probably throw them under the bus- just like he did in London.

i think the problem with this show is that it’s come way too late. say what you might, but if this show came out in 2013-2016 peak Not Like Other Girls era and contemporary musicals about “defying the status quo” era, it would’ve popped off so much. every other freshman theatre kid would’ve listened to it for hours. but now it just looks cringey, dated, and unoriginal. ALW once again refuses to remove his head from his ass and improve, not defend.

@sparkelyspacedino

Жыл бұрын

god imagine this and hamilton-

I think the idea of the fairy godmother being a back alley plastic surgeon is actually kind of cool and would work if you wanted to do a horror/adult version of Cinderella that doesn't have an underlying message. But nobody seems to have the balls to do that.

This whole play reads as an attempted gateway musical. Like it wants to be the bridge to get classic musical fans into contemporary musicals and it wants to get contemporary musicals fans into classic musicals. But it just fails at it

@TimothyCHenderson

Жыл бұрын

ALW's style has always been in between. Some of his musicals skew stronger either way while other's mix them. It's possible that this one is just poorly done so it feels more obvious and lacks natural flow between the two.

@oldvlognewtricks

Жыл бұрын

There’s nothing contemporary about Andrew Lloyd Webber

@TAZHOOPS1

Жыл бұрын

@@oldvlognewtricks I’d argue School of Rock is pretty contemporary

@oldvlognewtricks

Жыл бұрын

@@TAZHOOPS1 The ‘contemporary’ sounds of three or four decades ago…

@kitnal4143

Жыл бұрын

@Toby pretty sure we are talking about style? And School of Rock stylistically is contemporary. If you go to a golden era audition with MT. Rock you will be laughed at. 😂

I saw it Friday night. Let's just say in nearly seven decades of life, I've never come across a more appropriately named show, with the emphasis on BAD. Jeez. Great opening number and everything went downhill from there. I actually felt sorry for the cast struggling to get through this sordid mess. BAD Andrew Lloyd-Webber (like one of his absolute worst), which is odd, since his previously outing, School of Rock, was the most fun I've had at an ALW show in years. Do us all a favor and consign this rubbish to the trash bin where it belongs. Ugh (For the record, I see dozens of shows on and off Broadway every year. In a season where Some Like It Hot and Kimberly Akimbo are musicals where everything is done perfectly, BAD Cinderella shouldn't even been on the boards. Thank goodness for TKTS!)

@SamanDroid

Жыл бұрын

I super did not like Kimberly Akimbo. I thought the lead was sorely miscast and played a 16 year old more like she was 10 or 11.

hearing "the glass ass" in a british accent is certainly a particular experience

@blake4604

Жыл бұрын

That’s probably because we say ‘arse’ not ‘ass’ in the UK😂

I agree that the marketing doesn't match the overall vibe of the show, but what's interesting to me is that marketing's concept of the show seems to be more popular than the show itself. I know they obviously can't do a complete overhaul of the show at this point, but I think it would be smart of ALW and the creative team to shift the show closer to the marketing, rather than the other way around (though I doubt that will happen).

Man between this and & Juilet it's like someone is making fanfiction versions of classic tales

@strawberryqueen0382

Жыл бұрын

At least & Juliet being a Juliet centered rewrite was a newish concept. Edgy/modern Cinderella reboots have been DONE TO DEATH.

@lydiavalentino

Жыл бұрын

Once Upon a One More Time: “Got room for more?”

@bigjedimullet

Жыл бұрын

@@lydiavalentino Yeah, but that one is really fun and has Justin Guarini having a great time. (I saw it in pre-Broadway in DC expecting a disaster and got a really entertaining evening!)

@iain9757

Жыл бұрын

I also feel that & Juilet has been around for so long people now understand what it is. Bad Cinderella never knew what it was

@Elphiyero10

Жыл бұрын

Classic tales have been told and retold for hundreds of years - it's not fanfiction haha nor is it necessarily a bad thing? that said if you're retelling a story you should understand what the original story is trying to say, which ALW doesn't seem to.

i feel like the idea of calling cinderella and sebastian “ugly” is trying to be like the twilight zone episode “eye of the beholder”. (spoiler) in the episode, it turns out the woman is a gorgeous blonde but the rest of the world looks very alien-esque. so she is the outsider and called ugly. i think thats the idea they were going for, but didnt DO anything to differentiate the different parties involved.

The characterisation of the fairy godmother reminds me of The Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2. A superficial, well known celebrity, who offers people whatever they need for a their “happy ending”, but she is explicitly the villain in that movie, which is what makes it work. Feels like this story just doesn’t want to commit to the part and so everyone seems to just be confused by the character

Why are we so obsessed with girlbossifying Cinderella? Like why her out of the WHOLE Disney and princess pantheon, I just don’t get it. I feel like these people just fundamentally misunderstood the story… or maybe never even watched it

Don't know if you ever watched ALW's "Love Never Dies" but some of the songs in Bad Cinderalla are SO similar. In fact some of the chord patterns could basically be from LND. I think your review of this show is very fair (and accurate)

@darkartsninja

2 ай бұрын

Highly recommend Lindsey Ellis's video on LND. She dord s great job of covering the story issues with that show too

I'm in the UK and I'm 55 and my daughter (26yrs) saw the UK production 3 times, twice with Carrie and we both loved it. It should have been called Bad Cinderella from the beginning and had warnings that it was not suitable for younger viewers as we saw many young girls dress in costume with mum's who were shocked at how 'adult' it was. The fact that our Cinderella had a more 'Goth' look and was visibly different to the towns people who were very 'perfect and beautiful' definitely works better than your one seems so far...maybe they will change. I do hope that it lasts longer and gets some good reviews as it s a fun/different take on a classic fairytale. I would definitely go and see it again if it ever came back to the Uk.

3:19 seeing Carrie smiling when everyone started booing made me laugh sm

My name is Kayla and I was literally going off about Bad Cinderella yesterday to my friends, so needless to say I was a bit startled when I saw this pop up on my KZread first thing this morning😂 LOVE IT!!!!!

To quote you ... ALW is a "dick." I've never been a fan of ALW, except that I have to admit that I liked Starlight Express in London and New York. I can't take ALW seriously. IMO, a theater ticket is an investment. $150 on an ALW show is a Bad Investment .. perhaps an idea for his next show about the Great Recession. And YES, you spent money on a ticket, you can share your opinion no matter if it's of a preview or one of the few performances after the NY critics have their say. No offense intended toward the cast and creatives.

Kayla…the fact that you’re a theatre gal makes me ❤ you even more. This was awesome…more please!

I would LOVE to hear you talk about Great Comet. I moved to NYC for an internship right as the show was closing and never got the chance to see it, and I don’t know a single person who has personally. All I ever hear is whispers about it.

@bananaboatcharlie

Жыл бұрын

I saw it! It's incredible 🌠 The full soundtrack is on KZread and you can follow the story really well because the whole thing is sung through. It's bonkers, definitely a true unconventional musical. I've never heard music or songs like these in musical theater.

@MissaBrevis

Жыл бұрын

​@@bananaboatcharlie The soundtrack really is great, but I hope it gets a proshot or a revival eventually because there's so much richness to the visuals too - there's particularly a scene where Natasha is trying to scry the future that is an incredible achievement of using staging to communicate something that lyrics can't.

@izzysanchez2883

Жыл бұрын

Never seen great comet, but the soundtrack is one of my tops.

I really want to know why people walked out of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. I listened to the soundtrack and I loved it, albeit I never reallly got into the story (english is my second launguage so the lyrics go over my head If I dont read them while listening lol).

@graciegalahad9258

Жыл бұрын

honestly, english is my first language and even with the lyrics in front of me i don't understand some of it, and it's 100% my favorite musical

@bbbeansss4757

Жыл бұрын

Great Comet is my favorite musical ever and I was lucky enough to have seen it a couple of times on Broadway. I can only guess at what scene made people leave, but it's very high concept and definitely isn't for everyone so I assume the people walking out were expecting a very traditional musical but got something very very different

@benjisaac

Жыл бұрын

I can see being a bit uncomfortable when you find out how it’s set up and how the actors interact with the audience but I can’t think of any point that would push that over the edge? Maybe when old Bolkonsky picks a random woman to hit on?

@benjisaac

Жыл бұрын

nvm i scrolled down and saw it was the strobe lights. could’ve just hurt their eyes lol

@sarahwnyc8080

Жыл бұрын

English is my first language and trust me, that show wasn't interesting for me either. They tried something new and it didn't work. At. All.

somehow i've watched your theatre oriented and drag race oriented videos separately without realizing you were the same creator so now i'm like damn i have to subscribe 😭

You came up in my recommended and I’m very glad you did! Great video!

At this point I don’t think ALW will make any changes - it has been workshopped, opened, closed, re opened, and Broadway workshopped - and basically nothing has changed in terms of the actual pacing and book.

Great review, really enjoyed your video! (btw 21:23 please talk about that Great Comet story if you can!)

back up a sec - when did people walk out of great comet???? WHY WOULD YOU WALK OUT OF GREAT COMET????

"So how do you do fellow young people" the Musical.

This is the first video I'm seeing from you and the second you said you enjoyed Starlight Express I immediately subscribed. It is incredibly underrated!

Would love you to do more theater/boardway content!! Such a good video. I am...not at all interested in seeing this show, and I live not in NYC besides, but wow, choices were made, apparently,

Wow, I didn't know you were a theatre geek. Can't wait for me theatre related content from you.

Nice points! I also appreciate that you were like support the performers. I find it very interesting that the bad cinderella song sounds nothing like the rest. I've never hated any show that i've seen especially to walk out and I've seen so many people bashing Linedy which makes me feel terrible. So many people are basing everything off of a 30 sec preview video. Definitely I noticed the tone and costume change between west end and broadway. They need to do something with her outfit. Like you can't call her an outcast when she looks exactly the same as everyone else. As far as the 5 year old in the audience. I used to sell theater tickets for most of my working life. Many people do NOT pay attention to what they are buying for their children and families, then they come up to the box office later and complain. So we used to put a crap ton of disclaimers like hey this show is not appropriate for kids 13 and younger. and they still don't listen. To me that is more of people not wanting to research. They see cinderella and they are like oooo my child would love this. Not doing any other research. Also I'm all for bringing kids to the theater. That is where my love for it came from but not a 5 year old to a 2 and half hour show. Maybe like an actual children's show that is about an hour. I could go on and on about this. But yeah it just seems like they need to focus up the writing, fix the outfits, cut some songs, and things will fall into place. But that also depends on whether ALW wants to do what is necessary...which is like...we all know he probably won't. Lol Also have some stories about him because he also had a show he was working on at the theater I was working for and there were some very not so nice stories. Mainly being a diva with so many requests when he would attend a performance and then not showing up. Big old OOOF

Amazing and spot-on review. I just can't, can't believe they're keeping the EXACT SAME book from the West End version, which was so problematic.

We're gonna need that The Great Comet of 1812 story pleaseandthankyouverymuch.

I was there at the opening preview and truly… this is the best show that I have seen in terms of mess. Granted, it’s no “Diana,” but it truly is iconic.

Dear Mr. Webber, The world doesn't need another Cinderella. But we Phans have been asking for a full show of Hannibal and Il Muto for years

Holy shit I’d love to hear about why people walked out during Great Comet of 1812! It’s my absolute favourite show of all time, it sort of changed the course of my life, and I’d give anything to be able to see it live, so it hurts my heart to find out that people left lol. Was it during The Opera?

@izzysanchez2883

Жыл бұрын

Right? Like I love great comet that is crazyyyy to me. Some people don't have taste I swear

Tangentially: omg did you see Jinkx in Chicago?! 😍 Also I adore &Juliet, saw it 3 times in London (was my first show after theatres re-opened) and I love the amount of nerdy Shakespeare jokes in the book. Also: thank you for your service 😅

I saw the show Saturday night...Great Review!

You gave the best summary of the book that I've heard! You make it sound more appealing that it actually is in execution haha. Man, does it not work in execution (based on the "slime tutorial" I watched lol) and it sounds like ALW made no changes to the core issue, which is the book/character/romance set-up imo. The entire show it completely lacking in dramatic tension or any real conflict--they take a "classic" romance, try to subvert it, but then make it so BORING. And it's not that "friends to lovers" can't work, but as rendered in Bad Cinderella, it's just so... toothless? inert? So they're friends who are secretly in love with each other and there's a misunderstanding that could be resolved in literally two seconds but... isn't for some reason? I'm actually in the camp who loves two of the big ballads, on their own (as sung by Carrie Hope Fletcher on the soundtrack)... except IN the show they both feel unearned (and have boring staging). Maybe "I Know I Have A Heart" is semi-earned b/c she's having a big emo moment, but "Far Too Late" is beautiful but falls flat b/c it's like... why on EARTH does Cinderella believe that her BEST FRIEND is seriously committed to marrying her evil step-sister and all because she yelled at him at the ball? Like, girl, have a single conversation and fix all of this. Don't be so dramatic. (I say that as a fan of super dramatic romance but it has to be earned!) I think the book needed a complete rewrite. Like, a total restructuring of the plot, characters, and dramatic set-ups... it wouldn't exactly be what ALW wants, but I think the general concept and a few of the key songs could be salvaged, but clearly ALW was never going to actually critically examine his baby and what was wrong with it (and Carrie Hope Fletcher was one of the only good things about it, now gone). I feel bad for the company who I'm sure are talented and working their asses off. The issue is, at it's core, the book in combination with ALW being too precious about his vision/certain songs.

@gavinlogan1743

Жыл бұрын

ALW didn't write the script.

@AlexaDonne

Жыл бұрын

@@gavinlogan1743 ... yes I know. It was Emerald Fennel. ALW is not a book writer. But he is the driving creative force behind all his shows, notoriously so. She may have written the book, but it was under his direction. The original show title was literally "Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella"...

@jmnv8832

Жыл бұрын

where did you get the slime tutorial bff

Wish I had the money to buy a Broadway ticket then just decide to not go lol

@girliboi

Жыл бұрын

haha yea, i think that was the first clue this wasn't a conventional 'review'.. . i mean i'm sure kayla doesn't want to ruffle feathers of ppl in the comments who like this show, but the listing of weak/problem elements ending with the summation "support the players anyway" isn't very realistic.. . of course i understand a cast can be talented regardless of other elements, but the average person also can't afford to just run around dropping hundreds of dollars on every show.. . they might be able to go ONCE a year, so "you should go to support the cast anyway" isn't really a useful take for the vast majority of them.

@kaylasays

Жыл бұрын

Yeah this is a fair point, I mean I won’t disclose my tax bracket status lol but I am fortunate to be able to see shows regularly (although we do budget friendly options, like the reason we nixed the tuesday night preview was because the seats we chose for that night were cheap anyway). I think I tried to gear these comments toward people who are super into theater and go regularly like me who are actively rooting to see the show fail, which isn’t the right approach obviously. I definitely could have said in the review that if you’re coming to Broadway for a once in a lifetime trip, go see something else. Appreciate the perspective friends

My favorite Bad Cinderella is Gotham Season 2 Penguin

@PunchandJewelee90

Жыл бұрын

Same!!!!

The not reviewing previews should really only apply to press previews. If you're paying out of your own pocket you are entitled to share your view, good to disclaim that you saw the preview so it may change.

appreciate your review! I'd only heard bad things about this show so far so I'm happy to have seen one with both good and bad notes ^^

I unironically love starlight express so I was so happy when you called it out!!

On the show Galavant in season 2, there's a recurring thing with visiting different princesses and queens, and I feel like drawing from that would've made this whole Bad Cinderella thing work a little better? One of the princesses is this punk-goth lesbian who sings a rock number and it's like, THAT was the kind of vibe the West End version kind of wanted but failed at? (one of the queens owns a gay bar, also)

....I need to hear about your Great Comet experience. That's such an odd show but I LOVE the score

On the subject of the song 'Bad Cinderella' sounding at odds with the rest of the score, the main theme is a reworking of 'In My Own Little Corner' from Roger and Hammerstein's 1957 Cinderella. I'm sure it's trying to be an homage but it's horribly clunky.

I loooooove the almost 80’s style short dresses! So fun

great video!! i don't know shit about broadway but it was really interesting. also where did you get your sweater??? im in love with it

More theatre content please😍

I literally saw it yesterday and can't stop thinking about what I witnessed

Thanks for the video :)

I saw this show in the West End and also thought that it was odd. I love ALW but wasn’t surprised that this show closed early. I hope that it improves after all the previews and I totally agree with you observations 👍

Please tell the story about the walk-outs during Great Comet... I'm SO intrigued!

Listening to your Disclaimer, personally I agree that you should be allowed to give your own review rn, and if people tell you that the things you didn't like got changed, then that's worth noting! But I saw it the other day and feel like the show needs FAR too many changes than would actually be made before the show opens (most of the second act REALLY irked me regarding the contrived writing and Cinderella's absence).

Why are there so many Cinderella retellings? I mean, I'm still salty about the drama involving Paradise Square and how it'll never see the light of day, yet we get another Cinderella?

@shaylaann97

Жыл бұрын

I worked at the Barrymore during Paradise Square as a Covid Safety Monitor and I will FOREVER be angry that cast recording won’t be on Spotify. Particularly for songs like Heaven Save Our Home and Angelina Baker Pt 3.

@haileyshannon7548

Жыл бұрын

I remember in school we saw the ballet of Cinderella and than our teacher read us an Native American story and an African story, that were just like Cinderella!

Noooooo! I LOVE the music in the Great Comet. Was it bad on stage then?? Please make a video about this!

i wanna know more about your great comet story! i don’t know it very well and i really want to lol plus ur story sounds funny

I saw the show in London in 2021 and there's so much to say about the shit that ALW put the cast (and crew) through) but that's already being discussed in the comments; I did want to add that in the West End the opening of Act 2 as this super long ball sequence actually was pretty cool because of the stage moving to be in the middle of the auditorium (with a whole section of the audience being moved to where the stage usually is) and that was super exciting and visually striking, not only the moment when the move takes place but also just watching all these dancers right in front of you in the middle of the auditorium! But in a traditional space that must be so long and not as entertaining for sure!!

Okay but now I really need that Great Comet story!

I agree that it is such a lost opportunity for the godmother’s role. Loved her scene and song in the west end version and was confused why her part didn’t continue to expand?? Sad to see they still have those major plot holes.

This did not need a Broadway transfer. In fact I think it should just be forgotten

I think Bad Cinderella doesn’t sound like anything else because the melody of the chorus is… suspiciously close to In My Own Little Corner from R&H.

@XuiLeeEv

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for saying this, I thought the same thing!

@lillianward2810

Жыл бұрын

@@XuiLeeEv Lord Andy has called an homage but I just think it’s distracting.

@XuiLeeEv

Жыл бұрын

@@lillianward2810 Yikes, yeah it was distracting for me and feels a bit weird considering the premise for Bad Cinderella would presumably be to subvert the tropes found in other versions of Cinderella. I mean I love R&H's Cinderella but it feels like a weird choice.

@gavinlogan1743

Жыл бұрын

It's not suspiciously close-- they are. For 6 notes. He borrowed 6 notes from that song as an homage to his favourite composer and he was very clear about that. However, side by side, they sound really very little alike, and they diverge greatly from there. It's a tribute.

Omg at what point in the show did people get up and leave at the Great Comet of 1812? It's been my dream to watch it (I was crushed when it closed honestly)

No problem with you reviewing previews, but I’m so curious about the final project

I’m just to the point where I can’t stand that we keep rehashing old characters that REALLY don’t need to be in the stories that are written for them. “Wednesday” is only loosely tied to her actual character and the family is completely absent- it would’ve been the exact same with an original lead character. As for Cinderella, my girl’s been necromanced like 7 times in the past few years. Let the girl rest please. Make an original character.

Your energy in this had me laughing in duck. 🤣 I’m bummed about the FG role. I wish they made her ominous because I haven’t seen that before and in a way Cinderella is bad for business. The FG could’ve been the villian!

A STARLIGHT EXPRESS STAN ohhhhhhh kayla speak on THAT !!!!!!

Please tell the story of people walking out of great comet! I saw it on bway and it became my favorite musical, so I am super curious when people left!!

You hit the nail on the head about ALW especially here in the UK. I’ve seen show and for all it’s faults it was still enjoyable and it didn’t want to make me throw myself of a cliff like certain theatre influencers here in the UK. The shows advance booking was very poor we were still coming out of Covid and people weren’t buying tickets ALW panicked and pull it out of the West. I do feel that certain influencers here an abroad feel it’s their duty to ridicule the show because of ALW and making a name for themselves on the back of it. I hope the NY performers have thick skins and realise the barbs aren’t aimed at them. Thanks for your straight forward review.

@arcana1973

Жыл бұрын

A bunch of bitter gays who live up to they stereotype of chatty Kathy’s keep trying to make a name for themselves by trashing the show.

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as the stepmother can never be outdone she was incredible.

Cinderella is definitely one of the most over-adapted fairy tales of all time, in 2023, if you're going to be making a new take on a Cinderella type story, it better be something no one has ever seen before, and based off of Kayla's summary, it doesn't sound unique enough to warrant all this. an edgy/self-aware take on a fairy tale? groundbreaking. my GOD i'm tired of Cinderella adaptations lmfao.

agreed, like i think everyone is very talented and it's a FUN show- not a good story ! but a fun experience all the same. the lonely you song made me tear up

I loved the West End production and ended up seeing it 3 times while on my London trip, I'm hoping to get up to NYC to see Bad Cinderella to see what they did with it. I have thoughts but it isn't fair to judge the show and compare the two until I've seen it.

I’ve seen the show 3 times and a lot of the stuff you are saying is exactly what i was thinking when i went to go see it. Honestly i feel like they wont make that many more changes cause each time i went to see it they made very few changes. To me i did not really enjoy act 1 till Beauty has a price which is the godmothers song. But i enjoyed act 2 more. I feel so bad for the actors in the show cause they are really talented and nice but people are ripping them and the show to shreds. Chances are that i will see the show again soon cause it was a nice date night for me and my boyfriend. Even though a lot of the dialogue to me it felt like i was watching a children’s tv show.

My favourite thing about this is that "The good stuff" section is the shortest 😂

I am obsessed with this show. I have no desire to see it, or even listen to the soundtrack, but regardless of that, I am obsessed.

I collect playbills and autographs for Broadway. I was trying to see if you do more Broadway stuff and possibly subscribe but please do more and I will because I like your take.

This is the review I’ve been looking for! I now know for sure that this is not the show for me, at least in its current iteration. I love musical theater but I also have ADHD. I don’t like Phantom. It’s probably my least favorite show of all time. Thank you!

I know someone in the orchestra and they said this musical would be great if it lasted a year.

please do a video about the great comet!

"hello, its me, a girl" made me cackle too much - considering that (as far as we know) u are, indeed, a girl

Oh I love great comet! It’s one of my very favorite theater experiences! I’ve seen almost 100 shows on Broadway. We lived in nyc for 7 yrs and i go into at least twice a year to see more. I have zero plans to see bad Cinderella. Going for my birthday at the end of the month with plans to see &juliet, Kimberly akimbo, a beautiful noise and possibly parade. The only show I have ever walked out on was “hair”. Way too much nudity for me.

Literally so hyped for what you have to say on this!!!

tears for great comet :(

"Don't talk about a show in previews"? It had a year-long out of town tryout!

"The town has a queen" ...makes sense

@haileyshannon7548

Жыл бұрын

Well, Homestar Runner had the King of Town!

I just don't get the new costuming, on the West End it looked expensive and rich and it worked so well. I've seen clips of the Broadway costumes and as you say Cinderella looks the same, but the main shock is her ballgown, it looks like someone tried to order Elsa from Wish. Also, did they adapt the theatre to have the audience revolve like they did for the Gillian Lynne because honestly that was such a magical moment the first time you experience it and it just made the ball scene and I Know I Have a Heart just beautiful

wait please explain why people left great comet omg I’m screaming

Would love to see a video about your Great Comet experience

Hell yeah, Starlight Express!!

i love her Bratz doll hair

“Bad Cinderella” is MTV’s “My Life as Liz” from 2010

I'm glad the bad Cinderella song isn't indicative of the rest of the songs because in my opinion the song didn't really work for the actor's voice. To me, she was kind of shouty in that song in a way that I found grating. So i'm hoping that means the rest of the songs fit her voice better. Because she can definitely sing well, so having that song be so advertised makes me a little sad for her. So i'm hoping that means the rest of the songs fit her voice better.