Death Becomes Her Review

Michelle Williams' Viola Van Horn has a secret I would die for...

I bought this ticket thinking that Vanya (my matinee that afternoon) was going to be a heavier show, and was going to want to laugh. I'd never seen the movie (now I REALLY want to), and knew nothing about it. My husband said the plot sounded a little like The Substance

I knew audiences and critics alike generally liked it, audiences especially, and people were excited about the casting, full disclosure, I'd never heard of Megan Hilty, or Michelle Williams (did not grow up with Destiny's Child).

The show felt very modern, but still like a golden age musical, you had the huge grand sets, the rouged curtain, big over the top ensemble dance numbers, glamorous jaw droppingly gorgeous costumes (I NEED Megan Hilty's costumes, seriously, this show is going to win a Tony for costuming), quite impressive special effects (many of which left me thinking "HOLY SHIT HOW DID THEY DO THAT?), and slick illusions. The whole thing is so stunning!! And so campy!! 

There are two iconic scenes in the movie, one is Madeline tumbling down the stairs, the other is the hole in Helen's stomach. The way they brought these scenes to life on stage were mind blowing, I won't spoil it to much, but the stair sequence, which takes all of 10 seconds in the movie, takes over a minute on stage, it made my jaw drop, and it stopped the show (Megan says it stops the show every night, and i see why it does)

The costumes in this show are going to win the Tony. I can't think of the last time costumes made my jaw drop so many times. They almost felt like another character in the show. Paul Tazewell (who just won the Oscar for costume design in Wicked), is serving full glam, sparkles on every inch, gorgeous ball gowns. I need it. My favorite was the gorgeous purple gown Megan wore towards the end. The ensemble also wore these glam Chicago esque black cut out bodysuits for some numbers that I just loved. Michelle Williams wears a costume in the opening number that weighs 20 POUNDS  😮 And it was so gorgeous. 

Speaking of the queen. Michelle Williams is delicious as Viola Van Horn. She opens the show and she closes it. Her opening number set a very high bar for the rest of the show! She is delightfully campy, sexy, a little creepy, over the top, wickedly hysterical, and had me eating out the palm of her hand the moment she walked out in that glittery cape, dripping in diamonds. The first comparison I could think of was Yzma from The Emperors New Groove (one of my favorite Ertha Kit roles, she even has a song that reminds of a Ertha's big number in Kronk's New Groove). Mix in a dash of Mortica Addams and Angelica Huston's Grand High Witch from Roald Dhals masterpiece, The Witches, and you've got Viola Van Horn. 

The star of this show is Megan Hilty as Madeline, she is catty, bitchy, and so so so funny. She had me laughing from the moment she made her grand, and i mean GRAND entrance in her over the top, sparkly, opening number, "For The Gaze." She snuck in musical easter eggs to Judy Garland, Liza Mineli, and Julie Andrews, and also paid tribute to them in her multiple mid song costume changes and even some small vocal changes. Her physical comedy is top tier, and I think she does some of her own stunts. Which is incredible, especially that tumble down the stairs. How does she contort her limbs like that? Her chemistry with her co star, Jennifer Simard, is hysterical, she didn't have the same chemistry with her male co star. But it's implied that she wasn't with him for the right reasons. She is also a gorgeous woman, she looked like Marylin Monroe in that voluminous wig (at least I think its a wig, I'd be jealous if it wasn't, and I'd need her hair routine). 

Jennifer Simard's Helen is a delight. But I feel like Megan Hilty overshadowed her until maybe the last quarter of act one (when she takes the beauty potion). She started out like a Seymore (from Little Shop) type, but really became a bad ass, I adored her chemistry with Megan, they were two bitchy peas in a pod, but you can feel the love and adoration these ladies have for one another

Christopher Seiber as Earnst didn't have much to do, but he was so charming, if Helen was a little Seymore ish, Earnest was full Seymore. His big musical number in act 2 even pays tribute to Little Shop with a chorus of talking plants. His chemistry wasn't there with either of the leading ladies, but the romance isn't the point with Madeline, as much as it is Helen, they did have some cute moments, but nothing that made me think "oh i see why he loves her" or "awwww he's so in love with her"

Tauren Everett as Chagall was a pleasant surprise. Mysterious, glam, and sexy, and god what a swoon worthy voice. He has a wonderful future ahead of him. Reminded me a little of Liz Taylor from American Horror Story Hotel, I'd gladly watch a show where he is the main focus

The music in this show was way more upbeat then some of the other shows I've seen. I was tapping my toes and bopping to maybe 99% of the music. I listen to some of it on my way to work, memorable and catchy.

Overall. A wonderful and campy delight. I'm glad I gave it a chance. As soon as I walked out of the theater, I immediately texted my friend and said that we were going to see it for my birthday trip 

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