Playbill Review Week

- Playbill.com - 18/11/2005-

Many were surprised that Andrew Lloyd Webber 's most recent West End musical The Woman in White was given the go-ahead for a transfer to Broadway. The show hadn't exactly been a smash in London, though it performed well enough. And original star Michael Crawford , a big draw here and there, had opted not to join the New York run.

Fewer were probably surprised by the critical reception afforded the gothic musical, after it opened on Broadway on Nov. 17, least of all Lloyd Webber, who must by now have philosophically accepted a mixed reaction as his lot in life where the critics are concerned. Still, there was more than enough in many of the reviews for press agents to harvest as blurbs for the coming ad campaign. Reviewers had approving things to say about stars Maria Friedman and Michael Ball . And many applauded the creative scenic design of William Dudley , involving countless projections on a mobile, curving wall, as the real star of the show.

Thanks to Doris for finding and sharing