Broadway Breakdown: Matt Reviews REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES, OLD FRIENDS, and DEAD OUTLAW Release Date: May 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this final review episode for the 2024-2025 Broadway season, host Matt Koplik delves into his thoughts on three prominent shows: Real Women Have Curves, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, and Dead Outlaw. Additionally, Matt provides bonus insights on Wonderful Town at Encores and the concluding performance of J2 Spotlight's Zorba. Throughout the episode, Matt emphasizes his candid and passionate approach to reviewing Broadway productions, delivering both praise and constructive criticism.

Listener Reviews

Matt begins by sharing glowing feedback from dedicated listeners, highlighting the podcast's analytical depth and engaging community.

• “Matt offers clear and decisive insight about every show he talks about, but gives evidence to explain his opinions.” – Idaho Potato [Timestamp: 25:30]

• “This is the most thorough, well-reasoned Broadway podcast out there. Matt does his research and brings extensive history to the table.” – Broadway Buff [Timestamp: 26:15]

• “Just love her. You have a life and your life is this podcast. You love her. She loves you.” – Gabby Needs a Life [Timestamp: 27:00]

Matt expresses gratitude for these reviews, affirming his commitment to providing insightful and honest critiques.

Bonus Reviews

Zorba at J2 Spotlight and Wonderful Town at Encores receive Matt's attention before he transitions to his main reviews.

Zorba at J2 Spotlight

Matt provides a nuanced critique of Zorba, appreciating the tight-knit ensemble and effective staging despite technical limitations.

• “They do a lot of fun stuff here and I get why you were big at the time.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 18:45]

Matt praises the ensemble's lack of ego and seamless collaboration on stage, drawing parallels to other Broadway productions like English and Happy Ending. However, he notes sound issues due to the narrow theater space but commends director Rob W. Schneider for understanding the show's tone.

Wonderful Town at Encores

Matt offers a critical analysis of Wonderful Town, primarily criticizing the production's casting, set design, and tonal inconsistencies.

• “It really bothered me when people were like, oh, I guess the show just isn't good. No, Wonderful Town is a good musical.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 14:20]

Madonna Murphy's performance is lauded for her memorable numbers like "Conga," but Matt feels that certain cast members, including Anika Noni Rose, are miscast, leading to an unnatural portrayal of characters. He also critiques the overuse of projections and awkward line additions that detract from the original script's intent.

• “Eileen is very beautiful. She's very charming. Men just constantly fall at her feet. And the thing about Eileen is that she doesn't really notice that Eileen is unaware of the charm she has on men.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 16:50]

Despite his reservations, Matt acknowledges the production's strengths in choreography and specific performances, recommending audiences approach with tempered expectations.

Main Reviews

Real Women Have Curves

Matt provides an in-depth review of Real Women Have Curves, sharing his journey of watching the show multiple times to form a comprehensive opinion.

Initial Impressions

After attending the show with Juan Ramirez, Matt felt that the musical's body positivity message wasn't as prominent as its marketing suggested.

• “Are these women going to have curves at some point? Because it had felt to both of us that for the first act, while the musical was sort of promoting body positivity... we didn't feel that the musical itself dealt with it much.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 40:10]

Second Viewing and Analysis

Rewatching the show with another friend, Matt's perspective slightly improved but remained critical of its execution.

• “The comedy feels a little sitcom-y Disney Channel acting, and it's earnest but not honest.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 52:30]

He praises standout performances, particularly Justina Machado as Carmen and Florencia Cuenca as Estella, for their depth and nuance.

• “Justina Machado... she has a fully formed character. It's a very well-earned Tony nomination.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 55:45]

However, Matt criticizes the set design, choreography, and certain numbers for feeling forced and unearned, detracting from the overall impact.

• “It is a dessert, Dessert, dessert. Bam. Here is vegetables. Back to dessert.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 49:20]

Conclusion on Real Women Have Curves

While acknowledging the show's strong themes and talented cast, Matt concludes that Real Women Have Curves falls short of being a top-tier production within his rankings, positioning it in the mid-tier category.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

Matt explores Old Friends, a curated Sondheim revue produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Matthew Bourne.

Production Overview

The revue features a selection of Sondheim's songs, integrated into various staging and choreography styles. Notable performances include Joanna Riding's Broadway debut and Bernadette Peters' rendition of "Send in the Clowns."

• “It feels more like a showcase and an appreciation of Sondheim material for theater lovers.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:10:00]

Critique

Matt criticizes the revue's song selection and arrangement, feeling that pulling Sondheim songs out of their narrative context diminishes their effectiveness.

• “Sondheim didn't really write songs to be performed out of context. Some songs do work out of context, but they always work better in context.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:15:30]

He praises Lea Salonga's performance in the "Sweeney Todd" section but feels that overall, the revue lacks cohesion and fails to capture the essence of Sondheim's storytelling.

• “Lea Salonga does a very good job in this show, specifically in the 'Sweeney Todd' section.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:18:45]

Conclusion on Old Friends

Matt finds Old Friends enjoyable for Sondheim enthusiasts but not particularly groundbreaking, noting that it serves more as a nostalgic celebration rather than a fresh reinterpretation of Sondheim's work.

Dead Outlaw

Dead Outlaw, an Off-Broadway production by Audible Theatre, receives Matt's analysis based on his off-Broadway and Broadway viewings.

Plot Summary

The musical recounts the true story of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw whose preserved corpse became a sideshow attraction across America.

• “It's the true story of the outlaw Elmer McCurdy... his body couldn't be claimed, so the coroner preserved him with arsenic.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:25:00]

Initial Impressions and Revisions

After seeing Dead Outlaw twice, Matt's view becomes more favorable, appreciating the improved performances and tighter score.

• “On a second viewing, I enjoyed Dead Outlaw a lot more. It's still not perfect, but it has a lot of humor and an intelligent score.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:30:20]

He highlights Tom Sesma's multifaceted performance as the coroner, which culminates in a show-stopping musical number that elevates the entire production.

• “Tom Sesma... he has the final number of the show as the coroner... it's a big Broadway-style razzle-dazzle musical number.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:35:50]

Critique

While praising the show's inventive staging and compelling narrative, Matt points out pacing issues and moments where songs don't translate effectively from studio recordings to the stage.

• “Jen sells the absolute crap out of it, but some numbers like 'Let's Run Away Together' don't register as well on stage.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:40:15]

Conclusion on Dead Outlaw

Matt recommends Dead Outlaw for its unique storytelling and strong performances, positioning it as a standout in his rankings, though not a top-five contender.

Conclusion

Matt Koplik wraps up the episode by expressing his anticipation for the official rankings of the 2024-2025 Broadway season, scheduled for the next episode. He encourages listeners to join the Broadway Breakdown Discord community and follow him on Instagram for updates on his London trip, where he'll be reviewing additional shows.

• “Hopefully, this made some kind of... I feel like I kind of rambled, but hey, what are you going to do?” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 2:10:30]

Matt emphasizes his dedication to providing honest and thorough reviews, aiming to foster an informed and passionate theater-loving community.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “It is a dessert, Dessert, dessert. Bam. Here is vegetables. Back to dessert.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 49:20]

• “Sondheim didn't really write songs to be performed out of context.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:15:30]

• “Dead Outlaw... it's a very intelligent show and ultimately sets out to do what it wants to do.” – Matt Koplik [Timestamp: 1:35:00]

Final Thoughts

This episode of Broadway Breakdown offers a comprehensive look into Matt Koplik's perspectives on current Broadway offerings, blending detailed critiques with appreciative nods to standout performances. Whether you're a seasoned theatergoer or new to Broadway, Matt's insights provide valuable guidance on what to watch and what to approach with a discerning eye.