Those who slogged through the $12 million revival of “On a Clear Day [You Can See How Bad It Is]” leave saying the same thing: Never have they seen a star — in this case, Harry Connick Jr. — look so unhappy in a show.
Poor Harry is no Nathan Lane, who by all accounts was miserable in “The Addams Family” but nevertheless gave tourists a good time for their money.
Harry, it seems, isn’t even trying.
“Defeated,” “miserable,” “looks like he just got back from the dentist” are some of the more charitable descriptions.
Well, I suppose you can’t blame him. The last time he was on Broadway, critics called him the hottest leading man since Hugh Jackman. This time many thought he was as sexy (and as wooden) as a tree stump.
But Connick may soon be delivered from his misery. The scuttlebutt over at the St. James is that “Clear Day” will clear out by Presidents Day.
Its producers, to be sure, are waging a last-ditch battle by throwing together a TV commercial. But aside from a tuneful score, there’s not much worth promoting.
Baffling script, unhappy star, terrible reviews.
The original was a flop; the revival will be an even bigger one.
As word of the show’s imminent demise raced around Broadway this week, the vultures began circling the St. James, one of the most sought-after musical houses on Broadway.
The producers of “Leap of Faith,” starring Raul Esparza as a sham faith healer, swooped in first. They have, I’m told, met secretly with Jujamcyn Theaters, which owns the St. James, about bringing “Leap” in April, before the cutoff date for the Tonys.
The terrain is appealing. The crop of new, Tony-eligible musicals hasn’t been this weak in years. “Bonnie & Clyde” went the way of its title characters. “Lysistrata Jones” closes Sunday. “Ghost” comes from the West End weighed down, Marley-like, with the long chains of tepid reviews. “Once” is too small, too precious (and too long) to find favor with out-of-town Tony voters looking for blockbusters for the touring circuit.
And “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” is, well, “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark.”
Disney’s “Newsies” is a contender, as is “Little Miss Sunshine,” the new Bill Finn musical that will open in the spring.
Neither, though, is a shoo-in.
The prospect of winning the Tony is “very tantalizing” to the “Leap of Faith” producers, a source says.
Of course they’re playing it low-key.
When I asked about their plans, they said: “ ‘Leap of Faith’ is planning to open [in] fall 2012. If we were presented with the possibility of a spring opening, we would strongly consider it, but many pieces would have to fall into place to make that happen.”
But I can tell you from sources inside the “Leap of Faith” revival tent, we’re comin’, praise Jesus, we’re comin’!
It won’t be easy.
The show has been in development since the Jews left Egypt. The original director, Taylor Hackford, was fired in 2010. The original writer, Janus Cercone (she wrote the movie), was elbowed aside last year. Her replacement is Warren Leight, who won a Tony for his fine play “Side Man.” Director Rob Ashford left the project after it opened to mixed reviews last spring in Los Angeles. The new director is Christopher Ashley (“Memphis”).
And the original leading lady, Brooke Shields, left the production after reading a rather piquant column I wrote about her performance in LA. (She fled in tears, I’m told, but then acquitted herself with a jolly performance in “The Addams Family,” which just ended its run at the Lunt-Fontanne.)
There’ve been money problems as well: The collection plates haven’t exactly been overflowing with investor cash.
But I’m hearing that Jujamcyn Theaters may become a producing partner on the show. The company, after all, does not want its flagship theater, the St. James, to sit empty all summer.
“The money will be in,” says a production source.
And so, Harry, your prayers have been answered.
Just keep giving the performance you’re giving, and soon you’ll be walking out the door!