Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, a musical by David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane, at the Belasco Theatre. This ambitious musical, based on the classic film by Pedro Almodovar, is in its final week of previews. Changes are apparently still being made, but already there is plenty to savor in "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown". The score is first rate, one of the best new scores we've heard on Broadway in years and even better perhaps than Yazbek's "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."
The staging is hugely imaginative and enjoyable. All the stops have been pulled out, video, gorgeous sets, it's all there. The performances will get a lot of award consideration most especially Laura Benanti's manic Candela (she looks incredibly sexy in her costumes), Sherie Rene Scott in what should be considered the lead role, and Patti LuPone who finds her best new role in years as Lucia. I don't think I've heard Brian Stokes Mitchell in more mellifluous form, and Danny Burstein is wonderful as the Taxi Driver. It could use some tightening in the second act and presumably will get some. But already, it is a notable achievement. But will the critics get it? Maybe not. Our Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test Grade is B+