'The Queen of Versailles' Broadway review — Kristin Chenoweth is right at home
Read our review of The Queen of Versailles on Broadway, starring Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth and adapted from the 2012 documentary of the same name.
Summary
- The Queen of Versailles tells the true story of Jackie and David Siegel's troubled project to build America's largest single-family home
- The show features a strong lead performance by Kristin Chenoweth as Jackie and an impressive set by Dane Laffrey
- The show is recommended for fans of Chenoweth and of the 2012 Queen of Versailles documentary on which the musical is based
Mentions of mirrors pop up throughout The Queen of Versailles. It's a neat irony, since Jacqueline “Jackie” Siegel — the real-life socialite played with relentless, amped-up fervor by Kristin Chenoweth — seems incapable on stage of true self-reflection.
Self-indulgence, self-deception, and self-entitlement? Yes, yes, and yes. So, spending nearly 3 hours with her and her billionaire timeshare-tycoon husband, David (F. Murray Abraham), in this busy but only fitfully engaging new Broadway musical is a long sit.
Creators Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Lindsey Ferrentino (book) drew on Lauren Greenfield’s same-named 2012 documentary, and events that came after its release, to turn Jackie’s life into a musical. In Orlando, Florida, the Siegels are years, and millions, into building America’s largest private home (dubbed Versailles) when the 2008 financial crisis hits. Ouch.
In Act 1 of the Broadway show, the documentary unfolds in real time, with the camera crew following the family. Jackie reflects on her middle-class upbringing, pageant history, and a failed first marriage that produced daughter Victoria (Nina White). The family includes nanny Sofia (Melody Butiu), six other kids we don’t meet, and a niece, Jonquil (Tatum Grace Hopkins), whom we do. The act closes with the upended home construction. In Act 2, tragedy and chaos escalate with the deaths of unfed lizards, the passing of loved ones, and more reveals about Versailles.
But is it a story that sings? The argument on stage at the St. James Theatre isn’t very persuasive. Schwartz is famous for expressive, tuneful, and character-rich songs, as heard in Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. Victoria’s solos “Pretty Wins” and “The Book of Random” are quirky and summon deep pain. Jackie’s big numbers, meanwhile, get flattened by workmanlike lyrics — about her “Caviar Dreams,” a mom’s love growing “Each and Every Day,” and dreams materializing “This Time Next Year.”
Make no mistake, diminutive Tony-winning dynamo Chenoweth works overtime. In short skirts and plunging tops, she showcases her comic chops while fully deploying her voice: big belt, soaring soprano, and warm, mellow middle tones. Like a timeshare broker, she’s up there selling her character and the show. (It's a contrast from the documentary, where the real Jackie appears more low-key, not exaggerated or overtly performing.)
But as directed by Michael Arden, the show isn’t clear on what it’s pitching. Even with its nods to the French Revolution — namely, a guillotine — it falters as a cutting satire of the self-serving rich who build gilded palaces with ballrooms “Because We Can.” The show isn’t weird or inventive enough to delight as camp. So, it sits there, like an unfinished building.
In the script, the show’s subtitle is “an American fable,” but the lesson of The Queen of Versailles is unclear. Crown it a royal mishmash.
The Queen of Versailles summary
The Broadway musical The Queen of Versailles is based on the 2012 documentary of the same name, which follows real-life couple Jackie and David Siegel as they attempted to build a Florida megamansion called Versailles and were hit by the 2008 financial crisis that brought the collapse of their fortune.
The musical incorporates events that occurred after the movie came out in 2012 and also invents some fictional incidents. The show previously premiered in Boston, Massachusetts in July 2024.
What to expect at The Queen of Versailles
The musical brings the eagerly anticipated reunion of Chenoweth and Schwartz, whose collaboration on the still-running Wicked is part of the Broadway record books.
The Queen of Versailles also reunites Arden with set designer Dane Laffrey, following their Tony Award wins this past June for Maybe Happy Ending. Work by Laffrey, who also handled projections, impresses. The set reveals the show’s biggest transformation — from construction site to palace.
What audiences are saying about The Queen of Versailles
On the review aggregator site Show-Score, the musical has a 62% audience approval rating.
- “The book does a decent job of telling as much of the story as possible. But that is the problem, the show is plot driven, not character driven.” - Show-Score user JadedNewYorker
- “A real missed opportunity to tell a coherent story about the corruption of wealth. The music is fine if generic. The set gradually transforming is cool. Performances were good too. It was just not an interesting tale. Too bad.” - Show-Score user chris_
- “My issues with the show are simple: there are no relatable characters, the music isn’t memorable, and there are no interesting characters.” - Show-Score user NewToNYC
- “The show was funny but has some setbacks. My friends and I agree that the flashback of Jackie’s life going from 17 till she met David was dull and just made us feel detached.” - Show-Score user Charles D
- “The set gets 5 stars. The show gets ½ star. There’s 0 throughline. They mentioned the nanny immigrant story for one single minute to add a moment of ‘sadness’ to the show and they never mention it again.” - Show-Score user Delights
Read more audience reviews of The Queen of Versailles on Show-Score.
Who should see The Queen of Versailles
- Kristin Chenoweth practically never leaves the stage, so her fans will be drawn to the show.
- Devotees of director Michael Arden, who’s won Tony Awards for Parade and Maybe Happy Ending, will be keen to see his work on the show he’s helped to develop.
- Audience members who saw the 2012 documentary that inspired the musical will be interested by how the story has changed in its leap from screen to stage.
Learn more about The Queen of Versailles on Broadway
Despite the show's shortcomings, Kristin Chenoweth is a one-of-a-kind stage performer whose work leaves deep impact.
Photo credit: The Queen of Versailles on Broadway. (Photos by Julieta Cervantes)
Frequently asked questions
How do you book tickets for The Queen of Versailles?
Book tickets for The Queen of Versailles on New York Theatre Guide.
Where is The Queen of Versailles playing?
The Queen of Versailles is playing at St. James Theatre. The theatre is located at 246 West 44th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue), New York, 10036.
How long is The Queen of Versailles?
The running time of The Queen of Versailles is 2hr 30min. Incl. intermission.
What is The Queen of Versailles about?
This new musical traces the rise of the hyperwealthy former Mrs. Florida, Jackie Siegel. She's the embodiment of the American Dream, and to show you how far she’s come, she’s inviting you into her home, Versailles, under construction as the largest private home in the US. But with a recession looming, her dreams may be shattered.
What are the songs in The Queen of Versailles?
Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics, and as he has shown in shows like Wicked, Pippin, and Godpsell, they will feature fun ensemble numbers, soaring solos, and music tinged with a pop flair.
Who directs The Queen of Versailles?
Michael Arden, a 2 time Tony winner for directing Maybe Happy Ending and the revival of Parade, directs this new musical.
Who wrote The Queen of Versailles?
Playwright Lindsey Ferrentino, a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, wrote the book and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) wrote the music and lyrics.
Is The Queen of Versailles good?
The Boston production was met with rave reviews. Variety wrote that star "Kristin Chenoweth shines in a lavish new musical with a social satire bite."
Is The Queen of Versailles appropriate for kids?
This new musical does not have an age recommendation yet but audiences must be ages four and up to enter Broadway theatres.
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