The reviews for War Paint are in, and while fans of cosmetics history (do those exist?) may not be wholly satisfied with the underwhelming storyline, fans of musical theatre will relish the work of two titans of the stage. Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone play Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, respectively, in roles written for them, and they each deliver show-stopping performances. The real life characters never actually met, so the show is built around separate, parallel journeys about the joys and tortures of being pioneering women at the top of the business world. But what the show is really about is two of Broadway’s brightest stars revealing, once more, the virtuoso that’s brought them to the top of the musical theatre world. Don’t care about make-up? Doesn’t matter. You’re really going for Ebersole and LuPone.
NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF WAR PAINT
Two of the most persuasive saleswomen New York has ever seen are peddling their wares with high style and equal determination at the Nederlander Theater, where “War Paint” opened on Thursday night. And no, I don’t mean the subjects of this data-heavy musical, the beauty-industry magnates Elizabeth Arden and Helena…
READ THE REVIEW
VARIETY REVIEW OF WAR PAINT
“War Paint” is a musical about Catherine Zuber’s fabulous costumes and magnificent hats, as modeled by the great Patti LuPone as Helena Rubenstein and her Highness, Christine Ebersole as Elizabeth Arden. And if those hallowed names mean nothing to you, this is not your show…
READ THE REVIEW
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY REVIEW OF WAR PAINT
The claws are out in War Paint — and boy, are they perfectly lacquered. This new Michael Greif-directed musical stars Tony dynamos Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole as self-made beauty moguls Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, respectively. The two were ruthless rivals throughout their 50-plus-year career…
READ THE REVIEW
NEWSDAY REVIEW OF WAR PAINT
Patti LuPone’s voice glistens in many dark shades of steel — shards with sharp points and astonishing smooth edges. Christine Ebersole sounds classy and creamy, but cream that bites and stings as well as pleases…
READ THE REVIEW
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS REVIEW OF WAR PAINT
You practically lick your lips at the prospect of seeing (and hearing) Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole wage diva-scaled battle as real-life cosmetics rivals Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden in “War Paint”…
READ THE REVIEW
Broadway Musical Blog 