Zachary
Stewart

February 19, 2014

Gays should be careful what they wish for when fighting for marriage equality: They’re actually opening themselves up to the hassle of divorce. This is one of many false epiphanies in Ruthe Ponturo and John Thomas Fischer’s new musical, Til Divorce Do Us Part. Other highlights include "Better Mad Than Sad" and "Your pharmacist’s there for you." In reality, legal and organized divorce is a far better way to dissolve a long-term same-sex relationship than the previous method, in which the wealthier and more powerful partner could walk away with everything. (No marriage contract = no legally binding relationship. You’re not on the deed to the house? Sorry!) Of course, this narcissistic pity party dressed up as musical comedy never considers much of anything beyond a laundry list of champagne problems for rich divorcées.

Stage And Cinema

Dmitry
Zvonkov

February 18, 2014

Conceived, written and choreographed by Ruthe Ponturo, Til Divorce Do Us Part is a collection of musical numbers, each illustrating different aspects of divorce from the point of view of Kate (Erin Maguire), an affluent, white, middle-aged former wife whose husband left her for his young Pilates instructor. Whether or not you enjoy this light entertainment depends largely on your attitude. If you want to like it there are enough clever lyrics, comic observations, snappy musical numbers, and opportunities for laughter to justify this. The performers, adroitly directed by Mark Waldrop, are a pleasure to watch, and the set and lighting design are first rate. If, however, you come to this cabaret with a more critical mindset you are likely to find many valleys separating the peaks, both in terms of music and concept.

Theater Pizzazz

Michael
Lee

February 19, 2014

Some might argue that women have been lovingly ‘standing by their men’ for way too long. Lets just say Ruthe Ponturo and John Thomas Fischer’s Til Divorce Do Us Part’ (which opened in previews Friday, February 7th, at The Daryl Roth Theatre, NYC) capitalizes on this idea and offers up a bawdy, oft times shocking musical revue that will get your dander up, and have you singing and laughing out loud.

February 20, 2014

Andy
Webster

February 19, 2014

The set designer Mitchell Greenberg’s proscenium for Til Divorce Do Us Part: The Musical nicely suggests the show: enlarged Valentine’s Day candies — those hearts inscribed with messages — surround the stage. But these pink morsels don’t offer words of love; they have expressions like “Really?,” “Scram,” “Bite Me,” “Buh Bye” and “Be Mine Not.” They look good enough to eat. Maybe revenge truly is sweet.

Gary
Buiso

January 19, 2014

The Sharks and the Jets have nothing on these exes. Hot-shot Broadway producer Tony Ponturo’s “Bronx Bombers” opens Feb. 6, but ex-wife Ruthe isn’t pining away for him from the Upper East Side duplex they once shared. She has a show of her own, “Til Divorce Do Us Part,” which begins previews the very next day. “He’s probably surprised that I’m able to pull it off,” according to ­Ruthe, 64, who said she hasn’t spoken to Tony in more than a year. “I was never the one who had to raise money or anything.” In 2011, Tony, 61, dumped her ­after 34 years of marriage for auburn-locked knockout Fran Kirmser, 42, his leggy producing partner. “He was very open about it — he didn’t sneak around,” she noted. But instead of being les misérable, Ruthe sold off the jewelry Tony gave her to finance a tell-all show then titled “Divorce — The Musical.” It debuted in September 2012 at the Triad Theatre on the Upper West Side and , in which Ruthe also starred, was such a success that she managed to raise $700,000 to take the show Off-Broadway to the DR2 Theatre in Union Square.