Queen of
Versailles
St. James Theatre
October 29, 2025
The Queen of Versailles is a strikingly dark
tale of wanting more and never getting enough.
Based on the documentary film of the same title, it tells the story of
Jackie and David Siegel. The music, by
Stephen Schwartz, captures the essence of the characters and environment. His lyrics illuminate that fine line between
need and greed, which grows wider as the story progresses. Lindsey Ferrentino’s book tells the callous story
of these characters, where they came from and what drives them. Director Michael Arden focuses this cast on
deliberately displaying their truths, no matter how self-centered they might be,
making this musical a bleak and truthful telling of the state of our present society. 
Photo courtesy of Queen of Versailles
Kristin Chenoweth as Jackie Siegel
Photo courtesy of Queen of Versailles
Jackie (played by Kristin
Chenoweth) is building the largest home in America. It is designed to replicate the Palace of
Versailles, and she will be Queen. Her
husband, David (played by F. Murray Abraham) made his billions by selling time
shares in Florida. When they meet,
Jackie is a single mother. She vows to
give her daughter everything she could imagine.
After marrying David, Jackie is able to do that. As her daughter, Victoria (played by Nina
White), grows up, she is satisfied with having less. This does not stop Jackie, who is unaware of
anyone but herself. When the stock
market crashes, they lose everything. David
puts Versailles up for sale, even though it is still under construction. Jackie refuses to accept this, and ends up sacrificing
more than she expected in order to get it back.
Photo courtesy of Queen of Versailles
Kristin Chenoweth does a
remarkable job in the role of Jackie.
The character has no redeeming qualities, yet Ms. Chenoweth gets the audience
on her side. She draws them into Jackie’s
dreams of wealth and power, and makes them believe she deserves it all. She and F. Murray Abraham are excellent
together. Their marriage is a mutually
beneficial partnership. They are in it
for the long haul. The relationship is clear
and resilient, yet not based on love or passion.
Nina White is riveting as
Victoria. She grapples with the family’s
wealth and pretension, while longing for her mother’s love and acceptance. She has two of the strongest songs in the score
(“Pretty Wins” and “Book of Random”) and delivers them both with a dark and
unapologetic understanding of reality.
Her performance is evenly matched by Tatum Grace Hopkins, who plays her
cousin, Jonquil. There is animosity
between them when they first meet.
Jonquil is dazzled by the family’s wealth. When tragedy strikes, the two of them bond. It is a genuine and touching moment.
Melody Butiu plays Sofia, the nanny. The complexity of this character is found in her need to work for this family and her desire to return to the Philippines to be with her children. Ms. Butiu beautifully layers her performance to give sudden and honest glimpses into her loss and need.
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| Pablo David Laucerica & Kristin Chenoweth Photo courtesy of Queen of Versailles |
There are excellent performances by Stephen DeRosa, Greg Hildreth, Isabel Keating, and a very
strong ensemble. The most potent scenes take
place in the Palace of Versailles with Louie XIV (played by Pablo David
Laucerica), Marie Antoinette (played by Cassondra James), and their full
court. The parallels of the characters
and events are perfectly drawn. It is a stark
warning about our present political and economic situation. The message is vital, yet extremely uncomfortable
to sit though.
The Queen of Versailles is playing at the St. James Theatre. It is a stunning musical with a bleak theme told through a shamefully honest perspective.
Domenick Danza
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