I gave it a one because zero stars is not an option. A jaw dropping event. Hysterical, stupid, but ultimately, just damned depressing. Is this really where musical theater has gone? Into the hands of rank amateurs? It had to be written by the fifteen year old nephew of one of the producers who based his knowledge of the story on tabloid headlines. Not tabloid stories, just the headlines! If this opened during the Golden Age of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Jule Styne and Frank Loesser, it would have closed at intermission. Today it will run five years and stupid theatergoers will jump to their feet screaming with delight at the curtain call. Like I said a depressing example of NYC theater today. Rotten music, second grade version of events, inane lyrics, embarrassing performances, ugly design and inept direction and choreography Did I mention I find it insulting, demoralizing, and sad. Oh and that it's hateful in every respect.

I saw this on Broadway right before the pandemic. It was a turd then and it's still a turd now. Absolutely hideous in every way. Out of ALL the musicals to get a filmed adaptation, Netflix chooses this. So much money down the drain. Everyone should be fired.

As an official Razzies voter, I was emailed with a list of film suggestions that could eb voted for to receive nominations in numerous categories, and this filmed performance of the Broadway stage show was the one in the most categories, so of course, I wanted to know why. Basically, it starts in 1980, with Diana Spencer (Jeanna de Waal) attending a party thrown by Prince Charles (Roe Hartrampf). The Queen, Elizabeth II (Judy Kaye) hopes Charles will get married, and he suggests Diana as a possibility, so she encourages her to court her. Charles sends a necklace to Diana and invites her to a night at the theatre to see a cellist. There, she meets Camilla Parker Bowles (Erin Davie),and becomes suspicious of their relationship. The press reports Diana's growing relationship with Charles and start hounding her. Charles is still not sure about marrying Diana, the Queen is aware of his relationship with Camilla, but says he should still marry Diana. Charles proposes to Diana but tells Camilla he will break off the engagement if that is what she wants. Camilla tells Charles to go ahead with the wedding, and he assures her he will be there for her. Diana nervously moves into Buckingham Palace, and although she is aware of what is going on between him and Camilla, she and Charles get married. Camilla's husband Andrew (Zach Adkins) is having an affair himself but assures Camilla he will try to make their own complicated marriage work. Diana makes her first public appearance in Wales, the people are sceptical of her at first, along with the whole country, but they become enamoured with her. Charles becomes jealous of Diana's popularity and fame. Camilla tells Charles that she wants to break up their relationship, saying she would be the most hated woman in England if she was found out. Diana tells Charles that she is pregnant, and later she gives birth to their son William. Diana walks in on Charles having a conversation with Camilla on the phone, who he has not talked to in months. Diana is very hurt by the lack of affection that Charles has towards her and becomes depressed, even after having their second child Harry. This culminates in her smashing a window with her hand. Diana's sister Sarah (Holly Butler) convinces Diana to fight back with her fame, so she becomes involved with numerous charities. Her popularity increases with her surprise performance at the Royal Ballet Christmas Gala alongside Wayne Sleep. Charles is enraged at this and insults her, causing her to realise there is almost no hope of any love in their marriage. Charles visits Camilla late at night and she says she still loves him and would like to continue their affair. Diana decides to use the press to get back at Charles and go against the norms for the royals with British society. Despite Charles trying to fight back himself, she succeeds and becomes more popular. The novelist Barbara Cartland (Judy Kaye),Diana's step-grandmother, introduces the audience to James Hewitt (Gareth Keegan),a war hero who begins an affair with Diana. Barbara notes that there is more love and happiness between Diana and James as well as Charles and Camilla then there is in their marriages. Diana tries to talk to Charles, but he will not listen. Charles's valet Colin (André Jordan) tells him about the relationship between Diana and James, but Charles decides to ignore this as he is happy with Camilla. Diana goes to a clinic for AIDS patients and bonds with the male patients. Soon after, Diana learns of Charles and Camilla going out almost every evening with friends and decides to crash a party for Camilla's sister. The party guests are witness to the confrontation between Diana, Camilla, and Charles. While driving home, Charles tells Diana he knows about her relationship with James but says he doesn't care and says their sons will be fine as long as they love both of them. Diana is excited to tell James, but he is to be stationed in Germany for two years. Diana suspects Charles of causing this and vows her revenge. The press constantly hounds Charles for comments of the failing marriage. Diana contacts Andrew Morton (Nathan Lucrezio),a writer who is writing a book on her, and agrees to give anonymous quotes to him, bashing Charles, Camilla, and the monarchy. The book is published and becomes a huge talking point for the country. Charles tries to get his mother to meet Camilla, but the Queen refuses. Charles decides to go on TV and admits the truth about his affair with Camilla, trying to win back favour with the public. Diana learns about the interview from her butler and friend, Paul Burrell (Bruce Dow),and gives her the idea to wear a revenge dress. The Queen has had enough and agrees to a divorce between Diana and Charles. The Queen and Diana make amends. Diana is excited to start a new life with her boys. Some time later however, it all ends in tragedy when it is announced that Diana has died in a car accident. Charles and the company tell the audience that "the people who will change the world are not the ones you think will change the world." de Waal looks the part as Princess Diana but is annoying being naïve, Hartrampf too good looking to be Charles, and Kaye is very odd as the Queen. Whoever thought that a song and dance show about the life of Diana, Princess of Wales was going to work is very foolish and mistaken. The show was delayed by COVID-19, it eventually previewed a year later, but it was a financial and critical failure, closing after 33 performances and 16 previews. There is no denying that the American performers can sing well, but they are lame at acting, doing stereotypical English accents, and are plagued by a terrible script, cheesy song lyrics, confusing choreography, one or two tasteless and questionable interpretations of the true-life events, and overall, a dated style of production. I must admit though that it was so bad, it was good! With annoyingly catchy songs like "Underestimated", "Snap, Click", "The World Fell in Love", "As I Love You", "Just Dance" and "The Main Event", and the ridiculous dialogue, it makes you laugh being unintentionally funny and is most cringeworthy, a guilty-pleasure to watch, but obviously a stupid musical. Pretty poor!