Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
HBBrock
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/11/07
#1Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 9:19am
They have some time, but not THAT much time to make major changes for Broadway that are apparently needed according to many reviews.
Is it possible?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 9:23am
It's definitely possible.
Movin' Out turned the show around in what, a month? Panned out of town, raves on Broadway.
Updated On: 8/24/07 at 09:23 AM
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#2re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 10:37amAs far as I can tell, only one professional review has run thus far, the Rocky Mountain News. And while it indicates some work needs to be done to settle the tone and up the enchantment, it doesn't say that they should scrap the whole thing and begin anew.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#3re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 10:43am
It can happen for sure...but does it really matter?
It's going to be a smash hit anyway...
But I'm sure they'll be tweaking it and rewriting it to improve it overall...critics seem to be OVERLY hard on Disney shows...I can't imagine it's THAT terrible.
I mean, THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN got favorable reviews out of town and well...we all know how that ended. Maybe the show isn't as awful as they say...I guess time will tell.
#4re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 10:46am
OK...
Here's some third-hand gossip from people who are actually working on the show in Denver....Do with it what you will!
Remember, I'm just the messenger...aim wide right.
* At the moment, Sherie Renee Scott (Ursula) is the only one coming close to what could be called "stealing the show".
* Sierra Boggess (Ariel) is getting high praise.
* Sean Palmer (Eric) is not. He apparently hasn't found the character yet, but that may be more because his character is not very well-written.
* Titus Burgess, who plays Sebastian, is apparently not getting any laughs, and he may be replaced before Broadway.
* There has been almost daily re-writing going on, particularly in Act 2. Two songs have been cut, and Menken is writing a new song for Ariel to sing late in Act 2 (it will be her big 11:00 number).
* The giant set pieces really do look like bongs, which is not the image they were going for. They may be reconfigured.
* Everyone is pleasantly surprised that the heelys concept works much better than most people thought it would.
* The good news? The creative team has identified many of the problems that currently exist, and are working diligently to fix them before NY.
"To love another person is to see the face of God!"
#5re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 10:52amWell Tarzan was a piece of **** and it ran for a yeah just from its name alone.
#6re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:04amDancin Thru Life, if what you said is true, it sounds like they're doing what they can to avoid the problems that they had with other shows. I'm really hoping this one pulls through and it's a hit. It's too bad they didn't do all of this for Tarzan!
::bust a move::
#7re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:48amThey might replace Titus?
"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#8re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:57amThey might replace the Bongs?
Little Merboy
Chorus Member Joined: 8/6/07
#9re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 12:20pmI wonder what two songs were cut? I hope one of those song isn't "Beyond My Wildest Dreams."
Little Merboy
Chorus Member Joined: 8/6/07
#10re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 12:21pmAnd that is exciting if Ariel does get a big new song!
Mouses Magic
Stand-by Joined: 9/27/06
#11re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 12:34pmBoth YF and TLM, got constructive criticism from their first "real" out-of-town tryout review. Both shows need some work but, lets be honest...both shows are going to be successfull.
#12re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 12:37pm
Dancin, based on what I am hearing and the reaction of the audience this past Tuesday when I saw it, Titus Burgess is getting a lot of laughs. He gets great applause at the curtain call. Sherie does pretty much steal the show. I agree with the comment on Sean Palmer. I took a poll within the group I took and nobody thought those set pieces looked like bongs. While watching the show I tried to imagine them as bongs and I just didn't think they looked like bongs. The info I got is that they are going to fix the problems after Denver while in New York before it opens.
Just give the world Love.
Updated On: 8/24/07 at 12:37 PM
#13re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:58pmThey have time, but I don't think the powers that be really give a sh*t. The show is going to rake in money no matter what the material is actaully like.
MovieGuy1031
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/06
#14re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:01pm
Interesting about them replacing Titus, but for some reason, i just can't see it happening.
Unless its for Wayne Brady...
If thats true, can him now!
"The nice thing about the rain is that it always stops... eventually."
- Eeyore
- Eeyore
#15re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:06pmI have a feeling they will make changes but it won't really affect ticket sells. Its going to be a huge success based off the movie alone. I can't wait to see it for one and yes I want it to be good but even if people told me it was a piece of s*** I would still want to see it.
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
BroadwayAbridged
Stand-by Joined: 2/2/07
#16re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:11pm
If they make changes for the better it will most certainly affect ticket sales. It's just the "Disney One-Year Buffer".
Example:
Lloyd Webber comes out with a new show. It goes to Broadway and gets bad reviews and poor word of mouth. A few months later, it's gone.
Disney comes out with a new show. It goes to Broadway and gets bad reviews and poor word of mouth. One year later, all of the presales have run out; a few months later, it's gone.
- Gil
http://www.broadwayabridged.com
LI Larry
Stand-by Joined: 7/25/06
#17re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:22amWayne Brady is contracted to The Venetian in Las Vegas for a year. Even if they do replace Titus, it won't be with him. (which is a shame because he would have been great as Sebastian)
#18re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:34am
I liked Sean Palmer. I don't see what everyone doesn't like about his performance...
I really, really hope your bullet list is accurate, Dancin. It would be very encouraging if it is. Do two songs have been cut, eh? I hope to God one of them is "The Contest." And an 11 o'clock number for Ariel would be great, but I hope it isn't added at the expense of the quartet.
http://community.livejournal.com/ltd_brands_suck/
sleepyguy1717
Broadway Star Joined: 8/1/07
#19re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:44am
I'm thinking if we combined all of The Little Mermaid threads on this board, we could become one giant super mermaid thing/show that would eat Disney and make the show right. In that case Pocahontas would come out and kick everyone's ass.
Dancin Thru Life, are these changes planned to be made while they are previewing in NYC, or are they going to be done right after Denver so they are done in time to the major theater critics?
I want to apologize for some offensive messages posted on this board under my name. The night 0f 12-15-08 I did not have internet access, and someone had used my name to post something offensive. My avatar was also changed. I dont' know what else was posted, or if anyone recieved bad PMs, but I want to apologize for that. I've changed my password, and even though I was not the one posting these messages it still needed to be corrected.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#20re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/28/07 at 8:50am
Two months is actually a very short time to make major changes and they have to move everything to NYC.
I guess they could push the opening back but that is admitting they are in trouble, it will be interesting.
Jonny boy
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/07
#21re: Can Disney make enough major changes to make Mermaid a success?
Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:07pm
* Titus Burgess, who plays Sebastian, is apparently not getting any laughs, and he may be replaced before Broadway"
Thats not true in the slightest!!! Your 3rd hand source isnt acurate!
Updated On: 8/28/07 at 01:07 PM
