The seating capacity is only 100 seats less than Paper Mill. Don't know about the playing space there, but the Atkinson seems pretty standard for a mid-sized house. I think it's got a much better shot there than at the St James/Palace size or in the energy black holes like the Marquis.
As to Brantley, I believe it is the policy at The Times to NOT drastically reverse an out of town review once it transfers. If Brantley gave it a glowing review at Papermill, guaranteed, he will like it at The Atkinson.
The only recent exception to this rule is when Brantley insisted on reviewing PIPPIN in town and semi-reversed Isherwood's ART rave. But, even then, this was different reviewers, which is not their self-imposed rule.
My guess is producers pleaded with The Times that it is mostly a Times' rave that moves the show into town so "please don't trash us and make our investors lose all their money since we raised it on your recommendation. if you don't like it, tell us in Connecticut."
I'm very excited for this and am looking forward to seeing it!!! But is it just me, or does this seem to have a lengthy preview period? Previews begin November 18 and Opening Night is January 15.
I am excited to see this though. I have been anxious to see Rob McClure do something else after being very impressed with his great performance in the mediocre Chaplin.
It is long, but I'm sure they didn't want to open it around the 15 of December and it get lost in all the Christmas/New Year mess. But now it can be open and capitalize on all the tourists and open during a quieter time.
For the millionth time, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Because you say a show is mediocre does not make it so and neither is a show good if I say it is. Apparently some on this board are of the opinion their view is the only one. I liked it and you did not. Case closed. It is history .
"Opening in January - the start of the 3 month drought on Broadway? This does not seem to make to much sense"
At the same time they might be trying to delay official reviews from appearing until after the potentially lucrative holiday season. They can use pull quotes from Brantley's review of the Papermill production to lure ticket buyers before the official opening.
Just to let you know, that will be 66-67 previews by the time it opens, which is a LOT. (Beautiful only had 60). Hopefully they can make it into something good, as the Papermill version had good elements, but didn't feel great as a whole. EDIT: I'm now a leading actor! Woo!
Anything regarding shows stated by this account is an attempt to convey opinion and not fact.
As stated above, I would guess they are going to use the Brantley review to build word-of-mouth during a long preview period, which also contains the Holiday crowds. It's a good plan (if it works).
Seems like the producers are smart and taking a cue from Bullets over Broadway and opening in a theater that is not hard to make look full on a slow weeknight. I saw the show at Paper Mill and was surprised the Times liked it as much as they did. Charles Isherwood would likely have not been so cheerful.
Or they got a theater that was avail at the time....
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Everyone likes to point out JRB's lousy track record on Broadway. Never mind the fact that THE LAST FIVE YEARS is done by dozens of theatres around the world every year. it would not surprise me if the total since 2002 is close to 1000 productions. JRB is crying all the way to the bank.
Does anyone happen to know why the first row of center mezzanine and the first 4 seats right / left mezzo are blocked off for every performance? Was hoping to purchase front row center mezz seats but I can't seem to find one date they're available and I highly doubt that entire row / 4 seats on the left and right are sold for every performance.