Giving a Bye to Bad Shows
Giving a Bye to Bad Shows
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#1Giving a Bye to Bad Shows
Posted: 4/20/13 at 7:51am
Interesting---depressing, really --- how many middling shows --- or worse -- have been gives byes, or even raves, by the critics this spring season: Lucky Guy, Kinky Boots, The Nance, The Assembled Parties, Vanya... And when something like Matilda is spoken of in the same breath as Oklahoma!, then we know things are seriously out of whack. The critical masses have reached critical mass.
Perhaps critics think they are doing a service to the theatre. Bored and irritated audiences know otherwise.
Updated On: 4/20/13 at 07:51 AM
Huss417
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:29am
Yes, wouldn't that have been nice?
OUt of your list, only Matilda received RAVES. All others rec'd mostly positive reviews. I don't agree with the reviews for Matilda...but many other do.
Just because they don't agree with you, doesn't mean they are wrong. (But you already knew that, you just want to instigate people.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#4Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:45am^ There are some serious flaws in Oklahoma, too, but some people still believe that the purpose of theatre critics should be to encourage new work, encouraging people to go to the theatre and celebrate, wherever possible, the great things about a show, rather than fixate on flaws.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#5Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 9:03am
Sorry the purpose of critic was never to encourage new work. It has always been to CRITIQUE the work, good and bad.
But I don't see how A8's comments hold water as nearly every one he lists did not get across the board raves.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#6Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 9:18am
I didn't say they ALL got raves.
I said they all were given byes. To give a positive review to a mediocre or outright bad work is to give it a bye.
And Oklahoma! has "serious flaws?" That's a good one. All musicals should have such "serious flaws," especially gems like Book of Mormon, Once, and Matilda.
What did I say earlier? The world is seriously out of whack? Here's proof if ever you needed any.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 10:26am
But we wouldn't have thought any of that if the critics hadn't told us to.
(BTW...I saw most of these shows before the critics released reviews, but even if I didn't, I'm perfectly capable of forming my own opinions.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#10Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:06pmdramamama, if you don't like the poster why do you keep posting on his/her threads? Maybe you're the instigator...?
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#13Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:30pm
Those who keep pining for the older musicals have my sympathy. OKLAHOMA! (1943), PAJAMA GAME (1954) and MAME (1966) are all highly entertaining shows filled with what one wag used to call "take home tunes." While I would never label any of these three musicals as "masterpieces" they do what good theatre should do, entertain and delight audiences even now 70, 59, and 47 years after their premieres.
Will any of this season's musicals be able to make that same claim?
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#17Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:04pmOf the shows you mentioned, I have only seen KINKY BOOTS and MATILDA. In both cases 'bored' would be the last adjective I used to describe the audience reactions. If you were bored by them that is your experience, but I think it is a major stretch to say audiences in general were.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#18Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:15pmWhile I agree with you, most of the audience finds Rock of Ages to be terrific and that's a monumental piece of dung.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
John Adams
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
maxximumvolume2
Swing Joined: 6/9/09
#21Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 2:43pmThe key element that you seem to be missing, Mr. Eight, is that of subjectivity. You assume that because you find a show "middling" or "worse" that others feel the same way. The only issue I see here is that you do not appreciate or respect the fact that others - professional critics included - could have legitimate differing opinions than your own. It strikes of an uncomfortable and strongly misguided air of superiority.
oasisjeff
Broadway Star Joined: 11/15/07
#23Byes
Posted: 4/20/13 at 3:00pm
"Maybe I'm just stoopid (with two 'O's...), but why are we using a sports term (that to my knowledge doesn't really apply) to describe critics and critiques of musicals? "
Glad I'm not the only one who didn't know WTF he was talking about...
Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.
