Side Show Closing

[iholland95]

How many of you were fortunate enough to see Side Show? Are you sad that it once again closed on Broadway after such a short run?

[Alex M]

I got to see it twice! I saw opening preview and for my friends birthday in December. It was great I was extremely sad to see it go!

[Mr Roxy]

Saw the original production and the last performance of the revival.

It was interesting how they redid the revival. Had a feeling it would flop but was taken aback at how quickly it went.

[Robbie2]

To be honest, I totally forgot about SS since so many shows have opened since and are this month! I think it may lose out on nominations come awards season as so many musicals are opening. I still think it will get a revival nomination unless GIGI bumps it out.

Back to SS I really enjoyed it and yes it closed too quickly but not a fan of the new recording as it sounds tiny and terribly sterile yet I like some parts better but overall it lacks the edge and grit the OBCR had!
Come look at the freaks-opening & finale is far dramatically superior musically in the original...listen for yourself as are many others!

[muscle23ftl]

I think the production was great, but the show is not a good show in my point of view. Not a good idea for a Broadway musical.

[JBradshaw]

@95 which production?
I was at the first preview of the original plus many times after and was at the closing
Did see the revival but wasn't at the closing.

[brdway411]

I saw it, I loved it!!! I was hoping it would stick around long enough I could see it a few times. No such luck.

[dramamama611]

Sad? Nope. It's sad for those involved, but that's one of the things about live theater: it's not forever.

[tazber]

It's a really good show imo, but I'm not surprised it didn't hang on too long.

I never saw Ripley and Skinner but Padgett and Davies were both excellent.

David St. Louis hit a couple of bum notes, but he was still a powerful Jake.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

"I think it may lose out on nominations come awards season as so many musicals are opening. I still think it will get a revival nomination unless GIGI bumps it out."

This production got rave reviews from critics, and I think the fact that it was short-lived may lead to some sympathy towards it. It will all have to depend on how the rest of the musicals will be received by the critics.

[mbruth]

We recently got the new cast recording for the revival and I was quite surprised to see it labeled "Original 2014 Broadway Cast Recording". Yeah, there were some updates, but to use the word "original" seems a little bit tricky.

[Auggie27]

I can't imagine the production being ignored during awards season. Too many of the components were stellar, starting with the leads. I thought all the men were spot-on, especially Ryan Silverman, who re-minted Terry and made "Private Conversation" one of the most moving moments in the show. But I'm biased. I remain one of SIDE SHOW's advocates.

[Broadwayboobs]

I can't wait to see some of the cast reunited on March 9th at 54 Below. They are a stellar cast and hopefully will be get the nods they deserve come Tony time.

[Marianne2]

I saw it and loved it. I have to say it is one of my favorite shows now. So I am a little disappointed that it closed so soon.

[dfrillsnedit]

I saw the revival 4 times during its short run, and I loved every second of it. I really hope the Tony's take notice and give it the respect it deserves, especially when it comes to Erin and Em's performances.

[VintageSnarker]

I saw the final performance of the revival. It was a great experience and I feel bad for the cast as I'd feel bad for any cast whose show closed that quickly but I think the show is flawed. For me, too much of the music doesn't work and the lyrics aren't that strong. It's very wordy without being clever and I feel like there's too much of a distance between the audience and the characters and in place of character development there's high melodrama which is a tiny bit manipulative and ends up feeling hollow.

I don't think the backstory elements and some of the other changes really helped the story. Tunnel of Love might have been an unnecessary bit of staging but the way Terry dreamed of Daisy just made it feel like he never really cared for her and was only in love with the flat fantasy of her in his mind. Overall, none of the villains worked for me.

I do agree that Ryan Silverman performed his number beautifully. For me, David St. Louis was kind of one-note and I wish he'd brought more depth to his performance as an actor. I was fine with his vocals. Erin was fantastic in A Little Night Music but I don't think this part fit her as well.

I do love the sisters' duets and I think there's a good show in there somewhere but I think there's a stronger story in their real lives and not all these attempts at playing out conventional stories. For me, it's telling that they cut off the story where they do instead of delving into how their lives tragically ended. It ended up reminding me a bit of Bombshell.

[aj88]

I had seen the Original Production at a very young age during its last week of performances. I remember liking the music and some of the performances but never cared for the show as a whole, particularly this came from the book and some of the lyrics.

When it was getting revived, I was a little surprised but heard they drastically revamped a lot of it...then the Isherwood review came out and I was intrigued, but that didn't mean I would agree.

I went to a preview about two weeks after the run began and left feeling that the material was drastically improved and that the show had more heart and I actually cared more about the characters. I felt it was a very good production.

As the next few weeks went by, I thought about the show more and my feelings changed more for the better. My partner loved the show more than me and wanted to take some of friends back to see it again...not long after was when they announced it was closing. So in early December we went back with two of our friends and saw it again.

THIS was the time it hit me on a stronger level. The show was even better the second time and I left extremely happy with going back again but was very sad it was closing.

I think the show still has some issues...particularly some sections of the book/lyrics but as a whole, I find it to be a more satisfying show with this new adaptation.

I hope it still gets remembered come Tony time. I doubt it will win anything, but a few nominations would be very well deserved.

[laurenmwendt]

Saw the revival - it was amazing, I would've seen it a million more times.