meh season?

[Le Bete]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 5:27am

Is there anything going set the world on fire this season, In regards to new material like Hamilton did last season. I just feel this season is very meh. I am not at all interested in Comet sounds much to hard to understand for my brain level. I am quite dumb well not dumb, But have no brain to listen to a russian novel on stage. I heard they are very hard.

Updated On: 4/5/17 at 05:27 AM

[froote]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 6:11am

Shows like Hamilton come along once every 20 years. This is a strong season for new musicals, usually there are only one or two standouts. This year we have three.

Updated On: 4/5/17 at 06:11 AM

[djoko84]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 6:19am

This has been a great season for musicals, especially with Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away (Comet is debatable for me). It hasn't been a good season for plays, however. Only OSLO and Indecent are really noteworthy.

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 6:23am

While Hamilton may have been a HUGE hit it wasn't good for Broadway.  That show dominated last season and left little for the other plays and musicals.  This season has so much going on and so many "must see" shows that there's something for everyone.  

[Le Bete]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 6:27am

I just feel fun home and hamilton are the best shows I have ever seen!

[AlfieByrne]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 6:30am

I think it has been one of the strongest in a few years for musicals.

From 2014 through last year, I'd argue that Matilda, Fun Home, and Hamilton (and maaaybe Kinky Boots) were truly exceptional. And DEH, Come from Away, and Great Comet are all on par with those, in my opinion. The musical revivals are quite strong, too, reminiscent of the 2008 season in my opinion (though it is unfortunate that Sunday won't be competing).

 

 

[froote]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 6:58am

BuddyStarr said: "While Hamilton may have been a HUGE hit it wasn't good for Broadway.  That show dominated last season and left little for the other plays and musicals.  This season has so much going on and so many "must see" shows that there's something for everyone. "

To be fair, I don't think this season would be so strong if it wasn't for Hamilton. I think that some of the musicals that think they can compete for the Tony likely delayed from last season to this season in order to avoid losing everything to Hamilton.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 7:14am

This has been a very bad season for new musicals: So what else is new?

War Paint was the only one above average. Anastasia was acceptable. The rest ranged from mediocre to downright awful. Come From Away, Comet, and Groundhog Day were simply unendurable. A return visitor, Sunday in the Park With George, was equally so ---- to the nth degree. Hey, George, promise you'll never come this way again.

Yeah, right!

Well, onward and downward!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 7:40am

Odd, because from this coast, it sounds like this has been an amazing season for musicals, new and revival. True, there doesn't seem to be a once-in-20-years hit like A CHORUS LINE or HAMILTON; but obviously 19 out of 20 seasons will not have such a hit.

After Eight will recall there were years in the 1970s when the Tonys had trouble finding THREE shows to nominate for Best Musical, even if some weren't true contenders.

But this is the first time in 35 years that I'm sorry I don't have the time or money to spend a month in New York, mostly going to the theater.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 7:45am

"After Eight will recall there were years in the 1970s when the Tonys had trouble finding THREE shows to nominate for Best Musical, even if some weren't true contenders."

 

This year, I'd have trouble nominating even two.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 8:10am

This has been FAR from a "meh" season.

Oslo, Indecent, Doll's House Pt 2, Sweat, Significant Other- five solid to fantastic new plays

Sunday in the Park and Hello, Dolly are both glorious revivals. Falsettos and Glenn Close back in Sunset have been nice too. 

Come From Away, Great Comet, War Paint, Groundhog Day and though I wasn't as wowed, I must include Dear Evan Hansen on this list for new musicals. Anastasia appears to be delighting many audience members, and A Bronx Tale must have amazing word of mouth among its target demo. 

Kristin's Love Letter to Broadway was one of the best special events on Broadway since Liza's at the Palace, and the Tony committee should bring back the category and give her another Tony. 

Play revival has been weak, but Jitney was one of my favorite productions all season. 

(The only two shows I haven't seen this season are Six Degrees of Separation and Little Foxes, which I will remedy this week and could easily end up credits to the revival category.)

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 9:38am

The Broadway debut of The Great Comet, to me, is profoundly exciting, and sets a high standard for future musicals.

Plus, everything that Whizzer said

[smidge]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 10:00am

Every year, around this time,  someone comments on what a lousy season it was. Every single year (with maybe a qualifying "If it wasn't for Hamilton " last year). A season may have a few clinkers but there have been boundless treasures too. 

[thattreegurl]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 10:03am

I agree with the sentiments of others on this thread. Of course there have been some duds this season, but what season doesn't? I think the treasures have far outweighed the duds, and beyond that the duds, to me, have mostly been just mediocre, but the good ones have been really, really good.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 10:09am

I think it's been a good season for new plays, an alright season for revivals of plays and musicals, and an outright bad season for new musicals despite many options. I've seen every new musical and don't think a single one had material that was ready for production on this level, or even close to it, which I guess makes me sort of grinchly in a year that many people enjoyed. Perhaps spoiled on some very good seasons for Broadway musicals lately. 2014-15 was my favorite. 

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 10:10am

Im enjoying this season, but why are even responding to this troll post? 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 10:28am

One can only hope next season is just as meh.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 10:33am

A return visitor, Sunday in the Park With George, was equally so ---- to the nth degree.

You expect us to believe you purposely attended a revival of a show you've repeatedly stated you despise written by a composer you've repeatedly said you despise.  Why would we ever think you're sincere about anything?

Updated On: 4/5/17 at 10:33 AM

[Margo319]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 2:41pm

Falsettos, Dear Evan Hansen, Hello Dolly, Come From Away, and Great Comet are all incredible musicals.  Nothing about this season has been "Meh".    

[Andy51]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 3:11pm

Apart from some of the fine work mentioned above, if one includes Off Broadway, there were a number of extraordinary productions and performances.  Kings of War at BAM and Othello at NYTW were highlights of the season for me, with Hans Kesting's portrayal of Richard III and Daniel Craig as Iago being amongst the finest performances I've seen over the last few years.

Updated On: 4/5/17 at 03:11 PM

[theaterdude2]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 3:19pm

we respond to it because the post is absolutely right. each of these new musicals have had almost unanimous disappointing and/or negative reviews

amelie, groundhog day, charlie and the chocolate factory, anastasia, and those are just the new shows. 

 

what's so difficult to understand?

[curel1]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 3:25pm

theaterdude2 said: "we respond to it because the post is absolutely right. each of these new musicals have had almost unanimous disappointing and/or negative reviews

amelie, groundhog day, charlie and the chocolate factory, anastasia, and those are just the new shows. 

 

what's so difficult to understand?

 

"

Bc it hasn't been unanimously negative? Well except for Charlie.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 3:34pm

Mister Matt said: "A return visitor, Sunday in the Park With George, was equally so ---- to the nth degree.

You expect us to believe you purposely attended a revival of a show you've repeatedly stated you despise written by a composer you've repeatedly said you despise.  Why would we ever think you're sincere about anything?

AfterEight is just a troll, so why do we even respond? He thinks that any musical not composed by Rodgers and Hammerstein or Lerner and Lowe sucks. 

"

 

[froote]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 3:40pm

theaterdude2 said: "we respond to it because the post is absolutely right. each of these new musicals have had almost unanimous disappointing and/or negative reviews

amelie, groundhog day, charlie and the chocolate factory, anastasia, and those are just the new shows.
 

what's so difficult to understand?"

What? Of those shows, only Amelie has had reviews in so far. In fact, Groundhog Day and Anastasia both received positive reviews in their out-of-town tryouts.

[theaterdude2]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 3:42pm

i'm not sure what reviews you're reading.

Amelie - basically panned, Charlie - DOA and everything else has been mixed to negative and if they haven't opened yet, the word of mouth has been same.