THE BAND'S VISIT sets closing - Page 3

[LuPita2]

Posted: 2/4/19 at 9:26pm

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/4/19 at 10:04pm

I'm so happy this kind of artsy, small musical could turn a profit and make some money. It was never going to be the next Hamilton. It's much too weird, specific of a story. It's not a tourist show. I mean, I have plenty of actor friends who didn't like it. But, for whatever reason, it rill hit me. The message, the story, the characters, the music. I'm def. going back before it closes. 

[rpvee]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 2:23am

After Eight said: "Bear88 wrote;

"This is the first time a show I planned to see is closing just weeks before I arrive. I can see it on tour next spring, but I am a bit bummed."



Don't be bummed; rather, consider yourself lucky that fate intervened on your behalf.

You've been spared an epic bore of a musicaland a deadly theatrical experience.There isn't a decent melody in it.

There's a reason the show couldn't even run a year after itwon a passel of Tony Awards. Word ofmouth told it like it was."

 

How sad it must be to be so closed minded to the music of other cultures, the differences of other people, and the deceptively simple, delicate quiet of human emotion. Go enjoy your flashy, eye candy shows and let the grown ups in this thread mourn the loss of a rare piece of true art.

 

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 3:58am

^

Rpvee,

I know a good show when I see it.

And a bad one, too.

And so does the public.

And that's good.

 

[theaterlyfe19]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 7:30am

I'm sorry this show is closing. I'm sorry for all the people who loved it, who were touched by it, and even people who saw themselves in this musical. But here's the thing: not every muical is for everyone. Not everyone has the same taste. It doesn't mean they have BAD taste. That's the beauty of theater: everyone has different tastes and everyone is exposed to things they may not even have considered seeing. But once they do see that show, their eyes are opened to the magic of theater and what it can do for someone. Don't put someone down for not liking a show. That won't change their stance on it. Appreciate the show you love and learn not to bring other shows into a closing notice. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 8:14am

rpvee said: "How sad it must be to be so closed minded to the music of other cultures, the differences of other people, and the deceptively simple, delicatequiet of human emotion. Go enjoy your flashy, eye candy shows and let the grown ups in this thread mourn the loss of a rare piece of true art."

Oh, good lord... Get off your high horse. Not every show is going to be for everyone. And "mourning the loss of a rare piece of true art"...? What is there to "mourn"? The show had a respectable run, won 10 Tonys, recouped its investment, and will continue on to do a national tour for the next couple years.

 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 8:29am

I was meh on this show too. That season of new musicals was really mediocre and that's why this show ran away with so many awards.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 9:04am

I'd love to know what you people seem to think would've beat it any other year.

Hansen, not even close.

Come from Away, not a chance.

Comet, maybe but it was what 5 years old by that point and highly doubtful if it couldn't even beat Hansen.

Which leaves you with Hamilton which surely would've won but that would've beat whatever it was up against.

TBV is totally unique and in a class of its own as far as modern musicals go and would surely have attracted the most voters up against more traditional musicals.

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 9:18am

I'm not a fan of comparing shows outside the year they were produced as I think what currently is happening around the country/world affects the voting of Tony voters. 

Whenever I disagree with the majority of Tony voters' choices, I just blame it on the fact that my seat wasn't the prime viewing seat when I saw the show (I always see shows via rush/lottery/SRO the first time and if I love the show, then I'd spring up the $$$ and pay for a seat in either front mezz or aisle side orchestra.)

I do think there should be a separate Tony Award category for Best Musical as seen from the worst seat in the theater. lmao. 

I saw Band's Visit from the mezzanine and extreme side orch (both via rush) and the extreme side orch seat was such a better experience that I can only imagine what it must have been like to sit in front/mid center orchestra to see this show.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 9:31am

 

"I'd love to know what you people seem to think would've beat it any other year."

 

Fun Home

[Impossible2]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 9:40am

After Eight said: "

"I'd love to know what you people seem to think would've beat it any other year."



Fun Home"

You're even more deranged than I thought.

Fun Home was dreadful.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 9:59am

"Fun Home was dreadful."

Yes, indeed. So was The Band's Visit.

But that didn't prevent either one from winning, now did it?

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:11am

No enjoys celebrating a show they didn't like's closing more than After Eight, even after they win Tonys, recoup, and everything else. And the irony is, he'll most likely dislike what replaces it anyway...

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:12am

"The show had a respectable run, won 10 Tonys, recouped its investment, and will continue on to do a national tour for the next couple years."

Is under 600 performances really a respectable run for a show that won 10 Tony Awards? Yes, it is a success with recouping and critical acclaim  but that is not long run even for a show that is not commercial. "Fun Home"  ran about the same amount of time but I don't believe it swept the Tony Awards like "Band's Visit".

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:26am

"Is under 600 performances really a respectable run for a show that won 10 Tony Awards?"

 

I wouldn't say so. 

If it were really any good at all, if the public liked it at all, any show that won every possible award, had across the board raves from the critics, was deemed a work of genius by those supposedly in the know, would have been standing room only for years on end.

Goes to show you the value of all those awards, all those raves, all that hype.

Something to reflect upon when the next critics' darling comes along.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:34am

Of course, After Eight only likes musicals that closed after less than 8 performances (I will leave it up to you to decide if his screen name derives from that) pre-1970. So factor that into your decision making when deciding if you agree with his view of what makes a great musical.

Updated On: 2/5/19 at 10:34 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:39am

Miles2Go2 said: "(I will leave it up to you todecide if his screen name derives from that)"

I assumed it was when he was at his most miserable, when he's at a new show that just began?

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:46am

yankeefan7 said: "Is under 600 performances really a respectable run for a show that won 10 Tony Awards?"

There is no correlation between the two. Just look at the Academy Awards, for the most part, what wins the awards? The critical darlings that usually don't make a ton at the box office.

Plus, best musical is the only award that really matters of the 10 as far as box office, without that, they would have closed a while back. No one's making sure to make sure they see the show that landed Best Lighting Design...

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:49am

I can remember when 500 performances was considered a hit. As someone who has seen late run performances of Phantom and Chicago I can say it's not always best for a show to run for decades. I'd rather see a show close, tour, then re-vive itself in regional and/or school performances. There have been strong regional productions of Fun Home and I hope some of those theatres give The Band's Visit a chance as well.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1058218.It_s_a_Hit_?from_search=true

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 11:11am

Miles2Go2 wrote:

"After Eight only likes musicals that closed after less than 8 performances (I will leave it up to you to decide if his screen name derives from that) pre-1970."

 

Not so.

I loved both Sophie and Drat! The Cat!, and neither ran less than 8 performances. I also loved 70, Girls,70, which was post-1970, and which ran 35 performances.

Please try to be accurate.

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 11:16am

MrsSallyAdams said: "I can remember when 500 performances was considered a hit."

Recoupment means a show is a hit. Band's Visit recouped. So there's really nothing to debate.

Updated On: 2/5/19 at 11:16 AM

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 11:22am

Here's an idea: instead of arguing about whether the show's a hit or not, celebrate Katrina Lenk's brilliant performance on Jimmy Fallon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLccBnIy1xo

[Kad]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 11:46am

There's nothing to argue.

It turned a profit. It's a success.

It won 10 Tony awards. It's a success. 

Shows that run for years and years are the exception, not the rule. 

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 12:00pm

I saw this show in previews and completely fell in love. As much as I love splashy, big-produced shows (Wicked remains one of my very favorites), TBV was something entirely different and entirely lovely. It was never going to appeal to a massive audience - it's too small, too delicate, not flashy, and musically unusual, and I can understand how it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. But to me, it was extraordinary, and I don't think I'll ever forget the way I felt watching "Omar Sharif" and "Answer Me."

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 2:31pm

I am deeply saddened by this announcement. I was stunned by every aspect of this show when I saw it last year. I want to be able to say that it will have a vibrant life in the regional theatre scene (like other small musicals like Fun Home and Grey Gardens), but I honestly doubt any future productions will be as great as this one. The casting requirements--great actors of middle-eastern descent with experience speaking Arabic (or at least a very strong ear for language/dialects) who are highly-skilled at either the oud or the darbuka--will probably prevent a lot of companies from producing this show. I'll be sure to see the tour when it is near me, and I encourage those who have yet to see the show to take a chance on it before it closes. Even if the musical isn't for you, I can't imagine not appreciating the musical and acting chops of those on stage. I think we're unlikely to see a production this good of this musical any time soon.