WALKING WITH GHOSTS Reviews

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 12:00am

Internationally renowned actor and writer Gabriel Byrne will return to Broadway in his acclaimed solo show, adapted from his best-selling memoir of the same name.

Opening night is scheduled for October 27.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 9:28pm

Reviews seem middling, but the second act is singled out by a couple as the highlight.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 10:27pm

DTLI Consensus: 45th Street does not quite Byrne with passionate, captivating storytelling.

5 negative (including the NYT), 4 mixed, 1 positive. 

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/walking-with-ghosts/

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 10:40pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:45th Street does not quite Byrne with passionate, captivating storytelling."

ok good pun.

I don't know what their financial reserve is like, but I cannot see this making it 2 more months to December 30. Post closing and return any remaining capital to the investors. He's going to be playing to nearly-empty houses unless they're papering the heck out of this thing.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 2:08am

I wonder if he talks about making Hello Again with Shelly Long?

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 7:17am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:45th Street does not quite Byrne with passionate, captivating storytelling."

ok good pun.

I don't know what their financial reserve is like, but I cannot see this making it 2 more months to December 30. Post closing and return any remaining capital to the investors. He's going to be playing to nearly-empty houses unless they're papering the heck out of this thing."

As someone had suggested in another thread, this might be more or less a jumping off point for Byrne to take this on tour. They also probably got a good deal on the theatre so it wouldn’t sit empty during the busy holiday season.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 9:27am

quizking101 said: "As someone had suggested in another thread, this might be more or less a jumping off point for Byrne to take this on tour. They also probably got a good deal on the theatre so it wouldn’t sit empty during the busy holiday season."

I suggested that it might be a loss leader to be done with Byrne “touring” to regional theatres, or doing an audible special. Now they can say “direct from a sold out run on Broadway” no matter how much longer it runs here. But who knows. Must only cost about $300K a week.  

And there’s not really such a thing as a “good deal” on a theatre. % rates and house staff are fairly standard across all plays.

[BJR]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 9:41am

Also found it disappointing. And sadly, that was made clear by sections that demonstrated his exceptional skill and charisma. But then, it was so sorely lacking elsewhere.

And I hate to fault the use of an aide like a prompter, but ti was clear he was using one and I found myself wishing he was able to have the confidence of the full piece under him.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 10:16am

I think a show like this is its own kind of critic proof - that is, the type of people who want to see Gabriel Byrne tell stories for two hours aren't going to be deterred by critics saying they didn't enjoy it.  It might turn off people who were more wavering, but otherwise it shouldn't be a big deal for it business-wise.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/9/22 at 5:54pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Gabriel-Byrnes-WALKING-WITH-GHOSTS-to-Play-Final-Broadway-Performance-This-Month-20221109

Due to low ticket sales, I guess this is not surprising. I enjoyed the show when I saw it on October 24 and am glad I got to see it.

If my count is correct, this will have played 8 previews and 25 performances.

Updated On: 11/9/22 at 05:54 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/9/22 at 7:14pm

Pity the show just Byrned out…

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/9/22 at 7:19pm

Well that was quick…

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 11/9/22 at 8:00pm

This show was such a bore, I nearly fell asleep. Would be great for audible, not for the stage. Definitely papered into oblivion too the whole run. Can't wait for Notebook/whatever takes the music box next

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/9/22 at 10:13pm

BJR said: "And I hate to fault the use of an aide like a prompter, but ti was clear he was using one and I found myself wishing he was able to have the confidence of the full piece under him."

An earpiece or a teleprompter? I did a full-length solo show once and it took me over a year to memorize, so I empathize, but are we talking about Angela Lansbury wearing an ear-piece but still giving a great, Tony Award-winning performance situation, or an Al Pacino literally reading his lines off a poorly hidden screen in China Doll kind of deal? How embarrassing. 

I'm surprised the show even got capitalized for a Broadway run. Gabriel Byrne hit his height of fame like twenty years ago, and even then he was never a box office star or anything. Did they really think there was an audience for this thing?

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 11/10/22 at 10:07am

Well, I saw this coming. In a truly exceptional season stuffed to the gills with high quality theater...this show was just not it. 

It had no real through line. Was it about alcoholism? His family? Mortality? Life as an actor? The theme was quite muddy. And the random non descript miming of certain things like opening/closing doors? yeesh. And it was beyond frustrating to watch him read lines off of a screen. He performed entire sequences looking down at floor, causing me to tune out and look up at how the light refracted beautifully in the theater's chandelier. If it was too difficult for him to memorize such a long piece, then cut it! There is no justification for this to be over 2 hours with intermission anyway! 80-90 minutes, no intermission, and a tighter story is what's needed. A true shame since Byrne has a great career and I loved him in Long Day's Journey. But this was a slog and a bore.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/10/22 at 10:22am

KevinKlawitter said: "I think a show like this is its own kind of critic proof - that is, the type of people who want to see Gabriel Byrne tell stories for two hours aren't going to be deterred by critics saying they didn't enjoy it. It might turn off people who were more wavering, but otherwise it shouldn't be a big deal for it business-wise."

I questioned whether there were ever that many fans who would pay Broadway prices to see someone who was never ‘big’ and who peaked more like 30 years ago.  I assumed that it was going to be an important incredible revelation, which — based on reviews and feedback — was only ‘meh’.