Ring of Fire

[COTFP]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:18pm

I just saw Ring of Fire and it was AMAZING. It's appealing to everyone and I want to go again. Everyone is so good in it and the set is so unique and cool. Oh my gosh... a must see.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:19pm

Really? You liked it? Many other very negative reviews have been posted.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:21pm

So you joined today just to post that? Uh-huh.

SHILL ALERT! SHILL ALERT!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:25pm

Sheesh.

Once it closes, that's the last we'll ever see of this poster.

[COTFP]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:29pm

It is really good. I haven't heard any neagtives and I can't wait to see it again.

[COTFP]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:42pm

It is really good. I haven't heard any neagtives and I can't wait to see it again.

I also don't know what you are atlkign about since I have been a memeber for over a year and never have joined one of these stupid chat rooms because everyone is so negative and wrong all the time. I thought today I'd joina nd shed some positive light ona beautiful new show but seems I have entered into a loser chat room.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:42pm

This is indeed a loser thread -- look who created it.


Yours is the ONLY positive review I've seen of it. Check out ATC. There are over a half dozen SCATHING reviews of it there. Examples:

"Three words...THEATER AVAILABLE SOON. (this show would be embarrassing in Branson, Mo.!)"


"Ring Of Fire is hell on Earth. It's not a book musical, it's not a biography, it's not a concert revue. It's performers, not even given character names in the program, doing one number after another in costumes against a video backdrop, waiting for a book to show up. (No one is credited in the Playbill with writing one). Boredom sets in after three songs, rigor mortis after the 20 ot so in the aimless first act.

Whoever posted "THEATRE AVAILABLE SOON" here after seeing the invited dress was spot on."


"After sitting through the matinee of yesterday's "Ring of Fire" I can now gladly say I love "Jersey Boys." At least the songs of The Four Seasons were catchy. "Ring of Fire" is an embarrassment of the 1st degree.

From the cheesy cruise ship take on so many of the songs, to the barely standing set...oh, who am I kidding I walked out at intermission. Iwas hardly alone in the exodus. 'nough said."



"I would challenge anyone to come up with any coherency or "book" in this theme park review. Actually calling it a theme park review is insulting to theme parks. As an audience you are not sure who is who, or if they are the same person at different ages or if it even matters since it is just a concert of his songs. As usual, there is nothing wrong with any of the talent represented on stage they are just saddled with some of the worst excuses to break into song possible, and for my taste I don't care if I ever hear most of these songs again! A song about some flood water rising had my entire row in stitches and it isn't meant to be funny. (The set looks like a sale at Lumber Liquidators with two small rear-projection screens ala Woman in White but on a very small budget/scale.)

The last show I felt as negatively about was The Blonde In The Thunderbird. (Again not completely Ms. Somers fault but she was obviously BADLY misguided and miserably directed!) At least "...Thunderbird" had the good sense not to have an intermission so the audience couldn't leave as easily.
I left feeling very sad, once again, for Broadway. I know the talent is out there but when things that are as abysmal is this get produced it is puzzling and very depressing."


"I will say I finally feel good to see that I'm not the only one who feels the same. At the end I could only say "...What WAS that?!"


And there's also this thread from BWW:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=886157

Updated On: 2/11/06 at 07:42 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:58pm

Sounds like a nightmare- oh, dear!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 7:59pm

If it's appealing to everyone...what about the people who left during the 1st act?

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 8:42pm

You've failed to quote me. My reviews from the Buffalo run have all been positive. Search.

[tourboi]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 10:44pm

You haven't heard any negative reviews!? Have you READ the other comments on the show here?

I smell a SHILL!

[tourboi]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 10:48pm

I don't think that they were aiming to quote you, Bdwy24, or that they had to. The point they were making was to show the newbie that indeed there HAD been negative remarks and thoughts posted about the show (which the poster denied ever having seen). The quotes were meant for that and no other reason. You're post, and others (all who are entitled to them) who did enjoy the show, don't factor into whether or not people have said they didn't like it:)

[Runner1B]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 11:29pm

I'm not a shill for the producers, the director, cast members, the Shubert Org., or anyone else. I'm simply a fan of New York theatre and I loved this show! I've been following Richard Maltby's work for years, and I was very curious about Ring of Fire ever since it tried out in Buffalo last fall. I was at the first public preview on Wednesday night, 2/8. No one walked out, no one left at intermission, people clapped thunderously at the conclusion of most of the songs, people clapped along with the singers during some of the numbers, the set was beautiful, the projections were great, if a little too bright, and overall, I though the show was in fine shape for its first night of New York previews. I've never posted to this Web site before, and I was curious about what others were saying about this show. After I read so many negative comments, I felt I had to put my two cents in as a follower of Broadway for 35 years, so I decided to register as a "poster." All of you see yourselves as theatre afficionados, but nowhere did I see any intelligent remarks about the individual performers (especially Jeb Brown--what a great presence)or Lari White, Lisa Malone, Jason Edwards, or Melanie Vaughan, who did a fantastic job standing in for Cass Morgan. Jared Emick is wonderful, as he always is, and he has a wonderful voice. I've been thinking about Ring of Fire a great deal since I saw it on Wednesday, and the emotional (and physical) rapport and intimacy between the cast members is remarkable. I hope to see it at least once more before it opens.
The only comment I saw here that I agree with was about the oipening number--it should probably be replaced with something else.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 11:48pm

Oh god, another one who just joined today.

Understand that people who join simply to rave about a given show -- especially a show that longtime and trusted posters have disliked -- are automatically suspect as shills and their opinions have zero credibility with many of us here. We have seen the drill time and time again -- bad early reports, lots of negative posts about a show and then suddenly brand new posters pop up raving about the show. They never talk about any other show except for the new lousy one in previews that they insist is "AMAZING" and never participate in any other discussions and funny how all of them suddenly disappear never to be seen again after the show opens. Sorry. Your act is OLD. We've seen it for years and aren't fooled.

You may possibly be genuine and not on the producers' payroll, but somehow I doubt it. In fact I'm 99% sure, you and the other one (or perhaps you're the same person) were paid to write every positive word in this thread.

Be Gone. You have no power here. Go away before someone drops a house on you.

Updated On: 2/11/06 at 11:48 PM

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 11:49pm

hahaha i love you margo!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:22am

Margo, that was fabulous!


I was there last night, yes it is true that there were many people who seemed to be enjoying themselves. So I presume it is true that there are people who honestly enjoy the show.

Even with that said, anyone who claims to know theatre and does not see SERIOUS problems with this show borders on delusional.

To me though, the show was a ridiculous waste of time. Some of the songs were enjoyable, but the entire evening was so pointless and monotonous it was nearly unbearable at times.

The show has no book or character development, but seems to ask the audience to feel for the characters. Why? It is neither musical nor revue, just bland.

I will agree that the performers do quite well with the material, at times they overcome the serious issues and a moment of enjoyment is allowed. Those moments are brief and fleeting.


As far as leaving at intermission: Some people did, and I considered it, ultimately I decided to put up with the whole thing. I can say, I am glad I did, the second act was considerably better than the first. Though it was still VERY far from "good."

Updated On: 2/12/06 at 12:22 AM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:49am

Yeah, people who RAVE about a show and join the very same day are people who's posts I will consistently skip over

[Runner1B]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:59am

Yes, believe it or not, I am the "average" male 45ish theater goer, whose first Broadway show was "Sugar" at the Majestic way back in March of '73, before most of you were born, no doubt. Since I've been attending the theatre regularly (about 20 shows a season for the past 33 years), since I was in my early teens, my opinion does have a great deal of value, like it or not, Margo. I haven't been involved with these message boards before, but after seeing the bitchy replies and comments, I felt I just had to say something, as bitter as my words are to most of you. Now, can we stop thecattiness and have some serious discussion about this show?

[Runner1B]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:04am

One error I did catch was in your writeup--the word is "revue," not "review." Aint Misbehavin, Putting it Together, Ring of Fire, etc, etc., are REVUES.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:16am

"my opinion does have a great deal of value"

Not to many of us here. For why, see above.

I've been going to Broadway for longer than you and see 80 to 100 shows a year. I weigh in on every show on and Off-Broadway, season after season. When you do that, perhaps you'll have credibility -- though anyone who finds little to no fault with Ring of Fire is not going to have much credibility with many of us regardless. By only having an opinion on one show, that apparently everyone else despises, you give no one any reason to respect your opinion.

You joined a couple of hours ago. You have all the earmarks of a paid shill. That's the inescapable presumption that you have right now. Maybe you just have really bad timing. If you post a few more dozen times about several other shows and are still posting a month or two AFTER Ring of Fire opens, perhaps then, people can believe that you're on the up-and-up. Until then, your posts, especially regarding this show, will be either ignored or taken with a grain of salt by most of us, so you might as well not bother. You and your screen name won't be helping sell any tickets for the show and in fact will be driving peole away from it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:34am

And apparently you're also illiterate. If you would please try again to go back and read the beginning of that post -- I imagine it's difficult for you, but please try -- I state CLEARLY that I am posting EXAMPLES of the scathing reviews that OTHER PEOPLE on ATC wrote regarding the show. None of those quotes are mine which everyone, except you, seemed to understand. I did not take the time to correct their punctuation and grammar. Trust me. I know the difference between a "revue" and a "review." Do you know how to spell "opening number?"

Here was your attempt:

"oipening number"

What language is that?

And by the way, the producers of your favorite show (who sign your checks) have said emphatically that the show is NOT a "revue," but a book musical. Maltby's quote "It's not a concert at all. [Producer] Jim Freydberg wants the tag to be 'ask anyone who's seen it,' because in a way, you can't describe what it is. It's a book musical without a book — a play made up of songs."

I can describe what it is: horrid.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:37am

AH!

Who pushed da button of Margo!?

Or rather, who didn't?

[Runner1B]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:42am

Margo, I never said that you used the word "revue." SmartPenguin78 wrote "review" instead of "revue," not you.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:43am

"SmartPenguin78 wrote "review" instead of "revue," not you."

Not "me", you mean....

[Runner1B]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:48am

Margo, I know you are disappointed , but I am really not a shill, paid or unpaid. I am simply voicing my opinion about this one show. The last Broadway production I saw was A Touch of the Poet" at the Roundabout. Next, I'll be taking in "The Pajama Game" and "Chita Rivera: the Dancer's Life." Probably the worst think I saw as "Truckload," which closed in previews in 1975. I have no connections to the N.Y. theatre at all, except as an attendee.