Phyllis Rogers Stone said: "I love how if someone has a positive opinion about a show around here they are always a "Shill" come on some people like it some won't.
Always? Or when a new person shows up strictly to shill for a show?
"
Fair point.
"I'd rater be nine peoples favorite thing, than a hundred peoples ninth favorite thing"
jwsel, I completely agree with you that Soul Doctor was worse in a soul-crushing, never-ending, pointless evening of theater way. Disaster is more in line with the unbelievable camp flops of the Prince of Central Park and Into the Light ilk.
It's no surprise that the numbers that came off the best (the nun singing to the slot machine and Kerry Butler's I Am Woman sequence) were the ones that the songs played in full. Most of the snippets ultimately were just forgettable filler, padding the runtime and not being funny enough to justify their placement in the show. And yes, a nun does sing a love song to a slot machine...I mean the Not Since Carrie entry writes itself!
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
This undeniably skilled shill is just a guy who liked a show. Enough to look up reviews, saw a bad one, and decided to share my own perspective on the other side of the spectrum. I'm new to this site so please explain to me what my big crime here is... was it that I mentioned liking a show rather than finding something to complain about? Or was it that I joined the site today to post my comment?
If this site is intended to be limited to Broadway regulars and professional critics, then I'm sorry I joined in where I don't belong. Because I'm not a regular (only a handful of shows over the last couple years), I haven't been on this site before and probably won't again (unless I see another show I feel strongly enough about to put some thoughts in writing).
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
WhizzerMarvin said: "Just because something is a silly spoof doesn't mean all craft gets to be thrown out the window. Book scenes ended abruptly and served no purpose, ideas were either undercooked over overused; this stuff is fine for St. Luke's, which houses some of the notoriously worst off-Broadway theater in New York, but it doesn't fly on Broadway."
Whizzer, I've never said this, but I've been reading and loving your reviews for years (loved the Pippin one!), and your review of Disaster is just great.
Toek...first of all...welcome to this board. You will find all sorts of opinions in here. There will always be people who will fling critical arrows at you. In time, you will learn to deal with the many critics in this board. I get the sense that their current criticisms might be a sort of ritual theatrical hazing... which does happen. Don't let them get to you. You'll be fine.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Saw this tonight. a VERY comped crowd. I think Wayne Brady was there, which seemed odd, and Andre from Project Runway.
Anyway, I was first row, and this show looked CHEAP. Like, not Peter and the Starcatcher style smart cheap, it just looked like bad regional dinner theater.
The direction was AWFUL. They used like 3 different entrances which after 2 1/2 hrs, gets old. Scenes would start, then blackout, then that same damn vamp, then lights up on the other side of the stage. It seemed like directing 101.
The performances were fine. I wasn't embarrassed for anyone, save Seth. He was all wrong. He sounded okay, but man, he was so stiff and awkward. I think that was him "acting" but eh. Adam Pascal was in FINE voice. Oof. Love his voice. He was really great, as was Kerry Butler. Loved her voice. Actually, all the leads had impressive vocal moments.
The story just is stupid and sucks. It would have been funny if we were in on the joke, but most of the cheap elements felt like financial reasons than artistic reasons. It should have been a 90min show. Why drag this out? Act 2 dragged so hard.
But, and this is a big BUT because it's a lot of other things to sit through, but Simard KILLS it. Just slays it. She was incredible. She was the only one up there who created an actual character, who made choices. She was hilarious to watch, and her big number KILLS it. Her voice was so impressive. Between her, Pascal, and Butler, I was engaged. But the story is awful.
This is the cheapiest looking show I've ever seen on Broadway. They should have set it in the framework of like a Wisconsin dinner theater performing "Disaster" or something, to make us be like "oh okay" but instead it's like, you have 2 drops that you keep using?
I so wish I could see production photos for this mess. Ain't no way I'm shelling out money to see this, but I really want to see what this piece o' crap looks like.
Every song is 90 seconds, with some literally being one line. It would be a pain in the ass to record.
And I rushed, got there around 2:30, and got a front row seat. Why they'd make this 2 hours is beyond me. And why SETH would cast himself in this just shows you how misguided this whole thing is.