AIN’T NO MO On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 2

All of the off-broadway cast is returning except for one. This is the show Crystal is leaving 1776 for.

troynow said: "All of the off-broadway cast is returning except for one. This is the show Crystal is leaving 1776 for."

are they trying to star cast the remaining role?

I've no clue who the guys in Topdog/Underdog are.

"I've no clue who the guys in Topdog/Underdog are."

It's always so weird when people say this as if it proves people aren't famous or significant. Maybe that's not what you were doing but it usually says more about you than it does about them.

Abdul-Mateen had major roles in The Trial of the Chicago 7, the new Candyman, the new Matrix, the new Aquaman, The Get Down, Watchmen and the newest Michael Bay movie.

Corey Hawkins had major roles in Kong: Skull Island, BlacKkKlansman, In the Heights, the Coen Macbeth, and has a role in The Color Purple movie. He's also been on Broadway twice before.

It’s entirely a matter of knowing vs. caring. People can have major credentials and be talented and get press coverage — but still not be a box office draw. Hawkins & Mateen are both “that guy” actors. Someday they might be major name-value stars, but not yet. The economy and current state of theatre going habits does not help any of this.

Sometimes it’s funny who sticks and who doesn’t. I wouldn’t have predicted Bryan Cranston to be such a consistent draw in his two shows, even tho Breaking Bad was huge. Similar situation with Larry David in Fish in the Dark. But then you have people who producers think will be a hit with ticketbuyers but aren’t: Forrest Whitaker or Allison Janney or Elisabeth Moss or Laurie Metcalf & John Lithgow.

Updated On: 10/5/22 at 10:48 PM

KJisgroovy said: "It's always so weird when people say this as if it proves people aren't famous or significant. Maybe that's not what you were doing but it usually says more about you than it does about them.

Abdul-Mateen had major roles in The Trial of the Chicago 7, the new Candyman, the new Matrix, the new Aquaman, The Get Down, Watchmen and the newest Michael Bay movie.

Corey Hawkins had major roles in Kong: Skull Island, BlacKkKlansman, In the Heights, the Coen Macbeth, and has a role in The Color Purple movie. He's also been on Broadway twice before." 9plus



I agree. Always funny when people play the "I've never heard of them" card. Both actors are well-established in film and TV, and have their roots on the stage. They're both actors that people who follow show-biz should know of. And both very talented.

But unfortunately, as far as general audiences are concerned, I think Hawkins could be categorized as a "that guy" actor (as in, people may recognize him from his various projects, without actively following his work), while Mateen is more of a "rising star" (as in, he has a lot of momentum in Hollywood, but doesn't have enough of a fan base yet to really draw audiences). And that's likely why the show is struggling.

In any case, there's no question that they're more famous than any of the Ain't No Mo actors are likely to be. I too worry about it's financial prospects, as I've said before.

I get that, for whatever reason, Broadway is swinging hard the other way, but maybe after all the stuff we’ve all been through we don’t want to go sit through a serious drama? And especially one that maybe deals with heavy topics like race etc? Seems like that’s what we are getting. I get it. But think bubblegum shows like “& Juliet” will do great business. But who knows? Happy to be proven wrong! (Also really would love to see “Ain’t No Mo” I think the premise is really interesting)

I saw Ain't No Mo this weekend in DC. To say I enjoyed it is kind of an odd phrasing, because while it is by turns funny, moving and very thoughtful, it really makes you examine your perspectives on race and what it is like to be a black person in our country. It sends up a lot of black stereotypes in a sometimes uncomfortably un-PC fashion that treads a narrow line between humor and stinging criticism that is merited and makes you check your own prejudices whether you are black or white. It has a lot of humor but it can turn on a dime and take a scene that has funny moments and suddenly hit you with a line that makes you look hard at the unfunny truths about what minorities face daily in our country.

I appreciated this show and was glad to have seen it. Is it perfect? No. I felt that two of the scenes ran too long and could use some tightening. The cast was solid, and each had a powerful moment in a particular scene. One scene taking place in an abortion clinic was very powerful, and another portion in a prison also had a kind of a gut punch moment, while other scenes had the audience laughing and calling out in concurrence with what they were seeing on stage.

I don't think this show is going to be a smash hit, it IS a smaller production with a small cast and no big names to draw people, but that does not make it not worthwhile. I'm sorry that a show like Ain't No Mo which has something important to say about our culture may be given a miss by a lot of tourists who just want to be entertained with something fluffier (not that there is anything wrong with an upbeat, lightweight show). That doesn't mean that it doesn't deserve a second run in New York, and I hope that more folks will give it a look.

“ it IS a smaller production with a small cast and no big names to draw people”



the DC production is a completely separate Production. It is not transferring to Broadway, it is the regional premiere with a separate direction and design team.

I hope the show lasts long enough where it won't make Crystal leaving "1776" for this look like a bad decision.

That being said, I just saw Ebony Marshall-Oliver and I remember her raucous turn in "Chicken & BIscuits" and that just sold me a ticket right there!

quizking101 said: "That being said, I just saw Ebony Marshall-Oliver and I remember her raucous turn in "Chicken & BIscuits" and that just sold me a ticket right there!"

Same. I have remembered that performance for over a year now and it is still among my favorites. I'll see her do anything.

KJisgroovy said: ""I've no clue who the guys in Topdog/Underdog are."

It's always so weird when people say this as if it proves people aren't famous or significant. Maybe that's not what you were doing but it usually says more about you than it does about them.

Abdul-Mateen had major roles in The Trial of the Chicago 7, the new Candyman, the new Matrix, the new Aquaman, The Get Down, Watchmen and the newest Michael Bay movie.

Corey Hawkins had major roles in Kong: Skull Island, BlacKkKlansman, In the Heights, the Coen Macbeth, and has a role in The Color Purple movie. He's also been on Broadway twice before."

Just saying they aren't household names. I don't think most people would know who they are by name alone without the credits. And even with the credits, I don't know who they are. Not a diss, just saying, I'm not surprised it's not a hot ticket.