AMERICAN BUFFALO to close Nov. 23- Page 2

[bethnor]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:43pm

... totally unfortunate for the producers and stars.

... well, it's not like these guys are regular gypsies, who i am more worried about. regardless of the economy, unless they have been totally stupid, they will all three return to very comfortable lives.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:03pm

This is what *should* happen to shows that are as horrendous as this one. The show was truly painful to sit through and it doesn't deserve to play more than 9 performances. As bethnor said, these three performers are likely well-off so no need to feel badly for them. Who we *should* feel for are those poor souls who had to sit through this production. Another one bites the dust. Did anyone besides LimelightMike actually enjoy this production???

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:30pm

Journey's End while it did win a Tony award was not a hit in a financial sense. Smaxie could probably correct me but either Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington or the Ralph Fiennes Hamlet (As Sauja mentioned early) were probably the last financial hits that the Belasco has had.

and WaT I'm with you. This production was a train wreck.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:35pm

so glad we agree on this one, frogs_fan85!

and yes, the last financial hit to play the Belasco was JULIUS CAESAR in 2005.
Updated On: 11/19/08 at 08:35 PM

[shh282]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:48pm

I'm kind of sad, I was very interested in seeing this

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:49pm

I liked it, probably because I'd never seen the play before. RE: Julius Caesar, it may have made its money back, but the critics pretty much trashed it. What bothered me about the whole thing is that it probably discouraged untold numbers of people from ever wanting to see a Shakespeare play for the rest of their lives.

[bethnor]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:20pm

also, i'm new to all this, so please correct me if i'm wrong... but the only reason the economy is probably playing a factor is that it's making producers more ansy. this doesn't seem like a work that tourists were gonna make or break.

[withoutyou08]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:23pm

dammit i wanted to see this too lol only 8 perfs.? i know the economy is bad but have some dignity lol give it a try

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:24pm

I believe Awake and Sing! was at The Music Box.

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:34pm

Awake and Sing! was at the Belasco, produced by the non-profit Lincoln Center Theatre.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:52pm

I'm actually surprised that they aren't trying to push the show for one more week to try get some money out of the always busy Thanksgiving weekend, but I guess at this point the advance for next week wasn't enough and the reviews definitely weren't going to help any.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:37pm

This was a wise move for the producers considering the economic situation. It was not doing well financially, despite having three names. The reviews, on a whole, were mixed to negative. Limited runs don't guarantee profit, and this surely was not going to make one.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:38pm

Huh. And here I thought I'd never been to the Belasco. Could have sworn it was the Music Box. The mind does play tricks sometimes. Thanks for the clarification, being.jeremiah.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:42pm

Well, I can't say I'm surprised.

I sure do feel bad for those who won't have the chance to see Leguizamo live. He was my only real reason for booking seats in the first place, to be honest. Cedric impressed me, too. It took a while for him to 'get there' - Once he did, he was pretty damn good. I say give credit where it's due - Mamet's tough to tackle ... Especially as a B'way debut. My hat, if ever I wore one, would go off to the three gents at the Belasco -- No matter what the consensus reads.
Updated On: 11/20/08 at 10:42 PM

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:34pm

"They should rename the Belasco the Bialystock & Bloom theatre. Open a show there & it is bound to be a flop. "

Why? Bialystock and Bloom never had a flop.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:41pm

Tickets for Saturday November 22 at 8PM still available on TDF ($35.50)

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:57pm

This truly sucks because 1) I was planning on seeing it on the 25th and 2) my acting teacher is John Leguizamo's understudy and he's been working his ass off and missed a load of classes to work on this and now... it's all in vain. It's a shame for all involved and to anyone who won't be able to see it, but I'm just personally connected with my teacher so I obviously feel worse for him.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 12:46am

Is it even worth it to see it? I might try Friday night. Not like it's going to sell-out. Any idea of a student rush or is TKTS the best shot? I might need to join this TDF thing.

[Bobby Maler]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 1:03am

It's not necessarily the economy. Caine Mutiny announced its closing the day after horrendous reviews came out as well. If there was no advance and word of mouth had not picked up, there was no reason to think that things would turn around. I'm sure those TV commercials (which were better made in my opinoin than the Speed The Plow commercials, I might add) cost them a pretty penny and returned nary two dimes. Might as well return what little money there was left to the investors instead of spending more advertising dollars to beat a dead horse. Always sad to see a show close.

[tommigyrl5]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 1:18am

If you can, its totally worth seeing Leguizamo. i thought he was fantastic.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 1:53am

i saw Awake and Sing! at the Belasco and it was packed. and the show was brilliant.

i dont remember if it was a legitimate "hit" but still. just saying.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 3:21am

Holy sh!t!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 8:19am

Awake and Sing! was a Lincoln Center production. Hit/flop status doesn't apply; though, it was a critical success.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 9:21am

I remember at the time, it was noted that Awake and Sing revival was playing in the same theatre as the original production in 1935.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 11:34am

RentBoy, I'd say skip it and spend your money on something better, unless you're a completist.

It's not awful, but it's sluggish and dull.