Andrew Lippa Question — Page 2

I think Lippa's problem is he can't write a memorable tune. As noted above, his scores are "serviceable" and he is certainly a talented musician... But they are lacking.

Lippa has somehow been spared much critical sabotage (He got lucky too getting that Addams Tony nomination by default!), but I find it odd at his age that people still give him the benefit of the doubt and "the potential is there" type reviews.

That being said, I rather like the score to A Little Princess as well. The Addams Family overture is great too - He is very good at manipulating other people's tunes and meshing it into something new ("Almost Christmas" comes to mind too).

Roxy, I'm afraid what you are doing is trying to rationalize the gulf between what you like and a show's failure to find an audience. Critics (your apocryphal story notwithstanding) are,at best, just like everyone else except perhaps with broader knowledge. One doesn't need to be able to do something to criticize it. (The same is true of teachers-some of the best acting teachers have never acted.) And most critics have no agenda different from anyone else-they want to like every show they see. Similarly, being able to do something-even well-doesn't mean you know more about its appeal. Just like you and me, Jimmy Buffett has his own tastes, and they are no better or worse than anyone else's, critics or othewise. The bottom line is that, for whatever reasons, this show did not find an audience, and while the reviews may not have helped the show's fortunes, there are plenty of shows that prove that the reviews will not kill a show that audiences want to see and hear.

Roxy, the notion that a show panned with no stars will close faster than the speed of sound is demonstrably untrue. There are many examples, but in a world in which Wicked is running, it seems especially silly to say.

Re the overheard critic: I am not doubting that your friend heard it, but it's just an anecdote, without any substance. First, it is a logical fallacy to conclude based on it that the larger proposition is true. Second, we know nothing of the context? Who was the person overheard? What did he mean by it? Was it said in jest? I assume you don't now the answer to any of these questions. Finally, from my own personal experience, I know the sentiment to be atypical even if it were meant. Reputable critics for reputable publications scrupulously avoid saying ANYTHING about a show while in the theatre or within east earshot before the review comes out. So what are we to conclude? That some internet blogger had an agenda? Sure, I don't doubt there is a person in this world who said it. But what does that prove? I'm afraid if you are going to try to develop some kind of conspiracy theory for why a show you liked closed, you're gonna have to work harder than that.

Hogan.We will agree to disagree. I respect your opinion but disagree

Wilmington. He will return as long as investors keeping giving him money but good review are out of the question. Bonnie & Clyde gave him the best reviews he will ever get sad to say.

---

Thinking about it a bit more, I don't think Wildhorn and Lippa align very well for discussing all of this. Wildhorn has written songs of unquestionably broad appeal but the general consensus has been that they are junky from a musical theatre standpoint. I don't think folks generally view Lippa's work as junk, but unquestionably his work has never found broad appeal. What they have in common is that neither has done work that helped make a show commercially successful.