BIRTHDAY CANDLES Reviews- Page 2

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 10:13am

InTheBathroom1 said: "Agreed about Maya Phillips. It’s not even that she dislikes things but the tone of her reviews is so dismissive. It seems like she walks in wanting to hate everything."

 

I’m at the point where if Maya Philips says something about a show, I’m inclined to believe the opposite. She dislikes almost anything with redeeming qualities and then made SHHH at Atlantic—which is one of the most excruciatingly amateurish things I’ve ever had the misfortune of sitting through—  a critic’s pick.

 

[kurtal]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 10:16am

I thought Maya Phillips's review was fair and measured.  I didn't find it mean-spirited at all.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 12:42pm

I also don't find anything particularly cruel in Phillips' review. She has plenty of kind adjectives for the supporting cast, points out moments that she feels work and praises Jones' set. She liked it better than I did. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 12:59pm

It's a pretty sad state of affairs that Roundabout's only NEW plays on Broadway in this century are:

BIRTHDAY CANDLES

BERNHARDT/HAMLET

THE 39 STEPS

A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY

 

(am not considering shows like THE HUMANS or SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, which RTC premiered off-Broadway but then commercial producers presented them on Broadway, nor am I considering solo shows, since the types they've produced aren't really plays)

Updated On: 4/11/22 at 12:59 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 1:35pm

I don't think it's particularly sad - aren't they mostly focused on revivals for their Broadway mainstage programming? Isn't that kind of the cornerstone of their mission? I know they also do a lot of new work Off-Broadway, so I guess a case could be made that they should be giving more of these new playwrights a chance at Broadway. But that would be a fundamental, ground-up issue with their programming philosophy. As things currently stand, it makes perfect sense that there have only been 4 new Broadway plays this century.

And as for the quality? Well, I don't think their track record with new Broadway plays has been any better or worse than their track record for Broadway play revivals.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 1:46pm

I guess I should elaborate –– it is sad that the Roundabout is mostly drawn to middlebrow schlock when it comes to new works on Broadway. There is nothing in the company's mission preventing it from producing new work on Broadway, nor is there anything that is preventing them from producing better new work on Broadway. So yes, it's a criticism of the artistic planning from the ground up that there is such a disconnect between their Broadway and off-Broadway programming, especially when a show like BIRTHDAY CANDLES is not selling sustainable volumes of tickets en masse.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 6:06pm

Synecdoche2 said: "Once again a NYTimes review I agree with in theory but with tasteless execution. What is the point of being so scoldingly negative on everything that opens? Surely to critique theatre you should enjoy some parts of seeing a play.

As the industry struggles, it feels mean-spirited to read review after review that is so dismissive and cruel to the performers onstage, who are putting their health at risk to keep a vital part of the city's economy alive. And this is supposedly the paper of record. What is the point?"

Bravo!

[White_Lotus]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 7:27pm

Synecdoche2 said: "Once again a NYTimes review I agree with in theory but with tasteless execution. What is the point of being so scoldingly negative on everything that opens? Surely to critique theatre you should enjoy some parts of seeing a play.

As the industry struggles, it feels mean-spirited to read review after review that is so dismissive and cruel to the performers onstage, who are putting their health at risk to keep a vital part of the city's economy alive. And this is supposedly the paper of record.What is the point?"

totally agree and thinking the same thing as I read some of the not-so-favorable reviews.

completely mean spirited.

so unnecessary. 

quite a shame. 

 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 7:22am

Synecdoche2 said: "Once again a NYTimes review I agree with in theory but with tasteless execution. What is the point of being so scoldingly negative on everything that opens? Surely to critique theatre you should enjoy some parts of seeing a play."

Could someone point out what was so harsh about the NYT review? I just finished reading it and it seems pretty even-handed to me. She clearly does point out the parts that she liked, and even does the thing of mentioning it connected with the audience at her performance, but has some clear critiques for where it went wrong. Doesn’t read as harsh in any way, unless you were genuinely expecting critics would wear kid gloves for this just because we’re mid-pandemic.

Updated On: 4/12/22 at 07:22 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 7:39am

The point of reviews isn't to support the industry.  It's to inform the reader as to whether or not they should plunk down their hard earned money to buy a ticket. I wouldn't be terribly pleased if a review I read tipped the scales only to find out it was just being "positive" for the sake of the industry.  If you read reviews on a new car all lauding its superior (insert some fancy car thing) and it wasn't true - you'd be pretty pissed.  Reviews are about the consumer.  

You want better reviews? Produce better plays & musicals.

(Note: I have no opinion about this show, I haven't seen it and have no plans to do so.)

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 7:35pm

AMNY's review finally went up yesterday. It's mostly positive.

"One could have a cynical reaction to “Birthday Candles,” finding it sentimental and manipulative, with existential queries and lines of “King Lear” that are didactically repeated in an attempt to make it seem profound. On the other hand, others will find its gentle-humored examination of ordinary domestic life to be relatable and deeply moving. At my performance, I heard a lot of sniffing from audience members all around me. "

https://www.amny.com/entertainment/theater/review-debra-messing-ages-90-years-while-baking-a-cake-in-birthday-candles/

[MCW1227]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 9:06pm

Saw this play today and LOVED it. Such a deep and touching look at real life relationships and a life of ups and downs. The cast was outstanding and transforms into different characters seamlessly.  Moments of laughter and sadness, with some deep reflection of how we navigate those moments.  After reading these reviews, I have to wonder what play these critics saw. Maybe they don’t have the ability to see true emotions portrayed on stage. Unfortunate to say the least.