BREAKING: Mandy Patinkin Withdraws from THE GREAT COMET- Page 8

[10086sunset]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:13pm

everythingtaboo said: "But hey, I hope Cynthia Erivo and that Rafael guy can breathe easy knowing the social media outrage they sparked will definitely close one of the most diverse shows on Broadway in a matter of weeks. "

 Right on the money.

[MattRVA]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:14pm

My heart breaks that this beautiful show's closing is imminent. I loved it so much I bought premium tickets for December, not knowing or caring who would be in the cast. The fault lies squarely with the producers. There were clearly business reasons to bring on Mandy Patinkin, but they were fools not to consider the optics of dismissing Oak so early in his run. The far greater sin was placing on Oak's shoulders the burden of carrying the show as Groban did. That was an impossibly tall order for a respected Broadway performer who isn't a household name. How could Malloy not know the show needed a star, as he claimed today on Twitter? If it didn't need a star they would never have hired Groban.

So, so sad.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:16pm

froote said: "Yes she was a slight draw post-Tony (that's why I said barely) but the grosses didn't go super high after she won or anything. Certainly wouldn't be enough to save The Great Comet.

 

And the grosses went down a lot when Jennifer Hudson left the show.  Cynthia did sell some tickets, but for her acclaimed performance in that specific show...just as Alice Ripley and Christine Ebersole sold tickets in N2N and Grey Gardens.  It doesn't mean that they would sell a lot for the next show.  (I personally think that the majority of tickets sold for War Paint are because of Lupone, not Ebersole).

I was one of the people who purchased tickets for Purple pretty late in the run because I thought it would be silly to miss such an acclaimed show and performance.  (And, to be honest, I was disappointed...I thought she vas very good, but not the historic performance that I heard about; and I don't even attribute that disappointment to her...I think Doyle did a great job, that it was much better than the original bloated mess, but that the raw material still wasn't very good, i.e., the book, music and lyrics for the musical...not the original book or even the Spielberg film).  

I do think that Erivo has the best chance of becoming a ticket selling star because of her charisma, as well as her talent; but, she would not sell many tickets to TGC.  Period.

As for Philippa, per other suggestions, will have no more impact than Oak.  She has talent, but IMO has the charisma of a brick.  Since both points are also true of Denee, what's the point?

 

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:21pm

Sally Durant Plummer said: "If I were to be really coy, I would say Great Comet had the opposite problem of Shuflle Along: Audra had to much box office power, Oak had none.

 

You are absolutely wrong.  Audra is equivalent to Josh in that scenario, i.e., the departing ticket-selling star not Oak.  Oak is the equivalent to the poor person who replaced Audra (can't remember...did someone replace her or did they close it when she needed to leave?).

 

[Margo319]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:23pm

"Does anyone think the producers could beg Philippa Soo to come back for a short stint to keep it afloat?"

*Refer to Amelie the musical.  No one knows or cares about her except as Eliza Hamilton.  

The show is done.  No one can save it.  Not even Hugh, Lin, or fu*king Jesus Christ himself.  

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:23pm

GeorgeandDot said: "He was respectfully bought out of his contract (something that happens all the time btw) and instead of graciously understanding what was best for the show, he vicariously started a twitter war.  Sounds pretty unprofessional to me.

 

And I will bet money that you are as frustrated as hell that no-one in the Republican Party has the guts to speak out against Trump.  

 

[asoftplacetoland]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:25pm

I'm so frustrated. I will play Pierre myself damnit  

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 08:25 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:27pm

I mean didn't a white actress replace a white actress in this very show - Ingrid replacing the original for a few weeks? And no one made it a huge deal. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:30pm

Jarethan said: "GeorgeandDot said: "He was respectfully bought out of his contract (something that happens all the time btw) and instead of graciously understanding what was best for the show, he vicariously started a twitter war.  Sounds pretty unprofessional to me.

 

And I will bet money that you are as frustrated as hell that no-one in the Republican Party has the guts to speak out against Trump.  

 

Well yes.... I'm frustrated with anyone who doesn't speak out against Trump.  He's a psyco.  I don't understand what this has to do with anything.

 

[BroadwayBaby4]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:31pm

Anyone else clutching their ticket to a Mandy show hoping maybe Dave will come in and at least end the show himself? I just bought on stage tickets since my bf and I both wanted to see Mandy. He wanted me to immediately get money back, but i'm holding on to what little hope I have left that the show runs through Labor Day. 

[schubox]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:32pm

RippedMan said: "I mean didn't a white actress replace a white actress in this very show - Ingrid replacing the original for a few weeks? And no one made it a huge deal. 

 

"

It was sold as Brittain going on a vacation or a break for another project or something. It was made to seem like she asked for it off and they brought in Michaelson. Seems like it was a forced move in light of Malloy's tweets 

[Mossee]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:35pm

Fan123 said: "Regarding Oak's alleged contribution, or lack thereof, to the controversy, I actually thought his statement on Instagram was pretty gracious. Sure, one can pick out phrases like "In spite of everything" and "I will not be returning" and make much of them, but the overall tenor of the post seems to be supportive of the show and even, in passing, of Mandy himself."

It was a mostly mild statement on the surface, considering the anger and frustration he is no doubt feeling—but if he had swallowed his pride for the benefit of his fellow castmates and crew and fans and said, "Mandy's going to be phenomenal, and I'd be delighted to return in the fall!", it may have helped calm the storm a bit. I don't want to judge him too harshly, because he got a really raw deal and if I were in his place, I don't know if I could do the gracious thing. And maybe it wouldn't have helped, who knows. I just wish there were ANY OTHER WAY for this to play out than the show closing in a couple weeks.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:35pm

I mean, it just seems like it was the same situation and no one cared, but because one is black suddenly it's an outrage? Scratching my head...

[chernjam]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:41pm

Honestly this is beyond a mess.

As a non-Comet fan, and a casual theatregoer - I kind of thought when Oak was announced as post-Groban it wouldn't last long.  No disrespect to the fans of this show, but for me, I was bored just watching the videos they had released from the show or even the live performances on the Tonys and elsewhere.  (I get it - different strokes for different folks).  But it seems that there was a lot more people who were going simply to see Groban.  

Unfortunately the producers didn't recognize that or want to acknowledge that reality - that they needed a "name" to make up for the seats that werent filled with Comet fans.  Mandy Patinkin would've brought in a new audience (probably a much older audience).  Now - Oak is hurt, Mandy is pissed and I doubt any other actor wants to go 10 feet near this toxic atmosphere.  

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:46pm

RippedMan said: "I mean, it just seems like it was the same situation and no one cared, but because one is black suddenly it's an outrage? Scratching my head...

 

"

That's what decades of abuse towards a minority leads people to believe, crazy, eh?  Are you still scratching your head?  It's not like people had anything to base this suspicion on race.

 

The initial release only said that the black performer was being replaced by a white celebrity just ...because. But you know how abused minorities feel paranoid with no reason. Crazy. 

 

 

[hbf]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 8:50pm

The Rafael Guy who helped contribute this hellhole hasn't even made a single tweet yet. The only thing he's done in Twitter for the day was attack on Trump and retweet some tweets made by Ariana DeBose.

https://mobile.twitter.com/RafaelCasal

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:08pm

It wasn't like they were ousting him "just because." Even before Malloys tweets it was obvious why they were rushing Mandy in. Yes it was duplicitous not to say so but cmon anyone with common sense could read between those lines.

Abd furthermore, anyone who tries to say it wouldn't have been ENTIRELY a different reaction if it was a white actor being ousted or a black actor coming in is just being foolish. The proof is right in Ingrid's coming in. It was the same situation, just as misleading and desperate but no one cared. And now those social justice warriors who probably had no intention of attending have put the nails in the coffin 

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 09:08 PM

[HSky]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:10pm

BroadwayBaby4 said: "Anyone else clutching their ticket to a Mandy show hoping maybe Dave will come in and at least end the show himself? I just bought on stage tickets since my bf and I both wanted to see Mandy. He wanted me to immediately get money back, but i'm holding on to what little hope I have left that the show runs through Labor Day"

I'm hoping Scott Stangland would get to go on a few more times. Right now I'll just be happy if I get to see Comet at all on the 16th.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:28pm

Blaxx, I understand you're being condescending, but I think it speaks to their ignorance - the ones Tweeting - if they didn't understand the situation. They needed a star. When they announced Oak back in Feb people were scratching their heads then. They realized they picked the wrong person, a celeb decided they wanted to do it, so obviously they're going to go where the money lies. There's nothing "racial" happening here at all. And I don't even understand how the situation can be misconstrued as racism. 

[schubox]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:32pm

I hope they announce something soon. I love the show enough that I'd probably still fly in and use the tickets I bought for Mandy to see the show one last time. But if they're closing the 13th I'd like to know so I can call the hotel and airlines, etc 

[Margo319]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:34pm

"As for Philippa, per other suggestions, will have no more impact than Oak.  She has talent, but IMO has the charisma of a brick"

I agree.  And she isn't funny.  That anyone thinks she would be great as Eliza Doolittle is mind boggling.  And hilarious.  Which she isn't.  

Go back one Steven Pasqaule wife and you'll find your star of My Fair Lady.   

[froote]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:38pm

Charisma and humor is subjective. 

[binau]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:39pm

It is misconstrued as racism because this is how the PC SJ Warrior game works. Step one: look at any group of people where minorities seem to be succeeding less or are being criticised (e.g., racial, sexuality, gender, and now religious). Step two: assume the reason they are being criticised or less successful is because of HATE and DISCRIMINATION and RACISM. Don't think about what else might be going on here, and what other factors might be leading to lack of success or criticism. It's annoying because it distracts us from when people of minority status are genuinely the targets of HATE and DISCRIMINATION and RACISM. 

Updated On: 7/28/17 at 09:39 PM

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:44pm

When a show that has never gone below 89% capacity is being assumed to close in 16 days. I'm sorry, what??? Can't they wait and see what happens?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/28/17 at 9:49pm

Right? The numbers aren't bad. But maybe their advance dries up in the fall?