Broadway Failure Beofre The Show Opens

[WSS2]

Posted: 10/25/03 at 3:20pm

Seems that most people today just want to call a show a failure before the darn thing even opens.

Just look at "Urban Cowboy". Although crap, I didn't read one article before hand that positive. Same thing with "Movin' Out", which went from crap to critic's darling.

Poor "Taboo" is getting the same beating. While I don't know much about the show, it seems we have early reviews of the show's demise from those who haven't even seen it (of course, It hasn't even OPENED yet!).

Perhaps we need to start a thread with all the possible bad things that we can say about "Taboo" (unfounded, of course) just so that we can move on.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/25/03 at 5:37pm

I would LOVE to see this show jump up and prove everyone wrong. =)

[Hank]

Posted: 10/25/03 at 7:15pm

At first , I was looking forward to Taboo, but the more I hear, and looking at those pictures, I just got turned off. In the next two weeks I'll be seeing three of the new musicals, and Taboo will not be one of them. I think there's a limited audience for this kind of show anyway, and I'll just wait until after opening night before I buy tix for this one.

[ORPHAN]

Posted: 10/25/03 at 7:26pm

i think TABOO may be suffering in the media and with the whisper talk from Rosie's personality. She was so powerful and helpful to broadway when she had her show and I think the community really appreciated her. When she left the show she still had a lot of love from the bway folk...then... she misunderstood people's affection for her... i think she over played her hand by creating an vibe that people owed her. Maybe they did but she probably should have come back to collect her bway debt with more humility and self deprecation. People tend to want to repay you with love and support if you don't present yourself like a debt collector. Taboo should be the star and not rosie. Her pushing and shoving personality is getting in the way of the show and I get the impression that the media and the tastemakers want to put her in her place. Remember the Paul Simon musical CAPEMAN. His arrogance and professional suicide was certianly worse and no matter how good the show was, the tastemakers wanted blood. Rosie's offences are not as major but she needs to do some behind the scenes smoothing of the crooked places!

[Sunfish]

Posted: 10/25/03 at 7:46pm

"The tastemakers"....perfect description. People scoff at the idea of a "conspiracy" or "agenda" and perhaps it is not that blatant, but the fact is that certain people or shows ARE targeted (by the "tastemakers") and regardless of what they produce (deliver) or what the truth of a situation IS, the required pound of flesh is extracted.

Conversely, there are others who can do no wrong. But in all likelihood they will find themselves on the other side of the sword of miscarriage-of-justice. It appears this is what has happened with Rosie.

Personally, I just couldn't like her, in spite of her support of Broadway, and although I really hope this show does well (because of the cast involved) I had grave misgivings when I heard about her Producership. At least I am consistent, not pulling the love them/bury them trick.

Even if she were willing, it is probably too late for her to help the show's image by pulling back. The blood hunger has been awakened.....

I have a question. Does anyone know of someone who has "come back" after the bloodletting? Do the unfavored come back INTO favor?

[WSS2]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 1:44am

David Merrick came back time and time again

Posted: 10/26/03 at 1:52am

My mom is in this show. She's SO funny. HOLLA MOM.

[BC]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 2:13am

Updated On: 10/26/03 at 02:13 AM

[KB]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 9:09am

I think we'll all get a clearer idea come Tuesday when previews start.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 10:16am

What disturbs me are the people who either wish this production ill will, or support boycotting it. When all is said and done about Rosie's personal style, the backlash against her management/marketing techniques, and even the speculation about her wanting payback ... isn't the bottom line her investment in the very medium this web site adores? From Zigfeld through David Merrick, the theater has always had bigger-than-life personalities as producers -- some bulls in some china shops, to be sure -- and just maybe Rose is following in those footsteps. Ultimately, it comes down to putting money where one's mouth is, and this she has done, with ten million. This show employs hundreds, stands to entertain thousands... Before you say, "yeah, but--" this post isn't a pie-eyed apologia about this woman's personalty, it's just a reality check about a fragile biz. Broadway always needs people to invest, to nurture new works. Nurturing means spending money. My feeling is, let's cheer her and support this endeavor. If she fails, the NEXT person with ten million might not come forward. And we need those millions! (NB, People argued the same thing a decade ago when Disney got involved -- like, "Disney, go home!" My dear friend just came back from 18 months on the road with B&B, was able to pay off his mortgage, so thank you very much, Disney theatricals.)

Yes, all of us here can pick and choose what we spend our money on. I love opening the Times and seeing a record number of shows to PICK from. We'll only have a varied array of things to choose from if people like Rosie continue to produce. When she was tirelessly supporting TITANTIC, SIDE SHOW, and raising the Tony ratings, people blessed her; so she's gone and tried her hand, taking great risks. I hope just one thing:that TABOO is packin' em in come June. Putting smiles on audience faces and money in the bank for a lot of artists. Then, will her strategy, behavior, or personal quirks mean a damned thing?

Updated On: 10/26/03 at 10:16 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 10:29am

Awesome post Auggie27!

I don't think people realize how fragile the theatre business is in this day and age. Rosie's also doing something you do not see anymore (except rarely)----she is sole producer. That concept is from "the golden era" of Broadway. Today, you have multiple producers--even corporations. I'm not knocking that--it's just a whole different game.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 4:19pm

There will always be criticism about the Broadway theater scene. Even the greatest musical on earth, A Chorus Line, had many people criticizing it. They said nobody wanted to see a musical about dancers without any scenery. They were mad that it didn't have an intermission. They said "What I Did For Love" was saccharine. People will always criticize the workings of the theater. It's just the nature of the beast.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 5:14pm

Taboo is currently in a phase called 'marketing,' which is publicity for the intent of selling tickets. I don't see why it's out of line to then discuss whether or not said marketing is effective in making me want to or not want to see a show. If the marketing, which is there for the sheer purpose of selling a new idea to people, makes something look dreadful, it's not my fault if I don't want to see it and think it's a dud. A hit movie starts with a good trailer, after all.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 5:17pm

I think Auggie and I were more referring to the rumors and cattiness--not genuine lack of interest which is totally one's right. =)

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 5:25pm

I have no desire to see TABOO fail, but I must say I'm not that interested in actually seeing it, either.

I think the first few ad campaigns threw people off and not in a good way. Nobody could tell what the show was about. A men's bathroom attendant? A story of a dancing fashionista lima bean?
The most recent ads at lest tell the prospective audience what to expect.

[Maggie]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 5:28pm

I hope it stays open at least until 12/7 so I can see it and give you my humble opinion.

[LC]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 6:13pm

I'm sure there'll be a lot of 'humble opinions' before then

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 10/26/03 at 7:47pm

Auggie27, very well said, thank you:)