Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:14pm

This is just out of my curiosity. I am sure there are some members out there who can answer me.
Which were the shows in the last, let's say 20 years, that although were trashed by the critics, were beloved by the public and became great success stories ? I saw Cameron Makintosh on a Les Mis video saying that Les Mis were savagely attacked by the critics, but the public thought otherwise, but other than that I don't know of any other show. I'm sure there must be more. Thanks

Take care

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:18pm

Wicked got pretty mediocre reviews.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:20pm

Titanic

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:23pm

Millie got pretty harsh reactions from the critics.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:23pm

Okay. If you think Wicked got terrible reviews, you may need your head checked.

Yes, a lot of the reviews were mixed, some positive. Most of them all had praise for Chenoweth. The reviews were not terrible. Mixed to positive in my opinion.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:24pm

wicked's reviews could never be considered terrible, most were mixed to positive giving very positive performance notices... i hardly think titanic could be considered a smash hit... i think les mis is the best example or a poorly reviewed show that became a phenomenon.

[Razz77]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:24pm

I wouldnt really call Titanic a "smash hit"

Mamma Mia got pretty lame reviews. That could probably classify as a smash hit.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:25pm

I would hardly call Millie a "smash hit." It lost about $2 million of its investment.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:25pm

Les Miserables got mixed notices in London, but the New York critics loved it. The all-powerful Frank Rich of the Times began his review, "If anyone doubts that the contemporary musical theatre can flex its atrophied muscles and yank an audience right out of its seats, he need look no further than the Act I finale of Les Miserables." He goes onto say "The ensuing fusion of drama, music, character, design and movement is what links this English adaptation of a French show to the highest tradition of modern Broadway musical production." Most of other NY critics similarly raved.

Rich gave mixed-to-negative reviews, however to several long-running hits: 42nd Street (3,486 performances); Brighton Beach Memoirs (1,530); The Will Rogers Follies (963); I'm Not Rappaport (890); Into The Woods (765); Starlight Express (761); The Secret Garden (706) and Agnes of God (599).

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:27pm

I still think of it as a "smash hit" winning the tonys it did including Best Musical.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:28pm

LOVE to Secret Garden!!!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:29pm

I guess so, Dickon. It had a pretty long run and the award wins...but it still did lose quite a bit of money.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:29pm

Thank you all, but especially Margo ! Yes, I knew that Cam Mak was talking about London mainly, but I had the feeling that probably the New York critics would be on the same wavelength. Thanks for clearing that up ! So, after all, the critics DO have a lot to say about a show's success !

Take care Updated On: 1/26/05 at 08:29 PM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:30pm

into the woods really got negative reviews... oh man

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:37pm

ITW got mixed reviews (some fairly positive), all of which praised Sondheim, but some (including Rich) found the book overly dense narratively and lacking in focus and found the evening to be overlong.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:38pm

If I recall correctly, Smokey Joe's Cafe was one of those shows that did not get the best reviews at all and it was able to become the longest running Musical Review in the history of Broadway playing over 2,000 performances. If that is not a SMASH then I dont know what is.

[HotTicket]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:46pm

Boy From Oz

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:47pm

The Producers got awful reviews across the board.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:52pm

Boy From Oz and Wicked got mediocre reviews..

Mamma Mia got negetive reviews and shows no signs of dying..

[got-a-light]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:56pm

I thought boy from oz got panned and hugh got good reviews.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:00pm

Isn't it odd that the original "Into the Woods" got mixed reviews and was a hit, while the 2002 revival got raves (even Brantley gushed all over it), and could barely last 6 months?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:06pm

I said Wicked got MEDIOCRE reviews. I never said terrible.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:25pm

The 2002 revival did win the Tony award for Best Revival

[NightLaughs]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:31pm

How'd Cats do with critics? And Phantom?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:33pm

The 2002 revival did win the Tony-and it was terrific-but it lost all of its $6 million advance.