Deuce to Close in Previews?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 10:58am

That's what one person on ATC seems to think, though I strongly doubt it would happen (even if it's the smartest thing to do.

"There are serious talks going on about closing Deuce before opening night. Everyone backstage knows the plays a dud and Angela doesn't want to go out with a flop. It's been suggested the show close in order to take time off for major rewrites then open again in the fall. However, I doubt the show will ever open."

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1389383
Updated On: 4/14/07 at 10:58 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:13am

I'm seeing the play tonight. I guess it's a controversial one!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:16am

Does anyone know how the ticket sales have been? I've rreceived several offers for discount codes and it's still in previews.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:21am

Yankee, I saw the beginning of this headline when I was on the other board, without the question mark! It is a shocking thought.

But good for Lansbury and the powers-that-be for being more concerned with quality than a little embarrassment (if this is indeed true). It won't leave a blotch on her record, in any case.

Updated On: 4/14/07 at 11:21 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:21am

What is controversial? The fact that the play is not good or the fact that Lansbury cusses like a sailor?
That would be very surprising if it did close in previews, wouldn't it? I mean, yes, it happens, but if the show is selling and the producers want to run it does the star really have the power to close the show? Yes, she could pull out, and that would be a shame, but it seems to me it is a little too late for Angela to finally realize the script sucks.(Not that I know, but the buzz is pretty awful.)

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:33am

Yes, a star like Angela Lansbury does indeed have the power to close a show, given the terrible word of mouth that DEUCE has.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:34am

This would be a gift for all involved.

[D2]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:34am

That has been my question ever since the bad buzz began - didn't anyone read the thing before they signed on?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:40am

I can hear the conversation in Lansbury's apartment with her "people".
"But you told me this guy was a GOOD playwright!"
"Well, Ms. Lansbury, that is what we were TOLD."
"But you told me this would be the great Broadway swan song for me."
"Well, Ms. Lansbury, we thought you could read the phone book and no one would notice it wasn't really a play."
"I turned down a guest role on Desperate Housewives for THIS? You are all fired! Get me Mark Cherry on the phone NOW!"

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:41am

When was the last time a show closed in previews?

And yes, I agree, shouldn't they have know how bad this show was just by reading the script?

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:41am

The sooner they close it, the sooner these two women can move on to better things.

They should both be on the phone to John Lahr asking him to do "At Liberty" one-woman shows for them.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:42am

Oldest Living Confederate Widow, I believe.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:45am

Bobbi Boland was the last show to close in previews I think.

Oldest Living Confederate Widow closed on opening night.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:46am

That closed a day after opening.

BOBBI BOLAND was the last, I believe.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:47am

Oh yea! Boland!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:49am

Didn't Bobbi Boland close during previews?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:51am

Of course to clarify, this is all just speculation at this point, right?

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:56am

I'll have to make this show a priority now.

I assume it must've had some original level of merit if Primary Stages selected it for their Off-Broadway season. Then again, Adrift in Macao was pretty awful, and probably wouldn't have gotten by without Christopher Durang's name attached.

We'll see.

[whatever2]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:03pm

i didnt think "adrift" was pretty awful, nor is it fair to suggest that durang was the only name attached. definitely needed work, but there were enough subtle references and double entendres to keep one paying attention ...

imho, of course. :)

[myManCape]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:28pm

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All played 19 previews and 1 performance.
Bobbi Boland played just 7 previews, closing two weeks short of its scheduled opening.

To date Deuce has played 5 previews.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:32pm

Angela Lansbury does indeed have the power to move and shake things. Remember about 2 years before CATS actually closed that Angela was going to do "The Visit," and she wanted the Winter Garden? They were going to boot CATS so Angela could have her house.

[JsnWse]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:38pm

It's interesting that its being Rumored that the reason it will close is because Angela Lansbury doesn't want to go out with a flop.. half of the things going around about this play in particular resolve around Angela Lansbury not knowing her lines...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:38pm

Hasn't DEUCE played only 3 previews so far (Wedesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings)? At the end of today (Saturday), it will have played 5.

[myManCape]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:40pm

Without, I assumed that it would not close prior to todays scheduled preformances.

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:43pm

is anyone else as surprised as I am?