Do critics even matter?
Do critics even matter?
roadmixer
Leading Actor Joined: 7/28/07
#1Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 3:09am
What do people think of the fact that although Lysistrata Jones got great reviews, it looks like that doesn't matter? Would it have mattered if Bonnie & Clyde got great reviews?
If you look at the grosses for shows over the past few weeks it seems obvious that there are 3 ways to be a success on Broadway at the moment. The first would be to cast a major film, TV or music industry performer who is a draw. People will pay to to see "stars" that are already a success. The second would be to have an established, known brand (Phantom, Wicked etc.). The 3rd I suppose would be to nearly kill a few actors and have a show which was practically a soap opera in terms of the process - Spider Man.
Who cares what Ben Brantley says?
Updated On: 12/29/11 at 03:09 AM
#2Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 3:29am
The first would be to cast a major film, TV or music industry performer who is a draw
Not necessarily... Both On A Clear Day and Private Lives have names meant to bring in crowds and neither is doing very well. In some cases this is true (like How to Succeed), but the star name does not always work.
As for Spider-Man... While there is no doubt that the injuries and media coverage of the show brought in crowds early on in the show's run, I think the show has grown beyond that. There is no way the only reason the show is doing well is because of the injuries and drama during preview period.
#2Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 3:42amSpider-Man at least partly fits into the established brand formula, doesn't it? Still it could always be argued that there have been well reviewed shows that, for whatever reason, never caught on with audiences. I think critics still, for good and bad, matter, even if many critics and people like Sondheim have said that the number of blogs and forums like this are starting to matter more and more too (as many papers drop their theatre critics--I couldn't believe some years back when Variety stopped having a New York stage critic).
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 4:02am
This conversation begain when critics were born, but it depends on which side of the citics you fall:
LJ -- nope it doesn't mattee, very good reviews hasn't made a difference. B&C -- the citics have it out for Wildorn and its all thier fault.
(Although for LJ, I think it's too early to tell.)
Wicked and Phantom didn't START as brands, they became them.
I think critics can influence those on the fence. I know that personally, if I'm only lukewarm about seeing something I am less likely to do so if the buzz here combined with the citics is negative. When I really want to see something (B&C), little is going to deter me. (I went and wanted to like it -- but didn't.) I don't live near the city -- I'm a good 4 hours away, so I cannot see everything, although I see quite a lot. So things with good buzz with mediocre interest is going to win my money over poor buzz/critiques with mediocre interest.
#4Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 4:22amWicked had the Oz element, and Maguire's novel was a best seller although hardly a mainstream phenomenon especially,I'd argue, with the people who really made Wicked a hit. But you're right, and for me I feel the same--if there's something I'm on the fence about a review (or even more so, word of mouth from a friend I trust) will get me to go, but if it's something I have wanted to see, it's very hard for a poor review to make me change my mind and not just decide for myself.
#5Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 6:58amCritics matter less and less. It's a dying institution.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#6Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 8:27am
Just ask THE ADDAMS FAMILY. HUGE audience favorite, less-than- favorable reviews.
WICKED and PHANTOM were not lauded by the critics and look at them 
The tradition of a cast waiting at the theatre for the fitrst print of the Times after the opening night performance is lost. They read it on the internet the morning after.
Broadway is for the audiences, not the critics, and while they will always review a show, what they say matters less and less to the success of a show because it is the theatre-goer NOT the critic who buys the tickets.
Word-of-mouth seems to mean more than the word of Ben Brantley these days.
Not that the words of Ben Brantley ever meant much to me 
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#7Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 8:50am
I would be ver happy if critics no longer mattered, since the level of theatre criticism nowadays, particularly from the NY Times, is so appalling.
But I feel they still do matter, particularly for off-Broadway plays with no buzz that receive raves. Then audiences come. They are also a major determinant as to what gets transferred to Broadway, eg. Lysistrata Jones, Title of Show, Bloody Andrew Jackson.
But once these shows get to Broadway, the critics seem to have less influence, which is all to the good. Let it be ever thus.
#8Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 8:59amheybest...you are right...the critics are killing their own profession! They ALSO kill anything new and exciting to Broadway and force us all to watch THE SAME OLD REVIVALS!
#9Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:08am
Frank Rich was known as the butcher of Broadway for good reason, if you like you can think of Brantley as a butcher of Broadway also, except with plastic 'airline' knives.
rnoodge
Swing Joined: 12/14/05
#10Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:27amThe critics still matter, just not as much. According to the Broadway League market research report, the number one reason people buy tickets is word of mouth. Lysistrata Jones and Bonnie and Clyde are not generating any word mouth, and On A Clear Day is actually generating negative word of mouth.
rnoodge
Swing Joined: 12/14/05
#11Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:28amThe critics still matter, just not as much. According to the Broadway League market research report, the number one reason people buy tickets is word of mouth. Lysistrata Jones and Bonnie and Clyde are not generating any word mouth, and On A Clear Day is actually generating negative word of mouth.
#12Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:38am
1) They're not critics, they're reviewers. A critic analyzes in depth, with a wealth of knowledge and an unusually discerning mind; a reviewer offers a synopsis accompanied by a few highly subjective and limited personal opinions.
2) They clearly don't matter at all; for decades only the Times mattered; now a rave from them (Passing Strange, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, [title of show]) offers 0 help at the box office. I would hope this means that the average theatregoer has realized that a reviewer's opinion has no more validity than their Aunt Hilda's; but I suspect it only means that no one reads reviews anymore. Either way, they've become utterly redundant (much to the chagrin of many posters here and on ATC, who see themselves as the next Brantley).
#13Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 10:03am
Excuse my ignorants, what is ATC?
I certainly agree people don't read reviews anymore, but producers still use 'pull-quotes' for their theater marquees.
#14Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 10:10am
How many "ignorants" do you have? And do we need to excuse them all?
"ATC" is All That Chat, another theatre chat board. And if you think people are nasty here, you should just get a whiff of that stagnant pond.
roadmixer
Leading Actor Joined: 7/28/07
#16Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 12:31pm
I work in the business and the first thing that people ask me when I say that I'm doing a new show is "Who's in it?"
I don't know what "word of mouth" really is these days and how that works... Bonnie & Clyde seems to be adored by many on this board and certainly from those I've spoken to working at that show, the audience is very enthusiastic on the whole. Who are they telling and why aren't those people coming?
Over at Sister Act, the audience goes crazy at the show and obviously enjoy it but many nights they have 700 people in a 2000 seat house. I bet that wouldn't be the case if they had Lindsay Lohan as Sister Mary Clarence!!
Updated On: 12/29/11 at 12:31 PM
#17Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 12:33pmIs "work of mouth" related to the "casting couch?"
roadmixer
Leading Actor Joined: 7/28/07
#18Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 12:51pm
~ Is "work of mouth" related to the "casting couch?"
Hillarious newintown! I almost left it that way but since my comments area about an entire audience, that would be one busy couch
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#20Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 2:03pm
They matter only if yoyu let them matter.
For people on the fence about whether to see a show or not, a positive review can possibly influence that decision. But so often people do not take time to read a full review of 500 to 1500 words. They don't have the time or the interest. They just want to know if the show is good or not, and really, the only way to know that is to buy a ticket and go see for yourself.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
colorthehours
Swing Joined: 10/23/07
#22Do critics even matter?
Posted: 12/29/11 at 6:08pm
Websites like Curtain Critic allow people to see what the critics thought without having to read every single review. I think it's helpful simply to consult with the critics, because some shows get amazing reviews but don't stay open, because people coming to town only listen to their friends who will recommend the big crowd-pleasers like Mamma Mia! and Wicked. I think the critics help keep artistry alive on Broadway.
Everyone should check out Curtain Critic. It's really helpful! www.curtaincritic.com
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