FINDING NEVERLAND Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 1:40pm

Post 'em here, kids! 

[Keiichi2]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 1:45pm

I wish them the best, but I will not be seeing it, because of the "standing room" horror story (and similar events) that was posted here a week or two ago.  If things and behavior calm down, then I may see it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 2:05pm

Hoping for the best for this one. I personally loved it.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 2:21pm

I also loved this one, but I'm expecting the reviews to be mixed. The show really divided everyone here on the boards who saw it, and I expect the politics surrounding it could also play a part in tonight's proceedings. 

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 5:16pm

Want to start with this one? 5 stars. They don't seem to respect opening night schedules.

BritishTheater.com

[Annetteiago]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 5:24pm

"I also loved this one, but I'm expecting the reviews to be mixed. The show really divided everyone here on the boards who saw it, and I expect the politics surrounding it could also play a part in tonight's proceedings. "

 I just think that it will all be pans. I just have this feeling

[broadwayfan24]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:17pm

 I just think that it will all be pans. I just have this feeling"

 

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:33pm

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/15/review-bways-finding-neverland-never-finds-its/

AP Not good...

 

 

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 07:33 PM

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:33pm

I'm curious to see whether any of the reviews find the show to have emotional complexity. The Boston reviews didn't -- and some of those really liked it.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:43pm

http://www.showbiz411.com/2015/04/15/broadway-review-finding-neverland-with-matthew-morrison-becomes-charming-stage-musical-for-the-ages

Rave from Hollywood 411

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:45pm

I mean the AP is more mixed-negative but he does say the performances and the choreography are good.

I'm surprised he thought All That Matters was one of the weaker numbers.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:51pm

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/finding-neverland

 

Time Out a pan: "awkward, garish and manipulative musical"

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:52pm

"I'm surprised he thought All That Matters was one of the weaker numbers."

 That's also surprising to me. I really thought Laura was absolutely luminous during that number.

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:59pm

^  Was that the out of place Disney-like duet? 

Wow between Shoulda and this I haven't seen pans of this magnitude in a long while. I was starting to think the critics got soft this season. 

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 7:59pm

Duplicate 

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 07:59 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:06pm

"Was that the out of place Disney-like duet? "

No.....no it wasn't.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:07pm

Do Brits even care about BritishTheater.com? I'd never even heard of it until BWW started including it in their review coverage this year.

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:08pm

I have question about timing of reviews. I had thought they were meant to come out after the opening night performance ends, with the premise being that the show they're judging in the review is the opening night performance, not a preview. But a few of these are out while tonight's show is still playing. Is that common? ETA: Do I have the premise wrong?

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 08:08 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:15pm

Shows now designate the several final preview performances prior to opening as performances that critics attend- press previews. No reviews are written on opening night anymore.

It's not unlike movies, books, music, or video games being given to critics  to review prior to their release dates.

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 08:15 PM

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:16pm

Kad, thank you for explaining.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:23pm

From Deadline's review:

Finding Neverland flies. Occasionally it even soars. The miracle is that the darned thing not only got off the ground, but that this musical prequel to the Peter Pan story arrives on Broadway much improved after a storied, bumpy tour of the hinterlands, with its intermittent charms intact, many of its missteps gone or at least minimized...the script, by James Graham, has been sharpened so as not to treat the audience too much like idiots...Perhaps Weinstein and Paulus were correct in replacing Jordan with the better-known Morrison, who has the look and voice of a Broadway star but is something of a stiff. The role wants a mood transplant, a child-like quality to which Jordan was more suited. Grammer, on the other hand, is an indisputable improvement...As Hook, he's just a ton of fun...sashaying around the stage, brandishing his hook and bullying J.M...As to the score by pop writers Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, well it doesn't offend, but I was still impervious to its desperate attempts to win me over...Finding Neverland is still too treacly...and the tear-wringing ending just goes on forever...But there's an audience for this show, which is visually cunning and something of a warm bath without being too insulting.

http://deadline.com/2015/04/kelsey-grammer-finding-neverland-broadway-review-1201410256/

Don't be surprised if ya see that first line as a pull-quote.

 

[mikey2573]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:26pm

AP review "not good"?  Are you kidding me?  That review is positively BRIMMING with great pull quotes: 

 

"A celebration of imagination!" 

"Pleasing spectacle!" 

The cast is "first rate"! 

"Absolutely thrilling!" 

"Pure understated brilliance!" 

"The music and lyrics....lean on soaring pop melodies and lilting Irish folk."

Kelsey Grammer is a "glorious scene-stealer!" 

"Choreographer Mia Michaels' work here is exciting."

You can't BUY a review like that.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:27pm

When did the reviews being written before opening night start happening? And what exactly was the reason? Just curious.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:27pm

We also have what I would say is a mixed-positive review from NBC New York.

 

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Review-Finding-Neverland-Matthew-Morrison-299695811.html

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 8:31pm

Looks like Kelsey Grammer is a lock for supporting.