FINDING NEVERLAND Reviews- Page 4

[Lats]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 10:42pm

Remember Ben Loved Honeymoon In Vegas, the biggest musical bomb of the season, that hung on by a thread for weeks, until it mercifully closed.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 10:45pm

^ That has absolutely nothing to do with this. Seems like every critic hated this show, but it's critic proof. So if anything, it's the opposite of Honeymoon.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 10:54pm

damn that was harsh. He liked It Shoulda Been You better 

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 10:55pm

what does critic proof mean? If it is getting negatively reviewed, how is it critic proof?

[Annetteiago]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 10:56pm

Ben gave Pippin  a mixed review. He was one of the critics that did

 

"""Diane Paulus' first misfire, WOW!"

Hardly. There were critics who didn't like Pippin."
 
She won the freakin' Tony...NOT a misfire by any means.  "

 

[Lats]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 10:58pm

It is a testament to his consistent cynicism. I saw the first preview. This is a major crowd pleaser, without a flying carpet or a boxing ring. Sorry, but the huge advance is all about word of mouth, and that is very positive. It will be around for awhile.

[karen24]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:01pm

"Critic proof" means to me that for whatever reasons -appeal to families, popular stars, witches/princesses, etc- a show can sell enough tickets to stay open and even do well despite not-great reviews. 

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:02pm

"what does critic proof mean? If it is getting negatively reviewed, how is it critic proof?"

The phrase "critic proof" refers to any show the public will come to see despite bad reviews. Because there's a star in it that people want to see, because it's based on a beloved source (such as PETER PAN), because it has a great TV commercial or because it features copious nudity, etc.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:06pm

"Ben gave Pippin  a mixed review. He was one of the critics that did
 
"""Diane Paulus' first misfire, WOW!"

Hardly. There were critics who didn't like Pippin."
 
She won the freakin' Tony...NOT a misfire by any means.  "
 "

 Not to be pedantic but:

Misfire: 

of an engine : to fail to work properly because the fuel mixture burns at the wrong time

of a gun : to fail to fire properly : to fail to shoot a bullet

: to fail to have an intended effect : to fail to work properly

Paulus created a very successful revival that won she and the production a Tony. The production recouped its investment. Under any standard, Pippin was not a misfire.  Whether Brantley was ambivalent about it is irrelevant.  

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:09pm

Ok, fine, it was a misfire with the critics. There's little point in denying that.

But now we wait and see how Joe Public reacts from here.

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 11:09 PM

[Annetteiago]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:09pm

 

thats true but I was pointing out that Diane was not liked by NYT . So its not like its a first thing he did not like by Diane. But yes her FIRST misfire is FN

""Ben gave Pippin  a mixed review. He was one of the critics that did
 
"""Diane Paulus' first misfire, WOW!"

Hardly. There were critics who didn't like Pippin."
 
She won the freakin' Tony...NOT a misfire by any means.  "
 "
 Not to be pedantic but:
Misfire: 
of an engine : to fail to work properly because the fuel mixture burns at the wrong time
of a gun : to fail to fire properly : to fail to shoot a bullet
: to fail to have an intended effect : to fail to work properly
Paulus created a very successful revival that won she and the production a Tony. The production recouped its investment. Under any standard, Pippin was not a misfire.  Whether Brantley was ambivalent about it is irrelevant.  "

 

[Kad]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:12pm

I agree this is critic proof... for a time.

Whether or not the Tony nominators fall in line with critics, though, will affect its longevity.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:14pm

Perhaps they should have interpolated "Thank Heaven for Little Boys"...

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:15pm

I would argue that the huge advance has nothing to do with word of mouth, instead relying on brand familiarity. I have yet to hear anyone who loves this show. I haven't seen it and have no opinion, but even shows I thought were duds like Zhivago and Shoulda, I've heard more positive word of mouth about. Not much, but any is more than none.

So far, having seen every new Broadway musical from this season other than this and The Visit (next week!), the only two I have liked have been the delightful Something Rotten and the astonishing Fun Home. I haven't found many shows terrible, but it's been a season awash in mediocrity.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:18pm

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 11:18 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:26pm

I kind of chuckled at this:  " (One of them, asked if he believes in fairies, answers: “My good man, I work in the theater. I see them every day.” (NY Times)

Updated On: 4/15/15 at 11:26 PM

[Actriz2]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:27pm

Interesting to note that in his review, Jesse Green indicated that he is very high on The King and I.

[evic]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:28pm

Tomorrow's wrap at the BO will tell it all.  !0 million is a decent advance, but that can get burned through very fast.  If the advance does not grow, they are in trouble. And bad news if they don't land many nominations, which at this point, it doesn't look like they will. The show is not cheap to run.  Harvey has billions, but he is not the only producer. The list is about 20 heavy hitters including The Weisslers.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:28pm

Sauja,that's just silly, there have been LOTS of people here that loved it.  "People" are loving it, maybe not critics, maybe not the majority that posts on discussion boards, but there are people...and a lot of them, that do.

I was at the show Friday night, and the applause was THUNDEROUS. 

 

Personally, I thought it was more impactful in Boston and was a bit bored in NY, but with the large group I was with (50+ people) more than 1/2 had this as their favorite of the trip.  No, they might not be the most sophisticated, but neither are the overwhelming majority of theatergoers.

I think this will be a somewhat successful show financially, in spite of the critical underwhelming.

[brdway411]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:28pm

I liked it a lot, but I had just lost a close family member when I saw it. Some of the scenes really hit home for me. Will be going back in the next few weeks to see if it was really that bad or if I did really enjoy my afternoon in the theater. Also have a friend in the chorus and want to support him (did not know this until after the first time I saw it). 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:36pm

Yikes.  These are really awful reviews.  Even in the trades.  

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:41pm

Rough season for musicals. We'll get much better reviews for Something Rotten & Fun Home. Interesting to see the Best Musical race. 

[PianoMann]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:47pm

Might Finding Neverland have just lost its Best Musical nomination to An American in Paris, whose reviews are glowing in comparison to these? I was afraid that the latter would have taken the slot I allocated to The Visit, but maybe that will be better received and boot Neverland instead. 

[Lats]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:48pm

I loved the show and spoke to Harvey after the first preview, and thanked him for the successful transition from screen to stage. Saw 13 shows in two weeks this month, and 38 last year. Of course I am not a critic, just a paying audience member.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/15/15 at 11:51pm

idc what anybody says, I'm hoping It Shoulda Been You will pull an upset. It got better reviews than Finding Neverland. Audiences seem to enjoy both shows though.