Farewell Finding Neverland. — Page 2

Where have actors gotten "bashed" on here? I see no problem with critically assessing different performers' takes on a role.

Sunny11 said: "^ Claiming that Matthew Morrison is the reason the show didn't get Tony nominations and why the show closed when it did. That's not objective even handed critical assessment that's vitriol.

"

It's ridiculous to think that the show didn't get any nomination because of Matthew Morrison, it didn't get any because it's garbage. It's very different.

imeldasturn's comment on the show being "garbage" isn't exactly incendiary. I, for one (and, really, many others), agree completely. There are shows in the world that plenty of people think—and are entitled to think—are garbage, and they shouldn't be condemned for saying so.

After Eight, I'll defend wholeheartedly your right to say that shows like those are garbage just as much as I'll defend the rights of others to call you out on how crazy you are. Free speech is a two-way street.

I think the issue is that there's a difference between criticism and explaining what you disliked about the show or what you saw as weak points (such as the criticisms of the actors), and just outright saying "It was garbage." That's not criticism, that is an incendiary statement, and I do feel that the people who think people are wrong to complain about this being called garbage would be singing a different tune if someone called something THEY considered good or a masterpiece as garbage. Art is subjective and everyone has different opinions, but calling something "garbage" still sounds too incendiary to me, and also seems to imply that you're holding this as fact rather than opinion, which people will take offense to (but I might be reading the tone of that wrong - I am autistic, so forgive me if I'm wrong in that respect).

I just think there's a big difference between "This actor felt weak", or even just "I didn't like this show" or "I felt this show was bad" and "This show is garbage." The first two are criticisms and expressions of opinion, the third is trying to express a subjective opinion as fact, which is offensive. Everyone has different tastes and opinions and with something like theatre, all are valid since art is subjective. And it shouldn't be too hard to express a negative opinion of something without insulting it and thus also indirectly insulting people who may hold a positive opinion of it.

"I'm sad to see it go,"

Eliza2,

So am I, and I too will miss it very much. Broadway so desperately needs musicals with heart like this one. I hope you enjoy the final performance.

Eliza2 said: "I'm sad to see it go, I will be at the final performance this weekend, and I also look forward to seeing it on tour.

I think Tony Yazbeck is excellent, I've always thought he had just the right amount of "playful" with the kids. I always find his scene & duet in the garden with Peter very moving.

"

I could not agree with your more about Tony. I loved his playful with both the kids, with Sylvia and others - and of course, because he is a "Dancer with a capital D", his "shadow dance" with Laura in act 2 is just special.

In reference to the lack of chemistry someone felt with the kids, I do feel - actors are not machines and have different chemistry/lack of chemistry with different actors. It's not a criticism about a lack of professionalism - it's just human nature. And I think all 4 Barries had different degrees of chemistry with a variety of co-stars (well maybe not Alfie so much but he wasn't really there long enough to develop that chemistry yet). And as the show ends, there are now seven boy actors - four of whom rotate into more than one part..with three playing Peter regularly. This has to make a difference in what people see.

If you ever saw the Neverland twitter, it's impossible to say that NO one cares that the show is closing. It has many many fans....now matter how poorly the show was judged to be.

Gypsy wins.

gypsy101 said: "thank God this show is ending. it ran about 16 months longer than its quality would suggest it should have. I wish everyone in the cast and crew a successful future (hopefully in better shows along the lines of Fun Home, Sunday in the Park With George, Falsettos and Hamilton).



One of the great things that distinguishes us is taste. You loved Fun Home, I hated it (and I am NOT a homophobe)...I just thought it was relentlessly dreary, I didn't think there was anything special about the direction, I hated Emily Skeggs' performance, and I was underwhelmed by Michael Cerveris' role itself to the point of having complete disbelief that he won a Tony. I LOVED Neverland, although I do agree that the first 30 minutes, despite having some very good songs IMO, was sluggish. Any deficiencies were more than compensated by the scene leading up to Sylvia's death, which was as entertaining and moving as anything I saw that season. I also loved Hamilton and Sunday in the Park, although the latter had to grow on me. I have never seen Falsettos -- its original run occurred when my wife and i were raising (at the beginning) an infant and a 15 month old, so we rarely got to the theatre -- and am looking forward too seeing it this season.

I think it sucks to be happy that a show is closing, when a lot of people will be out of work and you know from this board has a lot of people who love it. If that were the case, i would be celebrating Fum Home's closing, which I would never do.

I wouldn't call this show garbage necessarily... It does have some pleasant songs and Laura Michelle Kelly is a queen but overall the quality of the show is mediocre. Is it amazing? No. Is it the worst thing ever written? No. That belongs to a select few shows. COUGH FIRST WIVES CLUB. I've met people who hate Sondheim and so I try to be more open to other people's opinions. Do I think it should have ran this long? NOPE. There are so many more shows that were actually good quality that deserved to run longer. What you have to give Finding Neverland credit for is it's commercial appeal. Commercial appeal unfortunately has nothing to do with quality. This show isn't quality, it's more quantity. If that makes any sense LOL

Fine! I guess I am allowed to be critical too then?

Everything that I have read of the real JM Barrie described him as an introvert. From the bootlegs I saw at ART I though that Jeremy did not accurately portray that at all, he was hyperactive, the opposite of shy. I thought that Matthews more low key protrayal was more fitting for that character. He was also more age appropriate.

"I have a firm belief in quality over quantity,"

Nice to know your "beliefs" are "firm." Now if only you knew what quality was....

BC said: "Gypsy wins." Yes, the boorish clod award. But not by his lonesome. He shares it with you.

Is even a modicum of maturity really too much to ask for on this board?

Updated On: 8/16/16 at 06:34 AM