Finian's Rainbow - Wow, that was terrible.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 11:58pm

There was definitely some talent up on that stage, but that was such a boring, boring musical!!!!

Besides "How are things in Glocca Morra" and "Old Devil Moon" being amazing songs, and Christopher Fitzgerald being fantastic, why did this get revived on Broadway?!?!?!

What a dud.

And the icing on the cake is that I have a magnet collection with every show I've seen....and I buy their magnet and it's the worst magnet of all...the only one that doesn't say Finian's Rainbow....it's a cheap piece of crap that says Look to the Rainbow. Updated On: 1/8/10 at 11:58 PM

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:01am

Ok, well that's your opinion.

And BTW, I actually am rather fond of the magnet from the show.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:04am

Cool story, bro.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:36am

I have to agree. Solid production, but the material is from a time where musicals were lucky to have any plot at all, and it shows.

[WickedlyEdna1962]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:37am

A bad magnet?! That in itself is a reason for closing!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:44am

A classic BWW post if I've ever seen one.

"The show was a lugubrious bore and the magnet sucked even worse!"

P

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:49am

P! You're too funny.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion, I on the other hand, loved this show so much!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:51am

I hear the Committee is considering an award for Best Magnet.

Shhhhhhh...you heard it here first.

[bk]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 12:52am

"Solid production, but the material is from a time where musicals were lucky to have any plot at all, and it shows."

As opposed to the stellar plots of Shrek, Legally Blonde, 13, Glory Days, and about a hundred others I could name off the top of my head. It is to laugh.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:00am

BK, I've always wondered, what do you think of LaChiusa's shows? When I look back on the first decade of the 21st century, surely THE WILD PARTY and SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, as well as BERNARDA ALBA, contain the best plots and most successful dramatic musicalization of the subject matter, at least as far as I'm concerned. I think MJL's works are HIGHLY underrated and hope that one day he achieves a career akin to Sondheim. GIANT, too, contains some of the best work I've heard in the last ten years. Bias aside, I think his works will be produced more frequently in the future if only because they provide excellent opportunities for actors, as many of the actors in the original productions proved (Toni Collette to Idina Menzel to Phylicia Rashad). Your thoughts?
Updated On: 1/9/10 at 01:00 AM

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:06am

As opposed to the stellar plots of Shrek, Legally Blonde, 13, Glory Days, and about a hundred others I could name off the top of my head. It is to laugh.

I didn't say every musical today has a deep plot. I said that few/no musicals of that era had deep plots.

I dislike shows with no plot. Therefore, I dislike most very old musicals, but I dislike only some "modern" musicals. I did not imply a contrast nor an absolute. Updated On: 1/9/10 at 01:06 AM

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:07am

I like when things have visual aids.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:08am

Only two good songs, huh? You say that, and I don't need to know anything else about your critical acumen.

Stick to passing judgement on magnets, where you have probably have more expertise.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:10am

I didn't say every musical today has a deep plot. I said that few/no musicals of that era had deep plots.

Umm, you're joking right? The 1940s and '50s are considered the "golden age" of musicals for a reason.
Updated On: 1/9/10 at 01:10 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:14am

I was just reading (and it might've been here, actually) that Harburg and Lane weren't really as interested in developing a romantic plot as they were in dealing with social issues. That's why the relationship between Sharon and Woody develops so quickly. I also think that might've been a bit of a satire of romances in musicals of the era, but I could be wrong.

Updated On: 1/9/10 at 01:14 AM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:16am

givesmevoice, I'm pretty sure I remember reading something about the romance being a little satirical as well...it might've been in an interview with Kate Baldwin.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:19am

I hate when a show tries to be a little different with their merchandise instead of doing the same thing everyone else is doing.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:28am

TimesSquareRegular,

I did not say the rest of the songs were not good (they are actually quite good)...those two were the standouts of a show that is nothing more than a good score....so before you go bashing my "expertise," keep in mind I have seen about 30 Broadway and Off Broadway shows in a year and a half since moving here. I'd have to say that's pretty good. This doesn't make me an "expert" by any means, but I follow Broadway a LOT.



Updated On: 1/9/10 at 01:28 AM

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:44am

Expertise and experience are two vastly different things. There are people I know who have never been to New York, never seen a broadway show in their life, but can sing all the lyrics to obscure stuff like "Exhibit A" from SATURDAY NIGHT. And there are people I know who see theater all the time but don't know jack. Don't point to your ticket stubs as your credentials.

I'm sorry you didn't like the show, especially because I found it completely enchanting, exquisitely performed and choc-full of some of the cleverest lyrics in Broadway history. (I mean: "When I'm not close to the kiss that I cling to, I cling to the kiss that's close." Brilliant). But hey, that's your opinion.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:46am

You are definitely allowed your opinion, but HOW many shows you have seen has little to do with any sort of expertise. Knowledge is combination of things. I may have READ many medical journals....but that doesn't make me a doctor OR a physicians assistant or competent to dianose my on going medical issues.

If you hated the magnet, why did you buy it? If you hated the show, why would you even consider buying memorabilia? Even if shows I LOVE don't have merchandise I like, I'm not dropping any money on it -- I'm not even LOOKING.

Considering MOST of the opinions here and critically have been quite positive, are you really suprised that people have defended the show?

[HBBrock]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:46am

Are you trying to tell me I "don't know jack" because I didn't enjoy Finian's Rainbow? Wow.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:47am

"This comes from someone who has seen a lot of Broadway productions!"

[HBBrock]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:47am

Dramamama,

I buy the magnet for every Broadway show I see (whether I like it or not).

[bk]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 2:09am

"I didn't say every musical today has a deep plot. I said that few/no musicals of that era had deep plots."

You really must stop. How old are you? Few/no musicals have deep plots? I may plotz from hearing that. What IS a deep plot anyway - where the Cohens are buried? Here's the thing: The King and I, Carousel, South Pacific, West Side Story, The Music Man, Gypsy, Showboat, well, do I need to continue? All wonderfully written and plotted and far superior to any show of the last decade. I realize you probably know not of things before your ken, but really, stop. :)

[bk]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 2:10am

Pgenre, I like some La Chiusa, but not all.