Giving a Bye to Bad Shows

#1

Giving a Bye to Bad Shows

Posted: 4/20/13 at 7:51am

Interesting---depressing, really --- how many middling shows --- or worse -- have been gives byes, or even raves, by the critics this spring season: Lucky Guy, Kinky Boots, The Nance, The Assembled Parties, Vanya... And when something like Matilda is spoken of in the same breath as Oklahoma!, then we know things are seriously out of whack. The critical masses have reached critical mass.

Perhaps critics think they are doing a service to the theatre. Bored and irritated audiences know otherwise.

Updated On: 4/20/13 at 07:51 AM

#2

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:04am

I actually thought you were saying "byes" to the board.

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"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter." Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.

Updated On: 4/20/13 at 08:04 AM

#3

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:29am

Yes, wouldn't that have been nice?


OUt of your list, only Matilda received RAVES. All others rec'd mostly positive reviews. I don't agree with the reviews for Matilda...but many other do.

Just because they don't agree with you, doesn't mean they are wrong. (But you already knew that, you just want to instigate people.)

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#4

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:37am

^
I'm not instigating anyone.

Just pointing out something we all know to be true: giving byes to seriously flawed works does the theatre no good.

#5

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:45am

^ There are some serious flaws in Oklahoma, too, but some people still believe that the purpose of theatre critics should be to encourage new work, encouraging people to go to the theatre and celebrate, wherever possible, the great things about a show, rather than fixate on flaws.

#6

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 9:03am

Sorry the purpose of critic was never to encourage new work. It has always been to CRITIQUE the work, good and bad.

But I don't see how A8's comments hold water as nearly every one he lists did not get across the board raves.

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#7

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 9:18am

I didn't say they ALL got raves.

I said they all were given byes. To give a positive review to a mediocre or outright bad work is to give it a bye.

And Oklahoma! has "serious flaws?" That's a good one. All musicals should have such "serious flaws," especially gems like Book of Mormon, Once, and Matilda.

What did I say earlier? The world is seriously out of whack? Here's proof if ever you needed any.

#8

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 9:39am

I don't find it depressing at all that the critics are not catering to After Eight. Proof that theatre is alive and well and continuing to flourish.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#9

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 9:52am

Never mind that thousands of theater goers have fallen in love with Book of Mormon, Once, or Matilda. They're suckers and they're wrong.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#10

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 10:26am

But we wouldn't have thought any of that if the critics hadn't told us to.

(BTW...I saw most of these shows before the critics released reviews, but even if I didn't, I'm perfectly capable of forming my own opinions.)

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#11

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:06pm

dramamama, if you don't like the poster why do you keep posting on his/her threads? Maybe you're the instigator...?

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"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

#12

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:11pm

No. And you're wrong.

#13

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:18pm

dramamama, if you don't like the poster why do you keep posting on his/her threads? Maybe you're the instigator...?

If only the people who like what After Eight has to say posted on this thread, it would have died already.

#14

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:30pm

Those who keep pining for the older musicals have my sympathy. OKLAHOMA! (1943), PAJAMA GAME (1954) and MAME (1966) are all highly entertaining shows filled with what one wag used to call "take home tunes." While I would never label any of these three musicals as "masterpieces" they do what good theatre should do, entertain and delight audiences even now 70, 59, and 47 years after their premieres.

Will any of this season's musicals be able to make that same claim?

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Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

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#15

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:44pm

we will have to wait 70, 59 and 47 years respectively to find out, won't we?

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#16

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 12:56pm

Damn Snafu you beat me to it! But it is true. We don't know which musicals will be considered classics. Who knows, maybe Kinky Boots will be our generation's Oklahoma!

#17

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:02pm

SCANDALOUS will be this generation's CAROUSEL. Trust me.

#18

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:04pm

Of the shows you mentioned, I have only seen KINKY BOOTS and MATILDA. In both cases 'bored' would be the last adjective I used to describe the audience reactions. If you were bored by them that is your experience, but I think it is a major stretch to say audiences in general were.

#19

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:15pm

While I agree with you, most of the audience finds Rock of Ages to be terrific and that's a monumental piece of dung.

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#20

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:24pm

I thought Rock of Ages was loads of fun. Saw it three times. Sometimes, fun is all I need or exactly what I need. Had significantly less fun at Kinky Boots.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#21

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 1:34pm

Maybe I'm just stoopid (with two 'O's...), but why are we using a sports term (that to my knowledge doesn't really apply) to describe critics and critiques of musicals?

Maybe I'm just too Gay... 8^o

#22

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 2:43pm

The key element that you seem to be missing, Mr. Eight, is that of subjectivity. You assume that because you find a show "middling" or "worse" that others feel the same way. The only issue I see here is that you do not appreciate or respect the fact that others - professional critics included - could have legitimate differing opinions than your own. It strikes of an uncomfortable and strongly misguided air of superiority.

#23

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 2:55pm

I'll give you a bye, After Eight.

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"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah

#24

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 3:00pm

"Maybe I'm just stoopid (with two 'O's...), but why are we using a sports term (that to my knowledge doesn't really apply) to describe critics and critiques of musicals? "

Glad I'm not the only one who didn't know WTF he was talking about...

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Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.

#25

Byes

Posted: 4/20/13 at 3:11pm

Leave AfterLife alone. It's called sundowners and its a real problem.