Giving a Bye to Bad Shows- Page 4

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:01pm

jnb, I'm sure After Eight will correct me if I've misconstrued his point, but he was saying Lucky Guy, The Nance, Assembled Parties, and Kinky Boots were mediocre (or worse) shows and yet they all received generally positive notices from the critics. He wasn't saying that they received mediocre reviews.

I think he's saying that critics seem to be grading on a curve this season and giving passes to flawed shows either because the critics have no taste and/or they just don't feel they can dislike everything.

The whole argument is founded on these shows actually being mediocre. If you didn't find Lucky Guy mediocre then his argument won't make much sense/hold any water.

I did find Lucky Guy to be very bland and safe, and was surprised when the critics did indeed give it a pass as it were. I don't think it means that the critics are in some conspiracy to shove bad theater down the throat of the public though. Maybe the critics truly did like Lucky Guy. Maybe a good portion of the audience is enjoying the show and I'm in the minority. I certainly am not so presumptuous to believe that everything will or should think like me.

Updated On: 4/22/13 at 06:01 PM

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:07pm

Whizzer, do you think the critics may have been more gentle with Lucky Guy out of respect (and love) for Ephron, and respect (in general) for Hanks?

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:08pm

I'm just adding that when someone is receiving insults hurled at them, such as in this thread, but not limited to it nor limited to After Eight, it would seem to some newcomers to be out of line. To some extent it is, but I remember that After Eight and others, have insulted some of us with the expertise of high ranked pros.

Perhaps After Eight is handling the insults so well because he knows damn well it's tit for tat.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:10pm

Art Man,

That's very gracious of you. I appreciate it. And I'm surely no better a person than you.

Let's face it, these threads are just so many tempests in teapots. It's ridiculous to get upset over them.

As for those who hurl the vilest and ugliest insults, no response is necessary. Their words are their own self-indictment.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:14pm

Jane,

Much as I admire you, I'll have to correct you. It's not tit for tat. Never have I stooped to the level of some people here, whether with respect to language or sentiment.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:18pm

Wilmington, I think those two reasons played into the critical response for sure. I also think this has been a weak year, especially in the play department and the critics are indeed grading them on a curve.

I think there has been only one great new play: Vanya and Sonia. I enjoyed The Nance, The Other Place and to a slightly lesser extent The Assembled Parties, but that was because the adept performances were able to buoy the material.

The other new plays (Lucky Guy, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Grace, Dead Accounts, The Anarchist, The Testament of Mary, Ann, I'll Eat You Last) were all so-so to bad.

The Performers I realize isn't Tony eligible, but I had a blast at the show, even if for all the wrong reasons.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:27pm

After Eight, your admiration of me is appreciated, although a surprise.

I think you got a little nicer. But those who are more interested in theater than I (that means everyone here, lol), I believe might see you as the self appointed authority on shows. That's a turnoff.

Maybe that's why the insults are hurled.

I know I feel like tossing produce to a couple of folks here who think they are the authorities on everything!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:34pm

Perhaps After Eight is handling the insults so well because he knows damn well it's tit for tat.

That, and he's so used to them. Just like his attitude, the response to his attitude is nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the negative responses to After Eight is not only to this stupid thread, but the culmination of his arrogant remarks.

And yes, he has "stooped" in sentiment more often than not. There is a reason so many people respond to him like this so often. It hasn't come out of nowhere.

Let's face it, these threads are just so many tempests in teapots.

Brewed precisely to your liking, no doubt. Why else start a thread like this? Pure provocation is my guess. Did you honestly think it would go in your favor?

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:51pm

"And yes, he has "stooped" in sentiment more often than not."

More never than often.

As for how I thought this thread would "go," I didn't think about it at all.

I made an observation on a lamentable situation. That's all.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 6:58pm

To whatever degree we disagree or agree, it's at least comforting to know a civil conversation can take place on here occasionally. The last page or so of this has been delightfully interesting, especially for perspective on the role and responsibility of critics.

[notabb]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 7:11pm

AfterEight you have been the biggest pig on this board . You are only getting back what you constantly dish out. There isn't a bigger pompous ass on this board. My favorite AfterEight quote " I like what's worth liking "

[mc1227]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 7:30pm

If Nance and Lucky Guy had anyone but the stars it has, they both would have been panned. No doubt in my mind. The star power is why they received a bye from critics.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 8:21pm

^ If those stars had given sub-par performances, I don't believe the critics would have given them a pass. They've panned big stars and their vehicles in the past. And I don't think the critical consensus what that either play was great.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 8:45pm

No doubt the Ephron factor and the universally beloved Tom Hanks had something to do with the good (not great) reviews for LUCKY GUY. I would surmise that both Ephron (sentimental favorite) and Hanks are frontrunner winners in their prospective Tony categories.

The reviews for Ephron's writing might have been better but for the fact that Mike McAlary was a legend in the newspaper business and every drama critic in town has heard those anecdotes dozens of times. I enjoyed the writing because I really did not know much about McAlary.

As good as Tracy Letts was, his show has closed and he is not Tom Hanks.





Updated On: 4/23/13 at 08:45 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 8:55pm

After Death, maybe this'll make your heart grow three sizes today, but I enjoy the score of 70, GIRLS, 70. But I doubt it'll grow at all, really. In fact, I'm sure it won't.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 8:59pm

I'm not sure Lucky Guy is a front runner for Best Play. Good will only goes so far. While I think the esteem in which both Ephron and Hanks are held might have made the critics more forgiving, the Tony votes are cast anonymously and I very much doubt they'll consider it the Best Play of the season.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 9:29pm

Jv92,

Well, that didn't take long. Despite your grand pronouncement to the contrary, I knew you'd be back.

Whenever people announce a grand departure, you can be sure they'll be back---- like ten minutes later!

If only they would not make the pronouncement, and actually leave!

So you like the score of 70, Girls, 70, do you? Well, I guess there's a glimmer of hope for you yet. But you'd better hurry, 'cause it's fading fast.

As for Lucky Guy, it was definitely let off easy, for all the reasons people have stated. I'd be surprised if Hanks wins the Tony, though.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 9:39pm

jv92, of course it won't. Stones can't grow- just erode smaller.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/22/13 at 9:41pm

So you like the score of 70, Girls, 70, do you? Well, I guess there's a glimmer of hope for you yet. But you'd better hurry, 'cause it's fading fast.

More often than not.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 3:14am

"As for Lucky Guy, it was definitely let off easy, for all the reasons people have stated. I'd be surprised if Hanks wins the Tony, though."

Reminds one of all of the people who until 10:45 p.m., Sunday, June 10, 2012, absolutely believed that Danny Burstein was going to win the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical and were shocked, absolutely shocked when Steve Kazee won.

Updated On: 4/23/13 at 03:14 AM

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 3:22am

"If Nance and Lucky Guy had anyone but the stars it has, they both would have been panned. No doubt in my mind."

It is flawed logic, though. Since without those stars, the shows wouldn't have necessarily opened on Broadway.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 4:34am

^You are very correct.

LUCKY GUY would have gone to The Public with Dan Lauria playing McAlary.

THE NANCE would have gone to Playwrights Horizons with Denis O'Hare or Stephen Spinella in the title role.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/24/13 at 2:43am

A8--you have gone after me a number of times, and my only question is; why? OK. I think Carousel is my favorite musical, and Company my ther coice. I bow to Sondheim, but shall never accept Herman.