I'm disappointed with some of you (Little Mermaid)

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/30/07 at 11:43pm

This may have been said in other threads, I just really need to reiterate this.

There is a bad energy coming from the BroadwayWorld.com community regarding the upcoming stage production of THE LITTLE MERMAID (and other shows, but I am focusing on MERMAID for this thread).

I'd just like to remind everyone of the year 1995 when Disney Theatricals announced they were adapting THE LION KING for the stage. "THE LION KING? How can they do THAT? Are people going to wear rubber masks and crawl on all fours?" Even the creators of the film were skeptical.

THE LION KING came to Broadway because Michael Eisner wanted it to. Simple as that. When BEAUTY & THE BEAST was opening, Eisner had the idea to do THE LION KING on stage. He threatened that if Thomas Schumacher couldn't find a way, he would. So Schumacher approached Julie Taymor and the rest is history. The show won Best Musical at the Tonys and is still running strong today. Since it won, the only shows to have enough audience to remain open who were even NOMINATED for best musical were HAIRSPRAY, MAMMA MIA!, AVENUE Q, WICKED, SPAMALOT, and SPELLING BEE (exluding last year). That's 7 out of 32 shows!!

It's okay to be skeptical about how it will work on stage. But let's not bash it or give it a bad reputation before we even get a chance to SEE it! Let's not pre-judge. There is a difference between being skeptical and already determining a show will flop and you won't like it.

And finally, you're going to think what you think because you are who you are (wow, did I really just say that?), but keep in mind that sharing your pre-conceived negative opinions online here at BWW is beginning to creat an unfair general bias towards the show. Before posting your thoughts anywhere about the show, stop and think for a moment: are you adding to the negative vibe? Can you say what you want and still remain neutral?

::steps off soap box and puts THE LITTLE MERMAID into the DVD player::

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/30/07 at 11:44pm

What happened to the other one?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/30/07 at 11:48pm

Oh, did I actually post the other one? I thought there was a technical error or something as I thought I clicked on "Submit Post" but then I had to run an errand. When I returned it was gone, but when I clicked "back" on my browser all my text was still there.

I don't know why a moderator would delete it. If they feel the need to, fine. What were the responses from the other thread?

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:01am

Wonderfully put, Capn. I attempted to post such a response to all the negative juju surrounding the casting of Sherie Rene Scott (Who I think will do wonderfully...), but i just couldn't find a way to word it.

I completely agree with you.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:02am

That is weird...it is totally gone. I wonder why.
Anyway, you forgot to put The Producers on your list.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:03am

it found its way over to the OT board

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:03am

well put Captain.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:04am

I had a very witty comment in the other one. I'm so sorry it's gone. 8(

[Neverandy]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:05am

How is it "Off-Topic"?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:08am

no idea. but I noticed it there after commenting on it here.

[suzycat]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:18am

Amen, Capn!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:27am

Ourtime- This is how I know it is not true about roller skating.
On Page 5, Weez made a joke about roller skating that people took seriously.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:30am

This is the thread that was joking about it that people also thought was true.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:34am

I am very excited about Little Mermaid, and I'm sorry to see people bashing it already. No one should judge a show by it's cover, so to speak. There are musicals I've cringed at upon hearing the news that they were going to Broadway, Lion King included, but when I saw it it was the most beautiful thing and it made my cry. I admit I'm not happy about the wheelies, but who knows? It could look amazing the way they're going to do it.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 12:36am

Oh, thanks, neddy! Just when Ourtime992 was giving me some hope. You killer of mermaids-in-heelies dreams!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:07am

I don't see what's wrong with it. As long as you're not being just plain rude, I don't see it hurting anyone. It's all harmless. We're all protected by our computer screens. I didn't care for the Lion King at all, and think it's a poor excuse for acting (I've talked to actors who felt the same way), so I don't really care much for Disney's show. Yeah, they're pretty, but from an acting standpoint, they're nothing challenging or exciting. You're simply fitting into a costume.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:13am

"We're all protected by our computer screens" I like that. Good point. Also good point about if you're not being outrightly rude, how is it hurting anyone...

Whatever. Everyone has the right to an opinion and all that jazz. It does annoy me when people get intensely negative about shows that they haven't seen or haven't opened...But, yeah.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:23am

Agreed. But I also think it's pointless to try and tell people what to say and what not to say. It's only adding fuel to the fire.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:24am

Exactly!

(Where did that crazy little winky face come from in my other post? I didn't know they existed on BWW...)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:28am

Magic.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:31am

Is that where italics come from, too? I haven't yet figured out how to get those...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:31am

Capn:

For what it is worth, most of the theatrical community knew very early on that THE LION KING was going to be something special, because we knew the work of Julie Taymor - an incredibly strong, pointed visionary. She of course was an inspired choice given her preferred method of story-telling utilizing theatrical artforms from Asia and Africa. Stories came out very early of Taymor's resolve in dealing with Disney, and Eisener's incredible trust in basically giving her whatever she wanted to insure an artistic hit; wisely knowing that after BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Disney really needed critical support if they were to continue their journey into theatrical productions.

THE LITTLE MERMAID is coming on Broadway under completely different circumstances. Eisener is gone, and with him, the firm commitment to having artistic merit in Disney's stage musicals. There have been no less than four director/choreographers attached to MERMAID who have walked, finding dealing with the current regime "impossible."

The current director of MERMAID, Francesca Zambello is mostly known for large sprawling stagings on opera stages. Her chief work with Disney up until now has been directing a completely uninspired staging of ALADDIN at the California Adventure Theme Park. A staging that sure gives more credence to rumors of "roller skating mer-people" and "black lit fish masks" than the kind of ideas being talked about when Matthew Bourne was attached to direct.

There is plenty of reason for some of us to have skepticism. Which isn't to say that we of little faith wouldn't be thrilled to see MERMAID be another blinding brilliant staging like THE LION KING. But the chances are just as good - and frankly better that it could go the way of TARZAN: a show in search of a concept that works.

But you needn't get on a soap box and beg us to give anything a chance. If we didn't love theatre and want to see it succeed we wouldn't stick around this board. But some of us have been around long enough to have pretty good nose for "flop sweat."


Updated On: 1/31/07 at 01:31 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 1:47am

Marry me, MB!

[Copeman63]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 2:09am

Amen Capn! I can't wait to see it, Sherie is gonna rock the Cauk! (Caukins...)

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 2:57am

Yeah guys ... I mean, I am not a fan of Disney's overwhelming presence on Broadway (they have ruined part of its spirit, IMO), but they're shows are good. I always hate it when people judge a musical so harshly before it even opens. Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity was practically chastized, and the show turned out to be somewhat of a hit with an award nom for her. Legally Blonde got the same bashing, and it's now a pre-Broadway hit, with many people saying that with some changes could be a smash in New York.

Don't be so harsh, guys. Even if the LM crashes and burns, no show deserves such naive treatment before it even opens.

Updated On: 1/31/07 at 02:57 AM