haterobics said: "Has anyone ever admitted that a show flopped on here?"
All the time...but it's usually met with derision.
My pick: Scottsboro Boys.
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.
I'm also a fan of I Can Get it for you Wholesale. The leading man's arc crests a little too early. The women get some great songs in act two, but the lead needs an 11o'clock number before his big decision. (They also need to agree on what that decision is. In one rewrite he betrays his friend. In the other he saves him.)
poisonivy2 said: "Merrily We Roll Along. I stand by my assertion that this was Sondheim's strongest score."
And all you would need to do is contact the Huntington Theatre in Boston to find out who all the creatives were in their incredible production last year. I would never ever ever again want to see the atrociously bad Harold Prince production, but boy would I have loved to have seen the Boston production (which originated in London) a few more times.
As for me, I would probably choose 'Darling go the Day' from 1968. Terrific story, terrific score, terrific role for the leading lady and I suspect the right leading man. Book revisions required, a couple of songs replaced. Ran 4 weeks, despite mixed reviews with quite a few raves. No advance, theatre out of the way, opened in the dead of January (which was admittedly more common in those days). Probably still be a flop, because it is decidedly old-fashioned, but who knows.
The original book and score (in original Broadway keys) of Carrie. With solid direction, choreography, and casting, this could be the camp nostalgia trip that Broadway and our country could use. Keep it in the 80's, synthesizers and all, update the effects and have real "blood" drop... and cast either Carolee Carmello, Karen Mason, or Julia Murnie as Carrie's mother, and it will be a hit.
I don’t know if this counts but I’d really love to see a financial successful revival of Gypsy, considering the last two failed to recoup their investments.
Gypsy will never be considered a flop. And why would a financially successful Gypsy be different? The LuPone one was amazing and wouldn't be any different if it had recouped.
I'm so glad to see all the American Psycho love, that was one of my favorites from that season and I'm still mad we never got an American recording as there are significant differences and Matt Smith is a terrible singer.
I think Tuck Everlasting could succeed, but if it were reworked to a 90 minute no intermission, cut all the Man in the Yellow Suit filler, and just focused on Winnie and the Tucks. The songs she shares with them are the show's strongest, and it would be a popular license for schools.
Rainah said: "What are you defining as a flop, before I answer?
- didn't recoup? -played less than X number of performances? - critical miss?"
Yes, this. I think it's easy to pick out shows that didn't recoup that are still artistically valid.
As far as shows that I consider "real" flops, I don't think Good Vibrations or Doctor Zhivago should be revived just for my personal enjoyment... though I wouldn't say no to a bootleg.