Is it time to revive the forgotten Broadway custom of NOT commenting on shows in previews?

Isn't one of the fun benefits of a Gypsy run is having the Broadway community cheer on a show while it is trying to get used to running in its entirety in front of an audience? Pulling for the fellow thespian?

I was at last night's 1st preview and I rarely go so early on in previews to anything. In fact, I was planning on going Tuesday all along, even before Monday's show was canceled. That said, I posted a review along with many others. I think that for the most part the reviews were very objective and all acknowledged some issues that were unfair to criticize or speculated that certain aspects would be rectified in the coming days.

In this day and age, I think it's a bit unreasonable that no one will comment on shows during previews. Before the advent of the internet and amateur reviewers, everyone needed to wait until opening night since no newspaper who had a reviewer would publish them before then. Now, we not only have Broadwayworld, but we also have other forums (ATC), Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs that make that an impossibility. With the tools we have at our disposal today, reviews and comments will be posted before opening night.

This isn't a secret anymore and while we may decry the abandonment of a custom, I think we need to accept it as inevitable. Since everyone involved in a production knows that comments will be posted as soon as the curtain falls on the first preview, all aspects of a production need to be adjusted accordingly. I think previews really need to be more "audience ready" than they would otherwise. Everyone knows this going in and no one should be surprised if someone comments on how a certain actor doesn't seem to know half of the lyrics.

As a bit of an aside, the Morgan James tweet was a bit of a different story. First, she is an actress and posted it under her name. The posters who wrote reviews could be a random person who stumbled on the show or it could be Stephen Sondheim, but by them not attaching their name to their comments, it doesn't have the air of feeling like something made out of jealousy or anger.

Furthermore, I didn't read a single comment in any review that was anywhere near as obnoxious or disrespectful as what Morgan wrote.

---

Where can I go through Morgan's gate?

Maybe we should stop calling them reviews and just call them comments or thoughts.

---

Yes, Best 12, I see your point. The Internet has changed everything and, unfortunately, not always for the better, I fear.

---

With that in mind, maybe the producers can go back to reduced price previews. Some shows do but many/most do not.

I think it's a good idea, but completely unfeasible in practice. Like imploring everyone not to feed the Xenia trolls on here, all it takes is one person to break rank.

And I do kind of agree that from an audience perspective, there's nothing about it being a preview that means you're entitled to less of an experience. Yes, I agree that people should (and generally do) know that a preview performance means the show is not set, but as there are no (or no longer?) such things are preview prices, then the audience member shouldn't be held to a lopsided tacit agreement with the production.

But that said, in relation to Morgan James, what she said was just stupid and tacky. But the internet has taught me that Broadway Performers as a rule aren't particularly Mensa types. But I've learned that about the general population from BWW, so I'm not singling anyone out. People in general aren't very good about thinking critically and about the consequences of their actions. It's just more unfortunate for a more public person when they become a victim to their own ignorance.

Was this ever a custom?

I thought preview gossip help create bad reputations for many flops eg Merrily and Dance a Little Closer/Close a Little Faster.

Or do we have to go back further?

The idea of PalJoey's moratorium on massacring 1st previews a positive one. They are still finding footing etc. I understand that most broadway shows are charging full price, and that to some warrants an entitlement to say as they please for good or ill but I also know that in most theatre I have done, the cast is still finding footing right up until opening night. It may be good... but its not great theatre until it is frozen, and run a half dozen (or more) times to really seal the deal. You might be turning in a good performance but until everyone else's choices are locked, its still a crapshoot. So its gonna look rough around the edges.

That all being said I am an avid reader of Whizzer's first preview commentaries... mostly because I have never read one that I consider to take no prisoners or cut too deep.

I think tactful constructive criticism is useful during a preview period, regardless where it is posted.

---

You also have to know what not to criticize at a first preview and what's "in bounds." Should actors know their lines? Yes. Should they have a perfectly developed character and have every bit of timing down? No, though great if they are a decent way along in this process.

Sound issues and set malfunctions are expected and can be noted, but never complained about. That's really what previews nowadays are used for. It's not for the creative team to change the show, aside from minor tweaks. Previews seem to exist for the technical aspects of the show to be ironed out and for the actors to gain hold of their performances.

I try not to be (too) hard on the performers unless someone is egregiously bad. Performances at a first preview are usually excellent though- the cast is often bursting with excitement to be in front of an audience and the crowd is generally much more enthusiastic than at a normal performance. It's easy to think of every show as a "massive hit" judging first preview audience response.

---

Seriously what did Morgan Whatsherface do and where