Is the Pirate Queen going to bomb?

[NS]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:13am

being based in the uk im not up to date, is the word on the street god or bad with regards to its future and its advance for broadway?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:15am

The Chicago reviews were very poor.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:17am

I"m going to go out on a limb and say yes. I don't wish any ill-will and I know this show has a large number of fans (most of which haven't seen the show) but I cannot see a musical called Pirate Queen with zero names and not so hot advance out of town buzz, running for long at the Hilton.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:18am

I think it will not do well.
I have not seen any of the footage, so my opinion is only based on the fact that big sung-through musicals don't seem to be cutting it in the current climate. I'm pulling for it though b/c I love Schoenberg's other shows, and I'm crushing on Hadley.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:20am

your moms are gonna bomb.






sorry, I love PQ, and I'm in the mood to act like I'm 12.



on the topic---I think it will do well enough,but I'm doubting it will do as well as I hope.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:22am

Can someone who DOES think it is going to run explain how its going to sell out the Hilton and win critics over after those horrible reviews out-of-town?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:25am

One thing I do know....with the rear mezz. seats being sold for $50 a piece (as opposed to $30-ish for Hot Feet, Chitty, Grinch, etc.), it better have some kind of rush.

It's like Legally Blonde selling the Palace balcony for $65 (unless they've changed the listing on Ticketmaster). Who would buy tickets for a section THAT FAR from the stage for those prices? Updated On: 2/15/07 at 11:25 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:25am

Well, I think it's hard to base a show's success on out-of-town reviews. For one, Movin Out got horrible out-of-town reviews, but then they reworked it and it became a big hit on Broadway. Though the odds are against it, Pirate Queen - with the success of the Les Miz "revival" - could find an audience on Broadway. I think it's def. a tough sell with no big names and no word of mouth. How big is the advance? It def. will need to get on some talk shows, etc. to get the word out there. They seem to be keeping everything a secret.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:29am

Ask us again in a few weeks, once previews have started and the revisions have been seen.

I saw the show in Chicago, and I do think if it had been brought to NY unchanged it would have been a fast flop. Like many others (including just about every review I read) I enjoyed the outstanding cast and production values, but the story, score and direction just didn't gel. I did see the potential for a hit, and I'm hoping Richard Maltby and Graciela Danielle have helped steer them in that direction.

The way I see it is that the Chicago version of Pirate Queen was a cheesy Broadway pop opera with a little bit of Riverdance thrown in. If they've now made the show a Riverdance spectacular with a little bit of Broadway pop opera thrown in I think they could do quite well.

Edit: I keep reading posts saying that PQ won't do well because there "isn't a market for sung through shows". Meanwhile the Les Mis revival keeps extending again and again. There is a market for well written, entertaining shows whether they're sung through or not.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 11:29 AM

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:29am

I truly hope not, but the rewrite will have to be a miracle for it to be successful. It was such a mess here in Chicago. But, hey, maybe the writers work well under pressure. I just wish the best to the cast and crew since they did the best they could with a very boring show while it was here.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:34am

RENT, Phantom, and Les Miz are still running. So there has to be some sort of market out there.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:36am

I think its gonna do okay. With people going to see elaborate musicals such as phantom, les mierables and even the lion king then this would be anotherr one to go along with them.


Also, I hope it does do well because its anoriginal show not based on a movie. And broadway shows that are original and not based on movies these days are few and far between.

And, you can't judge based on the out of town reviews. A lot of shows that do great on broadway get really bad out of town reviews.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:37am

What does RENT have to do with anything?

[Lady Italy]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:38am

It's going to do well, because of the mixed Chicago reviews. The creative staff has taken these comments to heart. This show has had an extreme workover. The skeleton of the show is the same, however content, conflict and increased continuity is making this show STRONG and a wonderful contender for Best Musical at the Tonys.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:43am

I don't think we can write it off yet because a lot of the show has changed.


But what do I know...I loved the show from the first time I saw it in early October.

[NS]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:45am

from my limited knowledge it was always going to be a hard sell in the present climate. Musical sung through dramas (new ones) are not in vogue at present. Here in the West End we can see that, even the high profile Evita revival hasnt done as well as hoped. It sounds a bit cheesy in some respects, and epic in others.

I hope its lasts till December when im over, but if it wasnt for B&S name above it i doubt it would be making it to broadway. Strong reviews will make it a hit though im sure.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:47am

Yes, but the general lack of interest in the subject matter in general will be this show's downfall. I highly doubt the Times will give it a rave, just for the fact its British, loud, and long. I just can't see this show finding an audience beyond the Les Mizzers and Block set. It ain't the 80's anymore. British spectacle does not seem ripe for a comeback.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:47am

Yes, but the general lack of interest in the subject matter in general will be this show's downfall. I highly doubt the Times will give it a rave, just for the fact its British, loud, and long. I just can't see this show finding an audience beyond the Les Mizzers and Block set. It ain't the 80's anymore. British spectacle does not seem ripe for a comeback.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:47am

Caught the show in Chicago. One word: BORING. I don't think they can change the show THAT much whereas it'll instantly become interesting.

I give this one less than a month run.

It's not about epic musicals -- it's just one long borefest. Everyone at the performance I attended seems to have agreed with me judging by what I was hearing at intermission and leaving the theatre that night.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:48am

Phantom and Les Miz are still running b/c they have become attractions. They are so hugely popular all over the world that have become brand names.
Webber hasn't had a hit since Sunset Blvd, and that wasn't really a hit anyway. Martin Guerre never even came over here.
Krisina, same issue. I didn't make up the fact that producers think there is no commercial viability in sung-throughs.

[Lady Italy]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:51am

TechEverlasting...I totally agree with letting the preview shows open before making any type of "bomb" comments on the boards. And, even during previews the show will go through changes. I am telling you, the creative teams is determined to make the PQ a production that will last through the years. The cast is of the same mind set. The wills of all concerned are so strong that this is bound to be a sell out.

[Popular]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:56am

To answer the question in the subject...

My crystal ball says no. :)

Seriously, let's wait for previews to actually have something to base predictions on.

[NS]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:59am

dont get me wrong I hope it does well as I want to see it in December. The odds do seem against it though. Is there any word on its advance takings on broadway?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:11pm

on the topic---I think it will do well enough,but I'm doubting it will do as well as I hope.

Well enough? Have you stepped foot into the Hilton?

I am telling you, the creative teams is determined to make the PQ a production that will last through the years. The cast is of the same mind set. The wills of all concerned are so strong that this is bound to be a sell out.

Isn't every creative team determined to make a production that will have long lasting power, whether it be on Broadway or regionally? Of course they want their show to succeed. That's a given. You haven't provided any concrete evidence to support your point, aside from "I am telling you" and that due to the "wills of all concerned," "this is bound to be a sell out".

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 12:11 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:15pm

I hope it is not a bomb. I loved the show and it seems that there are changes that might satisfy the critics.