Laura Benanti: Stop reviewing previews- Page 2

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 1:11pm

But to me it seems like she's saying "allow us our process" more like "please understand when you see our show that we are still figuring things out, and keep that in mind when you form your judgements of us." 

That is what she says.  What she doesn't say is "Stop reviewing previews".  I think Benanti's smart enough to know that there's no point in telling people NOT to do it, but to educate and inform people about the preview period and request they keep it in mind when offering opinions about a show in previews.  The title of this thread is very misleading.

it's discourteous of LAURA to say that I shouldn't voice my opinion.

Well, it would be if LAURA had actually said that, but she didn't.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:09pm

First, to be clear, I nothing but the greatest respect for Laura. Aside from being immensely talented and hilarious, I think she's brilliant.

I actually think that the problem with commenting on early previews is the opposite. My own observation is that the creatives don't read them enough, or if they do they don't take them seriously. Time after time I've read reports of previews on this board with very consistent criticism, and yet, when the show opens, the same flaws that were pointed out time after time still exist. I'm trying to think of a recent example and Amelie comes to mind, but there are many others.

Creatives have the opportunity to read these audience comments at a time where changes can be made, but I rarely see that happening. And then they're surprised when the critics make the identical points after the show has opened. Oh well.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:24pm

Expect that if the producers of, as an example, American Psycho had read the preview thread here and had seriously considered  it as an early barometer of critical consensus, they  would have been compleatly dumbfounded come opening night. The two groups had very different opinions. 

Theather fans are a diverse group regarding interests and tastes. You can’t listen to to opinions of a tiny group and assume that the whole audience will agree with them.

Updated On: 11/3/17 at 02:24 PM

[raddersons]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:30pm

Yeah... this subject title is super misleading. She's really not saying to stop reviewing previews.

I think the larger point is: if you're reviewing a preview, make it known that there's room for improvement and they're still working. Especially with comedies, until you have an audience, actors will never get the rhythm down and it would be nice to give them the few weeks before having reviews online of "The actors had no idea what they were doing! So unprofessional!" as opposed to "Well, it's messy but it's still in previews"

This seems really bizarre, especially since early reports of Meteor Shower seem to say that Benanti is the best part of the show.

Updated On: 11/3/17 at 02:30 PM

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:30pm

Sunny11 said: "Expect that if the producers of, as an example,AmericanPsycho had read the preview thread here and had seriously considered it as an early barometer of critical consensus, theywould have been compleatly dumbfounded come opening night. The two groups had very different opinions.

Theather fans are adiverse group regarding interests and tastes. You can’t listen to to opinions of a tiny group and assume that the whole audience will agree with them."

Except that's not what I said. What I said that there are times where you see the same flaws being pointed out over and over, on a very consistent basis. Also, to call this a tiny group isn't quite accurate either, in the sense that major marketing decisions are often made based on focus groups consisting of a much smaller sampling.

 

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:44pm

raddersons said: "

This seems really bizarre, especially since early reports of Meteor Shower seem to say that Benanti isthe best part of the show."

 

Not really. It has nothing to do with whether she was getting positive comments or not -- as stated, she made these remarks BEFORE "Meteor Shower" started previews. More the principle of the whole idea.

 

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:46pm

A HAIKU

Reviewing previews...
Is it better or worse than
Previewing revues?

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 2:50pm

henrikegerman said: "A HAIKU

Reviewing previews...
Is it better or worse than
Previewing revues?"

 

Neither, if the preview is a review of a preview of the revue. 

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 3:10pm

Price can affect my judgment in previews...to a point. 

To use a metaphor: If you go to a restaurant and an entree costs $150, you will expect a damn good plate of food. If the food is mediocre you don't want your server to inform you that a new sous chef prepared your food and he or she is still finding his or her bearings in the kitchen. Conversely, if a new restaurant advertises $5 lunch entrees for their first month of operation I wouldn't be so mad if the food was just OK as I'd only be out $5. Of course, if the food was vile even the $5 price couldn't stop me from warning all my friends not to eat there.

I've certainly sat through $10 Roundabout first previews that made me want my money back, but when the cheapest seats for a show are $69/79 and the orchestra is all $159/169 from preview #1, then I think the producers are sending a message to the ticket buyers that you should be able to expect a highly put together, polished evening of theater. 

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 3:13pm

Mister Matt said: "That is what she says. What she doesn't say is "Stop reviewing previews". I think Benanti's smart enough to know that there's no point in telling people NOT to do it, but to educate and inform people about the preview period and request they keep it in mind when offering opinions about a show in previews. The title of this thread is very misleading."

She told people to stay home if they didn't want to applaud during musicals.

 

That being said, I take reviews of shows in previews with a grain of salt. I understand that it's not the finished product, but I do appreciate people who post their thoughts and reviews at any point in the show's production life.

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 3:41pm

WhizzerMarvin said: "Price can affect my judgment in previews...to a point.

To use a metaphor: If you go to a restaurant and an entree costs $150, you will expect a damn good plate of food. If the food is mediocre you don't want your server to inform you that a new sous chef prepared your food and he or she is still finding his or her bearings in the kitchen."

One point in this metaphor -- you walked into the restaurant fully aware of the new chef and had accepted the risk/reward of their dishes beforehand in order to be the first in town to taste it. You weren't only informed after.

 

Updated On: 11/3/17 at 03:41 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:01pm

I think some people, like those on this board, understand "previews" and what they entail, but I'm not so sure the general public does. Does the tourist from Nebraska get what it means for Meteor Show to be in previews or do they think they're just going to Broadway show and expect Broadway caliber quality? I think this goes doubly true for limited-run star vehicle plays that have big signs announcing 16 WEEKS ONLY or 12 WEEKS ONLY. It's not like 16 WEEKS ONLY (but the first four are really previews, so lower your expectations). No. It's like go buy your ticket now because this is going to be a very high quality, limited edition experience. 

And back to my metaphor, even if I go into the restaurant knowing the chef is new and working out the kinks of the menu, the owners of the restaurant are still valuing the price of a potentially imperfect dish at $150, which signals to be that even with a flaw or two it still better be a damn impressive dish. 

Actors and creatives seem to like to scold ticket buyers for sharing their thoughts in previews, but it is really the producers who are putting an unfair onus on the actors and creatives to a deliver a finished product (price wise) before they may be ready to. 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:04pm

Hey llana, can you please show me the sentence in your article where Benanti asked for people to "stop reviewing previews" as the title of this post says?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:19pm

She told people to stay home if they didn't want to applaud during musicals.

You mean that funny Tweet from over a year ago that caused people to overreact and clutch their pearls?  That was pretty funny, but what does it have to do with this article and reviewing a preview performance?

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:21pm

Hey sunset, already did! Feel free to have your own interpretation, but I think the words are pretty clear -- while accepting it's not an ideal world.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:33pm

IlanaKeller said: "Hey sunset, already did! Feel free to have your own interpretation, but I think the words are pretty clear -- while accepting it's not an ideal world."

No, actually you didn't.

It's not about interpretation. You made a claim she said something. That statement cannot be backed up in your article. It's borderline libel. 

Your self promotion has no bounds and frankly, I'm tired of your click baiting posts. Shame on me for even reading your interview. I should have learned my lesson after your asinine posting about boot legs from a few months back. 

I find your posts to be insulting to the entire theater community. 

Also, on this board, three people (myself included) who attended a performance have posted thoughts. 

Each poster went out of their way to not reveal key plot points or details about the show. See the point? Can you follow? 

My favorite part of this entire thread? You referring to yourself as "press." 

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:40pm

You have yourself a nice day! 

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:46pm

It's a new world, Golde.

Actors have to have something to bitch about when being interviewed, 

If they aren't getting laughs it's not the internet's fault.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 4:55pm

IlanaKeller said: "The issue and concern is the influence these reviews have over other theatergoers, not the actors."

That makes no sense and is pretty laughable for someone who wants (I assume) to be taken seriously. The "process" is the work. Internet boards like this one are WOM, nothing more nothing less. And people have been leaving shows and blabbing about them since the Greeks. I respectfully suggest you're a little too close to your subject.

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 5:04pm

The Greeks' blabs didn't have the potential to reach hundreds or thousands of people with a keystroke, which I presume is why specific mention of the Internet was made: "It's so hard now in the age of the Internet..."

[bear88]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 5:56pm

This entire discussion seems silly. Professional critics don't publish reviews until Opening Night (which, technically, means they are reviewing previews - although the show is frozen.)

The only feedback I ever read about previews is on this board. The people who write them generally are quite good about noting that it's a preview, or an out-of-town tryout, and of avoiding extensive spoilers. Some make shrewd observations about what works and what doesn't. No producer, creative, or actor has to read any comment here or on the internet. They are free to ignore all the outside noise, and work on fixing problems in the show themselves.

The internet does make it possible for a few people who paid to see a play or musical to share their thoughts with other theater types who would be interested. So I can read early takes about The Band's Visit, Meteor Shower, Ain't Too Proud (in Berkeley), Mean Girls (in D.C.), and more.

Why is this so awful? None of these shows are free. Most charge full price. All are open to the public. The actors, producers, and creatives are paid. Some of these non-reviews have made me more inclined to see a show.

And most people do not care much if at all about a stranger's opinion of a preview or out-of-town tryout.

Updated On: 11/4/17 at 05:56 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 5:57pm

so what? This is quintessential self-entitlement coming at us from the other side of the 4th wall. Pathetic. The gig is to create great theatre; what happens then is not the actors' turf. She does not have standing to be concerned about the influence on theatregoers. Last I heard, any influence was good; the problem is when no one cares. All publicity is good publicity and all that. This just makes Benanti seem foolish, and it also sounds like something the show's publicist and producer likely wish she had not said. Kudos to you for that!

[raddersons]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 7:45pm

bear88 said: "This entire discussion seems silly. Professional critics don't publish reviews until Opening Night (which, technically, means they are reviewing previews - although the show is frozen.)”

This is a pretty good point. Professional critics reviewing shows during previews seems crazy. But what, I’m not allowed to talk about the show to my friends? Get outta here.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 8:08pm

IlanaKeller said: "Hey sunset, already did! Feel free to have your own interpretation, but I think the words are pretty clear -- while accepting it's not an ideal world."

You are digging yourself in a massive hole that will get you into the upside down

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 11/3/17 at 9:57pm

raddersons said: "bear88 said: "This entire discussion seems silly. Professional critics don't publish reviews until Opening Night (which, technically, means they are reviewing previews - although the show is frozen.)”

This is a pretty good point. Professional critics reviewing shows during previews seems crazy. But what, I’m not allowed to talk about the show to my friends? Get outta here."

I think the issue was much more aimed at things like message boards and blogs than chatting with friends. As I mentioned before, when I'm having conversations, I choose to try to be careful with my words, but again -- scale. Scale is why something may be an issue or annoyance now much moreso than it was 20 years ago.

 

Updated On: 11/3/17 at 09:57 PM