Little Princess Gets Panned (Link inside)

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:51pm

Doesn't look good for Little princess. Broadway.com link below
Click Here for the Summary of "A Little Princess" Reviews

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:59pm

Those are only two reviews though.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:37pm

Only two reviews?

When SF's biggest papers give it big thumbs down, you want to wait for more?

[yaymusicals!]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 6:08pm

yes, yes, i know that the sf paper was a big deal BUT i must tell you the full story! or, at least give you some more info...

the reviewer that they sent hates musicals to begin with! the normal guy that usually reviews the musicals is on vacation right now, so they sent another critic, but he usually doesn't like the musicals. we've had standing ovations every night though, and every one that ive talked to really enjoys it. yes, i agree there are still some things to be worked on, but it IS a brand new musical thats never been on its feet before and there were lots of tech problems that put us behind therefore leaving less time to fix more things. i was shocked that the sf reviewer totally hated the score though! the music is quite awesome and i still get chills every night on parts of it.

[the-one-you-want]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 6:21pm

None of the reviews are that detailed, in my opinion--it seems general high-art, "We don't like ANYTHING but our reflections" end of nose elitest bull-roar.
I wish someone could tell me things i want to know--like what style is the music in? How was the book? The direction? Any breakout numbers?
Sigh...if I ruled the world...

[yaymusicals!]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 6:54pm

the book is pretty funy, still needs work though, like any new musical does. the direction was good. and in the songs there is TONS of drumming. its really cool. a beat is used a lot thats called a "hemiola". which is like a 123, 123, 1, 2, 3. haha kinda know what i mean?

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:28pm

Aw shucks--I'm sure it's good cause Lippa is awsome.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:30pm

There's a lot of great music in there.

[Vanna]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:32pm

Steve Winn of the Chronicle can't review musicals. He wouldn't know a good score from a bad score. He called the music from ALP "unmemorable"! Listen to Andrew Lippa singing the song, "Live Out Loud" on this line. (Go into the Jan. 12th interview, part 2, about half way through to find it.)
http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/sirius/sirius91-100/

This show is amazing, and the music sooo memorable!

Critics like Steve Winn discourage people from going to live theatre, and that's bad. I guess it's easy to thumb your nose to visiting directors from New York. I, for one, love that shows have been created in the San Francisco bay area for Broadway. We are so lucky to be able to experience these shows first hand, i.e., Wicked, La Boheme, White Christmas. A Little Princess is a new work, and could stand some revisions like any new show, but the show has the makings for a phenomenal hit - and it's a show for all ages that children can be brought to.

I'd say, check this show out for yourself. However, if you wait too long, there won't be any tickets left. My friends tried to get tickets for their family for the next two Sundays, and couldn't.

(Edited because I had the wrong link posted) Updated On: 9/2/04 at 07:32 PM

[somedaypuck]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:32pm

Yes, the Chronicle and Tribune are two of the big papers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Jose Mercury-News is a bigger deal down on the Peninsula where A LITTLE PRINCESS is playing. It's been packed every night, and the people I know who've come to see the show have uniformly enjoyed it.

And I wouldn't say that the Tribune "panned" the show.

""there are a number of terrific qualities to this "Princess" -- some appealing songs, a lively ensemble, a fantastic leading lady..."

And the headline reads "Musical 'Princess' enchants, still needs work". I'd call it a mixed review.

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:59pm

This thread has more links to reviews and more than 2 papers have panned it. It sounds as if the musical needs work. Big deal. Most new musicals don't work the first time out. I don't want to see Lippa and team take the show to Broadway yet OR give up. I hope they keep plugging away on it because the potential for a good LP musical is great.
The other Little Princess Thread

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:55pm

A pan is a pan is a pan.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:29am

A pan is a pan is Peter.

The Tribune was not a pan? Perhaps one needs Hooked on Phonics to obtain the subtle meaning of "don't like it".

And as much as you hate Steve Winn, the man has been reviewing the SF theater scene for more years than Hillary Duff has been alive.

Wish it were better news, but folks, it aint'.

But I'm sure there's a ray of sunshine on the TheaterWorks blog.

[yaymusicals!]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:48am

i'm sorry but have you actually seen the show? what did YOU think?

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 5:24am

"i'm sorry but have you actually seen the show?"

I bet you're not really sorry.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 9:13am

I love new posters who join for the sheer purpose of saying nice things about shows that have just gotten mixed-to-bad reviews and who point out that tickets are going to be tough to get so we'd better order them soon.

[somedaypuck]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:11pm

Perhaps one needs to get over one's cleverness and sarcasm to find the subtle meaning of "a wholly admirable attempt to create a new musical that still has quite a journey to make (Chad Jones, Oakland Tribune)." If there were no hope for the piece, would he imply its life beyond TheatreWorks and Mountain View?

I also have no personal animosity towards Steven Winn, but it's pretty well-known amongst my theatre circles that he rarely, if ever, seems to enjoy musicals. One might even conjecture that part of the reason he isn't the full-time theatre reviewer for the Chronicle any more is that he'd moved on to broader topics, having burnt out on reviewing theatre for many years.

Finally, I have been part of many fine, award-winning productions over the last few years, and none of them have been getting the audience response (standing ovations, wild applause) that LITTLE PRINCESS has for the last week and a half.

Just my opinions, of course.

[somedaypuck]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 3:46pm

Last thought before I duck for cover from flamethrowers...

Yes, Steven Winn's review is critical of the show. The Little Man, however, is not snoozing, nor has he left his chair. Getting an Alert Viewer is not equivalent to a "thumbs-down", as we Chron readers have been told more than once. So I wouldn't call that review a pan, either.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 4:05pm

i used to call my boyfriend the little princess when he was on his knees!

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 6:38pm

Jesus Christ midtowngym!

Anyway, people need to adjust their ideas of what is a BAD review. The reviews for A LITTLE PRINCESS haven't been very good but not a one of them has attacked it with the hatred and ferocity of pretty much every DRACULA review. Not trying to compare shows, but we can't expect the critics to love every show for it to have a chance at success.

As I posted in my thread, PRINCESS is a work in progress and the Bay Area is a notoriously critical place to premiere new musicals. There is so much smart, sophisticated theatre going on in San Francisco, musicals tend to get picked apart for their lack of depth. I wonder how the critics will treat Brian D'Arcy James when he does WHITE CHRISTMAS there this december.

And for the record, Winn is a blowhard.

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 06:38 PM

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 7:11pm

Yes Matt.. there is much smart, sophisticated theater going on in SF. So I guess we should go gentle on LP because it's not, huh?

And YAY..perhaps you need to close your mouth (see your pic) for a moment and see that these threads are about what the reviews said. That is what I have commented on. I'm sure if I were to see LP, I would be transformed to a magical place.

Yeah, right.

At least Musetta and John get it.

Posted: 9/2/04 at 7:27pm

All I gots to say is that it's no BKLYN! If BKLYN had premiered instead of LP, it would be a hit!

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 7:31pm

"Yes Matt.. there is much smart, sophisticated theater going on in SF. So I guess we should go gentle on LP because it's not, huh?"

whoa there cowboy! people can think whatever they want about PRINCESS. I just prefer if they make their judgments from having seen the show instead of based on reviews. and there is a lot of well-written non-musical theatre in SF. it doesn't mean the critics should be gentle on musicals but they shouldn't hold their books to the same standards as in dramatic works because there are other important factors at play. criticize a weak book all you want, PRINCESS has a weak book, but don't dwell on it as a reason to condemn the show's future.

"perhaps you need to close your mouth (see your pic) for a moment and see that these threads are about what the reviews said. "

and the reviews are exactly what I'm commenting on. we all go a bit off-topic at times but maybe you should re-read my post before flipping your Bitch Switch.

"I'm sure if I were to see LP, I would be transformed to a magical place"

I'd love to see that. what magical place would you be turned into?

Posted: 9/2/04 at 7:41pm

Ohh..I'd be in the land of No Matty!!!

Someone needs a time out!

kissies

[yaymusicals!]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 9:01pm

ok, ok, maybe i should have said 'excuse me'? but i am really sorry as well because he hasnt seen the show and his opinions about it are so strong. a little amusing actually, saying you hate somthing so much because of what you've heard and never even seen for yourself? hmmm....