MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Reviews- Page 22

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 3:39pm

“…..yet.”

I think it’s safe to assume we will see a robotic (no pun intended?) performance by him in this show by the end of the year. 

[KrupYou]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 3:39pm

With the robot now be white or still Asian?

 

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 4:14pm

everythingtaboo said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "“They easily could have chosen an Asian actor.“

It’s a disingenuous argument to think casting solely comes down to just that factor.

Yes, finding an Asian actor is easy. Finding an Asian actor who agrees to the schedule, pay negotiations, has marketability or is aname that sells, even cares to do/about the show, has the availability, will keep sales steady, etc. is not as easy as it is implied."

Sorry but I have to call BS on this. I'm really sure that -if they tried - there would be a line a mile long of Asian actor who would agree to basically anything for the opportunity to be the lead in a Broadway show like this.

I'm not saying they have to cast an Asian, but they should've at least make an effort to keep that door open. Marketing Andrea and Helen's real-life love story? Sorry but I don't care."

 

You don't care?  Then guess what -- don't go.  See how easy that was?

Also, in what way are they not "keeping that door open"?  

Most unhinged thread since Audra vs Nicole!

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 4:28pm

It's one thing to not care yourself, but to be openly so dismissive of the concerns of this casting when people have every right to be upset about it.

How dare some of the people on this thread tell asian actors to "get over it"

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 4:33pm

I believe in color-blind casting when appropriate and I think this is entirely appropriate color-blind casting.

However, the hypocrisy on these boards is astounding!  If it were any other show, the majority of posts would be seething, crying racism: "Didn't we just have a Tony winning revival of a play that addresses this exactly???".  But because it's simple, enjoyable, stupid Maybe Happy Ending, a show that influencers and young people who don't yet know what quality musical theatre is (and get off on the self congratulatory vibe that "we saved this show!" pushing it way above it's awards station to the detriment of at least three better musicals) it's suddenly: oh no! How dare you purists demean this show with your purity casting tests!!  Don't you dare say anything mean about our MHE!!  It doesn't matter that I believe this majority of pro-Barthman to be correct.  But be consistent in your outrage people!

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 4:45pm

Am planning a possible trip back to the East Coast in October. I prefer the South Korean recording over the American recording but I love the music so much it was on my list to see. May just skip it now. Not a Criss "fan" but he is evidently doing nice work in this show. I have no real desire to see Feldman in the role. JMO

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 4:56pm

Owen22 said: "I believe in color-blind casting when appropriate and I think this is entirely appropriate color-blind casting.

However, the hypocrisy on these boards is astounding! If it were any other show, the majority of posts would be seething, crying racism: "Didn't we just have a Tony winning revival of a play that addresses this exactly???". But because it's simple, enjoyable, stupid Maybe Happy Ending, a show that influencers and young people who don't yet know what quality musical theatre is (and get off on the self congratulatory vibe that "we saved this show!" pushing it way above it's awards station to the detriment of at least three better musicals) it's suddenly: oh no! How dare you purists demean this show with your purity casting tests!! Don't you dare say anything mean about our MHE!! It doesn't matter that I believe this majority of pro-Barthman to be correct. But be consistent in your outrage people!"

Also didn't people dream cast ABF as Oliver on social media? I know those are entirely hypothetical and dreams, but why would they suggest it if they were opposed to it happening in reality?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 5:00pm

Problematic casting of Andrew aside, I'm dumbfounded that they're stunt-casting Oliver when Gil Brentley is the most stunt-castable role in modern musical theatre. Minimal staging, no spoken lines, and since way less problematic to cast with an actor of any background. Throw in Harry Connick Jr., Michael Buble, or Seth MacFarlane for a couple weeks, and watch the box office pay off like a slot machine.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 5:03pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "Problematic casting of Andrew aside, I'm dumbfounded that they're stunt-casting Oliver when Gil Brentley is the most stunt-castable role in modern musical theatre. Minimal staging, no spoken lines, and since way less problematic to cast with an actor of any background. Throw in Harry Connick Jr., Michael Buble, or Seth MacFarlane for a couple weeks, and watch the box office pay off like a slot machine."

 

You think that Andrew Barth Feldman is "stunt casting"??  Outside of the people on this board, no one has ever heard of him.

 

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 5:04pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "Problematic casting of Andrew aside, I'm dumbfounded that they're stunt-casting Oliver when Gil Brentley is the most stunt-castable role in modern musical theatre. Minimal staging, no spoken lines, and since way less problematic to cast with an actor of any background. Throw in Harry Connick Jr., Michael Buble, or Seth MacFarlane for a couple weeks, and watch the box office pay off like a slot machine."

This is such a good point - could operate in a similar fashion to Hades.

And yes, obviously Andrew is summer stunt casting.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 5:05pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "It's one thing to not care yourself, but to be openly so dismissive of the concerns of this casting when people have every right to be upset about it.

How dare some of the people on this thread tell asian actors to "get over it"
"

One of the NYPD robot dogs just came up to me and said “Man this casting sh!t sucks, all us robot dogs are p!ssed.”

So I’m here to advocate for actual robots to be cast in the roles, as they are truly underrepresented onstage right now. 

[binau]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 5:24pm

Don’t you have to be a ‘name’ to stunt cast? Maybe I continue to be ‘out of touch’ but I predict barely anyone knows who he is and he will sell a handful of tickets at most. 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:14pm

Asian actors have less than a handful of new musical theater shows to audition for. If I am correct, most, if not all, of the off stage covers are  Asian. This was lazy casting in so many ways. Put in the work, find the talent, dig deeper. People are out there, but not if you don’t make it your mission. 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:18pm

Over/under on him exiting the production within the next week? I think it will be by Sunday. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:22pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "Asian actors have less than a handful of new musical theater shows to audition for. If I am correct, most, if not all, of the off stage covers are Asian. This was lazy casting in so many ways. Put in the work, find the talent, dig deeper. People are out there, but not if you don’t make it your mission."

Asian actors aren’t limited in the roles they’re considered for. Tons of Asians have worked on Broadway recently and continue to. Don’t pretend there’s an issue when there isn’t one. 

Copy/pasting the below from a previous reply I posted:

I saw an Asian Aaron Burr. I saw an Asian Christine Daae. I saw Sara Porkalob in 1776. I saw multiple Asians leading Here Lies Love. I saw Asians leading Miss Saigon less than a decade ago. I saw Asians in Godspell in 2012. I saw an Asian in Come From Away. I saw an Asian as Princess Jasmine. I saw an Asian as Aladdin. I saw an Asian cover as Velma Kelly while an Asian played Amos Hart. I saw an Asian Abe Lincoln in Oh Mary. And an Asian just won a Tony Award for playing Norma Desmond. 

Updated On: 7/24/25 at 06:22 PM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:49pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "Asian actors have less than a handful of new musical theater shows to audition for. If I am correct, most, if not all, of the off stage covers are Asian. This was lazy casting in so many ways. Put in the work, find the talent, dig deeper. People are out there, but not if you don’t make it your mission."

Asian actors aren’t limited in the roles they’re considered for. Tons of Asians have worked on Broadway recently and continue to. Don’t pretend there’s an issue when there isn’t one.

Copy/pasting the below from a previous reply I posted:

I saw an Asian Aaron Burr. I saw an Asian Christine Daae. I saw Sara Porkalob in 1776. I saw multiple Asians leading Here Lies Love. I saw Asians leading Miss Saigon less than a decade ago. I saw Asians in Godspell in 2012. I saw an Asian in Come From Away. I saw an Asian as Princess Jasmine. I saw an Asian as Aladdin. I saw an Asian cover as Velma Kelly while an Asian played Amos Hart. I saw an Asian Abe Lincoln in Oh Mary.And an Asian just won a Tony Award for playingNorma Desmond."

Thanks for copying your post from earlier, as if we all didn't read it before... 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:52pm

''Asian actors have less than a handful of new musical theater shows to audition for. If I am correct, most, if not all, of the off stage covers are  Asian. This was lazy casting in so many ways. Put in the work, find the talent, dig deeper.''

Context: Oliver is a robot and not race-specific, but ''Maybe Happy Ending'' is set in South Korea, co-written by a South Korean (Hue Park). Oliver was played by Darren Criss, who made history as the first Asian-American in Tonys' 78-year history to WIN a Tony as Best Actor in a Musical. (The number of men of Southeast Asian ancestry who have even been NOMINATED in this category can be counted on one hand.) Criss has two understudies - Stephen Hunyh and Christopher James Tamayo  - and I assume it's no accident that they're both Asian-American, too. 

Nicole Scherzinger, who claims Filipino and Hawaiian heritage, won Best Actress in a Musical for ''Sunset Blvd,'' but she became only the second actress of Asian ancestry to win in that category. The first and only other actress to do so was Lea Salonga in ''Miss Saigon'' in 1991 - 34 years ago!

You can cite examples of Asian artists here and there, but those are the exceptions: Asian-Americans still struggle for opportunities and the chances to be recognized.

Updated On: 7/24/25 at 06:52 PM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:53pm

Honestly, this is just a sad situation. Sad that the show went this direction, sad that Andrew has to be the center of the discussion, sad that people are losing interest in the show of the year. I don't know what will come of it all, but hoping for the best. Yikes oh yikes.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:55pm

VotePeron said: "Over/under on him exiting the production within the next week? I think it will be by Sunday."

Are you delusional?

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 6:56pm

“Thanks for copying your post from earlier, as if we all didn't read it before...”

I added it another time because the person I was replying to seemed to imply that there’s hardly any opportunities for Asian performers, and if they’d indeed read my earlier post they might have reconsidered their standpoint. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 7:00pm

“You can cite examples of Asian artists here and there, but those are the exceptions: Asian-Americans still struggle for opportunities and the chances to be recognized.”

How many Asians need to be employed on Broadway before they’d be considered “recognized”? As can be inferred by my post above, it seems Asians are being auditioned all the time. If they don’t get the job, whose fault is that? 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 7:02pm

Telecharge sent out an email today to ticket holders, offering ticket holders of Sept 2 to Nov 2 dates the opportunity to exchange their show date to a date before September 2.

I’m keeping my October date.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 8:00pm

BalconyClub said: "Telecharge sent out an emailtoday toticket holders, offeringticket holdersof Sept 2 to Nov 2 dates theopportunity to exchange their show date to a date before September 2.."

That’s a stand-up, gregarious gesture by the production. Bravo.

Updated On: 7/24/25 at 08:00 PM

[KrupYou]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 8:19pm

remember, this casting was a choice - not an accident! 

[ER765]

Posted: 7/24/25 at 8:20pm

Everyone is losing it in the comments on the social media announcement posts. 

People need to get LIVES. Not every issue is a social justice battle that you need to fight in the comment section.

Exhausting.