MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Reviews- Page 43

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 8:52pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "theatreguy, I hope you’ve got your running shoes on, because you make such excellent and watertight points that the mob is nowgoing to chase you that muchharder."

Get some new material. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 9:25pm

theatreguy12 said: "
I know they played up this dude getting the Tony because he is part Filipino (Asian). But he's also a guy who, as has been admitted, passes for white. And hasn't really played up the Filipino side all that much.

I'm surprised that amidst the glory of his winning on behalf of the Asian communitythat someone didn't bring up the question as to why the first person of Asian descent to win the Tony passes for white. Suggesting thatno one would even know he was of Asian descent unless he told them. "

You will see plenty of discussion about that because it is true. To go back to your initial point, yes all Asian countries do have their own identity and cultures. Yes you should strive to cast as authentically as possible. However, we get to things like this situation. Progress is slow, but we should always push for more. Should society have just kept its head down and let productions of The King and I still use Yellow Face because instead of encouraging they stop doing that and cast Asian actors even if not specifically of Thai origin. Progress is long and arduous and should always be encouraged to keep pushing forward. That doesn't mean you just throw up your hands because it's not there "Yet". When AAPI people are still fighting to get their foot in the door as a unit, it becomes even harder for them to collectively get ahead when you are trying to divide them. It's the same thing when it comes to any ethnicity. For better or for worse, they are seen as a group first and foremost. That is how you get ahead. It's how you progress. If you break a group into parts it becomes easier to ignore. Harder for them to maintain attention to their cause and I agree that is kind of ****ty, but its the way life is. The smaller the group the easier to ignore and blow off and consider irrelevant. I assure if you ask anyone who signed BD's letter if they'd prefer if King and I continue Yellow Face or cast more broadly of Asian descent, they would choose the latter but push for more.

----

theatreguy, I hope you’ve got your running shoes on, because you make such excellent and watertight points that the mob is now going to chase you that much harder. 

Why would he need them when he actually approaches the conversation in good faith as opposed to... whatever you think you're doing that doesn't look racist but is actually very racist just like 95% of your interactions here. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 9:35pm

“instead of encouraging they stop doing that and cast Asian actors even if not specifically of Thai origin. Progress is long and arduous and should always be encouraged to keep pushing forward.”

This just keeps everyone stuck in a Sisyphean hell of shifting goal posts. Demand Thai actors or don’t demand anything at all. You talk about “good faith”. There’s no good faith in acting as though you want one thing when in truth you’re never going to be satisfied. 

We’re basically in that hell anyway. Nothing is good enough, and it never will be. I’m not the only person on this forum to comment as such. 

Updated On: 8/13/25 at 09:35 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 9:38pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "“
This justkeeps everyone stuck in a Sisyphean hell of shifting goal posts. Demand Thai actors or don’t demand anything at all.

We’re basically that hell anyway. Nothing is good enough, and it never will be. I’m not the only person on this forum to comment as such."

Shut The F*ck Up you slathering waste of bandwidth with never even a word to add to the conversation. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 9:40pm

I add plenty of words, just none that you like. It’s okay. Many others do. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 9:43pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "I add plenty of words, just none that you like. It’s okay. Many others do."

[kdogg36]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 11:36am

theatreguy12 said: "So again, should it only be Vietnamese actors and actresses who play Miss Saigon. Give complete and full respect to their culture in that very sad story along with the experiences their people suffered?"

The critical issue, brought up again and again on this thread and elsewhere, is the lack of opportunities for actors of Asian descent. It doesn't make any more sense to expect the actors to trace their background to specific countries than it would to require that everyone cast in Long Day's Journey Into Night be of Irish descent.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:06pm

DEADLINE

https://deadline.com/2025/08/maybe-happy-ending-bd-wong-letter-

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:07pm

OUT

https://www.out.com/theater/bd-wong-maybe-happy-ending-open-letter

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:14pm

CoffeeBreak said: "DEADLINE

https://deadline.com/2025/08/maybe-happy-ending-bd-wong-letter-"

From the comments:

• He doesn’t want a conversation.
  He wants his idea about how this role should be re-cast to be realized over the desire of the creators of the piece itself. One of whom is also Asian. Is there no room to consider that the creators should have some agency here? Are they not entitled to their vision of a show that could be, “comfortably performed by anyone anywhere?

• Anonymouson August 12, 2025 9:17 am
  
  If you want to go there…
  
  Ask a Korean actor what they feel about a Philippino actor playing a Korean character and get back to me. 
  
  Or better- ask a Korean what they feel they have in common with the Philippines.

[hicaesar]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 1:35pm

This is such a sad situation.  The idea that the Producers, Andrew and Helen all agreed to this thinking it was any kind of controversial move is not realistic. I would think that if ANYONE would question if it was a right or wrong move it would be the Producers and Helen - obviously Andrew wouldn't have taken it if Helen wasn't on board... that's the whole point of the casting, put a real life couple on stage.  

I mentioned it before but this whole mess would have been avoided if they had done an encore of "We had a World" this fall and Andrew wasn't available.  How sad is that? To think it was "perfect timing" to get to perform with your real life partner on broadway and then have it all come crashing down. 

On the other hand - this is obviously a real issue to the Asian community. While I don't understand that, since these parts did not seem like "asian" characters to me when I saw the show, it's not part of my story.  

 

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 1:49pm

''The critical issue, brought up again and again on this thread and elsewhere, is the lack of opportunities for actors of Asian descent. It doesn't make any more sense to expect the actors to trace their background to specific countries than it would to require that everyone cast in Long Day's Journey Into Night be of Irish descent.''

Exactly! It's been so gratifying to read the thoughtful and enlightened posts of those who really ''get'' it and realize, as B.D. Wong puts it, "It’s a real, eternal outcry about race and representation, not an irrational rant about robots.'' As opposed to those who mock and muddy the waters, and/or are willfully ignorant and insensitive to the plight of Asian-American actors.

Let's stay laser-focused on "Maybe Happy Ending" and the specific questions. To restate:

1. If race isn't important to the role of Oliver, why was it important to cast two Asian-American actors - Stephen Huynh and Christopher James Tamayo - as Darren Criss' understudies?

2. Criss announced on May 30 that he was leaving the show on Aug. 31. At what point did "Maybe Happy Ending" decide to replace its Tony-winning Asian-American star with a Caucasian actor and why? Was the fact that Andrew Barth Feldman was dating Helen J Shen a factor at all?

3. Did no one at ''Maybe Happy Ending'' consider the optics and backlash, especially from the Asian-American community, of replacing its Asian-American lead with a Caucasian?

4. News of Feldman's replacement appeared July 24. It's been a few weeks ago.  ''Maybe Happy Ending's'' producers have yet to directly address this casting controversy, and their silence is deafening. Will they ever do so, or do they simply don't care?

Unless someone has substantive answers to these questions that will add to our better understanding, please don't waste any more time in gaslighting us.

Updated On: 8/14/25 at 01:49 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:12pm

3. Did no one at ''Maybe Happy Ending'' consider the optics and backlash, especially from the Asian-American community, of replacing its Asian-American lead with a Caucasian?

Thank you, Wayman. I've been asking a version of this from the start of this crisis. I returned to the show yesterday afternoon, and noted what too few have pointed out: The four current stars all have Asian covers*.  The show has no non-Asian understudies or standbys. That casting decision suggests several things, but primarily, that the creative team knew from the ground up that this was a specific piece of world building, requiring a company taken from the depicted community to build it. It's a simple observation but to me the last word. It's disingenuous almost a year into the run to claim the grand plan was always to expand the canvas and illustrate the story with non-Asian actors. 

*and if another star is coming 9 weeks hence, as many opine, why not elevate one of these covers? The terrible ticket sales for September - go to Telecharge and check; some performances are only 30% sold - indicate that any non-name post-Criss will not ignite box office. Therefore, at least give the role to someone ideally cast - who won't inspire a backlash. 

Updated On: 8/14/25 at 02:12 PM

[KrupYou]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:18pm

the numbers will tell the truth. advance looks less than great. 

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:35pm

Maybe this was mentioned earlier in this thread (I haven't wanted to sift through all the racist dross to find the pearls) but, although Criss may be the first Asian actor to win a leading actor in a musical Tony, his is not the first Asian role to win the leading actor in a musical Tony. That distinction goes to The Engineer in Miss Saigon played by...whitey white white Jonathan Pryce. So that's the shadow casting over this whole thing and it makes me sit here with my jaw dropped that this production would make such a casting choice. Vincent Rodriguez from Crazy-Ex Girlfriend basically turned his TikTok over to a low-key audition to replace Criss. We have Telly Leung and Jose Llana and Conrad Ricamora. Maybe none of them were available and they're using Feldman as a stop-gap for two months till they get a known Asian actor in. But...it's two months. Follow Auggie's advice and bump up an understudy. Or split it between the two. I think Feldman is very talented, but I cannot imagine him providing any lift to the box office. It's utterly confounding. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:39pm

Wayman_Wong said: "''The critical issue, brought up again and again on this thread and elsewhere, is the lack of opportunities for actors of Asian descent. It doesn't make any more sense to expect the actors to trace their background to specific countries than it would to require that everyone cast inLong Day's Journey Into Nightbe ofIrish descent.''

Exactly! It's been so gratifying to read the thoughtful and enlightened posts of those who really ''get'' it and realize, as B.D. Wong puts it, "It’s a real, eternal outcry about race and representation, not an irrational rant about robots.'' As opposed to those who mock and muddy the waters, and/or are willfully ignorant and insensitive to the plight of Asian-American actors.

Let's stay laser-focused on "Maybe Happy Ending" and the specific questions. To restate:

1. If race isn't important to the role of Oliver, why was it important to cast two Asian-American actors - Stephen Huynh and Christopher James Tamayo - as Darren Criss' understudies?

2. Criss announced on May 30 that he was leaving the show on Aug. 31. At what point did "Maybe Happy Ending" decide to replace its Tony-winning Asian-American star with a Caucasian actor and why? Was the fact that Andrew Barth Feldman was dating Helen J Shen a factor at all?

3.Did no one at ''Maybe Happy Ending'' consider the optics and backlash, especially from the Asian-American community, of replacing its Asian-American lead with a Caucasian?

4. News of Feldman's replacement appeared July 24. It's been a few weeks ago.''Maybe Happy Ending's'' producers have yet to directly address this casting controversy, and their silence is deafening. Will they ever do so, or do they simply don't care?

Unless someone has substantive answers to these questions that willadd to our better understanding, please don't waste any more time in gaslighting us."

 

Wayman just to answer #2 -- of course it was a factor!  Surely, you can't be that dense?  However, as I'm sure you also know (but conveniently always manage to leave out), ABF did several workshops of the show -- before Darren was involved. He knows the show (which will cut back on rehearsal time), he and Helen have great chemistry together, and I'm sure they WERE delighted to be able to work together. It'll be 9 weeks. Get over it.  

It's time for you to let this one go.  It's happening.  I get it that you're trying to become relevant again and dusting off the exact same playbook you used on SAIGON nearly 35 years ago -- but it's not gonna happen my friend. Time for you to go back to ogling chorus twinks at stage doors.

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:49pm

1. If race isn't important to the role of Oliver, why was it important to cast two Asian-American actors - Stephen Huynh and Christopher James Tamayo - as Darren Criss' understudies?

Who says it was important? Christopher also covers Dez. The casting notice in 2024 lists Oliver as “Any ethnicity”. The workshop Oliver was white. The cover could easily have been white. Why isn’t anyone saying “Dez is white and Oliver could have been any ethnicity, but they used an Asian actor as the cover when they could have legitimately used a white guy! Thank you for being EXTRA inclusive, Maybe Happy Ending!”

2. Criss announced on May 30 that he was leaving the show on Aug. 31. At what point did "Maybe Happy Ending" decide to replace its Tony-winning Asian-American star with a Caucasian actor and why? Was the fact that Andrew Barth Feldman was dating Helen J Shen a factor at all?

When they made him the offer, that’s when. And because he was good enough, that’s why. Maybe he fits the costumes perfectly. That’s often a consideration too. Alterations cost money.
And sure it was. 

3. Did no one at ''Maybe Happy Ending'' consider the optics and backlash, especially from the Asian-American community, of replacing its Asian-American lead with a Caucasian?

Surely they didn’t. The 2024 casting notice says “Any ethnicity.” Nobody expected a backlash because there was no reason for there to be one. Did anyone freak out when Red Concepcion was replaced by a white actor as Amos Hart? Where were the petitions then? 

4. News of Feldman's replacement appeared July 24. It's been a few weeks ago.  ''Maybe Happy Ending's'' producers have yet to directly address this casting controversy, and their silence is deafening. Will they ever do so, or do they simply don't care?

It’s you that’s deafening. And no they won’t say anything. They’re running a business. Why don’t you try doing their job? Why don’t you produce and give the opportunities that you’re so certain are lacking? If everyone thinks they know how it should be done, go ahead and do it.

Maybe Happy Ending almost didn’t happen. It was almost NOT a Tony winning show. In its weeks of need, did every one of BD Wong’s signatories buy a ticket to the show?

Get out of your own Wayman.

Updated On: 8/14/25 at 02:49 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 3:23pm

“Nobody expected a backlash because there was no reason for there to be one.”

 

See “question, begging the”

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 3:31pm

“*and if another star is coming 9 weeks hence, as many opine, why not elevate one of these covers?”

Covers are too valuable as covers, in general. 
Plus if Andrew did indeed have a history with the role, it’s cheaper to get him to do it on less rehearsal, rather than bump up a cover and then go through the expense of rehearsing a replacement cover into multiple parts.  

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 3:32pm

BorisTomashevsky said: " One of whom is also Asian. Is there no room to consider that the creators should have some agency here? Are they not entitled to their vision of a show that could be, “comfortably performed by anyone anywhere?"

So here's the thing. Yes they are creators, but they alone are not the deciders. So when you have producers who come in saying "We wanna take your show to Broadway!" You're gonna make concessions. Producers are going to push and try to convince them of anything to get them to say "Yes" to something they want. So now that the producers got the Creator to say "Yes" to this casting, then the creator is left holding the bag. They're the one who has to defend because nobody knows or cares who the producer is or that they were the ones lobbying and pushing. Lest we go back to the fabled Arthur Laurents letter about spineless Producers making decisions they can't defend or even resolve that is left on the Creatives to deal with?

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 3:37pm

TheatreFan4 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: " One of whom is also Asian. Is there no room to consider that the creators should have some agency here? Are they not entitled to their vision of a show that could be, “comfortably performed by anyone anywhere?"

So here's the thing. Yes they are creators, but they alone are not the deciders. So when you have producers who come in saying "We wanna take your show to Broadway!" You're gonna make concessions. Producers are going to push and try to convince them of anything to get them to say "Yes" to something they want. So now that the producers got the Creator to say "Yes" to this casting, then the creator is left holding the bag. They're the one who has to defend because nobody knows or cares who the producer is or that they were the ones lobbying and pushing. Lest we go back to the fabled Arthur Laurents letter about spineless Producers making decisions they can't defend or even resolve that is left on the Creatives to deal with?"

It’s possible the creators said “Yes” before the producers got halfway through their sentence. There mightn’t have been any need to “get” anyone to say Yes, at all. 

[YankeeDani]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 4:49pm

MezzoDiva47 said: "

has anyone bothered to consider the possibility that ABF was cast because he was the best choice from the pool of available candidates

"

You need to objectively look at yourself and realize you may the stupidest most gullible person in the world. Like quite actually one of the least intelligent people posting right now. 

[YankeeDani]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 4:52pm

kdogg36 said: "theatreguy12 said: "So again, should it only be Vietnamese actors and actresses who play Miss Saigon. Give complete and full respect to their culture in that very sad story along with the experiences their people suffered?"

The critical issue, brought up again and again on this thread and elsewhere, is the lack of opportunities for actors of Asian descent. It doesn't make any more sense to expect the actors to trace their background to specific countries than it would to require that everyone cast inLong Day's Journey Into Nightbe ofIrish descent."

 

Yup. It's amazing to see how ignorant some people here are. Did none of them read BD's statement or do ANY research on this topic before adding their 2 cents in? 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 5:10pm

This show was capitalized at $18.5 million, breaks even at $680k - $700k, and has the kind of non-advance for September and October - take a close look - that inspires some spring and summer hits to fold after Labor Day. The production has a problem on its hands, namely the ticket-buying public’s interest without the original star is minimal.

They won the Tony and mistakenly presumed that the show itself is the new star. Again, look at sales. Until this is addressed, this beautiful piece - it’s wonderful by any yardstick - has an economic stalemate to confront. Pulling that $680k or more every week with Mr. Feldman is the immediate challenge.

Updated On: 8/14/25 at 05:10 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 5:10pm

“Yup. It's amazing to see how ignorant some people here are. Did none of them read BD's statement or do ANY research on this topic before adding their 2 cents in?”

Have you been to Asia, Dani? Do you know that non-Asians are notoriously discriminated against when trying to participate in any and all industries? For a theatre industry established by, invested in, and nurtured by WASPS and Jews I’d say Asian performers have been quite reasonably included. No one owes a certain quota to anyone.

Have you seen the video of the black guy in an Iron Man mask trying to scare an Asian couple? He fails. Until he takes the mask off. It says everything about discrimination in Asia. https://youtube.com/shorts/-sbb4EL0ybs?si=wIHTBdjLtAbuAzHm