Most surprisingly good/most disappointing show?

I decided to change the title/topic.

What show or shows stick out in your mind that you saw with extremely low expectations or not knowing what to expect at all and were absolutely floored by?

And...

What show or shows stick out in your mind that you saw with the highest of expectations and were truly disappointed by?

Updated On: 9/13/08 at 03:14 PM

I have a feeling it would've made my list if I had seen it...I regret not going to see it so much.

I have a very odd repsonse...
The most disappointing show I've seen in a while was the City Center production of GYPSY...the most surprisingly good show I've seen in a while was the current revival of GYPSY. Seriously...

I would have Lion King on my most disappointing, too. Along with RENT.

Good: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Disappointing: Chicago

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Adding Machine. Had no clue what it was about, but it was the last performance and I thought "Oh, why not?"

I was pretty disappointed by Curtains. I went in expecting exceptional considerig the pedigree of pretty much everyone invovlved, and come out going "well... it was good." I really wanted to be blown away and instead had a pleasant night at the theater. Which isn't a bad thing by any means.

Hmm a show that was suprisingly good.... Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I was really excited to see it, but was expecting Norbert to be great and the show to just be good, and I found the wgole thing to be WONDERFUL. It was absolutely hilarious, I think it has an extremely underrated comedic score, anf the performances were wonderful. I saw the tour by the way. Before it went Non-Equity.

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good: the 39 steps

Bad; Xanadu

Disappointed:
- Chicago (at least the current production; the score is so amazing but I was just underwhelmed by the minimalist approach of this show)

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I was absolutely stunned by the RSC's recent 'Henry V'. I never really clicked with Shakespeare, so there was no sensible reason for me to go see the play, and when I learned it wasn't even a Comedy or a Tragedy and would last over three hours, I was in absolute despair at the thought of the evening ahead of me.

I have NEVER been so glad to be proved wrong, and now I'm literally a card-carrying Shakespeare fangirl (associate member of the RSC) who thinks nothing of watching three three-hour-plus History plays in a single day.

I was also pleasantly surprised by Tony Harrison's 'Fram' at the National Theatre, although I still haven't worked out if it really was that good, or if I was just so overjoyed that it wasn't anywhere near as bad as 'Gone With The Wind' which I'd seen immediately prior.

And 'Zorro' turned out infinitely better than I was expecting too. I must make my mother take me back to see it again some time.

'Marguerite' was very disappointing, but at least it tried.

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Updated On: 9/13/08 at 08:05 PM

Surprise: 110 in the shade and gypsy
Disappointment: Passing Strange

I was surprised that "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I actually was one of the audience volunteers for that show so that was pretty cool!!!

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I was very surprised with Xanadu. I went kicking and screaming with my best friend and ended up loving it. I was also not expecting to like In The Heights but I loved that one too.

I have to say I thought that I would enjoy The Lion King but was very disappointed. I have to agree with broadwayjim42 after the opening number it just goes flat. I also had high expectations (though not sure why) for Titanic but that was just horrible.

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