Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
#0Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:01am
Richard Maltby, Jr. is quoted with saying "You know, I hate the term 'jukebox musical' - truly hate it! - because it suggests that you take just a bunch of songs and stick 'em on the stage. No theatregoer wants to pay money just to hear a bunch of songs. That's a concert, no matter what you do with the staging of it."
I guess this man can now be considered the biggest hypocrite in show biz, for his newest musical "Ring of Fire," is simply that.
"Ring of Fire" is probably the worst musical I have ever seen. It's worse than "Good Vibrations." I am astounded that anything could possibly be worse than that show - well, congratulations Mr. Maltby, you're done it.
I fled the Barrymore Theatre like the theatre itself was on fire. I left half-way through Act One. Okay, I might not have the right to judge the entire show, but I couldn't bear it anymore. I just couldn't. If you believe in hell and the devil, they've settled down on 47th Street for the season.
I suppose I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said about this show, but it's just the absolute most abominable thing that I have ever seen in 20 years. It is a disgrace to both Johnny Cash and musical theatre.
You are warned. Do not see this show. It's not even so bad that you can laugh at it's badness (Good Vibrations) - it's so bad that while you're sitting in that theatre, being impaled by a harpoon and left to bleed to death would be funnier, happier, and just down-right better than suffering through his intolerable piece of trash.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
Updated On: 3/10/06 at 02:01 AM
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#1re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:03am
Sorry. Once again, you are WRONG.
Hell is currently stationed on 51st.
The worst show is obviously on 47th though...
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
Updated On: 3/10/06 at 02:03 AM
#2re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:04amHuh? "Wicked?"
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
YourLilAssassin
Understudy Joined: 3/3/06
#3re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:06amNow... munkus... tell us what you REALLY think!
#4re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:08am
I was truly in awe of how bad it actually was.
What happened to the big flops being fun - or at least fun to make fun of? Urban Cowboy, Dance of the Vampires, Brooklyn...now the flops are just getting more and more severe.
Shouldn't the art form be progressing, rather than the opposite?
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
wickedrentq
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/6/04
#5re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:13amOh c'mon, In My Life was lots of fun/fun to make fun of.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
#6re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:19am
Yes, IN MY LIFE was a rare exception.
Seriously folks, RING OF FIRE makes BROOKLYN look like a Pulitzer-worthy piece of theatre. It's astounding.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#7re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:20amSonuvabitch...mention IML again...I dare ya!
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
#8re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:22am
Does anyone know what kind of advance this show has?
It's not the type of show that people really wait for the reviews to come out before they go see it, so I don't know what kind of impact negative reviews will have on the box office for the tourists who have booked their tickets months ahead.
Hopefully, when the unanimously deplorable reviews come out Sunday night, the show will close within a month.
Ah, well, a boy can hope...
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#9re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:27am
Well, so far everyone I know has walked out on it...
I imagine it won't last long at all.
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
FranklinShepard-Inc.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/04
#10re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:47am
lol, Munk, you gotta take him literally. He said, he hates the word, he didn't say he'd hate the thing itself 
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#11re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:10amWe truly need to free up this theatre and fast!
CCM '10!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:14amI agree with Munk. And I did something I've never done before -I left at intermission. It's wretched, there's no plot, and it reminded me of the old Hee-Haw TV Show(just not fun).
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#13re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:25amI am curious to know the pertentage of people who leave at intermission.
CCM '10!
#14re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:29amI'm so glad my friend won tickets to this. I would've been so upset to have shelled out my hard earned money. I stayed through the end mainly to watch Jarrod and Jeb.
I hung out with Cheyenne Jackson in his dressing room waayyyyyy before he tickled D2. "unleash the girly"
Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.
Puppies are babies in fur coats.
Tinfoil...The Terrorizing Terminator
#15re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:30am
Me too. I think it's hysterical how many people on BWW alone have admitted to leaving before the show was over, it was so bad.
I like to see everything I possibly can, but I think I'll just skip this one.
OasisBroadway
Leading Actor Joined: 9/28/05
#16re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:38am
"Seriously folks, RING OF FIRE makes BROOKLYN look like a Pulitzer-worthy piece of theatre."
Yikes! Definitely staying away from this one. Thanks for the review.
#17re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:00am
What a pity. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' is the god standard for songbook shows. Maltby did wonders with that one. Sounds like lightning hasn't struck twice. Pity.
TT
"Me flunk English? That's unpossible!" - Ralph Wiggum
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#18re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:07am
>We truly need to free up this theatre and fast!<
Not really. Now that everything is booked for the spring, there's not going to be anything that wants the Barrymore at least until the fall.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#19re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:11amWith such a theater shortage, I'd imagine some show will jump at it - even to reserve it for the fall. Times They Are A Changin?
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#20re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:14amTimes They Are A Changin' has the Brooks Atkinson.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#21re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:15amYou are so right on, Munk. I never leave shows, even if they're awful, as I hope they'll get better or I'll find something good in them. I left at intermission but wish I had left halfway through Act 1 as you did.
#22re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 11:00amThere are always shows waiting for Broadway theatres these days...
#23re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 11:10am
Grey Gardens is currently looking for a theatre 
so is tale of two cities
"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
Updated On: 3/10/06 at 11:10 AM
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#24re: Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks
Posted: 3/10/06 at 11:29am
Tale of Two Cities is way too large for the Barrymore. But no doubt, some musical houses will be available for it this fall.
And Grey Gardens would be foolish to move to Broadway.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
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