Munk's RING OF FIRE remarks

[munkustrap178]

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.

Updated On: 3/10/06 at 02:01 AM

[BSoBW3]

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...

Updated On: 3/10/06 at 02:03 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:04am

Huh? "Wicked?"

[YourLilAssassin]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:06am

Now... munkus... tell us what you REALLY think!

[munkustrap178]

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?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:13am

Oh c'mon, In My Life was lots of fun/fun to make fun of.

[munkustrap178]

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.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 2:20am

Sonuvabitch...mention IML again...I dare ya!

[munkustrap178]

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...

[BSoBW3]

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.

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

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]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:10am

We truly need to free up this theatre and fast!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:14am

I 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]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:25am

I am curious to know the pertentage of people who leave at intermission.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 8:29am

I'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.

[keatonbynumbers]

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]

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.

[tophertilson]

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

[Smaxie]

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.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:11am

With 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]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:14am

Times They Are A Changin' has the Brooks Atkinson.

[Esparzafan]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:15am

You 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.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 11:00am

There are always shows waiting for Broadway theatres these days...

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 11:10am

Grey Gardens is currently looking for a theatre

so is tale of two cities

Updated On: 3/10/06 at 11:10 AM

[Smaxie]

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.