Munk's TARZAN review- Page 3

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 11:41am

It is your right to be able to share your opinion regarding shows you've paid to see. There isn't really debate there... but, there is a faint of odor of elitism to people who clearly go out of their way to attend early previews and then post scathing reviews jam-packed with adjectives. Tarazan has not gone out of town and is opening COLD. Completely cold. If you didn't like something... awesome. Say so. But what's even the point of trashing something that isn't finished? Someone is gonna saw that they shouldn't charge full price for unfished shows... but, that's what previews are for an there isn't a way around it. If you don't want to SEE a work in progress, don't ATTEND a work in progress.

I don't think you shouldn't share your comments, but it is a very niave and bitchy thing to not qualify them. Also, it isn't really your place to judge wether the problems you encountered are fixable or not. There is a reason Disney is Disney... they already managed to turn one theatrical disaster into a workable hit.

I'm sorry I'm such a school marm. Nothing personal meant. It's just that this kind of review written after a show opens is an entirely different matter than one written while a shows in previews. You wouldn't criticize a building that wasn't completely built. Or maybe you could, but you wouldn't criticize it because it didn't have floors yet. That's a little foolish. Um, a few (eventually)good shows have been killed by vicious gossip in previews... Merrily We Roll Along, anyone? A lot of work can be done between now and then. If they don't fix the problems... well then... fire away.

my soapbox is large. don't trip.

kmc

p.s.
"Sometimes a bad idea is just that - a bad idea! And you move on, and you forget it, and go to the next project. But no...Disney follows its heart (or checkbook), and does what it wants. "
WTF? Really? The Lion King on stage... what a great idea that was! At least Tarzan has real people in it. There is a reason artistic geniuses(not saying that's what Disney is... but kinda I am) tackle ideas that normal people think are bad ones. Many things that started out as bad ideas(and much worse ideas than turning Tarzan into a musical) have been transformed into GREAT works of art. I don't have time to go into specifics as I've already literally typed my fingers off... but see Sunday in the Park With George for examples.

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 11:56am

Munk's a 20 year old wanna be. Any adult with any credability would understand the show has now played 7 performances in totality and has weeks to go before its opening night. There's no guarantee the show will get better, but no guarantee it won't. When you're in the minor leagues like Munk, you do anything to get attention to make it to the majors. I think in the future Munk would have a lot more respect if he waits until opening night to present his review.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 11:57am

at least Munk reviewed what he saw, instead of defending what he didnt. Everyone here knows that the show is in previews and that this is one persons opinion.

and the point of any review is...NOONE has to agree with him. That is why the title is, MUNKs Tarzan review.

And if you are comparing the two, I saw Merrily We Roll Along on opening night, and it deserved the bad reviews....even though I loved it and hoped it would survive, it was quite a mess.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:00pm

1. I don't go out of my way to see early previews. I prefer to see shows in previews, as early as I can. There's nothing elitist about that. It is understood that my review - clearly dated by the BWW timestamp (and made evident in my review) - is of the show as it stood on April 7. It was made clear that it was a review of a preview performance. Everyone knows TARZAN is in previews. What else would my review be of? Nothing about my seeing the show or posting a review was going out of my way. I live in New York City and new productions excite me - I see them as often as they come, and as early as I can. If there's something good there, I most definitely return after opening. And my attending a preview performance has nothing to do with my giving it a bad review. I attended SWEENEY TODD on a dress rehearsal and posted a rave.

2. Yea, TARZAN opened cold. Their problem, not mine. The point of trashing something that isn't finished? I never said that I saw the finish product. Again, I trashed the preview performance I saw last night. Nothing unfair, elitist, or pointless about it. I never said I didn't want to see a work in progress. Ever. In fact, I enjoy it. That's why I ATTEND works in progress - but thank you for telling me what I do and do not want to see.

3. To not qualify my comments? What are you even talking about? It's not my place to judge whether the problems are fixable? It's an observation. It's an opinion. It's my place, and it's fair. It's not your place to tell ME what I should and should not think. Disney is Disney because of their animated movies, particularly their excellent ones way back when. They already managed to turn one disaster into a workable hit? Which is? AIDA? I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

4. A building that isn't completely built? No. A preview performance is more like a building without the stickers pulled off the windows. It's built. It's there, and it's ready for use. It's just fine tuning. You have no point here.

Had I posted a rave review of the show, you woudln't say anything. It's not my problem the show is dreadful, and I'm sorry that you fail to see that I clearly reviewed a preview performance. Nothing about what I said or did was unprofessional, elitist, or anything that the show didn't ask for.

[liotte]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:03pm

Sorry to hear you didn't like the show, Munk. I really enjoyed Tarzan, and have hated some of the shows you have praised in other reviews. That's why it's a good thing there are so many diverse shows on Broadway, there is something for everyone. I think that Tarzan will find its audience and those people will really enjoy the show. Shows that most people on this board have absolutely praised, such as Light in the Piazza or Sweeney Todd, I did not like at all, and nor would the families who go to Tarzan.

Your opinion on the sets, flying, costumes, actors, etc. are all just your perspective, and people who are reading this thread should know that it is just that, your opinion. At least in the threads I wrote about Tarzan, I posted about the actual aspects of the show. I described them as fact of what occurred, not highly worded filler sentences that got so redundant because all you said was an opinion of bad, bad, bad.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:03pm

"4. A building that isn't completely built? No. A preview performance is more like a building without the stickers pulled off the windows. It's built. It's there, and it's ready for use. It's just fine tuning. You have no point here."

and they dont charge full price to live there!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:04pm

People visit message boards expressly to read reviews of shows in previews. And isn't it a given that this is one person's opinion?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:07pm

Exactly how am I a, as you so smartly put it, "wanna be?" Because I saw a show and wrote a review? Or are you just annoyed because I didn't like it?

Again, had I posted a good review, I would be receiving none of this from any of you.

Any adult with any credibility? Since you can't even spell credibility, I don't know how seriously to take you. It is obvious that I saw a preview performance. That's the only thing that I reviewed. It's not as if I write for a major publication (or even a small publication) and post preview reviews. And it's not like I pass them off as opening night reviews. What don't you understand about that?

Minor leagues? Anything to make it to the majors? Yea, I'd love to work on Broadway. So, by posting a scating review of a show, I might just get there. You figured me out!

You're obviously either an incapacitated, very dim adult or just an immature child. You don't have a single point to make. I can't quite understand why people are so outraged over this. I thought the show sucked. I am free to say so.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:09pm

Munk, thank you very much for your honest review. Yes, it is your personal opinion of a preview performance, and I agree that if you had written a rave, this wouldn't even be an issue. You don't deserve the negative things people are saying about you in this thread.

I see Tarzan two weeks from today...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:13pm

liotte, you don't have a point either.

I don't write detailed synopses, I write reviews. I don't tell the story, I just tell people what I thought.

I OBVIOUSLY posted my opinion, what else would I have posted? Your opinion? Bob Crowley's opinion? Let's not get into this "you should say it's your opinion, and not fact" argument because any half-witted human being knows that a review is just that.

You didn't like THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA or SWEENEY TODD. What does that have to do with TARZAN? Jenn Gambatese was in neither PIAZZA nor SWEENEY TODD, so I wouldn't really expect you to like them. You think TARZAN is great, but didn't like either of the afformentioned shows? Well, as much as I like your presence on this board, I think that speaks volumes about your taste.

The families that go see TARZAN wouldn't like either of those shows either? Well, liotte, maybe you should say that that's just your opinion, rather than a fact. After all, you don't know what other people like.

The only reason you're annoyed is because Jenn Gambatese, the second coming of Jesus Christ himself, is in this show. Had I praised the show, you'd be full of "cute" and "charming" comments. Sorry I offended you so deeply, madame.

Enjoy TARZAN tonight. And tomorrow. And Sunday.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:22pm

Well, I guess I cant put up my Wedding Singer Review.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:24pm

No, you're not allowed. Posting reviews during preview performances is just dispicable.

Wait. I'm sorry, I'm wrong.

You're allowed to post it if it's positive. Only if it's positive. If it's negative, please refrain from posting it. It's unprofessional, and proves you're just trying to get ahead in the business.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:24pm

Well, I liked reading your review, if that means anything. Tarzan sounds like it needs a miracle to fix it by the end of its preview run.

Unfortunately for some people, "TEH INTARNET IS SERIOUs F**KING BUSINESS". Chaos ensues when negative opinions are posted. Oh noes.

Updated On: 4/7/06 at 12:24 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:25pm

Like I said...I cant post my review, cause it sure wouldnt be good.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:26pm

And I was just expressing MY opinion on how shows should be adressed in previews. It's funny that everyone says "That's just my OPINION. I have a right to state my OPINION" Well. My opinion is what I posted. So. There.

kmc

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:26pm

If they can't even handle the special effects for Tarzan, I cringe to think of what they'd do with The Little Mermaid. Sounds dreadful.

[liotte]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:27pm

Munk, the fact that Jenn is in this show has nothing to do if I like it or not. Second coming of Christ? Um, I'm Jewish... And that line would have offended me more than your review. Your review didn't offend me at all, I was just commenting on your opinion.

I did not like Light in the Piazza and Sweeney Todd for plenty of reasons, none of them had anything to do with Jenn, nor any of the actors in the show. I think they were all extremely talented people, and I'm glad that they found their following. I just found Piazza very boring, as Italian opera does nothing for me, and Sweeney was just a dark, depressing, cold bloodbath that I did not enjoy at all and you couldn't pay me to go back to see.
How many kids are in the audience at Sweeney Todd? That show is not for kids and families. Tarzan gives families another option for their theatergoing experience. As I work with kids, there has been a lack of kid-friendly shows lately- Lion King, BATB, Wicked, Hairspray, Bee, and that's it (and a couple of those are pushing boundaries with kids too). Now they can choose something else, and all those gorilla costumes, flying, bright colorful plants, etc are appealing for children. Buckets of blood and italian landscape are not.
At least I saw ST and Piazza, since I like to see as many different things as I can. If I didn't like them, so what? You can go see those over and over, and I'll go back to the shows that I enjoy. We have different tastes in shows, that's all. No need to attack me because we differ on opinion.

[NBC]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:28pm

Nobody's answered the most important question...where are the student rush seats located??

And have people started camping out for them yet?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:31pm

"and they dont charge full price to live there!"
Previews are often discounted, second... I'm sure they would charge full price if people were willing to pay.

"And if you are comparing the two, I saw Merrily We Roll Along on opening night, and it deserved the bad reviews....even though I loved it and hoped it would survive, it was quite a mess. "

I wasn't comparing the two. Many a book are filled with reports about how Merrily improved a lot in previews... but no one gave it a chance because of the preview gossip.

kmc

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:35pm

Yes, my negative TARZAN thread will definitely hurt TARZAN's chance at success.

Please.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:38pm

MERRILY may have improved in previews but it was still a disaster on opening night, and that is what the reviews reflected.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:44pm

KJ...many a book? Can you name one book that states that Merrily improved ALOT in previews?

Actually, it didnt. One of the last decisions was to put seatshirts on the actors with their character names on them. It looked stupid and made things more confusing. Even revivals have been panned. The original reviews were glowing for the score, which is the reason it is beloved, but its a seriously flawwed show.

Sorry to fly off topic so.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:45pm

liotte:

I'm sorry I "would have" offended you with my referring to Jenn as the second coming of christ. I wasn't aware of your religious affiliation. Nor are you aware of mine. What, would you prefer second coming of Judas, or something?

You said the same people that see TARZAN would not like PIAZZA or SWEENEY. You didn't say that a lot of children don't see SWEENEY. You have no idea what the average of audience of TARZAN would and would not like.

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:50pm

Munk, perhaps if you'd spend a little more time on your career and a little less posting on the message boards, you might actually have a better shot at success.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:51pm

Regardless of his age or your attitude toward his age, Munk contributes regularly to this forum and an attempt to discredit him in someway is bad form and the true sign of a shill.
And don't even start with me about who I am, etc because you will get an ear full of things you really don't want to hear.

ps. Joel Siegel gets paid to review things. Does that make him any less an ass? In this day and age when journalists are such ass-kissing tools (Chris Matthews, anyone?) I'm much more likely to listen to an online reviewer I know and trust, which is why Margo has so many fans.