So they settled for crowd-pleasing, and they got it, too. Good for them. It will probably do well in regional markets, and if it transfers it may run for a while on its "crowd-pleasing" legs, although I do wonder about name recognition. It may be "more fun" than Tarzan or Little Mermaid, but those names are known to audiences. Newsies isn't as well-known, and if people do know it, it's as a film flop. I wonder if it will draw people in if it turns up on a "summer youth theatre" schedule. Although, their shows can sell out with nothing but parents, friends, and relatives, so it gives them something new to see, at least. And if schools want to tie it into an American history lesson and make it must-see theatre, another round of points in their favor.
I get the "business" side of show business, and this show was "Frankensteined" together (to use your analogy, newintown) to make money.
I just wish the creative team would have aimed a bit higher than "crowd-pleasing" when they had the opportunity. I'm not talking about "revolutionary" or "trailblazing," but why not try for more than connecting the dots while you're in the rehearsal hall?
Hey, they could have done a lot worse. Their dot-connecting could have pleased no one, in the end. It's a bit of a surprise to think they may spin their archival straw into gold with this play. Strictly from a business POV, that's quite an accomplishment.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 9/28/11 at 12:13 PM