"Pull the Plug" article/LENNON in trouble?

[teth]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:42am

So, there's the "Pull the Plug" article on the front page...
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/43007.htm

A big chunk of it is devoted to talking about Lennon. about how it's "such a mess" that it's close to closing....and that it's gonna go through a big script overhaul and how some of the cast members will be replaced.

Does anyone know how reliable this writer is?? While I agree that there are problems with the show, I certainly believe that there's a lot of potential and I hope it won't close before Broadway. Ugh...it would suck if it does become a completely different show.

[Feathah]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 8:10am

Personally, I think this show will make it to Bway without a problem. The name John Lennon will bring in out-of-towners. And I could see Yoko tossing in some money if the show was in danger of not making it to Bway. I don't think she'd want to see it fail.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 10:15am

That's a very unflaterring article. Doesn't bode well for the show.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 10:25am

Reidel reliable? They're words one doesn't always see in the same phrase.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 11:30am

Riedel is almost always VERY reliable. Which is what is scary.

I've read a half a dozen posts on various websites critiquing LENNON and several have said they "can't imagine the show running on Broadway."

I'm sure they'll continue to work and overhaul it, however, so anything is possible. I am going to stick by my hunch, however, that Julia Murney jumps ship before it comes to NYC.

Posted: 4/22/05 at 12:43pm

So could some one fill me in on all the things Reidel was WRONG about? It seems to me that I see a lot of people don't LIKE the things Reidel says so they claim he's a "liar" or "Innacurate." I've only been reading him sporadically for a year or so, but he seems to be dead on to me.

[temms]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:21pm

Yeah - Riedel's controversial, but generally spot-on. I do recall a lot of folk (me included) coming down on him for a column about the "Fiddler" revival opening night, with the orchestra putting in for what he felt was unwarranted overtime. The show ran long because of a delayed curtain due to the pre-show heart attack (and subsequent death) of Jerome Robbins's sister, who was in the audience. He made it seem like the musicians were being greedy, insensitive sh*ts, but it turned out there was a lot more to the story than that. I don't recall he ever said anything more about it, either, which disappoints me. He's usually pretty good about taking his lumps when he's wrong.

He also predicted Tonya Pinkins would win the Tony for "Caroline" and stuff like that, but by-and-large, say what you will about his style and choice of topics, I find him surprisingly reliable.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:24pm

Does anyone truly believe Lennon is a bigger mess than Brooklyn or Good Vibrations? Honestly! Lennon should do fairly well on its title and tunestack alone. It may need fixing up, which is the PURPOSE of out-of-town tryouts (and he knows that, but hopes his public won't think about it), but Riedel is just wanting to create buzz based on nothing newsworthy whatsoever. IDIOT! He claims the closure of Good Vibrations signifies the end of jukebox musicals. If that generalization were true, then the closure of any musical would signify the end of musical theatre, right? IDIOT! He then says, "This should make producers of future jukebox musicals squirm." Uh, no. It should make producers of any poorly written and poorly staged musical squirm. Mamma Mia is still a smash hit and All Shook Up is doing fine. IDIOT! And finally he remarks that "you have to be smoking something" to understand the concept of the show. Maybe if you have the IQ of a squash. Is he really that dumb? IDIOT!

Updated On: 4/22/05 at 02:24 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:32pm

This isn't an ordinary jukebox musical. It isn't even an ordinary musical. I really hope this show has a bright future -- it deserves it.

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:04pm

I was gonna say, "Lennon" is far removed from "Mama Mia" and its ilk, so to group it with "Good Vibrations" and such doesn't make much sense.

Does it need some overhaul? I'd say yes. But I don't think it's as dire a mess as Riedel seems to think, and I hope if any actors leave it is because they want to do so, not because they are "replaced."

[shira467]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 5:46pm

"Lennon" could use a book overhaul, desperately. But even still, it's above the jukebox musical junk on Broadway at the moment.

[thebigkrakowski]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 5:48pm

Looks like the claws are out.

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 5:53pm

Well, "Lennon" had a lot of buzz before it was seen, and next to building things up, people enjoy tearing things down. "Lennon" doesn't have the Beatles songs that people who like jukebox musicals are going to want, but at the same time, it has enough of the jukebox element that people who despise that might be predisposed to dislike it.

The musical is based on a weird premise, but John Lennon was a weird guy. The show can clearly use improvement but the purpose of an out of town tryout is to tweak and refine, so I hope that can happen.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 9:51pm

Local news here in SF just ran a story about the "Lennon" show on their 6pm broadcast. They interviewed Yoko Ono, who apparently was there opening night (earlier this week?). No mention of the critical coverage, more of a "how did Yoko feel about it" story.

Considering she was involved in the book process, I was not surprised when she said it was wonderful.

I haven't seen it yet, but plan to this weekend. I thought it looked interesting. Spare sets, but the cast looked top notch. I'm looking forward to seeing Terrance Mann on the boards again.

[JenD512]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 10:27pm

He's trying to take down the jukebox musicals, using the failure of "Good Vibrations," to jump right into "Lennon." I read some of the reviews they got in San Francisco, and while they weren't great--they weren't nearly as awful as the GV reviews.

I think Broadway could do with some new original material and few less jukebox shows, but if a production is good (like "Movin Out"), then it deserves a chance to succeed.

Reidel's problem is that he's just obnoxious. I don't see where he's helping B'way at all.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:15pm

i don't see where he's helping b'way at all.

um, he's not getting paid to help broadway, he's getting paid to generate water cooler talk and to boost the sales of the ny post.

i thought lennon could use some tweaking (particularly the 2nd act) and it could soften up a bit and try to get more of a heart that was like that of lennon himself, but on the whole it was entertaining and kept my attention. which is more than i can say for a lot of what i've seen recently.

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:27pm

I think the problem is that although it was a good idea to use Lennon's words as he was rather clever and funny, there's just not enough. Every time you feel like you are getting glimpse of the actual Lennnon--instead of being on a whiplash rollercoaster of his songs and life-- it's when the script and the music intersect with emotion ("Mother," the John/Yoko breakup, the shooting). A bit more good dialogue would really help, I think.

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:31pm

It certainly looks as though there are some people who would rather not see John Lennon on Broadway. And I can't help but wonder -- especially considering this particular source -- what their true motives are.

I've heard, on good authority, that there are no cast changes planned for "Lennon". There will likely be, as Shawk mentioned earlier, some changes made in the show -- as is often done during out of town runs. But Lennon is coming to Broadway no matter how hard some people try to stop it.

There was a time when NY critcs wouldn't bash a show until it at least opened on Broadway. But then Reidel isn't a genuine critic, so I suppose he's within his bounds. But in recognnition of that fact, Reidel should at least stick with work he's more qualified to critique -- "American Idol" comes to mind. It's much more his speed.

I can't believe that anyone who frequents Broadway would read the Post to begin with. IMO, the Post really isn't worth the ink they waste to print it or the paper it's printed on. I refuse to read the Post or watch Fox. I've never had any use for foreign nationals who come to America and purchase special dispensations from their political cronies in order to build illegal media empires that they then use to support those very same cronies.

But hey, that's just me.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:37pm

I agree with MB that Julia Murney will probably jump ship before the show hits Broadway.

And-despite his rep-Riedel is actually quite reliable. A complete hack, but reliable.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:58pm

"I agree with MB that Julia Murney will probably jump ship before the show hits Broadway. "

Gads, I hope not. The cast is the least of this show's worries. She'd better not go anywhere!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:19am

the POST costs 25 cents
Reidel stirs it up and then gets punched
or gets a crush on Christinna Applegate
and gets soft
jumping on Lennon at this point is a little
easy
all I am saying is Give PEACE a Chance

[RockyRoad]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 3:00am

Movin Out had horribile out of town reviews. And look what happened.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:21am

the potential trouble for lennon is that they are not taking much time to fix things before letting the critics in to take whacks at it in boston. what is it, one? two? previews and then "have at us you beantown butchers?" if good vibrators made it and crooklyn too, lennon will have its day on the boards.

and as far as the post, never heard of keeping an eye on the other side? better to know that your opposition is up to rather than sticking your head in the sand and pretending they don't exist. same reason i read the times...when i can stomach it.

Updated On: 4/24/05 at 10:21 AM

Posted: 4/24/05 at 3:12pm

-- "Movin Out had horribile out of town reviews. And look what happened." --

And Lennon's out of town reviews haven't even been horrible.

-- "the potential trouble for lennon is that they are not taking much time to fix things before letting the critics in to take whacks at it in boston. what is it, one? two? previews and then "have at us you beantown butchers?" if good vibrators made it and crooklyn too, lennon will have its day on the boards." --

Maybe the Boston critics won't have the opportunity.

But you didn't hear that from me.

-- and as far as the post, never heard of keeping an eye on the other side? better to know that your opposition is up to rather than sticking your head in the sand and pretending they don't exist. same reason i read the times...when i can stomach it. --

The NY Times is in no way comparable with the Post, IMO. But yes, it seems there are still those people who don't want to hear "Give Peace A Chance," especially at this particular moment in history. Well, they didn't want to hear it back then and they have even better reasons for not wanting to hear it now but they're just going to have to hear it. It's not as though they ever listen anyway.

Newsweek has a piece on "Lennon" in their May 2 issue that's far less strident than Reidel's hatchet job, to say the least.

-- "Twenty-eight songs. Nine actors. One white piano—and one extraordinary life. An exclusive look at the new musical 'Lennon,' as it finds its voice in San Francisco." --


Strawberry Fields, Back in Bloom

[lite2shine]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 3:22pm

I saw the show yesterday and the performers were brilliant/excellent. So even the book isn't that strong, or should I say "lack of," as long as they market this show right, meaning targeting the Beatles/Lennon generation of the WORLD, not just to regular theatre goers, I'd say the show will do fine.

Look at Movin' Out, it's more like a jukebox "dancing" show, not singning musical (only sang by the same vocalist) but it's surviving. Brooklyn has been getting poor review/sales but it's still surviving. I don't think Lennon will be a big hit but it's not a flop either.