Riedel: "Timing is Critical if Comment Hits Early"

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03052008/entertainment/theater/he_said__i_said__period__100500.htm

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And you know that, HOW exactly?

And you know that, HOW exactly?

It's based of an animated movie, is being produced by Dreamworks to compete with Disney Theatricals, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that it's about the money. DARRRRRRR!

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I hate when people use deliberately cherry-picked facts and figures to make a point:

"...and with prices at $200 to $450..."

That's a silly aside from Reidel. I'd guess that maybe 2-5% of tickets are actually sold at that price-- max. Most seats cap out at $120, correct? And generally people pay less than that.

Of course it's POSSIBLE Cholly, it just doesn't portend well.

Restaurant reviewers generally have three meals before writing a review--I don't know a compelling reason why the same standard shouldn't be held to a show or a movie.

Seeing something a few times over a period of time could actually help the show--an initial bad review might get better if the show improves or after the reviewer has had a chance to "think it over."

Many critics regret reviews--like John Simon with FOLLIES...just sayin'.

It's more based on the movie. Sorry.

Broadway is less about art, if you want art, go Off-Broadway. It's too expensive to produce art on a Broadway stage. Sad, but true. And if the score were anything like Caroline or Change, little kids would be so confused that the would flee from the theaters. So you know, Marketing 101 people!

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You're right I know nothing about the marketing of a Broadway show, I have never seen a Broadway show fail because of bad marketing, I have never seen a show that is terrible but has a terrific marketing campaign succeed. You're right Cholly, I know nothing about Broadway or anything. You know all!

So just for the heck of it, please name for me a score that was artful and kid-friendly, and managed not to isolate it's audience. Oh and The Lion King doesn't count because that was a pop score, wah wah.

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Look, when it comes to the beyond-crass commercialization of Broadway musicals, I'm at the front of the line to denounce the crap....but I found Reidel's article and accusations to be incredibly snide. I mean, I know that's his whole shtick and no one would read him if he wasn't that way and blah blah blah, but still.

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Reidel is wrong, as usual. The whole point of the rehearsal and preview period is to allow the company and its creative people to find mistakes and fix them. If a columnist like Reidel poisons the box office well early and often, a lot of work that might survive may not. I hate giving critics that much power, but with ticket prices feeling like real estate investments, he shouldn't be making the creative process into target practice. Even with a commercial piece of dreck, the producers should be allowed time to get it right.

The internet has changed all the rules...journalists can't cling to old standards and practices and still remain relevant.

You've never seen a show fail because of bad marketing??? Really?? Happens all the time, on and off-Broadway. The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a great example. Hilarious show, great score, great cast. AWFUL marketing, closed after a few months, far too soon. High Fidelity, say what you will about it, was not the worst thing ever to come down the pike, and could have certainly found it's audience (if Spamalot is still running...), but due to the awful marketing, never got the chance. Those are just the first two things that come into my head, but there are many, many more.

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Wow Kelly2 it's a little thing called sarcasim! As I was told I knew nothing by my good friend Cholly. Just you know being a sarcastic guy.

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"Reidel is wrong, as usual. The whole point of the rehearsal and preview period is to allow the company and its creative people to find mistakes and fix them. If a columnist like Reidel poisons the box office well early and often, a lot of work that might survive may not. I hate giving critics that much power, but with ticket prices feeling like real estate investments, he shouldn't be making the creative process into target practice. Even with a commercial piece of dreck, the producers should be allowed time to get it right."

Keen, my feeling on this is previews are no longer sold cheap ( if you know about discounts thats one thing ) so the moment producers took cheaper tickets away and most punters started paying full price. Shows should be able to be reviewed from that moment on. The producers can not have it both ways.

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