SIDE SHOW Reviews — Page 3

If this doesn't get a healthy run, there's something irreparably broken in the business/artistic/entertainment model on Broadway.

This is a provocative, compelling and moving work that most critics are advocating to a degree that would have had day after review ticket buyers down the block a couple of decades ago.

It also already has a fantastic collection of images, video and PR that should only multiply in the coming days.

If this and On the Town don't develop into successes, Broadway finally becomes the new business it's been inching toward for years.

Given the rise and fall of vaudeville, Broadway's had an amazing run. It just might be the time that "alternative" entertainment fills most Broadway houses, and any new works of real musical theater are developed and housed in the non-profit arena. And I mean actual non profits who don't transfer works to Broadway houses or extend limited engagements to open runs.

In this current environment, if the equivalent of a Cabaret or Company were to open on Broadway today I bet they wouldn't run for more than three months.

Just bought a ticket for Wednesday night, curious to see how I react to it. Seeing Elephant Man tomorrow, so figure I should have a freaks/side show theme.

My point. That audience used to exist. For many reasons it has disappeared.

Every really good new musical or revival that fails to find an audience continues the deconstruction of Broadway as it has existed for the better part of a century.

I don't know if this sounds dumb or if this has been discussed, but wouldn't it be smart to team up with American Horror Story somehow? Maybe run some commercials during an episode?

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No.

I'd love to see the good notices push this little-show-that-could up the hill but I just don't see that happening. Good reviews and good word of mouth have never helped it before, even in DC. The general public just doesn't respond to the subject matter, which is a shame but that's what history has shown.

I saw Sideshow last Tuesday and i really enjoyed it!! I had never seen the original, nor even heard of it till the revival was coming in. From what I knew of the show, from the title alone, I didn't think I would like it, but I loved it! I thought the cast was amazing, especially Emily Padgett and Erin Davie. The sang beautifully!! I am definitely planning a return engagement!!

In my count, admittedly quick, I only found one truly negative, the All That Chat pan. Which has zero weight. The rest have pull quotes, and at least three are near raves, especially the Times, almost an unqualified one. ("Imperfect, but what show isn't?" is a shrug, rare for the paper of record.) The show was never for everyone, and the deck was stacked: either people revere the old one and didn't want it amended, or didn't feel anything could be done to salvage the treatment of the subject. This has to be close to what the producers hoped for, though the other daily papers, except for Winer, are not in keeping with Isherwood's rapture. What wins big, mostly: the production's various elements. Look for these producers to advertise the hell out of the many wonderful quotes to be pulled. The big question now, as for many other shows: January.

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Updated On: 11/18/14 at 07:15 AM

The producers must have pulled some kind of William Castle stunt and wired Isherwood's chair -- there's just no other way I can understand describing that "Come Look At The Freaks" number as being "electrifying."

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Happy these folks got such great reviews, but genuinely surprised.

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Glad you found it so electrifying -- it felt like a warmed over retread of "Wilkommen" to me, without the wit, intelligence, great lyrics or melody. It had all the electric charge of Pope Benedict.

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Updated On: 11/18/14 at 10:28 AM

I would choose "Come Look at the Freaks" for the Tony number, to be honest. It's a great song and it is electrifying. It's a great opening.

I completely agree. I love this song. It shows off nearly every character, and it sets the tone so nicely.

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