SIDE SHOW Reviews- Page 4

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:14am

LOL...I've been hearing about this "death of Broadway" since 1985!!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:15am

Disagree. Selling a show about circus show freaks is hard. Don't make it harder. It should be You Should Be Loved or Who will love me as I am.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:37am

"Selling a show about circus show freaks is hard."

Tell that to The Elephant Man, which just broke a box office record at The Booth.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:40am

I think of the show as sort of a combo of CARNIVAL and GYPSY, certainly the revival, and that's more or less what the ad campaigns suggest.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:41am

Mr. Roxy-If all they ever present is the ballads the audience will have no sense of the variety of music represented. I suggest that for the parade they do "Ready to Play" or "Stuck on You". The freak chorus will do a lot to put butts in seats-look at American Horror Story: Freak Show (plus that chorus is terrific and deserves a chance to shine as well).

[JRybka]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:44am

Mr. Roxy... selling a show about circus freaks is hard.

OKAYYYYYY... tell that to the most talked about and highly praised season of American Horror Story.

It is the season of freaks! Nothing wrong with jumping on and enjoying the ride

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:47am

"We get it every time a cult favorite fails to find an audience on Broadway. It's indicative of nothing other than the timeless appeal of kvetching and moaning when someone believes their personal opinion defines not only an entire art form, but the history of its venue."

In that case, Broadway already died last year when Bridges closed.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:51am

It failed the first time due to subject matter. AHS is on TV . Want to see freaks on Broadway $ 140 plus. You can see freaks on TV for free You are comparing apples and oranges.

By the way , I turned out of AHS this season after about 30 minutes. Not my cup of tea and enjoyed seasons 2 & 3.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 11:53am

"Want to see freaks on Broadway $ 140 plus."

Well, with fees, the ticket I bought for tomorrow night was $88 with fees, front row, side orchestra, aisle.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:09pm

To a poster above, how many people would be paying big bucks for Elephant Man if Cooper was not in it?

To Hate $88 is still more than seeing it on tv for free.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:32pm

If you haven’t seen this show how can you comment what it’s about? See if you saw Side Show you’d understand it’s about so much more than just freaks. It’s about all of us. The things most of can hide inside where others can’t because of their physical appearances. It makes you think twice before judging others. It reminds us that all many of us want in life is to just fit in no matter what our handicaps or disabilities are. Go see it and then comment whether positive or negative….at least I can respect your comments then.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:38pm

This show was always going to be a hard sell, reviews or no. I still think they're marketing it entirely the wrong way. The material with the freaks is by far the strongest and most affecting and the opening number is haunting and exciting, but they seem to be trying to sell it as Dreamgirls, kind of? The commercials and advertisements tell me nothing about the show; if I didn't know what it was, I probably wouldn't care. I think only time will tell if the show can actually have legs or if it will end up like the original and close in January or February.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:40pm

perfectlymarvelous-Universal is backing it...that could make a huge difference. I think they are doing better this time actually. As I said, showcasing the freak chorus is an ideal situation. I think it can last and that they may have producers ready to weather the slow months to get this to the Tony noms.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:43pm

"To a poster above, how many people would be paying big bucks for Elephant Man if Cooper was not in it?"

It is hard to comment on impossible riddles. Elephant Man is coming to Broadway because of Cooper, as I understand it, so there would be no Broadway version of Elephant Man without him, as he was not merely cast but attached and driving this production from the get-go. It's not stunt casting. He just happens to be famous and likes this show.

"To Hate $88 is still more than seeing it on tv for free."

If your point is valid with any $$ amount, why exaggerate that you need $140 to see Side Show live? Or that nearly anyone is watching TV for free without a cable bill?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:44pm

I do think it's doing better this time around, and having all of that movie studio money backing it will certainly help. But they still need to market it effectively in order to keep people coming. I'm certainly not rooting against them; I think it's a really special piece and I want them to do well this time around.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:45pm

I think they're prepared for the slower months. (And in their favor a lot of stuff is closing in that time...leaving less competition until March/April...)

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:55pm

"See if you saw Side Show you’d understand it’s about so much more than just freaks."

That is true, Boobsie, but the discussion is about getting folks to the theater to find that out. I do think they are working a good campaign so far, but am not sure it'll be enough to get people into the seats.

I do hope I'm wrong!!

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 12:57pm

That review from the Times could go a long way towards that goal, doodle. Also, with the popularity of AHS I'd think they might want an ad with the "Come Look at the Freaks" music playing over it and maybe a quick pan of the cast of freaks...

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 1:08pm

Heh...I hope they dont make too much of a connection (ha) between Side Show and AHS. You dont want people showing up expecting a live version of the tv show.

People are stupid. I remember seeing Patti Lupone Live and after a few numbers someone behind us said "this isn't Patti LaBelle!"

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 1:10pm

"You dont want people showing up expecting a live version of the tv show."

Isn't coming in with low expectations a good thing?

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 1:25pm

I remember seeing Patti Lupone Live and after a few numbers someone behind us said "this isn't Patti LaBelle!"

Doodle, that's hysterical ! That could be a let down.

I loved that last night they open the upper balcony too. The crowd was wild. This was the 3rd time I saw this production and every single actor was on their A game. As far as I'm concerned they're one of the hardest working casts on Broadway.

[musicaltheatreman2]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 3:34pm

In this new production do the actress hold hands all the time to move around and are their costumes connected or not?

Most of the clips I have seen of the new production the actress playing the twins are always holding hands when they walk and dance, but the original production the actress rarely held hands to move around together (I already know that in the originally production their costumes were not connected). Thank you

on a side note I am not a fan of Daisy and Violates wigs and costumes in this new production they seem so bland.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 3:43pm

It will be interesting to see what if any immediate effect the positive reviews have on the box office.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 3:48pm

musicaltheaterman-they are connected through heavy duty magnets in their costumes. They hold hands occasionally as a comforting gesture more than anything-or a sign of solidarity. But unlike the original they are connected.

[Up In One]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 4:04pm

Newsweek is positive

Zesty revival... brilliantly sung...The circus is in town, folks, and it’s a multilayered romp.The extent to which we are all complicit in the exploitation of others is one of the things that gnaw at you as you’re watching Side Show, and being freakishly entertained by it.
Newsweek Side Show Review