Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
I agree pretty much with everything Brantley said and I still had a decent time once I gave it to the show's excess.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
Dammit, Brantley!
"As it happens every April due to the mass of openings, I have used up all 10 of my free articles on NYT. So could someone copy and paste the whole thing here? Pretty please? (Will be begging the for the same thing tomorrow for The Visit)
Thanks!"
Try another browser or use your phone (or desktop if you were on your phone)?
Ouch. I don't necessarily disagree with what he said (I definitely caught myself rolling my eyes a bit from being blasted with theatre joke after theatre joke), but I enjoyed myself.
The show has more than enough quotable material than to rely on the blessing of the Times.
That's a Times review I utterly agree with, taking exception only with the high regard he shows for BOOK OF MORMON and THE PRODUCERS by contrast with the present show.
Won't matter much-- I think this show will clean up at the box office for the foreseeable future.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/22/14
And Brantley is the critic who gave raves to 'Honeymoon in Vegas'?! lol My 2 cents, I think Something Rotten will survive this review and even be a hit!
I had NO IDEA it was a copyright violation; I'm sorry. Thank you, though, that's good information to remember. As it turns out, I still have 5 left on mobile so I'm good for tonight and tomorrow!
As for the review itself...that wasn't pretty. But they have some good pull quotes from others, and being compared to The Book of Mormon, in the eyes of tourists, is not a bad thing.
I think the show is relatively critic-proof at the box office, at least for a good while. They bought themselves a lot of good will with their marketing, which has been measurably more clever than the show itself.
I think ironically, the show's biggest faults result in the creatives thinking their material was critic proof. They were too clever by half (or more than half, perhaps) and lost the thread under the mounting pile of references.
Stand-by Joined: 5/5/13
I think its interesting that even the good reviews recognize that the second act has enormous problems, but they sort of just push it to the side. Sad that they didn't get that fixed, I was really hoping they'd spruce up the second act in previews
Totally agree with Brantley- I'm really so surprised to see such a thoroughly mediocre show get such good notices.
I'm a little bit with Brantley on this one. Though I think I probably enjoyed myself more than he did. Still, I agree that it's pretty baffling that he enjoyed Honeymoon and not this. That man can be pretty unpredictable.
A sensible review from Brantley; he hits the nail on the head, including bestowing his only praise to Cariani, who I thought was best in show.
I can only rationalize his HONEYMOON review by assuming he got handsomely paid or they had something damning on him. It's that inexplicable to me.
This one was a very sensible, reasoned review.
Ouch! And I agree completely with Brantley...also not so sure this is as critic proof as some are saying.
"Dammit, Brantley!"
Yes, dammit. But you know what, you win. I generally agree with you Brantley on your reviews and yes, this time too.
But I still enjoyed the show and can see it only picking more steam once they get aired on TV, etc.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
Did Brantley have a stick up his behind when he saw this? Jeeze.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/18/15
Jesse Green gave it a pretty positive review. I'm trying to get the link up here but can't copy it over for some reason.
"Did Brantley have a stick up his behind when he saw this? Jeeze."
No, he just had his glasses on.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
They certainly have enough pull quotes without Brantley to make a run for it. Word of mouth may be another story. After seeing it I'm still confused as to who this show is aimed at. Frat boys who appreciate Broadway musicals? That's a pretty niche market.
"Jesse Green gave it a pretty positive review. I'm trying to get the link up here but can't copy it over for some reason."
No, he just saw the show.
http://www.vulture.com/2015/04/theater-review-something-rotten.html
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/10/04
the Times doesn't matter anymore. It has zero power good or bad.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
"I think I like Ben Brantley a little bit more. Then again, he'll probably give THE VISIT a lukewarm notice. Then I'll find him irritating again.
"
As well he should! The Visit stinks.
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