If this was their first extension on opening then I would say "fine, they have the right to have time" but since this show has been in the works for years and now they've had how many extensions? How many injuries? How many crappy reviews from audiences members forking over good money? Yea, I say let the critics come early.
Drama
Stand-by Joined: 10/8/10
I"m on the creative team's side. Critics have no right to review a show that isn't finished and that's public about it still being in the preview period. Not without consent at least. I'm personally glad they extended it again because right now it's in mediocre shape and they want to improve it to make it good. And I'm pretty sure they are letting people change their tickets or get refunds for the new preview performances. As long as they keep doing that they can preview for the next five years for all I care. They are taking time to fix the show rather then open a bad one and I think we all can support that.
They are taking time to fix the show rather then open a bad one and I think we all can support that.
That ship sailed long ago. They are now over a year late of the original opening, pushed back the start of previews, moved the opening FOUR times. They've been given enough time to fix the things that are wrong with it. They haven't.
Release the hounds (critics) of war....
Stand-by Joined: 10/8/10
I stand by my statement. As long as they give that option to change or get a refund I'd rather get a good show next year than a bad one now.
I really don't count the time from last year when it was supposed to open until it actually went into previews. Yes, it was supposed to open a year ago but it didn't. It is not like it was in previews all that time. And yes, it has now been in previews for an extended time but I think critics should honor that it is still in previews. Let's face it, they just can't wait to go in and rip it apart. With that said, if they push the opening again and no major changes are made to the show as of March 15th, they should be open game. I read somewhere that Bono and the Edge were heard to have said that none of the music will be changed. Don't know if that is true or not. Gone are the days when composers went to their hotel rooms and wrote what would turn out to be a classic song in a few hours and put it in the show the next night. JMO
Featured Actor Joined: 7/16/10
Part of me doesn't understand what good it'll do for the critics to go in early. Sure, they may get a lot of bad reviews, but they're reviews of things that may be different in the final show. Are the critics going to go back in every time something changes then?
i think the easiest solution to this would be for the critics to review the show now and call it a preview review. they threw out that number of almost 200,000 people have seen the show so far. and its still not opening for another month and a half. they should review the show for the people that are too impatient to wait for it to open. and when the show opens(*if the show opens*) just have the critics review it again.
the only problem i can see happening with this is that the preview reviews would likely be a more dominant impression on peoples minds, because they're reading them first. but as it has been mentioned...200,000 and growing. you gotta open one day julie!
Chorus Member Joined: 1/2/09
They probably will NEVER open. It's all a huge joke anyway. Some movies should STAY movies.
It could have been worse. Taymor could have wanted tk make a King Kong musical.
The shows success or failure will not be b/c of reviews anyway.
It's the rare cases where I don't think the critics wield that much influence.
This one will live or die by word of mouth.
This will be just like YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Over hyped with no substance and will fade away once the hype dies down.
King Kong is on hold until Spidey opens. She will than do the bug monkey story with music by Sir Elton
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
"They've been given enough time to fix the things that are wrong with it."
Oh, really? And who decides such things - you, or is there some committee?
However one may react to this ongoing soap opera, as long as they advertise previews as previews, that's all anyone has the right to expect. The misadventures of pushing the opening back causes burdens for the box office, and the consumer is compensated. There is NO obligation to you or anyone to officially open according to ANY kind of time-table.
If the adds hadn't been quoting "reviews," I would be a little more opposed to this.
David Merrick is turning over in his grave about now. He would have done a Breakfast At Tiffanys on this a long time ago
My problem is that they have not been using their preview period thus far to make any changes. There have liteally been no changes since the first preview and they have had two months ofpreviews.. if they really want to make changes why have they not made any yet?
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough on this crap show already (yes, I saw it). Stop the nonsense and get on with ur lives, people.
Why can't this be part of our lives? We love theatre.
Stand-by Joined: 2/13/09
Excuse my ignorance, but why does anyone actually care? I do not see the problem here. Jokes aside, it will open eventually, and it sounds like a lot of you guys are silly enough to pay for preview tickets anyway. So why even fuss. Jesus...
ive been on the fence but now i CANNOT wait for the NEW YORK TIMES to review this show, now
i bought tickets to a preview in nov (which was cancelled) and knew very well that i was purchasing tickets for something that was still not frozen -- but THREE months later and theyre still charging top price for Preview Tickets?
Those producers are scamming the public -- I totally beleive that. I also agree that this show will not live or die by critical acclaim but every media outlet should stand up for John Q Public - who are spending so much money on tickets to something that is still be labeled "previews."
Found it interesting from an earlier post who said that the show hasnt changed at all from when they first saw it - back when it first opened...
And how Julie Taymor can quote to the NYT that she is still writing the Second Act - what???
Bloggers, critics far and wide - review this show!
The show is on its way toward being critic-proof and, besides, theater critics are on their way toward irrelevancy or extinction anyway. Even the New York Times has fewer and fewer readers and less and less influence.
So game on: The producers declare the show in previews until such time as they decide it is done, and the critics come back and report on it as often as they please.
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