Spelling Bee Review Predictions..

[magicmanst]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:19pm

Hey guys, how do you think the Spelling Bee reviews will fare? i'm predicting very good, but not as strong as the off broadway ones. Your thoughts?

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:21pm

I'd say.. Mixed to Positive

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:21pm

I'm predicting (AND HOPING, hardcore) that they are positive!!!!

[Plum]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:25pm

Judging from the tone of this year's reviews, I think they'll be happy to review a musical comedy that has just a little more substance than, say, Spamalot. I love me some floof, but a diet consisting entirely of cotton candy makes you sick after a while, you know? :)

[wendy72]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:32pm

I saw it Saturday--thought it was charming and consistently funny and entertaining,but sort of felt a little slight...my friend did not enjoy it, saying she felt it was cliched'.

Standouts for me were Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Celia, Jose Llana and Lisa Howard.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:33pm

I have a feeling it's going to get Brantley's "once-a-year" rave.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:37pm

I am worried that the reviews will not be as great as we want/expect them to be.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:39pm

I'd hope they were as good as they were Off-Broadway, but there seems to be a backlash starting (On this board, at the very least). I sincerely hope it gets the raves it deserves.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:43pm

I would not expect the Times to re-review -- rather reprint the original off-broadway review...to be honest I do not recall the protocol of other papers and avenues.....

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:44pm

Gov, I wouldn't worry about the critics being influenced by us. :)
I have a feeling the show will get the overall positive reviews it did off-Broadway. They weren't 100% raves but they were all glowing pluses for this production...
But I spoke to someone in the cast and they're not even sure if Brantley is for certain reviewing as the Times often simply reprints its original review for a transferring show.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:46pm

I thought I read somewhere that Brantley was re-reviewing it, but that might be wrong.

And you're right, bway -- look what happened with Piazza. It got a lot of favorable reviews after weeks of "It's too slow" and "No one's going to get it".

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:49pm

WAit I'm confused...
Brantley didn't review Bee off Broadway, right? I imagine that he will do a new review if that is the case.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:07pm

I hope RAVESSSS! Its the best musical of the season

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:14pm

Brantley did not review Bee. I believe Holden did. Clearly, though, the producers want Brantley to review it.

[Plum]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:18pm

Brantely re-reviewed Avenue Q, and the fact that Spelling Bee has a Finn score gives it some weight. I think Brantley will review it.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:22pm

Isherwood reviewed it Off-Broadway, so Brantley might.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:00pm

I'm not a New Yorker, but do people really care all that much for what Brantley says? I mean do people base what they're going to see on his review that much?