THE BAND's VISIT Reviews- Page 7

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/27/18 at 4:50pm

"I’m prone to snarky thoughts if someone were to say a show like Cats is his/her favorite show of all time, "

Why? It's hardly the greatest show of all time, but it's a hell of a lot better than the likes of Fun Home, Hamilton, The Band's Visit, etc.

"but that seems different from polarized black and white thinking that dismisses 95% of plsys/musicals on the basis that they’re “bad” while asserting only the shows I like are good."

 

What "polarized black and white thinking" are you talking about? There are varying degrees of good and bad, as there are of liking and disliking. And shows aren't bad because I dislike them; I dislike them because they are bad; and the same goes for shows that are good.

The bottom line: write good shows and you can be sure I'll like them.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/27/18 at 5:27pm

After Eight said: ""I’m prone to snarky thoughts if someone were to say a show likeCatsis his/her favorite show of all time, "

Why? It's hardly the greatestshow of all time, but it's a hell of a lot better than the likes of Fun Home,Hamilton, The Band's Visit,etc.

"but that seems different from polarizedblack and white thinking that dismisses 95% of plsys/musicals on the basis that they’re “bad” while asserting only the shows I like are good."



What "polarized black and white thinking" are you talking about? There are varying degrees of good and bad, as there are of liking and disliking. And showsaren't bad because I dislike them; I dislike them because they are bad; and the same goesfor shows that are good.

The bottom line: write good shows and you can be sure I'll like them."

Art isn’t science. Art is prone to the interpretation of each audience member. Lots of people hade loved the shows you disliked and have probably disliked some you adore. Same is true for me. If you’re such an arbitrator of good taste, I encourage you to offer up your services to every production before it books a theatre so you ensure only “quality” shows make it to previews. Certainly you should be well compensated for your expertise  Of course, most theatres would remain forever dark, many performers and other theatre staff would go unemployed, and NYC would take a big hit in revenue. But it would be worth it right to ensure you’re not offended by shows that you deem as bad simply because you dislike them?

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/27/18 at 5:40pm

Miles2Go2,

I still would like to know why you would be prone to snarky thoughts if someone deemed Cats his/her favorite show of all time.  Didn't you just say "Art is prone to the interpretation of each audience member?"

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/27/18 at 5:48pm

After Eight said: "Miles2Go2,

I still would like to knowwhy you would be prone to snarky thoughts ifsomeone deemed Cats his/herfavorite show of all time.Didn't you just say "Art is prone to the interpretation of each audience member?""

I’m not perfect. I said snarky “thoughts.”  That doesn’t mean I would verbalize them or post them. I’d like to think I would refrain for the very reasons of mine that you state above. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 4:02pm

News about Shalhoub:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dariush-Kashani-to-Take-Over-the-Role-of-Tewfiq-in-THE-BANDS-VISIT-Tony-Shaloub-to-Return-for-Select-Performances-in-May-20180228

Updated On: 2/28/18 at 04:02 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 4:14pm

It’s too bad Tony is leaving. He and Lenk are poetry together. However Dariush seems a solid replacement.

[binau]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 4:31pm

This is a big loss for the show!

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 4:37pm

Only time will tell. It is a vital time to be out considering April and May are when Tony Award voters go to the shows. 

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 4:37pm

From a financial standpoint, I think many are overestimating the power of Shalhoub's name. Sure, his name doesn't hurt the box office, but it hasn't proven to be a big help in his other commercial shows. The star of the show is the show and maybe the grosses will take a little hit, but nothing major. 

[binau]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:01pm

Perhaps I should clarify I am specifically referring to the quality of the show/artistic outcomes. 

[little_sally]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:19pm

LesWickedly said: "From a financial standpoint, I think many are overestimating the power of Shalhoub's name. Sure, his name doesn't hurt the box office, but it hasn't proven to be a big help in his other commercial shows. The star of the show is the show and maybe the grosses will take a little hit, but nothing major."

That's hard to judge given that the only commercial thing he's done since his Monk fame has been Lend Me a Tenor. Everything else has been non-profit.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:33pm

I don't think this is necessarily about Shalhoub's box office power. However, he is a well known and well liked character actor. Plus, this is a little, well reviewed show that has been getting great word of mouth. People leave loving Shalhoub and Lenk's chemistry, as well as the other wonderful character actors. They tell others. It's not all about money or names, it is also about what Tony and Katrina have achieved in terms of trust and performance. Tony said from the moment he met Katrina he felt like he knew her. This must go into the energy of the performance. I think people are worried about the energy of the piece. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:37pm

Seems like he could shoot Maisel and this at the same time, since it's set in NYC... unless it was a mustache issue?!

[binau]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:39pm

Bettyboy72 said: "I don't think this is necessarilyabout Shalhoub's box office power. However, he is a well known and well liked character actor. Plus, this is a little, well reviewed show that has been getting great word of mouth. People leave loving Shalhoub and Lenk's chemistry, as well as the other wonderful character actors. They tell others. It's not all about money or names, it is also about what Tony and Katrina have achieved in terms of trust and performance. Tony said from the moment he met Katrina he felt like he knew her. This must go into the energy of the performance. I think people are worried about the energy of the piece."

Exactly. This show will very quickly become an absolute bore and pointless should those two characters have little chemistry. Of course, almost everyone is replaceable in theatre so perhaps there is no need for us to feel concerned. They know what they are doing. But I wish them the best!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:49pm

MoveOnGypsy said: "Only time will tell. It is a vital time to be out considering April and May are when Tony Award voters go to the shows."

Anecdotal evidence at best, but I know many Tony voters who live in NY who have already seen the show, and it seems that a good majority of the out of town voters tend to see the shows in big chunks in the late fall and then return shortly after nominations are announced in the spring to catch new shows or ones they may have missed in the fall. I'm guessing that his absence will be taken into account when the producers make the next round of offers for available performances for the voters to attend.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 5:58pm

It’s a great show and I’m so glad I saw it in November right after it opened to rave reviews. The whole cast, Tony included, is great. And I agree that it’s unfortunate that any of the cast is stepping away leading up to the Tony Awards. However, this is such a strong show that it can thrive with strong cast replacements as any worthy show should. I agree that Tony is probably not the major reason (ala Bette) people are seeing this show in such large numbers. If it is true that Tony voters usually wait until March or April to see shows, maybe they’ll see the show in May when he returns for select dates. I don’t think his absence will affect its Tony chances although I suppose it could affect his chances of being nominated. As good as he is in the show, I do wonder if he could actually win for a largely non-singing role in a musical. Can anyone enlighten me when someone, who had largely only a speaking role in a musical, won? Also, what are some noticeable instances of someone being nominated or winning even though they stepped away from a still running production prior to the Tony Awards?.

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 9:29pm

This is too bad, I wonder how it will affecr the tonys.

[TFMH18]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 9:50pm

A major bummer. Hoping it doesn’t affect the grosses. I do think this virtually obliterates every chance Tony had to WIN the Tony (they were slight to begin with; he will still be nominated certainly). I do not think it will have an impact on the show winning best musical, so long as the new lead and Katrina Lenk have had at least some chance to rehearse with one another and are able to generate some chemistry. But in all seriousness: Shalhoub being out is nowhere near as detrimental to this show as would be the case were it Lenk departing. She to me makes the whole damn thing.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 9:59pm

I don't see Shalhoub's departure as having a big effect, grosses- or Tony-wise.

First, as others have pointed out, the show hardly has any marketing materials that display Shalhoub's name on it. They're really not advertising him at all. This is a show that's largely spread by word of mouth, and that WOM has mostly been in praise of the score, content, and Lenk's performance. Shalhoub is sensational as Tewfiq, but I don't think he's what people are writing home about, at least in the top 3 things people say.

Second, the lead actor category is very sparse this season. Moreover, Tony nominations are given to those who performed on a show's opening night—not who lasted the most months until early May.  

I think the show will continue to do well these next few weeks, and Shalhoub will still get a Tony nomination. All will be fine.   

[mikem]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 10:12pm

BroadwayConcierge, I want to give you a big THANK YOU for the heads-up that Shalhoub might be taking a leave from the show.  I was able to see it on Sunday with the full original cast, and I am really grateful that I was able to do so.

In terms of the Tonys, I agree that Shalhoub will be nominated, but won't win.  I'm not sure either of those have changed because of the leave.  Many of the musicals this season center around women, and I think the only eligible lead men will be Shalhoub, Ethan Slater, Paul Alexander Nolan, Joshua Henry, and Harry Hadden-Paton.  I believe there are supposed to be four nominees with 5 eligible candidates, and I can't see Shalhoub being left off that list.  Also, everyone on the Nominating Committee has probably already seen the show.

A recent example of someone who was on leave and still got nominated is Jonathan Groff for Hamilton.  

Updated On: 2/28/18 at 10:12 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 10:22pm

Yes, after I posted I remembered about Groff. I actually saw Hamilton during the one month he was out of the show to film the Looking movie for HBO. I was disappointed to miss him, but Andrew Rannells was great.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 11:23pm

My pleasure, mikem! Glad you got to see such a special OBC

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/28/18 at 11:39pm

Miles2go2 wrote: "Can anyone enlighten me when someone, who had largely only a speaking role in a musical, won? Also, what are some noticeable instances of someone being nominated or winning even though they stepped away from a still running production prior to the Tony Awards?."

Thomas Mitchell won a Tony award for a non-singing role in Hazel Flagg.

Madeline Kahn was let go from On the Twentieth Century, but was still nominated for a Tony Award.

 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/1/18 at 8:24am

a short term blow for bands visit. I agree it wont hurt its best musical prospects.  Glad I got to see Tony and Katrina do their thing!

[bfreak]

Posted: 3/1/18 at 8:28am

Also, i'm sure that Shaloub will probably be back full time once he finishes the tv show. This seems like a temprorary replacement, and I'm sure he'll finish out the remainder of his one year contract.