Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:03pm
Let's just go back and give Erivo's Tony to Laura Benanti--the better performance that season. Plus Benanti knows how to tread the line between controversial comments and being actually likable much better than Erivo. God, I hate that woman.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:05pm
GeorgeandDot said: "I just want to clarify that I know several members of the cast and crew and Oak and Casal are at fault for the closing of the show. I can't really discuss some of the stuff that went down, but the show is definitely closing due to the horrible backlash not because of the low ticket sales. The ticket sales would have gone up had Patinkin stepped in. They had to refund so many tickets for that period that they just couldn't have stayed open. Patinkin would have bought the show a few more months. So seriously, stop putting all the blame on the producers. It really isn't their fault that this is happening. They were trying. I feel terrible for that cast and crew. They deserved better.
"
All of Oak's twitter shout outs make more sense, guilty conscience maybe. I would think this would make for an uncomfortable week of shows
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:06pm
totally agree Uncle Wilky....terrible PR
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:12pm
No matter what, Oak will be branded with this his entire career.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:13pm
JayElle said: "Hogan, "no one lost a penny except the investors. " No Hogan, but we lost performer friends, and that's sad."
I think you are smart enough to appreciate what a non-sequitur that is. That doesn't negate or devalue your evident sadness but I also think you are smart enough to know that your "performer friends" [??!!??] don't die when their show closes. Barbara Cook died today; every one of the performers has a bright future. Hopefully with brighter producers.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:13pm
CurtainPullDowner, I love your image. Gave me a great laugh. And I needed that now. JayElle
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:13pm
UMM... "Gutted" "Crying," "in pain," destroyed"...do you folks have a real life? My god...it's a show, not a nuclear war.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:14pm
As someone loosely associated with the show - I can't understate enough that this was terribly handled but in no way a show of racism. they should have auditioned Oak in the first place. This was more about saving a financially struggling show (after Oak there were talks of a larger name taking over), and them not being happy with Oak's performance (though no one will publically admit that). Nothing to do with race. Everyone else who got involved made it that much worse. So frustrating for all involved, but oddly fittingly poetic considering the source material.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:19pm
"Is this how I die? Ridiculed and laughed at, wearing clown shoes."
God frikkin dammit. My heart has sunk so low after reading this. And I had a ticket for September 15.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:20pm
Perhaps, HoganHeroes, that performers have a rosy future, but I loved seeing them in the Comet theater as I did w/ the OBC of Ham. I'm a somewhat retiree blowing $ on Bway shows that I couldn't do for years. It gave me pleasure to see all succeed. None of us know what went on behind the doors, but I would've loved to see Oak/Mandy come together to say the "show must go on" and do so with their blessing. I found the folks who claim racism are generally racists themselves. I'm very disappointed with the result and I will miss them all.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:26pm
TheaterTech said, "s this how I die? Ridiculed and laughed at, wearing clown shoes."
I agree with your sadness that it ended this way.
I have tkt 8/9, 8/13, 9/2 and probably more in-between....
Wouldn't it be great for all the Comet souls to meet at a show..Would make me happy
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:27pm
This one hurts. I am so glad this show was here on Broadway to move me and so many others, but it will stay with me forever that it deserved better. I understand full well that this business is a risky/tough one, but the way this ended particularly stings.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:31pm
GeorgeandDot said: "I just want to clarify that I know several members of the cast and crew and Oak and Casal are at fault for the closing of the show. I can't really discuss some of the stuff that went down, but the show is definitely closing due to the horrible backlash not because of the low ticket sales. The ticket sales would have gone up had Patinkin stepped in. They had to refund so many tickets for that period that they just couldn't have stayed open. Patinkin would have bought the show a few more months. So seriously, stop putting all the blame on the producers. It really isn't their fault that this is happening. They were trying. I feel terrible for that cast and crew. They deserved better."
That's terrible. I have tickets for 8/15 and, back when I bought them, was looking forward to seeing Oak. At this point, I'm happy NOT to be seeing him because I feel he's been tainted with this mess.
That said... what is Scott like?
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:32pm
HogansHero said: "JayElle said: "Hogan, "no one lost a penny except the investors. " No Hogan, but we lost performer friends, and that's sad."
I think you are smart enough to appreciate what a non-sequitur that is. That doesn't negate or devalue your evident sadness but I also think you are smart enough to know that your "performer friends" [??!!??] don't die when their show closes. Barbara Cook died today; every one of the performers has a bright future. Hopefully with brighter producers.
"
Are you really expecting theater fans to just shrug and say c'est la vie? I'm so confused by your comments. It's fine that you can say you called it way back when, but how is that supposed to be any consolation for fans of the show? Have you never been sad over a show's closing?
And really, anyone who knows the business should know that it's not a given that bright futures will lead to roles and opportunities like what Great Comet provided.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:33pm
@JayElle, that would not make the show go on. As I said there was not a path forward. More important, life goes on, and every performer knows that. One would think an audience member would too.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:33pm
Cynthia Erivo is an immense talent, and her performance in the recent Color Purple revival was absolutely spellbinding and she deserved every accolade she received. I will never take that away from her.
That being said, her behavior on twitter- not even so much her opinion, but her attitude about it- has made me like her a lot less now. She's really let the success she attained with her singular Broadway credit go straight to her head. Miss Keyboard Warrior really should have stayed out of this.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:35pm
adamgreer said: "Cynthia Erivo is an immense talent, and her performance in the recent Color Purple revival was absolutely spellbinding and she deserved every accolade she received. I will never take that away from her.
That being said, her behavior on twitter- not even so much her opinion, but her attitude about it- has made me like her a lot less now. She's really let the success she attained with her singular Broadway credit go straight to her head. Miss Keyboard Warrior really should have stayed out of this. "
Perfectly put.
I still can't rationalize the fact that this gorgeous production's demise will forever be at least somewhat attributed to two people who weren't even associated with it in the first place. Truly crazy.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:43pm
I think on Sunday I'll probably get some dust and ashes in my eyes (or some other sort of allergies) when I hear this gorgeous final song:
https://youtu.be/lxsixnN53K4
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:50pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "adamgreer said: "Cynthia Erivo is an immense talent, and her performance in the recent Color Purple revival was absolutely spellbinding and she deserved every accolade she received. I will never take that away from her.
That being said, her behavior on twitter- not even so much her opinion, but her attitude about it- has made me like her a lot less now. She's really let the success she attained with her singular Broadway credit go straight to her head. Miss Keyboard Warrior really should have stayed out of this. "
Perfectly put.
I still can't rationalize the fact that this gorgeous production's demise will forever be at least somewhat attributed to two people who weren't even associated with it in the first place. Truly crazy.
See, occasionally we can agree on something. 
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:51pm
I was gonna say! 
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:52pm
There advance must be abysmal. I mean it's still doing well. It's not like it's limping to a close.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:54pm
RippedMan said: "There advance must be abysmal. I mean it's still doing well. It's not like it's limping to a close."
That's what Malloy said in his series of tweets a week or so ago. According to him, once Ingrid leaves, they were set to take a huge nosedive.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 10:56pm
In all the years I've seen shows, I will never forget walking into the Comet theater to see the extraordinary theater design with lighting, staging, etc. I may not have many years on this earth, but I cherish those events that I've had. I've seen the show multiple times from various seats. I tell folks I spend my retirement money before a nursing home takes it. I loved being on the stage to see the wonderful performance around me. I loved the cast table that was put up for the public to buy. And during the show, Denee and Brittain squeezed themselves in our table while we all laughed.
On another occasion, I had a seat in the same foursome and no one warned me to get up for Denee. When she and Brittain came over, I did my best to get up and let them squeeze in, but I screwed it up so all in the audience laughed.
For me, Comet was a Disney-like experience. Much like riding the boat in the "Small World After All" ride in DisneyWorld, but Comet performers weren't puppets.
Sorry folks, let me reminisce like old Grandma. I'm so sorry that Oak/Mandy/Hagan couldn't get it done for all of us. I understand that the show had no post Mandy performer. That's on Hagan. What comes around; goes around. I look forward to going to as many shows as I can b4 it closes.
I hope to meet some of my BwayWorld friends there. I'm hard to miss. Old Mama looking for entries into a bucket list. Thank you, JayElle
T
Posted: 8/8/17 at 11:03pm
I see a lot of theatre, but I've rarely been as moved as I was by Great Comet. It was my final show on my first NYC trip, and my mom and I rushed it and just adored it. I was really hoping to see it again if I make it back to the city this fall, and I'm so sad that won't be possible. Even with all this controversy, it's lovely to see all the love for the show in these threads. I hope the show is remembered for its innovation and creativity, not this ending.
If this isn't an okay request, let me know, but since a lot of you lovely folks are talking about going to the show in the coming weeks: if any of you end up with a shaker and don't want it or already have one, would you be willing to pass it along to me? When we saw it, my mom got gypped because a woman down the row took extras and so the basket was empty by the time it got to her, and she insisted I keep mine for myself.
Posted: 8/8/17 at 11:04pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "adamgreer said: "Cynthia Erivo is an immense talent, and her performance in the recent Color Purple revival was absolutely spellbinding and she deserved every accolade she received. I will never take that away from her.
That being said, her behavior on twitter- not even so much her opinion, but her attitude about it- has made me like her a lot less now. She's really let the success she attained with her singular Broadway credit go straight to her head. Miss Keyboard Warrior really should have stayed out of this. "
Perfectly put.
I still can't rationalize the fact that this gorgeous production's demise will forever be at least somewhat attributed to two people who weren't even associated with it in the first place. Truly crazy.
"
I 100% agree. Her last few tweets are making me dislike her.
I still don't even understand how this Rafael Casal person even got involved, though? Who IS he? How did his tweets pick up so much steam?
