The Critics Rave,, You Go --- It's Horrible!

We all know the deal. The nefarious critics see some pretentious and/or hateful and/ or miserable and/or boring show, then heap praise upon it knowing that people will be induced to buy tickets and then hate it. You are among those people, as am I. How many times have you been burned?


My list is long:

Sweeney Todd
Sunday in the Park With George
Passion
Parade
Title of Show
Fun Home
The Flick
Circle Mirror Transformation
Mr. Burns
Once
Detroit
Book of Mormon
Mother* With Hat
Jerusalem
Clybourne Park
Venus in Fur
All in the Timing
Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson....

And many others I'm glad I can't recall at this moment

Updated On: 7/5/14 at 07:10 AM

Rent
Andrew Jackson
Once
COPENHAGEN - One word BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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True. But I can usually find something I like, even when I am bored/disappointed. I loved the setting for JERUSALEM. I liked the costumes in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. What I love about live theater is the ability to direct my attention anywhere I want, and so find something worthwhile if the show in the center ring isn't quite what I had hoped. But most of all, for me, is discovering an actor who was previously unknown to me. Example - seeing the non-Jewish FIDDLER revival and noting Robert Petkoff. A young Alfred Drake, I thought. Duly noted for future reference!

Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Once, Andrew Jackson, Cats, Hedwig. I know there are others, but can't recall them at the moment.

Peter and The Star Catcher, Les Mis, Phantom, Lion King, I loved Matilda but thought Ben Brantly over did that review.

Updated On: 7/5/14 at 09:04 AM

you really didn't like In The Heights, Billy Elliot, Matilda and Pippin

Arcadia. Zzzzzz.

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How could I forget the Lion King, even worse than reNt

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Billy Eliot - The score (except for a few songs) is very dull and forgettable, the dancing is very overrated, and the story, while moving, is also cliche and predictable. I
In the Heights - The book is predictable and the show ends suddenly with everyone's problems being fixed by the lotto. The first act is very slow with way too many "I Want" songs. The show only really works with the right cast.
Matilda - I liked the show ok, but was underwhelmed as I expected to really be wowed with all the raves it got. The show is good, but I was just unimpressed.
Pippin - Still don't get the love for it. The only reason people like if is because of the spectacle. The same thing that people make fun of, and the show gets raves even though other shows with spectacle are a million times better! The score is very uneven, with some gems and some real clunkers. The spectacle completely overshadows the material and sometimes has no integration to the plot. The show has no real meaning. Is it a cautionary tale? Is everything a metaphor? What is the show saying to us?

I am underwhelmed by Rent and Cats in general...no matter the production.

While I didn't think they were AWFUL, I did not think that Pippin, Lion King or Once were "all that". I am also most baffled by Pippin - which I have seen a number of times over the years and while this production was creative, I didn't find the urge to jump up and down in raves either and had no interest in seeing it more than once (which is unusual for me, I love to see shows more than once in general).

Billy Elliot and Matilda were victims of too much hype...IMO.

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Updated On: 7/5/14 at 10:25 AM

After Eight, you're always a breath of fresh air in this very tired board! So kudos for the great thread:

I am sure I'm forgetting some but here it is:

Sweeney Todd
Once
Book of Mormon
Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Producers
Movin' Out
The Lion King
Matilda
Bullets Over Broadway
Sleep No More
Spamalot
Drowsy Chaperone
Altar Boyz
Avenue Q
Brooklyn
Bonnie and Clyde
Big Fish
Hedwig
Gypsy
The Pajama Game
In The Heights
Pacific Overtures

I want to state that maybe not every critic raved about those particular shows, but I do remember reading a rave or two over them.

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