The Critics on Little Women- Page 2

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 6:41pm

What he was basically saying was that the source material is just so sweet and affectionate and well-known, that many audience members will happily overlook the inadequacies in the book and score.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 6:43pm

Let me be the first to say that I HATE Matthew Murray's reviews. He always seems to go against everyone's opinions just to start controversy. His classic was when he compared Wicked to Dance of the Vampires, saying the latter was almost better if I remember correctly.

Did Ken leave Broadway.com?

Also, Ben Brantley didnt like Sutton in TMM, I pray he writes her a love letter.. she is beyond brilliant in this.

Broadway.com's review is dead on.. not AMAZING, but still a satisfying night at the theatre

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 6:47pm

The show has NOT been selling out -- not even close. Attendance has typically been in the 70s percentage-wise and has never been higher than 80%, even with discounts. While it does have a certain built-in audience because of the title and Ms. Foster, it's going to need a solid slate of reviews to have a decent run.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 6:49pm

Brantley's only mention of Sutton Foster in his Millie review:

"The evening is built less on style than on hard-driving enthusiasm, a trait perfectly embodied by its leading lady, Ms. Foster, who has the pearly toothed, clean-scrubbed glow of the young Marie Osmond and works like a Trojan throughout."

Hardly sounds like he didn't like her.

And Mandelbaum still writes his column twice a week (sometimes more) for Broadway.com -- he just doesn't write reviews very often anymore.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:01pm

Well, Sutton doesn't seem to like him. "There is life after Ben Brantley."

[Plum]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:02pm

I think I'm warming to Little Women just because Murray disliked it so much.

And for the love of everything holy, can we have one critical review thread without someone coming in with the same old "why should we listen to critics" schpiel? Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:02 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:05pm

My sources must be wrong. I promise I won't listen next time.

I was acting on info supplied by a friend who said that when he called for tickets, the guy said that the four dates he gave were already sold out.

Sorry for the bad info.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:07pm

In his Millie review, Brantley didn't like the overall show, but had mostly nice things to say about the cast.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:08pm

Mandelbaum's column appears 3 times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday (although if it's a holiday, he sometimes takes off a day).

However, he has been replaced as the musical theatre critic for Broadway.com by Eric Grode. I assume it's because he was burnt out from the grind of reviewing. I'm glad he's still writing his column, but I miss his illuminating, intelligent and astute reviews.

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:08pm

From ATC's review:

Danny Gurwin, playing Laurie, a neighbor and eventual romantic interest to two March girls, seems more appropriate for 2005 Chelsea than 1865 Concord

Does anyone else think that's too much?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:10pm

That's a bit much.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:10pm

Sorry thats what I meant, I knew he still did his column but found it funny he doesnt review that much anymore..

I got the impression Brantley didnt like Sutton from her interview on Broadway.com, I guess he did like her after all.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:11pm

That's a bit mean-spirited, I agree.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:11pm

MD, not only is it a bit much, it's also a bit inaccurate.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:14pm

PS- Little Women is hardly a sell out, its still on TDF for quite a few dates..

[shira467]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:16pm

I liked Danny Gurwin!

I admit, I teared up at "Some Things Are Meant To Be".

I wouldn't say that Broadway audiences are settling for less - but that Broadway isn't making the most high quality of musicals. C'mon, look at the lineup this season - Good Vibrations and All Shook Up, do not bode well for the future.

However, I would hardly say Little Women is slop. Sure, it has it's flaws. But it has it's built in audience, as we know. And I feel overall, the acting is quite good. So hopefully it will have a good run - maybe not a decade, but a couple of years.

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:17pm

I agree, Rath. I enjoyed Danny's performance. If MM thought he was too effeminate, I'm sure he could've put it more tactfully. Didn't Brantley make a similar dig at Gavin Creel in his La Cage review? Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:17 PM

[ShuQ]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:17pm

I think the Broadway.com review sums it up wonderfully. I loved the show...but you don't just completely come out of the theatre blown away, but you enjoyed yourself..and that's good enough for me.

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:18pm

Benzy, while it is on TDF for Weds Matinee, I'm sure they have at least a few sold out perfs and the show wasnt on TKTS Friday nite!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:27pm

As for the "Lowered Expections" comment...I disagree. I just think it means you don't have to have a huge elephant come down the aisles or have a green girl fly or drop a chandelier to enjoy yourself and feel good, and that show proves it.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:32pm

It used to be up on TDF for more than justs Wed matinees.. I've seen it up for Tues- Thurs and even one or two Sat matinees...

When I went it was full though, and its grosses have been pretty good for previews.. I bet it could sell for a few months just on its name! I think good reviews are really going to be needd to boost attendence however.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:33pm

As far as the effeminate comment about Gurwin:

I hate it when flamboyantly gay critics talk about performers not being butch enough. It's obvious what's going on here -- they've been accused of being a flaming queen for so many years, they'll take any opportunity to bash someone else for the personal slights they've had to suffer.

And yes, Brantley, I'm talking about you. Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:33 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:41pm

Just read Eric Grode's review. It was very positive, especially towards Sutton and Maureen.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:45pm

As for the "Lowered Expections" comment...I disagree. I just think it means you don't have to have a huge elephant come down the aisles or have a green girl fly or drop a chandelier to enjoy yourself and feel good, and that show proves it


But the comment and the quote have nothing to do with spectacle.
It has to do with the exact opposite, the substance and quality of the material.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:48pm

Priest, I just reread the paragraph in question and I have to disagree with you. The sentence is ambiguous, but I'm leaning towards the interpretation that the musical is good despite being low on spectacle.