The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Review

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 2:15am

I'm not very good at reviewing shows so sorry in advance. I saw the matinee of this play today, I highly recommend that any wrestling fan goes out and see it if they have a chance. Now saying that, I've been a wrestling fan all of my life and I was really looking forward to how this was going to be done. If you follow wrestling you will understand this play a hell of a lot more than the average person. You could easily replace Chad with Hulk Hogan or John Cena or any other big name star that has been around in the past that couldn't wrestle if his life depended on it.

Now there were some people there, they were older woman who left during the intermission and I overheard them complaining about how awful it was. I don't believe they had any idea what the play was going to be about in the first place though. The rest of the crowd seemed to enjoyed themselves though.

Tomorrow is the last day for the show so I suggest getting out there to see it.

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 7:58am

"Now there were some people there, they were older woman who left during the intermission and I overheard them complaining about how awful it was."

I agree with them. Unfortunately, I stayed to the bitter end. I should have followed their example.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 8:15am

I agree, After Eight. I loathed the entire thing.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 9:11am

Are you two wrestling fans?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 9:12am

Nope. I am a theatre fan, though.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 9:16am

Well I figured that much lol I was just curious because I think for the most part you have to actually be a wrestling fan to enjoy the show, which is definitely a fault of the show because it should try to connect to everyone.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 9:43am

The play isn't actually ABOUT wrestling though...

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 9:49am

I thought Act One was rough, until I saw Act Two and realized was the writer was getting it. It took a long time to get there, but when it did, I found myself moved. However, the language, word and rhythm play were all fascinating.

I don't think you have to be a wrestling fan... considering it's not really about wrestling.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 9:51am

Yes I understood the message behind it all with the non wrestling factor of the play but there are soooo many things in the show that are in there for wrestling fans as well that I think may turn off the normal theatre going person. Chad Deity is Hulk Hogan, he is John Cena. I've watched people be put into characters who they weren't even close to being in real life threw out all the years of my wrestling watching. I've also seen that once the wrestlers are allowed to be themselves that they start to get popular and gain fame because they are comfortable in who they are as a character now, ex. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Everything that happened in that play has happened in real life wrestling numerous times.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 10:19am

You realize it had a lot to do with race and class issues, right?

And if you can only like it if you're a wrestling fan, then it pretty much fails.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 10:26am

Yes I understood that, I'm just saying for me there was a ton more about the show that I appreciated because of the wrestling aspect.

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 4:32pm

No, I'm not a wrestling fan, but I certainly understand what it's all about. The truth is, you can't really parody what is itself the most ludicrous of self-parodies.

But I found the play wretched not because of the wrestling, but because of the writing.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 5:39pm

I found it to be quite an invigorating experience.

[April Saul]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 6:16pm

I'm not a wrestling fan, but I thought Chad Deity was really terrific! A breath of fresh air and I would even have been fine with it winning the Pulitzer, since it was actually a finalist this year.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 6:37pm

I really enjoyed it too! Definitely one of my favorite shows of the season.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 7:51pm

My kids saw it lst night. Haven't heard their review yet. They're seeing This Wide Night right now.

[WholeMegillah2]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 8:16pm

A brilliant show, beautifully written and staged with tremendous dynamism. But not for the old or weak-minded.

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/20/10 at 8:56pm

"But not for the old or weak-minded."

Let's see, you've just joined this group today, and right off the bat you make a remark that is ageist, insulting, and offensive.

Not a good beginning.

[WholeMegillah2]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 7:55pm

The "old" part of that was a reference to the previous poster who had mentioned that older audience members seemed to like the play less. Which was my observation as well. Because it's true.

As for "weak-minded," I can understand why you're sensitive about that one. Surely you've heard it before!

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 12:01am

"As for "weak-minded," I can understand why you're sensitive about that one. Surely you've heard it before!"

Actually, I haven't. But there's a first time for everything. I guess up to now, I was lucky not to ever have encountered anyone as ageist, offensive, and obnoxious as you.

But then everyone's luck runs out eventually.

[WholeMegillah2]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 4:14am

"Actually, I haven't."

I imagine it's only something people have been saying behind your back then. Good for you! Your acquaintances are polite.

Back to the point: CHAD DEITY is a terrific show that will have enormous appeal to people large-minded enough to appreciate it.

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 6:51am

"Your acquaintances are polite."

Would that you could say the same about yourself.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 3:46pm

I saw this play on Sunday. I thought Terence Archie (Chad Diety) had a ton of charisma. The character of Macedonia kind of reminded me of Usnavi from In the Heights (in terms of the speech pattern and inflection).

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 4:30pm

Back to the point: CHAD DEITY is a terrific show that will have enormous appeal to people large-minded enough to appreciate it.

What a dumb thing to say. It has nothing to do with me being small-minded. I am far from being small-minded. My issue was that the actual writing was bad. Plain and simple.

The character of Macedonia kind of reminded me of Usnavi from In the Heights (in terms of the speech pattern and inflection).

The first thing I said at intermission was "I didn't know Lin-Manuel did plays...". I was really bothered by the fact that he sounded like he was rapping all of his lines, when in fact he was just delivering a monologue.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 4:36pm

I wouldn't take wholemegillah2 very seriously folks - he/she was most likely a marketing intern at Second Stage trying to justify his/her existence by touting the show on chat sites.

Anyhow, the show is DOA and gone. Let's move on as well.