The Nance was ....- Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 2:00pm

And it should be noted: we are relying on the word of ONE poster (a new one at that) stating the patron was being obnoxious. Might not have been that way at all. (It could have been, certainly -- but we don't really know.)

[Patronus]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 2:03pm

Why should that be noted? Whether the original poster is credible or not I think we've all been at performance where there were loud mouths?

It isn't like we're going to ban together and hunt the mouthbreather down.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 3:38pm

"You paid to see the show preview or not so you are entitled to your opinion."

Pay shmay. Good for everyone who PAID. And what if you didn't pay? Are you still entitled to your opinion?

[Playbilly]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 3:56pm

Seems simple to me. You allow an audience to view the work, you accept the compliments and complaints. Previews or long term run.

Likewise, comments in the lobby are to be expected whether in whispers or shouts. The creative team should stay backstage if they don't want to hear opinions. They SHOULD hear what works and doesn't from an audience.

I'm not sure many in an audience knows if the creative team is among them, or care.

Updated On: 3/23/13 at 03:56 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 4:05pm

totally right. I was playing devil's advocate all this time.

That's what previews are for. They can rehearse for years, but previews are to put the thing before an audience and see what works, artistically and technically.

I can't help but relate to artists and their hard work and having it fail tho.

[egghumor]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 4:14pm

This thread brings to mind a couple of funny stories involving audience members and creative team members.

The first one is from LEDA HAD A LITTLE SWAN which closed in previews in 1968 at the Cort. A very disgruntled, male audience member was exiting the show during the first act. In his path was someone watching the show from the back of the house. The departing patron asked the man if he had anything to do with the play. When he answered "Why, yes..." the man punched him!

During the run of A KURT WEILL CABARET at the long-gone Bijou, an audience member had left his seat to use the bathroom. Alvin Epstein, one of the two actors in the show was waiting to make his entrance from the lobby of the house. While waiting for his cue, he spotted the man leaving the bathroom and on his way out of the theater. Epstein said to the man: "Sir, the theater is that way," to which the man replied, "I know, that's why I'm going THIS way!"




Updated On: 3/23/13 at 04:14 PM

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 4:55pm

"totally right. I was playing devil's advocate all this time."

So your previous 10 posts in this thread were just to exercise people? see what they would say? Run up your post count? Good for you! Well done!

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 5:28pm

No, to all those.

But anyway, are you really a fisherman? I love that. My father used to catch grouper in FL.

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 5:45pm

I used to get annoyed when I read totally negative posts about a show that was early in previews. With most shows, even universally panned shows, I can always find something I like about it. However, given the price of tickets and the state of the economy, some may find it it somewhat helpful to read others opinions in order to use your entertainment dollars to the max. what I really have an issue with on this board and in theaters is that many people are seeing the show on a comp ticket. so the criticisms seem to come from "theater experts" who like nothing but love the power to influence. I will see this show because its an interesting story and Nathan Lane is in it. That's enough for me. If I don't like it I won't recommend it to my friends. That's about the extent that all these "reviews" on this board influence me. If I had listened to half of the critiques on this board I would have missed some great moments from shows that weren't perfect, but enjoyable just the same.

[On the cynical side]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 8:00pm

Wow, it would certainly appear I touched a bit of a nerve. The (newbie) original poster here. I think you all have interesting and quite valid points. I certainly feel anyone has the right to express their opinion when and wherever they choose. Obviously, the quality of show was the topic of many conversations in the lobby during intermission. What I found fault with, was the gentleman in question asking random people "isn't it awful? ...do you like it?" AND what I perceived to be the malicious gleam in his eye. It comes down to courtesy. Maybe I was enjoying the show, or maybe, as a couple of you pointed out, I was a member of the creative team. He didn't know. Of course the creative team was there to gauge audience reactions (the director was actually sitting right behind us), I just don't think it's nice for them to hear that something they've been working so hard hard on is "awful." Just FYI, I may be a new poster to this forum, but I'm a pretty seasoned theater goer. As for preview vs. frozen shows, I can remember when preview performance tickets cost less. I think that was a pretty darn good idea, but I suppose today's economy renders that an impossibility.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 8:06pm

But why SHOULDN'T the director hear that (at least some) are far from pleased with the show?

I would think if a b'way director can't take those comments in stride and take a look at the work, he has no business BEING a professional director.

If everyone made "nice" around the director, nothing would change. AND he'd be confused why it gets panned or sales are sub-par.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 8:08pm

Maybe you should have told this dolt exactly what you wrote here. There is nothing wrong with responding to rudeness with rudeness. And, you'll give the other theater goers such a show!

[On the cynical side]

Posted: 3/23/13 at 8:58pm

Well, Dramamama611, you have a point - that's why they were sitting there watching the preview - to gauge audience reaction. And as seasoned as these folks were, I'm sure they've heard worse. I just don't think "awful" is a particularly astute criticism. The presence of Mr. Lane (and Ms. Huffman) alone guaranteed the proceedings were not (IMO) awful. I'm sure the yawns, the tepid response, the walkouts, and the palpable mood of boredom in the audience during the second act told them all they needed to know. Oddly, there was hearty and resounding applause at the curtain call, so perhaps I'm in the wrong.

[Patash]

Posted: 3/24/13 at 4:35pm

I'm still scratching my head why it's "horrible" to view your opinion in the lobby of a show with other people who paid the same price you did to see the show, but it's just fine to post on a website of major theatre goers, most of whom haven't yet seen the show and trash it there.

But add me to the list that says if they are going to charge you full price to see a "preview" then you have as much right to trash that "performance" as one after it officially opens. If the show is such a mess that it's not ready to be seen, then why in the hell are they charging people to see it? And yes, I realize it may change and get better, but still they are presenting it as a performance, albeit a preview one.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 3/24/13 at 4:39pm

"The presence of Mr. Lane (and Ms. Huffman) alone guaranteed the proceedings were not (IMO) awful."

The Addams Family,.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/24/13 at 4:42pm

Welcome On the cynical side. There is much to like (and dislike) about this board. I enjoy it so much, for the most part. I've learned to deal with critics...as you will too. Enjoy. from RC in Austin, Texas

[Kelly2]

Posted: 3/24/13 at 4:49pm

"I'm still scratching my head why it's "horrible" to view your opinion in the lobby of a show with other people who paid the same price you did to see the show, but it's just fine to post on a website of major theatre goers, most of whom haven't yet seen the show and trash it there."

"Horrible", maybe not. Tacky? Yeah. Then again, I always find loud critical commentary at intermission (positive or negative) to be coming from people who quite like the sound of their own voice. Whether you liked the show or not, you're in public and at a theatre, and there's a way to act that's respectful, no matter your opinion.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/24/13 at 4:55pm

"I guess what I'm trying to say isn't coming across. I find that I have a lot of trouble articulating my point of view in a typed message, but I'll try.

When people harshly criticize a show in previews, I'm afraid it sways others to avoid it, whereas in reality, it can turn out to be much better. "

Jane, for the record I think you express yourself very well on here.

I agree with you in theory, but as others have said I think it's a more complex issue. Would a non-regular theatre goer even know the show was in previews? Maybe they just saw that Nathan Lane was in a play and decided to see it. I admit, it still baffles me that preview tickets are usually full price. But this gets into so many issues--the whole "well they should have tried it out, out of town" thing, the fact that when they do often the major critics still go or else a positive reaction is dismissed as "well that unsophisticated audience *would* like anything," etc.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/24/13 at 6:01pm

Thank you so much Eric!

[Patash]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 8:59am

Is there a thread somewhere where The Nance is being discussed? Clearly this thread isn't for that.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 1:24pm

You know, I really don't care about any of this high and mighty B.S. I'm reading. Can someone post something ELSE about THE NANCE? I'm curious to read more about it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 1:39pm

For me, the bottom line is, if I see something, I'll have an opinion on it. If I have an opinion, I can state it. The where, when, how and amount paid pretty much boils down to a personal level of tact, but there is no rule, written or unwritten, regarding previews. None. If it's considered disrespectful to the performers and creators of the show to say something negative during previews, it is equally disrespectful to demand censorship of audience opinions that are not positive (NOBODY ever bitches about gushing reviews during previews).

[leefowler]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:51pm

Here's the thing...

If you see an ugly baby, you certainly have every right to state your opinion. But if you do so within ear site of the mother, you're an asshole.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 3:41pm

Holy Christ, how was the freakin' Nance already?! Why does every thread have to turn into the same five people going back and forth on some aside before we get to whole original point.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 3:51pm

I always find the asides the most interesting part of any thread...