The Perfect Crime - How is this still running?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 3:38pm

Saw it today. Or, ehm, Act 1. First of all - if I had a clue what was happening, perhaps I would've stayed. And second of all, with all of 15 people in the audience, how is this still running?

Any why is that woman still in it? or... in it to begin with? Is she even TRYING to act?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 4:19pm

Like the success of I LOVE YOU YOU'RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE, this one is an eternal mystery.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 5:32pm

But how is this running with such small audiences?

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 5:33pm

She's the general manager, company manager, and theatre owner/manager. And I heard she was also a producer...

It can't be an expensive show to run, but yeah, the numbers are puzzling.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 6:10pm

Sosososostrange. I think I've seen some better acting in elementary schools.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 6:27pm

Like in real estate, the key is three words: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The show has always been in theaters right in the heart of Times Square, usually a couple of blocks from TKTS, so it's an easy sell to unsuspecting tourists who see the sign "The Longest Running Play in New York" and take a chance.

They also have always had one or two people who work the TKTS line and are very good at convincing people to forgo their main choices and see Perfect Crime. You'd think word of mouth would have killed the damn thing by now -- though I've never bothered to see it, I've yet to hear of anyone who didn't hate it and most people walk out at intermission. But, somehow it just keeps going year after year -- now almost 20 years and counting.

There was a story on Catherine Russell -- star/general manager/house manager/producer -- a while back. She's apparently only missed something like 3 performances in 20 years (all to attend her sisters' weddings). So I guess as long as she wants to continue with it (and can deal with the inevitable dips and fluctuations at the box office), it'll keep going.

Updated On: 3/21/07 at 06:27 PM

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 6:37pm

If all the people walk out at intermission, do they not perform act two?


...just kidding.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 6:39pm

Hey ilov,

You should have been downstairs, I had a great time at The Fantasticks today.

[otis33]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 7:02pm

This show was one of my classmates first jobs out of drama school. She was asst. stage manager, and covered Catherine Russell - and went on! I think she was the first to ever go on for her. And I think MargoChanning is right (well, when isn't MC right) that it was for something like a wedding or whatnot.

My classmate could not get out of her contract fast enough.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 7:14pm

Catherine Russell is either in heaven or hell, depending on how she views her situation. But the audience is decidedly hot around the collar.

[Danielm]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:24pm

I'm guessing low overhead and they really work the TKTS line.

[myManCape]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:30pm

Actually Margo, I think her miss count is up to 4. And at least one of those absences was for the birth of her son.

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:31pm

My parents said it was the worst show they have ever seen. The only one they have both walked out of.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:42pm

"Actually Margo, I think her miss count is up to 4. And at least one of those absences was for the birth of her son."

How could they afford the costume adjustments for 9 months?

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:45pm

My friend and I saw this last year. It was terrible. We had a great time though because it was so awful. they say this is what would happen if Tenessee Williams, Agatha Christie, and Herman Pinter (I think) all wrote a play. We said only if they were really really drunk. It was terrible. and I don't think i'm ruining it for anyone, but if you actually want to see this stop here.

Who the f*** is the witch doctor? What a terrible show. Dreadful, just dreadful. We only went because we lost a lottery for another show.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:50pm

Harold Pinter, close enough though.

I've never even heard of this show before. I suppose based off this thread it is a good thing!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:52pm

I'll bet anything that Russell probably sewed any and all costume adjustments herself. Heck,, she probably delivered her baby by herself in her dressing room in between a matinee and an evening show.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:52pm

Updated On: 3/21/07 at 08:52 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:52pm

Updated On: 3/21/07 at 08:52 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 9:05pm

Margo, that was hilarious.

Look at it this way: THE FANTASTICKS ran for 42 years and during the slower years played to a house with one person in the audience. Lore Noto wouldn't close the show. Russell is the same way. Ironic that they are playing in the same complex now.

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 9:05pm

Margo, don't you know she had her dog there to help with the delivery. It came to every single show until it died.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 9:20pm

I'd never heard of this either, but I was looking at some of the articles on the website and this was what everyone involved had intended all along, a long running show in which Russell would be an actor-manager. Apparently she's got a zillion other jobs, but it said she makes nine hundred bucks a week from the show. It didn't say anything about her having a kid, though.

The whole experience sounds rather masturbatory, but more power to her, I guess.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 9:27pm

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" is a great musical. It got rave reviews and the theatre was packed when I saw it on a Monday about a year ago. This show is a great analysis of human relationships and interaction. It's also very funny.

Updated On: 3/21/07 at 09:27 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 10:03pm

If we are talking about the same person, she also took our tickets when we saw it

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 10:31pm

While that might be true about I Love You You're Perfect, it definately ISN'T about Perfect Crime.