Posted: 6/15/15 at 11:59am
I also saw the show Saturday night and loved it!!!!!!!! The show was brilliantly directed, and Chita was amazing. I don't understand though, why was this show a hard sell? Don't people know Kander and Ebb and Chita Rivera?
Posted: 6/15/15 at 12:01pm
I also thought that the it being the final K&E/Chita musical would be a stronger selling point.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 12:40pm
I don't think it was marketed particularly well in terms of-- THIS IS IT FOLKS. COME AND SEE IT WHILE YOU CAN. ("It" meaning the last K&E show, with Chita, who's also older now, but not retiring as it turns out.)
But it's just a hard sell in general. I think the majority of the public that goes to Broadway is usually stupid, but I'm not going to put the commercial Broadway theater down at the moment, simply because FUN HOME's success and winning of the Tony Award is such a huge moment, and perhaps a step forward in waking the public up to what musicals and what theater should be and can be in general.
I also blame Ben Brantley, who should have just sucked it up and given it a nicer review. I think not having a glowing pull-quote from the Times didn't help. In any event, I'm sorry it didn't last. I'm glad I got to see it twice, and that the people who wanted to see it did see it, and mostly adored it. I'm glad the cast album is coming out. It'll live on that way, and in regional theaters, and in my memory.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:16pm
Brantley's review of Honeymoon did Zilch and that was a much easier sell.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:18pm
Wait, do you really think a reviewer should give a review he cannot stand behind? It is not a reviewer's job to help sell tickets.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:21pm
I just think that that the success or failure of pretty much any show depending on the thoughts of ONE bitter and jaded queen is ridiculous. But it is what it is.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:22pm
I agree that the marketing should have made this more of an event.
Btw, does anyone know how Scottsboro Boys did in London? Was it a hit?
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:23pm
If a reviewer's job is not to sell tickets, why are their raves so coveted & why do shows with negatives from him and others search them for pull quotes?
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:30pm
Scottsboro in London was critically lauded but the public still didn't show up for it. It was so wonderful too.
The advertising was kind of/very misleading...all the posters and ads showed cast members jumping and smiling and dancing and it was all very happy. And that works for the show, to get kind of the shocking juxtaposition of what you're seeing vs the content. BUT, not many English people know about Scottsboro. So they see these signs and are like, okay, it's about people smiling and dancing. Just kind of weird.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 1:40pm
I think when THE VISIT goes to London (which is most definitely the plan right now), it will have a much better life.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 2:12pm
I think the British probably know and care more about Chita than most Americans, which is sad. And I think they probably know the original play more, which isn't really sad, it's just...typical? I don't know. And honestly, I don't care. I saw it. I loved it. F*ck 'em all.
Posted: 6/15/15 at 2:19pm
did donna mckechnie ever gone in the role? if so how was she?
Posted: 6/18/15 at 11:56am
young Anton was eating young Chita's **** out good as hell at the top of the show when i was there on Saturday evening!!
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:10pm
"young Anton was eating young Chita's **** out good as hell at the top of the show when i was there on Saturday evening!! "
You are just the worst.
Why would you even say that? Is that supposed to be funny?
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:13pm
its the truth! i was like omg damn
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:14pm
Agree with this-- I saw Scottsboro in London and it was spectacular. As an American, I knew the history, but the woman next to me leaned over and asked me if this really happened at the curtain. Sigh...
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:15pm
Really hoping The Visit makes it to the West End!
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:16pm
It's been announced that it is going to London with Chita.
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:30pm
"It's been announced that it is going to London with Chita."
great! Lots of theatres are opening up, so looking forward to that one!
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:40pm
I'm very glad to have seen this one, while at the same time understanding how it isn't the sort of thing the tourists would ever take to. And getting the tourist trade is necessary to make a profit on Broadway. Let's just call this another beautiful prestige flop, like Scottsboro Boys.
Posted: 6/18/15 at 12:57pm
"I think when THE VISIT goes to London (which is most definitely the plan right now), it will have a much better life."
Is this official? Best news I heard today. There's a 5 track sampler of the OBC going around and this music is just wonderful, and the production shots look gorgeous. It would be such a great addition to London stage if it ends up there.
Posted: 6/18/15 at 1:36pm
Philly
How much younger is the actor who played Anton compared to Chita? Compare their resumes side by side and than make the same statement
Think before posting .
Posted: 6/18/15 at 1:51pm
what are you talking about roxyyyyyy i don't understand youuuuuuu
Posted: 6/18/15 at 1:55pm
I just wanted to thank everyone who has private messaged me throughout the show's run, knowing that I'm a big of the show. It's been fun and an absolute joy to see this show on Broadway for a short time.
As a huge Chita fan with interest in this show, I made a three hour trip alone to see the show in Williamstown last summer. I was so blown away and affected by the experience, I made the same trip again a week later. I am grateful to have seen the production another four times on Broadway. It deserved a better fate, but the outcome was not unexpected at all. I can maintain my faith in commercial theater knowing that there were producers and artists willing to bring this dark show to Broadway as a labor of love, knowing that the chances of it selling well were slim. I am glad that it will forever be a 2015 Best Musical nominee.
I truly believe that this will be a show and score that people will discuss, ask about, and grow to appreciate as the years go on. I made the same prediction about Women on the Verge in 2010/11, and I was right.
Updated On: 6/18/15 at 01:55 PM
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