To Close, or Not To Close?

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 2:17pm

So with the not-so-great reviews of Bombay Dreams, do you think its going to close sooner than later? My bets are that its going to be sooner, but thats just because of the bad reviews. What do you think?

[Michelleruth]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 2:27pm

I'm never right. But...I thought it was getting good reviews????Maybe I just am thinking of the article in Playbill........

Posted: 5/2/04 at 3:19pm

I hope Bombay succeeds. I would like the whole idea of Bollywood and the thrill of these movies to be popular here in America. I love the films and such.

[LouW95]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 3:23pm

Shows do not close based on bad reviews. It is all about finances. A show's break even point is vital as is the advance sale. Reviews cant make or break a show, if it is selling tickets based on good word of mouth.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 3:43pm

I think they will attempt to run with it. Wasn't the show poorly recieved in London too?

[mominator]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 4:03pm

I also think they will try to keep this show running at least through the summer, but if they can't get people into the house sadly it will close alot sooner than expected.
DAME yes I think the reviews were not too good in London as well., butI am not 100% sure.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 6:03pm

It's no longer a case of a show getting good or bad reviews that determine the length of its Broadway run. PHANTOM OF THE OUTHOUSE got pretty poor reviews when it first opened, and (sadly) it's still with us. LITTLE SHOP didn't get unanimous raves and yet it is still hangin' in there.

Today, the show's budget, its advertising and marketing to theater parties can keep mediocre shows running much longer than they deserve.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 6:49pm

It has a large built in audience with the Indian population in NYC. As I recall, Les Miz & Cats got rotten reviews and ..... I rest my case

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 7:42pm

Don't rest your case so quickly....

Les Miz got nearly across the board raves and took home 8 Tonys. Frank Rich stated "if anyone doubts that the contemporary musical theater can flex its atrophied muscles and yank an audience right out of its seats, he need look no further than the Act I finale of 'Les Miserables'..... The stirring sentiments belong to hallowed nineteenth century literature to be sure, but the fresh charge generated by this 'Miserables' has everything to do the electrifying showmanship of the twentieth century musical."

Rich was a little less enthusiastic about "Cats," but not much: "It's a musical that transports the audience into a complete fantasy world that could only exist in the theater and yet, these days, rarely does. Whatever the other failings and excesses, even banalities, of 'Cats,' it believes in purely theatrical magic, and on that faith it unquestionably delivers." It went on to win 7 Tonys.

Neither is a favorite show of mine, but fair is fair, both got mostly very positive reviews. "Bombay Dreams" would kill to have quotes like theirs. The Indian and South Asian population in the NY metropolitan area is about half what it is in London, not to mention that Bollywood films are very popular in mainstream, non-Indian British culture, while the vast majority of Americans have never even seen or heard of them. Add to that, the substantially higher running costs here than in the West End and virtually no chance of getting any significant Tony Awards and it looks like "Bombay Dreams" is going to have a hard uphill battle surviving in NY. I'd give it a year or two at most, but I doubt it'll ever recoup.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 7:53pm

Well stated. I never believed Bombay would run like Les Miz or Miss Saigon or Cats. If it gets 2 years it will be lucky.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 8:12pm

So basically, Roxy, your Memory was wrong, At The End of the Day.

[magicfingers]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 12:02am

Ok..since we are quoting reviews how about these for Bombay Dreams:

"As in the best Bollywood films, there is magic galore- in the explosive song-and-dance numbers, infectious score,dazzling costumes, and sumptous sets. Dreams may be from another world, but it's also a good old-fashioned-broadway musical"-Entertainment Weekly (which has one of the largest national circulation of ANY weekly magazine

"A Bombay Dream come true....a lavish and affectionate homage to Bollywood films...Like it's sources, "bombay dreams" stives for nothing more than unabashed entertainment. It succeeds." Daily News

"the numbers are lively,showy and infectious with choreagraphers van lasst and farah khan combining bouncing hip-hop moves and traditional indian flourishes to create an appealing physical vocabulary invigorated by contemporary rhythms....Sets and costume designer thomas and lighting designer vanstone render this world with a lushly colorful palette...The irresistible music by rahman, a bollywood composer, holds the production together...try getting the tunes out of your head" newsday


"like Gershwin, or Lennon-Mcartney, the name stands for melody,quality,energy,instant hummability-a sound both personal and universal, devouring many older forms and transforming them into something gorgeouly new... at a preview last week the audience, perhaps 25 % south asian, seemed to love the infectious songs and rain-drenched dancing. So salaam, Bombay"- Time magazine (the largest ciculation of any magazine in the US)

I could go on with many other reviews dealing with the excellent remarks the cast got, but I think my point is made...For every bad review many great show get, there is a great review as well...I also dare say Les mis did get some terrible notices, and so did cats...the reason they ran along time is because the AUDIENCE, the critics that really matter, loved the shows. Based on my experience seeing Bombay Dreams on Sat, the audience LOVED the show and gave it a ten minute standing ovation- there is no way in hell this show is closing right away, and as we all know from past experience, word of mouth is much more important than reviews or awards...I would recomend before you start speculating about the show, if you are really curious to know how it is going to do try getting a ticket (it is already well sold for the next few months) and see how the audiene reacts to it...THAT is the real factor in how long a show runs...

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 12:13am

"...the audience LOVED the show and gave it a ten minute standing ovation"

A standing ovation? Maybe. For TEN minutes? Give me a break. You just exaggerated yourself out of any credibility.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 12:54am

Reviews more or less mean nothing. Look at Aida.

However, even if Bombay's opening night was enthusiastic, like it or not, I don't think that the producers' target demographic (mainstream America) is going to be very receptive towards a Bollywood theme. People like to know what to expect going into a show. Not to write this show off so quickly, but I give the show a one year run at most. (BTW, we've been talking about professional reviews - what have the reviews been from members on the board? I think that will be more representative of how longthe show will be sustained.)

[magicfingers]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 1:59am

in regard to the "ten minute standing ovation"....I was referring to the very long finale/bows, during which the audience got up and clapped along with the music while cheering...perhaps 5 minutes, either way- it was a sustained ovation.


As for the assertion that american audiences won't take to the bollywood theme, take a look at lion king (africa) les miz (france) king and I (siam) miss saigon (vietnam) Aida (egypt) etc... All these shows take place in exotic locals- all have had great success with tourists.
Also, I don't think that the members of this board are at all an indication of what will run and not run. Broadway shows that run longer than a year or two appeal to a wide audience. I can say with certainty the majority of these board members fall into a small demographic of true broadway crowds. I am curious how many 50 and over women from NJ, LI etc who are into theatre parties post on these sights-or european tourists. These are the major demographics that producers key into. I would guess people who post here for the most part harbor a much more critical/biased attitude when they see a show and judge shows based on a much different set of criteria than the couple from NJ out for an evening, or the german tourist on holiday for the weekend. Many on here seem to be actors or in the field.
I realize people take delight in guessing which shows are gonna fail, and many seem to take delight in seeing shows fail ( which I don't understand)- after what I saw on sat- I hate to ruin it for the naysayers, but Bombay Dreams may very well last a long time. We went to see the show because my wife had heard from a few different friends who had seen previews that it was spectacular- you might not want to heard it but that seems to be the word on the show....of course, only time will tell

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 6:05am

Namo, at least I will admit if I am wrong. This is something you will never do. I guess that is because you are never wrong. Must be nice to be right 100 % of the time. My hat is off to you

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 6:15am

I think Bombay Dreams will run purely based on spectacle. If they were smart, they would perform "Shakalaka Baby" on the Tonys with the water geysers. That would draw in business.

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 2:48pm

Bombay Dreams was VERY well recieved in London.

[alwy15]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 3:43pm

i think everyone is ignoring the simple fact - it has nothing to do with whether or not audiences will like bollywood. the simple fact is that the show is poorly written. the book is stupid and predictable, the music is repetative and all the ends of the songs just trail off, and there are no exceptional performances. the whole show is blah.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 3:58pm

I only have the London CD... but I have no desire to spend $100 to see someone splashing in the Bellagio fountains.

The reviews were the last nail in its coffin for me.
I like to be open minded, but economically restrained when it comes to overblown tripe.

oh... and I think that the show will be kept open to try to recoup some of its investment... the money behind this one is BIG.

[magicfingers]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 7:56pm

ALWY15....Clearly you didn't like the show, but you are in a minority. From the word of mouth and the nightly reaction by the audience, 1700 other people don't think the music is repetitive or the script poorly written. Your dismissing of the show sounds much similiar to the kind of anti-ALW sentiment rampant on this board.
I can understand not understanding the music or choreagraphy, esp if one's mind has been fixed on traditional broadway music, but almost ever reviewer was in agreement, the music is spectacular. I have read the composer has sold more albums worldwide the any other artist. I'm curious what your idea of great music is?

p.s. how can you say the music trails off? There are some of the hugest endings of productions numbers I have ever seen? are you sure you went to the right show? Updated On: 5/3/04 at 07:56 PM