To anyone happy to see "Beauty" go... — Page 3

Alterego- tell us what? Pippie does not know her facts concerning what she is posting about, so she is not making a valid point.

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Wickedfreak2: The only record its closing give the show is the title of 6th longest running show on Broadway. However, how does that pertain to my post?

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I just used the wrong term. You guys are exasperating. And you're just rude.

An accusation of "rude" coming from the person who mockingly inserted OMG and BBQ!! into a sentence about Jonathan Larson's death? I understand the point you're trying to make, but there is a reason people are fixated on the errors you made in your first post.

Your Renthead friend was wrong and more than a little silly. Just because the person you're arguing against is wrong, that doesn't mean you're automatically right. Which is why Rent and Beauty and the Beast is a terrible comparison.

I don't think most people are happy to see the show go in a vindictive way, just in a way that celebrates growth and the inclusion of new material. I understand that it's hurtful to see something you love dismissed, but this just isn't the best way to communicate that.

Thank you Craww...finally a level-headed post.

I too was "fixated" on the errors concerning Rent in your original post, Pippie, but I understood your argument and point of view. I was also getting a bit annoyed at all the replies that did nothing but point out your mistake--the same old "You don't know teh Larsonnn!!" comments, as necessary as they are once or twice, do not a meaningful discussion make (though it was tremendously dumb to make that sort of comparison without knowing the facts).

I tried to look past that, and at first I was even completely on your side. But alas! It was the general tone of your post that was a huge turn-off. I can understand getting angry when those who replied kept saying the same thing over and over again, but you started out with a post that came off as something of a b*tchfest--BWW censored it twice. I get that you were "pissed off" about people celebrating the closing of BATB, but you took it a little too far.

The first half of the post would have had me rooting for you--you made some good points (utterly botched comparison to Larson aside). You could have continued in that vein and started a real conversation. But I almost winced when you resorted to pulling out terms like "elitist", "high horse", and "heartless bastards"--tired old standbys for anyone who loves a "mainstream" show and tries to lash out against its many detractors (I know exactly what I'm talking about--I'm a longtime fan of "Phantom"). It's no wonder people responded the way they did...by the end of your post you came off as just another die-hard fan of one of those big musicals that show queens love to crap on. With an attitude like that, it was easy to overlook any of your more valid arguments.

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^They could even work in the Radio City Rockettes to "Be Our Guest!"

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Is there really that much bad buzz about it?

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A preface to this post: I'm not a fan of either show, so I'll not miss either when they leave. Having said that...

If we're going to be comparing legacies, I think the point some are missing is that while Ashman's work will be heard for a long time to come, once RENT closes, we're not going to hear a lot more of Larson. RENT isnt something I can see on the regional circuit for very long, while theatres will be performing LITTLE SHOP and BEAUTY and (no doubt when it's released) MERMAID for some time to come.

While RENT will have had a healthy run, Larson himself will probably be forgotten, save by a very small number of theatre afficionadoes.

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Thank you for eloquently responding to my post, SDav You know, thank you for telling me where I actually went too far. In my mind I was on a role. And not that Beauty is a masterpiece by any means, I think it should mean something to us as "theatre enthusiasts" Again, the show is about outcasts and people thought of as odd, which , is anyone who loves musical theatre... am I right? We really aren't considered normal by any means.

But for months, I have heard people say "Disney better close a show before they bring Mermaid. *insert "threat" here* Generally, people hate that Disney is around, and as a kid at heart, it tears me up. I took it too far, but this is ANY show. And I see this for everything.

Why should we be glad that 100+ people will be out of a job? Those people are who we hope to be. No show should

And yes, the incessant "You dishonored Jonathan's death!" got to me. I knew, I KNEW that the first posts back would be "You did something wrong" But I was corrected. I was misinformed of one specific, but had I said it about someone else would everyone have jumped down my throat? Couldn't you look past the scattered post (I'd just come home and all the cheering got to me) and just had seen the heart? That we need to STOP wishing badly on shows? The rest of the human population does it to celebrities, why must we do it as well?

Maybe I did some word slinging, but still, it's true isn't it? But I think on a whole, people just misconstrued what I said. Or they wanted to, who knows. But I felt a bit bitchy when writing it.


And, I never thought of that Sean. That's a very good point.

(I'd just come home and all the cheering got to me)

Then why not WAIT? Why post when you know you're so worked up?

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Updated On: 1/17/07 at 11:36 PM

Thing is I am a rent fan I would NEVER call myself a renthead. The fact is that aside from Rent and Tick Tick boom there is none of Larsons work out there. Whereas Ashman has lots of stuff out there. I know it's sad to know think about how he never had the chance to see the prase he got from beauty. However, I know he did Aladdin and know he did some of Mermade. There are going to be young kids who are going to see those movies and enjoy the music. Of course, they are not going to know who the writer of the music was. I mean there are loads of kis who have seen the classic disney anamated movies and enjoyed the music but know nothing of who wrote them. At least his music will get enjoyed.

I LOVE beauty and the beast. I only saw it twice thus far. I live in NYC and have had a lot of chances to see it over the years. I always thought it was considered a childerens musical and understood why I saw it when I was younger. However, this summer curiosity got the best of me and I saw it again and let's say I was badly mistaken in thinking that the show was a childrens musical.

I am also annoyed about the reasoning that they give for closing beauty instead of tarzan. They said that the reason why they closed beauty instead of taran is becuase they are opening other productions in europe. I think according to the article in the NY times they are doing two producions in eruope. They saiid in the article that it would not look gooed to close the broadway production prior to the opening of the two productions in europe.

This adds to my problem of Disney planning to open producitons of their broadway shows in other countires before they can even be sure that they are going to do well on Broadway.

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I wish people would stop judging shows based on the producer. In my opinion BATB and the Lion King were 2 of the best musicals of the last 15-20 years. There's room on Broadway for everyone's taste. I personally didn't understand the hype with Rent but I think Larson and Ashman were brilliant.
I also think we would all do better to leave the %$&*^# keys out of our posts. We're not discussing a cure for cancer here.

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Shows do not last forever. BATB has been performed "so many" times to death by community theatres, moreso than other shows it seems, and is getting stale and tiring. I know that some people will disagree with me, but that rings true for every show. Nevertheless, musicals come and go. Plus, compared to the old days, the golden age of Broadway, there are more shows; there are only so many theatres. I am a Disney fan, and also a kid at heart, but I do not wear rose-colored glasses, and although I do love their musicals, Disney has taken something away from Broadway's spirit. And they are not exempt from the fate of other shows.

As for Rent, I do think the Broadway musical has lost its original luster. If you went to the latest tour, you'd agree that it was so tight and flawless; totally did not look like non-equity. It was actually a lot better than some equity productions of other musicals I've seen! During SOL, I really experienced a chill, as if Jonathan Larson was looking down and smiling, giving his approval.

I did not get that with the Broadway production; in fact, the first time I saw the show on Broadway, I hated it. So, there ya go :)

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Updated On: 1/22/07 at 02:55 AM