Upcoming musicals /Critics or Audience Favs?

Posted: 9/3/04 at 6:49pm

With all of these upcoming shows, mostly revivals, which ones do you think will be:

a) critic and audience appraised
b) critic appraised
c) audience appraised
d) neither


This is what I think:

Brooklyn: critic and audience appraised, everyone seemed to love it's initial run in Denver!

La Cage Aux Folles: critic and audience, again this one is a classic, and with a stellar cast, what can go wrong?

Little Women: critical smash, I think the critics will love this one, but it sounds somewhat dull for regular audiences...but then again I have not heard the music yet.

Good Vibrations: Neither, this sounds like a horrible rendition of Mamma Mia! and is shadowing All Shook Up! which has much more positive hype. But strangely in the poll this is one of the most anticipated so one never knows this is just my own mere opinion.

Spamalot: Audience, I don't know I think the audience will love it and the critics will like the actors, but I don't know if the critics would admit liking it...but Avenue Q seemed like a silly idea until you see it staged and hear the music! I really hope this does well though, I am really excited to see this!

Sweet Charity: Could go either way, it all depends on how good or bad Cristina Applegate is. The musical can already hold it's own.

Pacific Overtures: Critics, This will be another Assassins (Sorry if I spelt it wrong lol)

All Shook Up!: Audience, Although I am not interested in this, i think the masses will, plus Elvis has a bigger draw than ABBA and The Beach Boys put together.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 7:12pm

I think critics will love Spamalot also, I have no basis for that thought but it seems like it is right up the alley of The Producers which may be an unfair comparison but nonethless I think it will be embraced by all

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 7:16pm

I disagree and agree on several points.

Brooklyn - I think Brooklyn will be audience-praised (it already has a big fanbase that hasn't even seen the show yet), but it will be panned by the critics. The Denver reviews were mixed, and New York critics (who have the reputation of not liking heart-on-your-sleeve stuff) will dismiss it completely.

La Cage Aux Folles - Audience and critical acclaim both. I'm just hoping the tourists will want to see this gay-themed work.

Little Women - I think it will be panned by both critics and audiences.

Good Vibrations - neither as well. This one smells like rotten fruit.

Spamalot - I think both critics and audiences will love this one. I think critics will know what they're getting: quirky, off-the-cuff Monty Python. (By the way, when I first heard of Avenue Q, I didn't think it was a a silly idea; rather, it sounded like a fun and creative show, which it is.)

Sweet Charity - I don't see this doing very well.

Pacific Overtures - Definitely something for the critics. Sondheim's shows have never made money, so I doubt this will be an audience smash.

All Shook Up - I've actually heard good things about this. So my prediction is that audiences will flock to it, and critics will be lukewarm.

Posted: 9/3/04 at 7:28pm

I think Brooklyn will be panned by critics but have a loyal fan following. I think Little Women will get lukewarm reviews. Boy do I feel like an outsider. I must be the only one on this board who thinks the Little Women songs sound boring boring and more boring. I love Sutton and it's one of my favorite books so I wasn't looking to dislike it but yuck! Updated On: 9/3/04 at 07:28 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/3/04 at 7:29pm

What about "The Light In The Piazza"? I envision a "Caroline..." type success/flop. People will either love it or hate it.