WELL Closing

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:30pm

WELL, the praised Broadway comedy by Lisa Kron, which has been advertising "last weeks" in its ads, will end its run on May 14.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=9495

Ouch! Well, (no pun intended) I can't say I am surprised. I know the show had its fans, I wasn't one of them, but after the performance I witnessed and the marketing for the show - I don't understand how anyone thought it could last on Bway.

After seeing SHINING CITY...I think it's a much tighter and intruiging show and deserves a Tony nomination for more than WELL. It will be interesting to see which shows are remembered and which are forgotten, given that the 2 new American plays, WELL & RABBIT HOLE will both be closed come nominating & voting time.

I personally think the line-up should be as follows:
HISTORY BOYS
RABBIT HOLE
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE
SHINING CITY
Updated On: 5/8/06 at 03:30 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:32pm

I totally agree with your predictions for best play, LaCage!

[Kalimba]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:35pm

Oh, that's too bad. I'm sorry more people didn't see this wonderful play.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:39pm

Hm...who do you think will win? I think it will be down to THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE & HISTORY BOYS.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:41pm

I have a feeling History Boys will take home the award...

[JerseyScoundrel]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:45pm

Without A Trace, did you like The History Boys?

[mabel]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:49pm

I thought the general consensus was that Shining City was pretty terrible. Any thoughts?

I suppose I'll have to try to get to Well tomorrow or Wednesday. I think they have cheap balcony seats, so that works pour moi.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:52pm

No, I absolutely despised History Boys. (but based on the positive reviews and the fact that i'm one of the very few who disliked it, it will probably end up winning the award)

I really enjoyed Shining City though! The acting was excellent and I was really into the storyline. Even though I knew what was coming, I was still totally shocked at the ending!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:52pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/08/theater/08tick.html


Maybe it's closing because of the way it was trashed for selling premium seats.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:55pm

I think it's probably HISTORY BOYS. But I gotta say, I can't get SHINING CITY out of my head. So much intersting stuff that play gives you to think about and process long after it is over. If the reviews are trumpeting on Weds...I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a much bigger contender.

[mabel]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 4:48pm

Interesting to hear your positive thoughts on Shining City. I heard some iffy stuff after the first couple previews, but maybe they've pulled things together over the past couple of weeks. I wasn't a big fan of The Weir, but I suppose I'll have to add SC to my ever growing list of to-see shows now.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 5:08pm

I found Shining City to be an excellent, tight play. Great acting, writing, and execution. Very well done and highly recommended.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 5:10pm

I really wanted to see "WELL" while there in June. My friend raved about it and said to make sure I saw it while there......Oh Well.

[myManCape]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 5:15pm

haha yankee, "The box office for "Well," which has been playing on most nights to a house that is two-thirds empty, for example, is selling tickets for $201.25. According to Elizabeth I. McCann, one of that show's producers, "Well," which began previews in mid-March, has sold about 64 premium tickets so far."

I can imagine how many premium seats Wicked and Three Days have sold in that same time period.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 5:38pm

Well, I wonder what will move into that theater.

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 6:01pm

oh poor well...i mean we could see it coming but i was hoping it would hold out till after the Tonys...if Lt. of Inishmore gets robbed of the Tonys I will be pissed after McDonagh was robbed of his Tony for the Pillowman he deserves this.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 6:24pm

At least we can say that this production at last brought the wonderful Jayne Houdyshell the recognition she so richly deserves.

Now how about a Tony?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 6:26pm

I wish I had see Pillowman live. I have the play and it's not that exciting on paper.

[Danielm]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 8:01pm

Too bad about WELL. I think it is brilliant. But I never thought it was really a "Broadway" show.

BTW--DOUBT fully deserved the Tony over Pillowman.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 8:10pm

Twas a brilliant play.

Though, I do feel Houdyshell has a real shot at Featured Actress.

History Boys will win, hands down...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 9:02pm

Houdyshell was very good in WELL, but the Featured Actress Tony belongs to Tyne Daly.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 9:06pm

Personally, I'd rather see Houdyshell or de la Tour (History Boys) win before Daly.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 9:23pm

I actually have seats to WELL for Sunday. Mother's Day. Perfect. It'll be moving. Haven't been to a closing since SIDE SHOW, almost 10 years ago.

[fflagg]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 10:27pm

A pretentious, preachy play. Not even a play but a Lifetime film/AA meeting come to stilted life. Only the mother earns acting honors.

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 10:32pm

This would seem to be the kind of play that could have had a long and successful run off-Broadway. For a fraction of what they've lost, they could have employed actors, crew, etc. for a long time and more than recouped their investment.

Pity.