What Shows Do You Think Closed Before It's Prime

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 10:20pm

I really think The Last Five Years was a gem that should have been around for a long time.
I also miss The Full Monty.
Why did the Last Five Years close so soon. I own the cd now and the music is wonderful.
Bring back The Last Five Years! Updated On: 10/23/03 at 10:20 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 10:44pm

L5Y closed because there weren't that many people interested in the premise of the banal lives of two ordinary New Yorkers. In fact, they were so ordinary, they were boring.

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 10:46pm

I'm sorry you felt that way. I loved The Last Five Years.

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 12:05am

I wis hTick..Tick..BOOM had made it to Broadway ::sigh:::

I LOVED L5Y too!!

[cmleidi]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 12:07am

I own the soundtrack to AMOUR, and the music is just enchanting. I can't imagine why the show closed after so few performances.

Posted: 10/21/03 at 12:10am

Tick Tick Boom. I agree with that show but it was too small for Broadway. It was so over powered when it toured in the big theaters.

I think SIDE SHOW, RAGTIME, and SUNSET BOULEVARD all closed before their time. Just my humble opinion.

[CJR]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 1:27am

Two words:

Hollywood Arms

I loved that show. Damn the fact that more people weren't interested in it.

Posted: 10/21/03 at 1:46am

Baby.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 1:54am

I own the soundtrack to AMOUR

I did not see that film. I am surprised it made it to the big screen since it did not do too well on Broadway.

[cmleidi]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 2:06am

Oh, the film was fantastic, and the two new songs were just out of this world. You should really see it.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 2:14am

Man Of La Mancha!!! That show was fabulous.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 2:30am

I have to agree Corine, The Last 5 Years for sure.
If I had a dollar for every time someone said that they heard the cast recording AFTER the show closed and how they wish they got to see it, I'd be RICH.
But seriously, although the show closed, it has gained a following. I remember reading somewhere that Sherie Rene Scott said she gets recognized for L5Y than for any other show...and that a lot of those people never even saw the show, they just know her from the CD cover. I know that I myself bought the CD for a couple of my friends and they all loved it.

[catcher]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 2:40am

Well, aside from the obvious beloved flops (Side Show anyone?!), I have to say Reefer Madness closed way to early.

Last Five Years was one of the worst productions of a musical I've ever seen. Loved the music, story was fine, but the direction...

[CJR]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 3:48am

Oooh Reefer Maddness!!! I would have loved to see Michele hacking a guy to pieces! lmao

[Cadriel]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 6:29am

Hmm...

The Last Five Years was slow to get the word out, and the physical production did not serve the show as well as it could have. Norbert and Sherie were phenomenal in the show, but the premise and the score were given short shrift in the reviews and people didn't exactly flock to see it. (The abuse levied against it now should not be dignified with a response.) I think the direction of the show really kept a certain distance between the characters and many in the audience, even though I loved it. My opinion of L5Y actually skyrocketed in the sense that it became one of my favorite shows ever after seeing a much better directed production in Philadelphia this past March. I think it's just now finding its real life.

Amour was a lovely little show. It never had the appeal of a Broadway show, and I don't know why it was mounted there instead of in a little theatre Off-Broadway where it would've seemed right. The biggest problem was how astoundingly tacky and non-special the show's chief special effect seemed. The cast was wonderful. I have to pick up the OBCR sometime soon...

I missed tick, tick...BOOM! to my great sadness; it's one of my favorite scores. I have a feeling it'll live on in new productions, though - it's in the spirit of the piece.

Interestingly, these shows all have a lot of promise for many productions after their big closings. Maybe that's the way of the new innovative musicals? I kind of hope so, if it means that artists can still make money without worrying about bowing and scraping to the commercial Broadway machine.

-Wayne

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 6:57am

Amour
Sideshow
Ragtime
Superman
Inner City

[JakeB]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 9:05am

The Witches of Eastwick, although struggled just into its second year, closed before its prime. It's another one of those shows, like The Last Five Years, that everyone who likes musical theater listens to and recognises its hit potential, but sadly out of theatre circles it didn't do well.

[robyn525600]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 9:26am

I know some people will probably bash me for my opinion, but I loved THE CIVIL WAR and I think it closed WAY too early.

Posted: 10/21/03 at 9:35am

The CIVIL WAR... now that is a show to remember. I have been telling some of my theater friends we need to open a theater in Gettysburg and do The Civil War there. I think it would be a great great idea.
I love the music from that show and get misty everytime I heard the ending...

[tpdc]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 9:38am

LAST FIVE YEARS is a difficult show with great material. It needs a great director and clever design in addition to two great actor/singers. Off Broadway it only had the two great performers. The direction and design were awful and sank the show. It still could have a run a bit longer if the album had been released earlier. The album makes a strong case for the show and I think would have brought in more people.

I also agree that HOLLYWOOD ARMS was a wonderful show. In addition to Michelle Pawk's brilliant work, Linda Lavin and Donna Lynne Champlin were fine.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 10:53am

Ah THE LAST 5 YEARS. I saw the show and HATED it. With a passion. Was incredibly disappointed. The next day, a friend (who loved the show) gave me the cd and I adored the material. I think it's a very difficult show to produce. Although many people loved the two leads Off-Broadway, I did not. Don't get me wrong, I think they are both frighteningly talented, but I felt very important things were missing from their performances. Did anyone really buy that Sherie Renee Scott is meek? And did anyone really see the charmer in Norbert Leo Butz? I did not. The show doesn't need a clever design...it kinda needs no design. It doesn't need complex staging. It needs simple, straightforward direction to get to the heart of the matter. Yes, these are neurotic, self-indulgent New Yorkers whose marriage is falling apart. Big f*cking deal. With heart and warmth, the show could be very moving. The off-Broadway production had none of that.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 11:23am

Once again, we agree Robbie. It was a banal subject.

Posted: 10/21/03 at 12:53pm

There was a wonderful musical in the mid 80's called The Human Comedy. They had transfered it from the public theater to Broadway where it quickly folded. There were also things about Paul Simons Graceleand that I loved. I wish it had had a out of town tryout.

[tpdc]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 12:59pm

I don't think Cathy is meant to be meek or that Sherie played her that way. Cathy can come off whiny. I think Sherie played the angry and neurotic aspects of the character very well. What I thought tought she really captured was this strong and talented woman who almost gets things right in her life and career but just misses her goals by a little bit. It's that coming close but not being successful that feeds her anger and makes it tough for her to deal with Jamie's success. Jamie is completely clueless to this and only makes things worse. That's what held my interest off Broadway.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 6:46pm

I saw THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK in London shortly after it opened. It was one of the most entertaining shows I've seen. A great showcase for all 3 women plus Ian McShane as Darryl. I was sad to hear that it closed after little more than a year. I did think, though, that it was a fairly "American" show. Not the British didn't get it, just that Americans might've enjoyed it more. I don't know . . . I've heard about the readings they've done of it though. Hopefully something will come of it and we can get a Broadway production. Or at least a major regional one at Paper Mill or something.