Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Home For You Chat My Shows Register/Login Games Grosses

What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

New Post Search Report Abuse Rules

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.

#1

What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 4:44pm

My pick would be PRETTYBELLE.

PRETTYBELLE opened in Boston in 1971 with a Jule Styne/Bob Merrill score.

Angela Lansbury played a troubled housewife in the Deep South whose redneck husband locked her up in a mental instituion.

Lansbury received rave notices (as always) but critics panned the show (subject matter bothered a lot of them) and it closed out of town.

It has been recorded on CD; I do not know if it is still available.

My PRETTYBELLE personal highlight: Lansbury singing "You Never Looked Better" to dead husband at his funeral.
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#6

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 4:59pm

Taboo
"But I relish every brillant inspired moment. This is who I'm determined to be- an actor/singer/dancer-no, I take that back, this is who I am. These people are my tribe, my destiny. I know it. -How I Paid for College; A story of sex, theft, friendship and musical theater.
#7

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:01pm

Urinetown didn't fail. It ran for nearly 1000 performances and turned a very healthy profit.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 10/9/04 at 05:01 PM

#8

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:04pm

Spooky,

I agree. I have only LISTENED to STEEL PIER, but it SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT SHOW.

Did you ever see it?
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#9

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:08pm

I saw Steel Pier -- it made two and a half hours feel like a 6 month dance marathon....... bored me to tears.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#10

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:12pm

Taboo, Tom Sawyer, and Romance, Romance (just because I would love to have seen them)
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
#11

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:12pm

You really didn't miss much with TOM SAWYER. Believe me.
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
#13

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:18pm

Tom Sawyer was painful to sit through.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#14

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:19pm

Cats and Les Miz (LOL!).... No really Taboo needed a bit more time
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien
#15

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:19pm

My usual answer to this question, Fascinating Rhythm. If only to re-assemble that stunning and inspired cast, most of which have gone on to much success. As a matter of fact, I think every lead in the show (Michael Berresse, Darius De Haas, Adrien Lenox, Orfeh, Sara Ramirez, Patrick Wilson), has been doing rather well ever since, most notably board favorite, Patrick Wilson.
#16

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 5:26pm

Carrie
Chess
Tenderloin
Goldilocks
Parade
Jane Eyre
The Human Comedy
Dance of the Vampires
Hallelujah, Baby! (biggest Tony-winning flop)
The Most Happy Fella
Pipe Dream
Flora, the Red Menace
The Rink
Rags
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#18

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 6:01pm

The cast recording of Prettybelle doesn't reflect exactly what was heard in Boston. The show opened with "Prettybelle" and that Overture was written for the album. "I'm In A Tree" was cut in Boston. There is an extensive "John Sweet Ballet" and an incidental song for Charlotte Rae's character that were not recorded.

I've studied that show pretty extensively and have a full tape of a performance and I'm pretty confident that "You Never Looked Better" never actually made it into the production. It was going to go in in New York, but it was never actually performed. Because it was never finished, Styne actually wrote the lyrics for the male chorus that opens the song ("Poor Leroy's gone to heaven..." etc.) expressly for the album.

Also, it's not quite accurate that the critics praised Lansbury while hating the show. Prettybelle surprised Bostonians when the normally conservative Elliot Norton raved for the production, and Kevin Kelley panned it.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#19

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 6:15pm

Hands Down:
PARADE
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before... After the Sky. -Into the Woods (Jack)
#20

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 6:21pm

GOLDILOCKS! Yes!!!

Elaine Strich and Don Ameche trading one-liners (they had that nonlovesong, "No One Will Ever Love You Like You Do")

Margaret Hamilton!

Last scene: EGYPT ON THE HUDSON!

And how can you forget Russell Nype's plaintive, "Shall I Take My Heart and Go?"

Do you think Stritch is too old to give it another go? re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#24

re: What Shows That Failed Do You Think Deserve A Second Chance?

Posted: 10/8/04 at 6:49pm

I would like to have seen Thoroughly Modern Millie with a longer run. Also the revival of Gypsy and Little Shop of Horrors. I am not sure if Gypsy recouped their initial investment.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

← Back to Message Board

BroadwayWorld TV

View all Videos

Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $95
More Hot Shows Discounts
Recommended For You