What were your biggest theatrical disappointments of the season...

...and did anything far exceed your expectations?

My disappointments were "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" and "All About Eve" in London and "The Lehman Trilogy" in New York, plus the cancellation of my "Moulin Rouge" preview in Boston.

On the other hand, "The Inheritance" was even better than I expected, and I enjoyed "Jagged Little Pill" and "The Prom" much more than I thought I would.

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Laura Benanti in My Fair Lady. I took my mom to see it and was certain I'd love her in her dream role. What I saw was an Eliza who struggled with the notes, wasn't funny, and was cold and charmless.

Burn This. I had huge expectations and only found the play alright. I will defend Keri Russell to the heavens though, no idea why her performance is being bashed like it is.

I also found American Son to be pretty crappy and a disappointment. On the musical front, I thought Tootsie was pretty bad.

Lear was, and still, looked amazing on paper, but everything on that stage was just SO wrong! Was so upsetting to see something I was so excited for fail so spectacularly.

For me it’s Kiss Me Kate. I had expectations of a fun evening with great performances, and idk. All fell flat for me. No one was “bad” but I also don’t think O’Hara had great comedic chops.


Also is this play revival category really that weak? Saw All My Sons for the first time tonight, and it was incredible. Waverly was very strong too. Surprised to hear that statement, but I am also a bit more new to the straight play scene

I probably wasn't that disappointed by KMK becauseI did not expect much; I got less.

I would have to say Gary. I still dont know the point of the play, although I heard Nathan Lane's character talk about making the world a better place. Based on the praises from this board, I was disappointed with Julie White's performance, although i thought that Lane and Nielsen could not have been better.

Finally, Torch Song: although I did enjoy the play, I was disappointed by it, for two key reasons: (1) it seemed much longer sitting through than the original production, even though it was over an hour shorter...not good; and (2) even though I did enjoy the last scene, it did seem very dated to me; and the second scene seemed interminable.

Updated On: 6/7/19 at 11:28 PM

King Lear and American Son.

I was perhaps was the most disappointed in The Ferryman. It was by no means bad. It was probably the best new play I saw this season. I just found that after almost three hours of riveting theater, the pay-off of the ending didn’t live up to what had proceeded it. It just seemed too over the top...

As far as musicals go, I’d have to say Superhero. I’d been warned on here so I went in with lowered expectations. Still, I mostly loved Act 1. I loved the sparse and effective use of special effects, the set and the surprises. So I went into intermission on a high. Then Act 2 happened. It basically limped along and squandered all the goodwill it had garnered from me during Act 1. But I don’t regret seeing it. I mean how can you regret spending any time in a theater when Kate Baldwin is on stage. And she was positively lovely when I met her afterwards.

DISAPPOINTMENTS:

Tootsie - Hoping for so much more

Hadestown - No there, there

King Kong - Don't know what I was expecting, but I got even less

My Fair Lady with Benanti - SO looking forward to - BIG disappointment

Burn This - Never saw it and wanted to. Total miscasting.

From last season - Frozen - a stiff.



EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS:

Beetlejuice - Don't get the dissing. My fave of the season.

Network - Usually don't like Hové's work. It all worked for me. And Cranston was a revelation. Didn't want to go but SO glad I did.

Ain't Too Proud - Didn't expect anything. Solid. and those songs!

From last year - Mean Girls - Thought I'd hate it. And I respected it.

Updated On: 6/6/19 at 12:52 AM

Bway:
American Son
Burn This

Off:
Norma Jeane Baker of Troy
Socrates

poisonivy2 said: "Laura Benanti in My Fair Lady. I took my mom to see it and was certain I'd love her in her dream role. What I saw was an Eliza who struggled with the notes, wasn't funny, and was cold and charmless."

I also have to agree here. I thought she sounded like she was holding back, in a way--like at the end of "I Could Have Danced All Night". It sounded to me like she was holding back giving everything to that song.

I was definitely most disappointed by Oklahoma! I went into so excited for this reimagining and convinced I was going to love it. I did not.

I was most surprised by Gary. I went in only to see Nathan Lane but the entire show and cast blew me away. I’ve never laughed that hard.

GeorgeandDot said: "Sounds like you all saw Benanti when she was sick because her voice was in immaculate shape when I saw it. As far as I know, Benanti was not sick when I saw it. I wouldn't assume that. People can have different opinions on how good someones voice is without having to make excuses like saying they were sick.

Lear was a massive disappointment. Especially Jackson who I've just decided I'm not much of a fan of. The design was odd, but surprisingly aesthetically pleasing however.

Tootsie was also a disappointment. The score was bad, the dessign was bad, the choreography was bad, and the book was fine. The performances, however, were phenomenal all around, which I think is the only thing keeping it afloat." I can't tell you a single song in Tootsie that stood out in my mind.