What were your biggest theatrical disappointments of the season... — Page 3

Disappointments:

Add my vote to the pile for Tootsie. I was expecting big laughs, relevant social commentary and some showy songs for Santino Fontana. I got some laughs from the book but the commentary was stuck in the 80's despite the modern setting and Santino's songs were bland.

I'm also saddened by the chilly response to Be More Chill. The Jersey cast album, and a student production in Chicago, were terrific but the clips I've seen of the Broadway production were underwhelming. The cast appears too old and directed too broadly. The show will do better once it gets back into the hands of the teens who love it.

The cast album for The Prom. The score makes a poor first (and second) impression.


Surprises.

Saw Mean Girls and enjoyed it. Cady is still a boring protagonist. She's never nice enough or mean enough to have a proper arc. But the supporting cast is aces and gets some swell material.

I didn't think Boys in the Band would age as well as it did. Watching it with a successful out cast and an audience of gay men felt like a communal honoring and exorcising of our past. I'm glad they're being filmed for Netflix but I wish a live performance had been broadcast.

Updated On: 6/7/19 at 01:26 PM

The Cher Show - caught in previews and while i love SJB and the two other Chers, thought the show was overall a laughable mess. It was hella fun but a hot mess

Center Theater Group - the postponement of Torch Song playing there to their horrible customer service to their upcoming season which is an abortion of theater

Williamstown Theater Festival - just heard that Ellen Barkin pulled out of the play I had tickets to in August

blaxx said: "A lot of posters here made Tootsie sound like the second coming during its out of town run.

I thought the score sounded as if Yazbek remembered it was due the night before, quickly gathered a few songs from his scrap book and tried to put something coherent together last minute.

The book was like the pilot of a sitcom that doesn't get picked up.

It was on of the laziest shows I've seen."

My thoughts exactly. A show that bad so much potential to be hilarious yet smart, with what should have been a great score, left me just feeling meh! I often return to see a show for a 2nd time (or in some cases multiple times) but I left Tootsie feeling no need to return. Big disappointment.

I was pretty disappointed in The Choir Boy too. I felt like it's one of those plays where one could telegraph every plot twist and turn about 30 minutes before it actually happened.

Since we seem to be cross locations and even seasons:

Disappointments:

* Hadestown (London) - I LOVE the score and the staging but those two characters were shallow and Reeve's voice is a bit of a joke for something that is meant to have so much importance in the story in terms of 'the song'. I really enjoyed the show still of course, but it's not quite the life-changing piece of theatre I was expecting based on the buzz.
* The Inheritance (London Pre West-End) - Of course I enjoyed myself but it's hard not to feel a little disappointed when everyone is telling you it's the next Angels in America and it's the greatest theatre-going experience you'll ever have in your life as a gay man. Vanessa Redgrave was also just too old, could not walk properly, deliver her lines with confidence or keep an accent - of course it still is a bit heart warming to see her in the role though.
* Kiss Me Kate (New York) - I wish I saw Tootsie instead (maybe not given the posts in this thread LOL). I think this for me shows what can be so boring about revivals that don't do anything new when you've already seen it

Exceeded expectations:

* Gary (New York) - incredible performances, humour, design, staging and message. Was so happy.
* Mean Girls (New York) - amazing staging, funny book, catchy score, nice message.
* Caroline, Or Change (Pre-West End & West End) - perhaps the most complex musical I have ever seen and one of those rare performances in Sharon D Clarke that are for the ages
* Company (West End) - my expectations were high to begin with, but this was an (almost) perfect Sondheim reinvention with Tony Award worthy performances from much of the cast, especially Patti LuPone. A real event that deserves to be in New York ASAP.
* Oklahoma (New York) - life changing theatre that has challenged my view on what is actually possible to achieve when an innovative vision is executed well.

Updated On: 6/9/19 at 03:46 PM

Biggest awards show disappointment: How people on social media reacted to Santino Fontana winning the Tony. I heard from a friend that they were threatening him and his child on the way, saying he should be hit in the head with the Hadestown lights....you can be mad at the show all you want, but don't be so incredibly disrespectful to the actor like that.

scripps said: "Biggest surprise? Network. I knew Cranston would be good, but I didn't expect such a staggering performance. I was in absolute awe. "



Me too. I was expecting a good performance. But I was blown away. Hope it winds up on NTLive. Everyone should be able to see it. And I want to see it again.