perfectlymarvelous said: "I didn't hate the show, but it's certainly not going to go down in history as a great theatrical achievement. What surprised (and disappointed) me most was the focus on making it a huge, family- style spectacle when the movie is not that at all. It's a really sweet and gentle film, with strong central performances...it's actually probably the last role I truly liked Johnny Depp in, and Kate Winslet is lovely as the mother. The tone of the show is so at odds with the tone of the source material. The performances in the musical were serviceable enough, I adore Laura Michelle Kelly and Carolee Carmello but their talents were woefully underused. It's just overall a pleasant enough but ultimately unsatisfying show."
I agree with this 100%
Broadway Star Joined: 4/20/15
Over the past year much of the negativity has seemed to be directed at Weinstein and/or the casting of Morrison over Jordan. Very little is said about the show itself. Occasionally you hear someone mention how awful the music is, but mostly the discussions center around the Weinstein and Morrison angles.
If it is the latter though, and there are some disgruntled Jordan fans, I'm not sure why they would have wanted him to take it to Broadway in the first place....especially if it's such a lousy show to begin with in their opinion? It seems the Jordan fans would be questioning his ever getting involved with the project in the first place if it's so bad.
When its weekly grosses start closing in on its operating costs.
theatreguy12 said: "Over the past year much of the negativity has seemed to be directed at Weinstein and/or the casting of Morrison over Jordan. Very little is said about the show itself. Occasionally you hear someone mention how awful the music is, but mostly the discussions center around the Weinstein and Morrison angles.
If it is the latter though, and there are some disgruntled Jordan fans, I'm not sure why they would have wanted him to take it to Broadway in the first place....especially if it's such a lousy show to begin with in their opinion? It seems the Jordan fans would be questioning his ever getting involved with the project in the first place if it's so bad. "
People never judged Jeremy for being in a show with bad music, because he was never on the final product. When the show ran at ART it wasn't the final piece and people thought it would get better which I don't think it did. I actually thought the music was better at ART.
I really enjoyed the show. Glad I saw it. Had no plans to see it but got an invite and went. Glad I did.
9.4.16
9.4.16
Broadway Star Joined: 4/20/15
I personally thought it was quite entertaining, uncageg. Not the best I've seen, but I certainly didn't leave the show feeling like it had been a waste of time. In fact, I thought it was pretty good too.
I've seen far worse so FN really doesn't even raise a blip when thinking of shows that fell short for me.
uncageg said: "I really enjoyed the show. Glad I saw it. Had no plans to see it but got an invite and went. Glad I did.
"
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
The box office only dropped to a worrying level after Matthew Morrison left. Apart from a couple of weeks of extenuating circumstances it didn't fall below $700k and was predominately at $800k+ even in January. Now suddenly $500k weeks feel common. He obviously wasn't " the problem" in practice or we would have seen the reverse trend.
Updated On: 4/19/16 at 01:49 AMBroadway Legend Joined: 12/28/10
Having seen it on Broadway and at ART I can only say that the show improved a great deal from what I saw at ART which was truly bizarre. The Broadway version was still very bland, with a score that is so out of place with the source material that it was like seeing two different shows at once, neither of which really worked.
At ART the show was so outlandish that it garnered laughs and almost jaw-dropping glances to those in my party. I mean, dancing ladybugs? I man in an unconvincing dog costume riding a tricycle? (I thought I was watching BLUES CLUES:The Musical). It was truly AWFUL at ART and transferred to Broadway as just mildly awful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
mikey2573 said: " The Broadway version was still very bland, with a score that is so out of place with the source material that it was like seeing two different shows at once, neither of which really worked.
"
I have heard this before..that the music is "so out of place with the source material"...I am just curious (regardless of if the music is good or bad, which is a different issue entirely). I am not trying to be argumentative but I really don't understand the comment. What exactly does "out of place" mean? Does it mean that you would not hear this type of music in this period of history? Or something else. Inquiring minds want to know..
Though the music was extremely bland, the most offensive production element of FN for me was its choreography. Never have I been so aware of how ugly choreography could be in a show. I hate to contribute to turning this into a "let's trash the show" thread, but just had to add my two cents while this conversation is going.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/10
"What exactly does "out of place" mean? Does it mean that you would not hear this type of music in this period of history? Or something else. Inquiring minds want to know.."
It sounded like bubble-gum pop music. I think I remember at the time commenting that it sounded like music you'd hear on one of those "Kidz Bop" releases. Wouldn't it have made sense, since Barrie was Scottish, to write a score with that kind of influence? That would have been lovely. But the score was one of the weakest aspects of the show. Though I will agree with the other poster regarding the truly peculiar choreography. (Oh, and it was not dancing ladybugs, it was dancing bumble bees!) There were times when the person I was with would just turn to me and we would look at each other with that "Do you believe THIS?" face and then struggle not to laugh. The production at ART was simply God-awful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/16/11
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