Why Does Michael Riedel hate "Hamilton"? — Page 4

@Matt "surge in tween/teen/twentysomething fans"

what's significant is that Hamilton transcends age-based fandom. And the important lost generation of theatregoers are not so much the millennials as the 35-50 crowd. Eminem is 42, not 22.

@mamaleh "Why the difference in reception?"

The Neverland publicity is manufactured to draw attention to the show. The Hamilton publicity is derived from what happens organically in the theatre. To suggest that one should be criticized for gaining attention by doing exceptional work is mind-boggling-out of whack with every notion of what the theatre should strive for.

@indytallguy " feels a bit like the typical pop culture trajectory"

Think about what you are saying and try to tether it to the nature of show. What have the Hamilton people done other than make theatre at the highest level any of us can aspire to? What you are suggesting is nihilistic.

my thing isn't even really about the show. its the constantly hearing people wetting their pants about it. sooo annoying.

I think that it's ridiculous to hate a show because everyone is talking about it and it's getting a lot of publicity.

Maybe people are wetting their pants about it because it's something truly special. If you haven't seen it (like me) you do not have the right to make a judgment about the show itself.

^If you are made so upset by the news being covered by this website, then you can always feel free to leave.

No one is forcing you to read those articles.

Updated On: 7/23/15 at 01:57 PM

" The Neverland publicity is manufactured to draw attention to the show. The Hamilton publicity is derived from what happens organically in the theatre. To suggest that one should be criticized for gaining attention by doing exceptional work is mind-boggling-out of whack with every notion of what the theatre should strive for. "

I know what you mean about how Miranda/Hamilton hasn't done anything to warrant hostility, but on Finding Neverland.

Harvey's meddling and promotion/Tony show insertion were annoying, but if the whole point was to generate "attention to the show", I don't see how it was harmful to Finding Neverland itself. People/media can dismiss his tactics, but so far they seemed to have worked.

Kad,

There can be a backlash to hype. But (like most things) it is not categorical. There are, sometimes, cultural achievements that are so widely recognized as exceptional that any "backlash" is marginal and populated by people who are predisposed to contrarianism and/or who are just miserable malcontents, dispeptic divas, obstreperous ogres, etc.

"...miserable malcontents, dispeptic [sic] divas, obstreperous ogres, etc."

AKA "people with opinions different from mine."

If it was a new Sondheim show that was getting this much attention I'm sure we wouldn't be hearing so much backlash, except maybe from AfterEight.

Devil's advocate query here re the publicity angle: Never mind the qualitative difference between the shows, but Harvey Weinstein was roundly castigated for his publicity shenanigans on FINDING NEVERLAND, while Miranda's efforts in that vein are pretty much readily accepted. Why the difference in reception?

I think the personalities of the individuals also play a part in how their efforts are received.

what's significant is that Hamilton transcends age-based fandom. And the important lost generation of theatregoers are not so much the millennials as the 35-50 crowd. Eminem is 42, not 22.

Oh, I was just responding to the previous post about the "younger age group".

To suggest that one should be criticized for gaining attention by doing exceptional work is mind-boggling-out of whack with every notion of what the theatre should strive for.

That's what I find odd as well. Especially the attitude by those who haven't seen it and are irked by the praise. They may actually agree with it.

"my thing isn't even really about the show. its the constantly hearing people wetting their pants about it. sooo annoying."

You mean the way you consistently piss yourself whenever people call you out for being wrong 98% of the time? I think the press on this show is super annoying, but not as annoying as you are.

"I wonder how long this will run. I give it 5-6 years"

Aw, how cute. This is sorta like when you said "Honeymoon" would be a hit, or when you said "On the Town" was going to close before the Tonys! We don't want your trajectory on "Hamilton", although it is an opinion, you treat it like fact. I wouldn't be surprised if you've already posted "an industry insider told me that Hamilton is going to run for oooonnnly 5 yearsss, u guys beliveve that?? u should its fact." on another board. Get out of here, you insignificant slip of a pre-teen.

Updated On: 7/23/15 at 04:57 PM

@newintown "AKA "people with opinions different from mine."

No, that's utterly not what that means. I am speaking of people who kvetch about things they have not seen, and just enjoy being contrary. There is a specific example of a post on this thread that embodies each of my alliterations.

@Hamilton22, I agree about the game-changer language (and that it is coming from reviewers and commentators, not the production. It is facile, and the truth is, people in the present are inherently ill-equipped to have a basis for assessing what "game" is "changed" by anything. I think it makes much more sense to look back and say that the show is better/more significant etc than anything in recent (or not so recent) memory. Those judgments are obviously subjective but what I find pathetic is that much of the traffic minimizing Hamilton is coming from those who have not seen it.

@indytallguy " feels a bit like the typical pop culture trajectory"
Think about what you are saying and try to tether it to the nature of show. What have the Hamilton people done other than make theatre at the highest level any of us can aspire to? What you are suggesting is nihilistic. "

I didn't say the Hamilton people had anything to do with the backlash now did I, so dial down the accusations of nihilism please. Nor did I say they should be criticized for the attention. It's a great show and deserves kudos for a variety of reasons.

But whether the attention given to a ___ (insert show name, actor, song, food trends, etc.) is organic or generated, this backlash is not an unusual cycle within popular culture. We've seen it before and we will see it again. That's the only point I was trying to make.

Updated On: 7/23/15 at 07:57 PM