#26
Posted: 6/2/15 at 5:22pm
A non musical starring Robert Preston
Never Live Over A Pretzel Factory - I kid you not
Poster Emeritus
Worst Flop ever — Page 2
#27
Posted: 6/2/15 at 6:29pm
Speaking of flops, back in 1981 after Annie had run there for 4 1/2 years, the following shows opened and closed in rapid succession (about 7 months) at the Alvin (now the Neil Simon) Theatre:
Merrily We Roll Along ( one of Sondheim's best scores ever)
The Little Prince and the Aviator
Little Johnny Jones
Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up?
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Frank Rich stated in his review in the NY Times that "Seven Brides" was the 5th musical bomb to be planted in the Alvin in the last few months)
I always think of that group and that particular Frank Rich comment when anyone mentions flops.
#28
Posted: 6/2/15 at 6:34pm
Saw them all. Merrily, several times.
ARTc3 formerly ARTc. Actually been a poster since 2004. My name isn't Art. Drop the "3" and say the signature and you'll understand.
#29
Posted: 6/2/15 at 7:05pm
Someone upthread mentioned "DUDE" and that has to hold a special place. It was a rock musical that was an allegory between good and evil. It sounds so abysmally bad I'm bummed I never got to see it.
Among the tidbits:
The writer Ragni originally requested 100 butterflies to be released at the start of each performance.
They gutted the theatre to make the stage "in the round" with fake dirt, etc to represent earth and the orchestra scattered around the edges of the theatre to give the effect of the music coming from a primeval forest. Apparently however the audience couldn't hear the music from the scattered musicians. Need I add that heaven and hell were also portrayed.
The 23 year old white actor Kevin Gleer playing DUDE was replaced by an 11 year old African american kid, who turned out to be a very young Ralph Carter (who actually got good notices ), however the ads still showed Geer.
Galt MacDermot has the dubious distinction of writing the music for this and the aforementioned "Via Galactica". He pulled an anti -Schwarz as both musicals flopped spectacularly withing 6 weeks of each other, (Dude lasted through 16 performances, Via Galatica 7) though in fairness to Galt the music seemed the least of this production's' woes.
"when I’m on stage I see the abyss and have to overcome it by telling myself it’s only a play." - Helen Mirren
Updated On: 6/2/15 at 07:05 PM
#30
Posted: 6/2/15 at 7:18pm
Poor Galt
All he did was write good scores. Still have the 2 separate CD's of songs from Dude.I also have a CD I burned of an 8 song demo plus an album of instrumental versions of songs from Via.
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 6/2/15 at 07:18 PM
#33
Posted: 6/2/15 at 7:39pm
I saw the title of the thread and one show instantly came to mind: IN MY LIFE.
Just...dear freaking God!
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