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FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

In Boston on business, I got to see Finding Neverland last night. After 2 plus hours of this sugar coated nonsense, I realized why I have so much trouble and so little interest in the current state of the Broadway musical. This is one of those mechanical, dishonest and sugar drenched, icky sweet enterprises that feels, even with Diane Paulas as director, could have been created by computer or some survey obsessed corporate committee. Not an honest bone in its body. Diane Paulas needs to run away from this as fast as she can. As a director and as the Artistic Director of a major and influencing theater Com. pany. It just feels like everyone is lookin for a paycheck and pretending that they are not. And No, That feeling does notcome from knowing that Weinstein is involved. I am not going to waste my time going into details. Just quickly though, bland, pop, commercial jingle score. Generic, pedestrian storytelling.Just ranting here, I admit. The show is a big souless, half dead cash cow that very well may end up delivering the cash, nonetheless. It is total "tourist trap" crap that feels far more interested in selling you a t-shirt and a plastic pouch of pre-packaged fairy dust, than on creating an honest thoughtful piece of theatre. Finding Neverland is about as distinguished and exciting as a trip to six flags when it's raining. A truly depressing experience and a harrowing forecast of what Broadway very well may soon become. This kind of theater is hardly worthy of this or any chat room. Broadway of course will never die, but it is rapidly moving towards total artistic irrelevance.


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Quoth Harvey: "Act 2 is near perfect!"

Posted by: Teacher64 04:37 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

If he thinks the second act is "near perfect" then this show is doomed.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Teacher64 10:46 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

I have to admit, I was very surprised that some of the reviews yesterday were positive. What I saw about 2 weeks ago was positively drivel and I didn't think that any attempt to "tweak" the material I saw would make the show better. It needed an entirely new book and an entirely new score. And it appears that Harvey W. might know that the show is subpar; why else would he basically tell Brantley that the show was not yet ready to be reviewed by critics? And on its OPENING NIGHT no less!


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: StageLover 10:12 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

"mechanical, dishonest and sugar drenched, icky sweet"

Not surprising, since that's EXACTLY how I felt about the film.


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me as well - that film will give you diabetes

Posted by: DistantDrumming 12:39 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - StageLover 10:12 am EDT 08/15/14

...not looking forward to this one.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: JohnPopa 10:46 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - StageLover 10:12 am EDT 08/15/14

I agree - I don't see how an adaptation of the movie could be anything but syrupy and manipulative, if it's staying close to the source material.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 11:46 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - JohnPopa 10:46 am EDT 08/15/14

Man, I'm gonna have to see the movie again, because I remember loving it and being especially moved by the acting and the script, especially the relationships between the characters played by Johnny Depp, Freddy Hightower, and Kate Winslet. I really DID NOT find it syrupy and manipulative.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: JohnPopa 01:38 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - Michael_Portantiere 11:46 am EDT 08/15/14

I'm probably sounding harsher than I should - I enjoyed the movie to some degree, I just thought it pushed emotional buttons a little too obviously for my tastes. And I'm sure I like my own fair share of shameless sap :)


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Scott6263 11:54 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - Michael_Portantiere 11:46 am EDT 08/15/14

I'm with you. One of my favorite Johnny Depp performances....and my favorite film of that year! :-)


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND (Spoiler)

Posted by: AnyaS 05:13 am EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - Scott6263 11:54 am EDT 08/15/14

I'm stunned by the diabetes remark. I thought it was lovely if admittedly imperfect. I remember when Winslet coughed for the first time in the film while she's hanging clothes and several in our audience sighed a little louder than we should have. That said, I thought Highmore and Depp saved the film from being too sentimental and the last scene on the bench was touching in a very calm, collected way.

Gives you diabetes? Shouldn't that be reserved for real crap like The Notebook or Beaches? I don't think Finding Neverland should be grouped with garbage like that.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND (Spoiler)

Posted by: Scott6263 09:21 am EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND (Spoiler) - AnyaS 05:13 am EDT 08/16/14

I liked "The Notebook" and "Beaches" too. Call me a sentimental slob! :-)


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND the movie ...

Posted by: flaguy 11:23 am EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND (Spoiler) - Scott6263 09:21 am EDT 08/16/14

I loved 'BEACHES.' Not so much 'THE NOTEBOOK.'

And I was so disappointed with 'FINDING NEVERLAND.'

But I suspect I'll like the stage version better, from things I've read. Anyway, I'm hopeful.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND the movie ...

Posted by: Scott6263 11:26 am EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND the movie ... - flaguy 11:23 am EDT 08/16/14

Here's hoping! :-)


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It kinda goes back to..

Posted by: towel 09:40 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

… The Sound of Music vs. Gypsy in my mind.

To me, one is art and the other " bland, pop, commercial jingle score. Generic, pedestrian storytelling."


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re: It kinda goes back to..

Posted by: KingSpeed 10:27 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: It kinda goes back to.. - towel 09:40 am EDT 08/15/14

What are you taking about?


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: JayBee 08:38 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

Actor103, you write: "A truly depressing experience and a harrowing forecast of what Broadway very well may soon become."

Have you not seen the musicals currently on stinking up Broadway? Wicked? Mama Mia? Motown? Rock of Ages? Beautiful? I could go on and on, but suffice it to sat that your "harrowing forecast" came true decades ago.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: KingSpeed 10:25 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - JayBee 08:38 am EDT 08/15/14

Hey now. WICKED is a great show. It's the show I most recommend, to at least go to the lottery.


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I agree about WICKED

Posted by: actor103 12:02 am EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - KingSpeed 10:25 pm EDT 08/15/14

I will even go further and that is easily the most critically under praised show, play or musical, that I have ever seen. By far my favorite, well... close to favorite musical, that I have seen in the 14 years I have been based in NY. Though, I have probably only see 2 or 3 a year. So, guess this post does not mean much. Except to say the NY critics totally missed the boat on WICKED. I remember some them saying that it was too hard for them, let alone kids to follow. Uh....ok???


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: KingSpeed 10:26 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - KingSpeed 10:25 pm EDT 08/15/14

I found Beautiful enjoyable too.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bway1430 07:35 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

FINDING NEVERLAND is not a Broadway musical. It may have been announced for Broadway but there is a long long line of shows that have been "Broadway-bound" that never arrive.

No theater has been announced and following the mixed to poor reaction I would be surprised if it actually did come in.

That being said, just because a few shows are candy coated and fluffy, it doesn't mean that indicates "what Broadway very well may soon become".

"Honeymoon In Vegas" and "The Last Ship" ARE coming in with theaters secured and they don't strike me as the kind of dross you just described.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:17 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bway1430 07:35 am EDT 08/15/14

"There is a long long line of shows that have been 'Broadway-bound' that never arrive."

True, but I highly doubt Harvey Weinstein will cancel the Broadway production of FINDING NEVERLAND after announcing it just before the reviews of the A.R.T. production came out, because I think he would view canceling as a professional embarrassment -- especially given the timing of the announcement of the transfer vis-a-vis the reviews.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bway1430 07:06 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - Michael_Portantiere 12:17 pm EDT 08/15/14

There was big talk of the show coming into the West End after it's tryout in Leicester at The Curve. The so-so reviews and not-so-great word of mouth put an end to those rumors, though the word was apparently that they had planned to come in but "no theater was available".

Curious if he will take a risk with a show that has such questionable prospects and one major critic already sounding his disregard.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bwaydiva1 09:52 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bway1430 07:35 am EDT 08/15/14

Honeymoon in Vegas, Fun Home, The Last Ship, An American in Paris=Your 2015 nominees for best musical.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bway1430 09:55 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bwaydiva1 09:52 am EDT 08/15/14

I would be happy with that.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bwaydiva1 10:01 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bway1430 09:55 am EDT 08/15/14

I think that is what it'll be. (I think the producers of Finding Neverland should think long and hard about re-evaluating their piece. To put it into perspective-this is the first incarnation of this version of the show. It needs work. If they wait and make the necessary changes and do another tryout, they may get a better product. Sure, they'll lose the theater they supposedly have, but they will reap more revenues-with the 'family' entertainment available on Broadway, quality starts to matter a bit. It can take YEARS to get shows to Broadway. I remember Ben Brantley writing about next to normal-and praising them for not just jumping to Broadway but making it as good as it could be-and it recouped against tremendous odds. Just saying...)


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FLY?re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: lordofspeech 02:11 pm EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bwaydiva1 10:01 am EDT 08/15/14

What has become of FLY, the purportedly amazing Wendy's version of the Peter Pan story. Word was great. Waiting to come in after the fuss over other Peter stories?


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re: FLY?re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: actor103 10:56 pm EDT 08/16/14
In reply to: FLY?re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - lordofspeech 02:11 pm EDT 08/16/14

Friend saw it in Texas. Hated it. Friends with one the actors. He has hilarious stories about it. From the stories it feels pretty much dead in the water. At least that is what I took away from the conversation. Though I have no idea what the reality is here.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bway1430 10:11 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bwaydiva1 10:01 am EDT 08/15/14

I agree. Too bad after all of the tooling on LEAP OF FAITH it didn't work, despite a mostly good score. That show also went around the block a bit in terms of workshops/revisions as has THE VISIT.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bwaydiva1 10:16 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bway1430 10:11 am EDT 08/15/14

No comment re: The Visit. I saw the last incarnation and still think it needs more character development. If it gets to Broadway, Chita and maybe the score will be nominated.


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re: The cart before the horse perhaps......

Posted by: bway1430 07:08 pm EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: The cart before the horse perhaps...... - bwaydiva1 10:16 am EDT 08/15/14

Only saw the Goodman production in Chicago. Liked Chita and certain elements of the score but the supporting cast was not-so-great and the direction was all over the place.

Hope it is at least an improvement even though it sounds like they still have work to do.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: ryhog 01:01 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

There is nothing wrong with you thinking the show is unmitigated garbage, or that musical theatre is careening towards the junk heap. There are, of course, those who disagree on both points, and you are of course free to sniff in their direction if that's what you enjoy. Broadway musicals are a big business and it is quite successful at that, even though it produces an enormous amount of crap. Will the quality issue ever catch up with commerce? Maybe, maybe not. There are a lot of brilliant projects, some of which are not on Broadway and likely will not ever be. My advice is not to put on blinders, not to throw out the baby with the bathwater and [pick you own parallel silly expression]. Perhaps that what you had in mind going to ART. If so, I can understand your disappointment (and that's not a reflection on this show (which I have not seen and may love hate or feel indifferent toward), but on your takeaway from it.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Delvino 06:19 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - ryhog 01:01 am EDT 08/15/14

Yes, absolutely; and every time someone says "tourist trap," an actor gets his wings, er, Equity card.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: sandcastle 04:45 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - ryhog 01:01 am EDT 08/15/14

Finding Neverland sounds unnecessary as a musical. Thanks for the original post. That's why I come here. There's so much else to do in life.

Like laundry. Just kidding.

I'd go if comped and I had the next day off.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: actor103 02:09 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - ryhog 01:01 am EDT 08/15/14

The more spaces that are used up selling crap, means fewer spaces are available for the ambitious. Like I said, Broadway is not going to die. It is just going to become (using a "foodie" comparison here) a land of Mc Donalds and Burger Kings with no room for the Per Se's or Danielle's. Before you know it, the "art" looks like the outsider. If the Broadway market is populated by more "Beautiful's", "Rock of Ages'" and "Mama Mia's" than there is no space for the "Next To Normals." Thats the fear. And forget about the "Realistic Jonses" and Osage county kind of products. Broadway is just Vegas shows with a longer running time.

Look I know this an often repeated. So, I will drop it now. But, just sayin'...

Oh, and I love your sort of lyrical, "pick your own parallel." I do not think that sounds silly at all. Sorta brilliant, when you think about it.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: ryhog 10:13 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 02:09 am EDT 08/15/14

I never fret about real estate in New York (and that, at bottom, is what you're doing). It is an evolving thing. McDonalds is never going to eliminate haute cuisine, and Mamma Mia is never going to eliminate Book of Mormon. The best shows recently haven't been on Broadway-they have been on Lafayette. So what? We have trains and taxis. The thing to fret about is what is being created in musical theatre. The stuff that is supposed to be ambitious is inept and mediocre-stuff no one wants to buy. And so the void is filled by unambitious but sellable shows. That's nothing that you don't learn in econ 101. But you also learn what Kevin Costner taught us: "If you build it, they will come." The challenge is to nurture better product. Then everything else will take care of itself.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: bwaydiva1 11:00 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - ryhog 10:13 am EDT 08/15/14

Well one production from Lafayette is headed to Broadway-only time will tell what happens there.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: bwaydiva1 08:15 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 02:09 am EDT 08/15/14

Well Fun Home is coming for those of us who prefer the less showy or flashy. And The Visit is likely for the darker side of theater as well.

There should be room for both the sheer entertainment and the more serious minded. But when the sheer entertainment takes over it takes away from the more artistic shows.


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re: bring back the twin Howard Johnson's in Times Square

Posted by: SidL 05:31 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 02:09 am EDT 08/15/14

Lily Tomlin worked at one of them


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Chromolume 12:47 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

Paulus. Like her or not, she deserves the respect of having her name spelled correctly.

One wonders what musicals you actually like.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: actor103 01:30 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - Chromolume 12:47 am EDT 08/15/14

Sorry that adding an A to her name makes you question my taste. Lovely, broad minded thinking on your part.

An bi tha wae, my favorite musikal is Starlite Exprez. :)


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Chromolume 01:35 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 01:30 am EDT 08/15/14

I didn't say the misspelling had anything to do with taste. But I did say "respect."


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: chrisampm 12:39 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

Hasn't this "rapid move towards total artistic irrelevance" been forecast perpetually since last century? I fear you're right about Finding Neverland but I don't think it has to represent the entire era. There've been soulless cash cows forever, no?


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: lowwriter 12:36 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 12:24 am EDT 08/15/14

Why did you even bother since you were ready to hate it before you even went in?


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: Chazwaza 02:19 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - lowwriter 12:36 am EDT 08/15/14

What about what the OP said brought you to that conclusion?


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: actor103 01:18 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - lowwriter 12:36 am EDT 08/15/14

" hated it before I went.in"

And you know that how? Not true. I loved the movie think the director is pretty brilliant, invited to go.

Oh, whatever....Next.


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: sandcastle 04:47 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - actor103 01:18 am EDT 08/15/14

WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

It never changes much on this board. Which is why I come here and I guess we all do and


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re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals

Posted by: lowwriter 09:41 am EDT 08/15/14
In reply to: re: FINDING NEVERLAND: this is why I hate so many Broadway musicals - sandcastle 04:47 am EDT 08/15/14

And why some of us have to leave for a while.

It's fine to hate the show -- but maybe not so much if you haven't even seen it!!!


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