| A nice run for Side Show with these reviews ... | |
| Posted by: | John_Patti 12:58 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | What's next for the St James? - Genealley 12:02 am EST 11/18/14 |
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| "What's next for the St James?" A healthy run for Side Show “A stunning soaring, must-see musical.” AP "Beautiful and wrenching …electrifying … engrossing… it’s an essential ticket for the fall season” NY Times “A spectacular revival a stunning achievement and a must-see attraction for anyone who cares about serious musical theater.” AM NY “Side Show brings thrills, chills and compassion. Darkly glittering "Come look at the freaks," they sing, but this Side Show reminds us, at every turn, of the humanity they share with us — all of us.” USA Today “An emotionally transporting, melodically rich and, yes, profoundly entertaining evening - a Broadway musical with beautiful music that forces you to think.” Washington Post “Mesmerizing entertainment veined throughout with haunting poignancy. Dazzling showmanship, emotional power a hypnotic spectacle that packs an emotional wallop.” Hollywood Reporter “A stellar revision so radical and deeply satisfying that arguments could be made for calling it new. The sisters may sing "goodbye to the side show," but Broadway is saying hello.” Newsday “A smashing new revival “Side Show” now takes its place in the pantheon of great American musicals.” The Wrap “With spectacular visuals and heart-pounding music, Side Show is everything you could ask for from a great night on Broadway. This darkly beautiful production will send you humming its catchy score out onto 44th street.” Theatermania | |
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| What a lovely collection of pull quotes. | |
| Posted by: | Delvino 03:16 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | A nice run for Side Show with these reviews ... - John_Patti 12:58 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| Well, yours is the first compilation I've read, and it's a persuasive and moving one indeed. In watching the internet documentary on the making of the musical, first time out, Azenberg talks about Brantley's review being a rave that didn't say "you must go." I couldn't help but think of that in re-visiting Isherwood's in hard copy early this morning. (And what glorious photos with the Times appraisal. The one atop the review is quite stunning, the period evocation which the revisal painstakingly recreates, very much evident, making this shot a signature one for this production.) This time, the Times calls it "essential this fall season" and "And it's just a wonderful musical." These are eerily the words Azenberg bemoans as missing in the Brantley rather more measured approach. What's worth noting, too: This show has twice captured the hearts and minds of the NY Times critics. It's good news that 17 years later, a new addition to the team had a response similar to Brantley's, and posited an enthusiastic affirmation of the show's artistry, and the audience experience, in new and solid marketing terms. I'm with you. Let this words now do their job, and make the show "essential" to many. | |
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| re: What a lovely collection of pull quotes. | |
| Posted by: | Ann 03:58 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | What a lovely collection of pull quotes. - Delvino 03:16 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| Does it matter (to anyone) that it's Isherwood and not Brantley, and why did Isherwood review Side Show. Did he review f before? | |
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| He reviewed the KC production back in June... | |
| Posted by: | garyd 04:43 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What a lovely collection of pull quotes. - Ann 03:58 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| did he not? I guess that may be the reason. However, I seem to remember that he reviewed the Cincinnati production of "Company" and Brantley reviewed the NYC production. (I didn't look that up so could be wrong. ) | |
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| re: He reviewed the KC production back in June... | |
| Posted by: | MikeR 04:47 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | He reviewed the KC production back in June... - garyd 04:43 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| Yes, Isherwood reviewed it in DC. The Times generally has the same critic review a show in NYC when he previously reviewed the tryout. Isherwood raved about the DC production, and I imagine that review was a strong motivating factor in the decision to bring it into NY. | |
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| Re-reviewing the situation | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 11:43 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | re: He reviewed the KC production back in June... - MikeR 04:47 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| I agree. If Isherwood had panned ''Side Show'' in D.C., it's unlikely this would've moved to Broadway. Yes, usually if Isherwood has praised something out of town (like ''Come Fly Away,'' ''American Idiot''), he will re-review it in NYC, amping up and justifying his earlier praise. It's rare for a critic to reverse himself. Also, having the same critic re-review a show means his opinion doesn't get challenged. Imagine how embarrassing it would be if Isherwood raved about something that moved to Broadway, only to have it shot down by Ben Brantley. Similarly if Brantley has praised something Off-Broadway and that show moves to Broadway, he re-reviews it. | |
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| re: Re-reviewing the situation, part 2 | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 11:54 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | Re-reviewing the situation - WaymanWong 11:43 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| P.S. I just thought of an exception. Brantley wasn't that wild about ''The Scottsboro Boys'' at the Vineyard. When it moved to Broadway, it was reviewed by Isherwood. (I'm assuming Brantley took a pass on reviewing it a second time.) | |
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| And I don't think it changed much, if at all, from the Kennedy Center | |
| Posted by: | Ann 05:07 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | re: He reviewed the KC production back in June... - MikeR 04:47 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| Did anyone see it in DC and New York? | |
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| re: And I don't think it changed much, if at all, from the Kennedy Center | |
| Posted by: | Delvino 07:56 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | And I don't think it changed much, if at all, from the Kennedy Center - Ann 05:07 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| I did not, but from what I have read, including the Washington Post review this morning, the biggest changes involved tightening the act one flashback sequence (someone can tell us: did they edit Houdini's song? Post La Jolla?), and: keeping the old "Tunnel of Love" melody used in a entirely different wedding sequence in DC, now redistributed to form "A Great Wedding Show." Bruceb at this board explained that to me here early in previews. It's a brand new sequence, in New York. I don't believe anything else was added. | |
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| re: And I don't think it changed much, if at all, from the Kennedy Center | |
| Posted by: | Ann 08:08 pm EST 11/18/14 |
| In reply to: | re: And I don't think it changed much, if at all, from the Kennedy Center - Delvino 07:56 pm EST 11/18/14 |
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| It certainly looked ready to go in DC. Now (or later), we'll see about Little Dancer ... | |
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