Chazwaza, I agree with everything you wrote above. I agree that the only actual definition of a "flop" that really makes sense is a show that didn't return its investment. That said, to rephrase something you wrote above, I think most people would agree that it doesn't seem quite fair that a show that came JUST SHORT of returning its investment should be rated a flop, while a show that JUST BARELY returns its investment and makes a tiny profit would avoid that highly pejorative label.
That's why I would say that, if one want to be safe and free of contradiction in describing a show as a "flop," it's probably best only to use that label for a show that had a very short run -- let's say not more than six months for a commercial Broadway production -- AND lost a ton of money, not just a little bit. |
