Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? | |
| Posted by: stevemr 04:37 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
| In reply to: Diana: The Musical review – a right royal debacle so bad you’ll hyperventilate - young-walsingham 12:01 pm EDT 10/01/21 | |
|
|
|
| How much did Netflix pay for the rights? Any possibility the producers knew they had a royal turkey, and sought to offset losses by selling the show to Netflix pre-opening? And how much did they get in Federal COVID funds for Broadway shows? Combine the two and perhaps they can break even even on a fast flop. | |
| reply to this message |
| re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? | |
| Posted by: ryhog 09:51 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
| In reply to: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? - stevemr 04:37 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
|
|
|
| I don't know the numbers but I suspect it is more in the nature of roll the dice money than break even money. | |
| reply to this message |
| re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? | |
| Posted by: chrismpls 10:48 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? - ryhog 09:51 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
|
|
|
| That, and they have to know what they have. No one could ever have thought this dreck would get even mixed reviews. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? | |
| Posted by: ryhog 11:28 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? - chrismpls 10:48 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
|
|
|
| well... in the theatre at least, it has always been a source of amazement to me that producers of really bad shows adore what they have inflicted on the public and go into opening night expected strong reviews. Admittedly, these reviews are SO bad that one has to wonder. Between this and DEH one also has to wonder if the candle is starting to flicker on the little filmed musical fad we have been watching. As I said, I don't think Netflix paid nearly as much as some around here think, but at the rate we are going, they are going to start charging money to add them to their website. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 09:08 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 09:07 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? - ryhog 11:28 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
|
|
|
| As I noted above under the box office thread: the failure(s) of Evan Hansen will be analyzed for years, as per Bonfire of the Vanities and other projects that arrived DOA. DEH seems the biggest *unexpected* failure in decades: its theatrical pedigree ensured some artistic success; its low production costs made payback reachable rather quickly; and it featured A-list celebs in supporting roles to give an eccentric property mainstream recognition and legs. All of those factors failed to push the film over. And as we've all discussed, the film has made many people re-think the original's storytelling integrity. Though many reviews bemoan the translation-to-screen errors, just as many scrutinize the story anew, finding it unsavory from its first plot point. A contrivance that blocks willingness to suspend disbelief, and carves a protagonist we can't root for. Whether we all agree, that's the film's calling card this fall. That is the biggest shock, but might've been mitigated by an audience turnout that doesn't care about reviews. It's hard to imagine the impact of DEH's crash landing. Maybe the inevitable backlash will offset the vitriol. It's a genuinely complex flop, not easily pigeonholed by nailing one mistake. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 01:32 pm EDT 10/03/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? - Delvino 09:07 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
|
|
|
| I wonder how much people are rethinking the story's integrity, versus the balance of those who applaud the story versus those who find it grotesque has shifted. I'm not seeing anything new being said about DEH's basic storyline, and even some friends who were fans of the original Broadway production also acknowledged these issues. Maybe our culture has shifted in the past 3 years, maybe the casting of Platt is too uncanny valley for folks to process, and/or maybe this is just what happens when musicals are produced as full social realism (look at "In the Heights" and "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" for successful film musicals that have at least one foot in fantasy, frolic, magical realism, and queerness) and then assessed by film critics. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| But there are also good examples, see 'Come from Away" | |
| Last Edit: Singapore/Fling 02:10 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 02:10 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Could these reviews (and viewer comments) be so bad as to cause the show to not open? - ryhog 11:28 pm EDT 10/02/21 | |
|
|
|
| Unfortunately, it's the high-profile failures that grab attention (and sadly in the case of "Diana", since I think it's one of the best filmed stage captures I've seen). Folks aren't talking about "Come from Away", which from what I've seen is a really excellent capture of a musical that works quite well (and is another show I've not been willing to spend money on). Hopefully, we'll see a similar response to "Waitress" (one I did pay for and wouldn't see live again, but would likely watch at least some portions of the filmed version). I also like that these films are being put on streaming services rather than the big screen releases, because it makes them much more approachable, I hope that trend continues. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: But there are also good examples, see 'Come from Away" | |
| Posted by: ryhog 09:49 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
| In reply to: But there are also good examples, see 'Come from Away" - Singapore/Fling 02:10 am EDT 10/03/21 | |
|
|
|
| yes there are and as Delvino says in the other post responding to me, the analysis is generally more complex than a single factor (with Diana perhaps requiring far less digging). I assume you are reacting to the "flicker" point. I think what we have been seeing in the last 18 months or so is an uncritical grab-and-go by streamers (especially but also studios) hungry for prefabricated content. It's also worth noting regarding DEH, of course, that it is somewhat different both in form and also in financing as a film. The flicker I see is that I do not expect the uncritical deal-making to continue. I don't know of course, and I have never been shy about expressing my negative feelings about filmed theatre. To me, having read his interview, I think Marshall is an enemy of the (theatre) people. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.025672 seconds.