Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
#0Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:14pm
This is just out of my curiosity. I am sure there are some members out there who can answer me.
Which were the shows in the last, let's say 20 years, that although were trashed by the critics, were beloved by the public and became great success stories ? I saw Cameron Makintosh on a Les Mis video saying that Les Mis were savagely attacked by the critics, but the public thought otherwise, but other than that I don't know of any other show. I'm sure there must be more. Thanks
Take care
#1re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:18pmWicked got pretty mediocre reviews.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#3re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:23pmMillie got pretty harsh reactions from the critics.
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before...
After the Sky.
-Into the Woods (Jack)
#4re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:23pm
Okay. If you think Wicked got terrible reviews, you may need your head checked.
Yes, a lot of the reviews were mixed, some positive. Most of them all had praise for Chenoweth. The reviews were not terrible. Mixed to positive in my opinion.
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#5re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:24pmwicked's reviews could never be considered terrible, most were mixed to positive giving very positive performance notices... i hardly think titanic could be considered a smash hit... i think les mis is the best example or a poorly reviewed show that became a phenomenon.
Razz77
Broadway Star Joined: 11/22/04
#6re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:24pm
I wouldnt really call Titanic a "smash hit"
Mamma Mia got pretty lame reviews. That could probably classify as a smash hit.
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#7re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:25pmI would hardly call Millie a "smash hit." It lost about $2 million of its investment.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#8re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:25pm
Les Miserables got mixed notices in London, but the New York critics loved it. The all-powerful Frank Rich of the Times began his review, "If anyone doubts that the contemporary musical theatre can flex its atrophied muscles and yank an audience right out of its seats, he need look no further than the Act I finale of Les Miserables." He goes onto say "The ensuing fusion of drama, music, character, design and movement is what links this English adaptation of a French show to the highest tradition of modern Broadway musical production." Most of other NY critics similarly raved.
Rich gave mixed-to-negative reviews, however to several long-running hits: 42nd Street (3,486 performances); Brighton Beach Memoirs (1,530); The Will Rogers Follies (963); I'm Not Rappaport (890); Into The Woods (765); Starlight Express (761); The Secret Garden (706) and Agnes of God (599).
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#9re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:27pmI still think of it as a "smash hit" winning the tonys it did including Best Musical.
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before...
After the Sky.
-Into the Woods (Jack)
#10re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:28pmLOVE to Secret Garden!!!
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before...
After the Sky.
-Into the Woods (Jack)
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#11re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:29pmI guess so, Dickon. It had a pretty long run and the award wins...but it still did lose quite a bit of money.
#12re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:29pm
Thank you all, but especially Margo ! Yes, I knew that Cam Mak was talking about London mainly, but I had the feeling that probably the New York critics would be on the same wavelength. Thanks for clearing that up ! So, after all, the critics DO have a lot to say about a show's success !
Take care
Updated On: 1/26/05 at 08:29 PM
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#13re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:30pminto the woods really got negative reviews... oh man
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#14re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:37pmITW got mixed reviews (some fairly positive), all of which praised Sondheim, but some (including Rich) found the book overly dense narratively and lacking in focus and found the evening to be overlong.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#15re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:38pmIf I recall correctly, Smokey Joe's Cafe was one of those shows that did not get the best reviews at all and it was able to become the longest running Musical Review in the history of Broadway playing over 2,000 performances. If that is not a SMASH then I dont know what is.
HotTicket
Stand-by Joined: 10/25/03
#17re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:47pmThe Producers got awful reviews across the board.
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
Benzy92
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#18re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:52pm
Boy From Oz and Wicked got mediocre reviews..
Mamma Mia got negetive reviews and shows no signs of dying..
#19re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 8:56pmI thought boy from oz got panned and hugh got good reviews.
#20re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:00pmIsn't it odd that the original "Into the Woods" got mixed reviews and was a hit, while the 2002 revival got raves (even Brantley gushed all over it), and could barely last 6 months?
#21re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:06pmI said Wicked got MEDIOCRE reviews. I never said terrible.
#22re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:25pmThe 2002 revival did win the Tony award for Best Revival
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
NightLaughs
Leading Actor Joined: 6/26/04
#23re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:31pmHow'd Cats do with critics? And Phantom?
If you limit your choices to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise."- Robert Fritz
#24re: Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?
Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:33pmThe 2002 revival did win the Tony-and it was terrific-but it lost all of its $6 million advance.
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