A flop. A stinker. Big money-losing, inadvertent-laughter-provoking, critically-bashed and/or audience-disdained fiascos. Turkeys. What is it about them that grabs us? Like the rubberneckers slowing down for a car wreck we buy up all the papers to read with glee the scathingly venomous diatribes and study box office figures, calculating nuts and percentages. And when we hear about these major disasters, we rush to get a glimpse before they're taken from us prematurely -- gotta be able to say, "I was in the audience for closing night of Legs Diamond!" So it was only a matter of time before sites began to crop up on the web dedicated to the (formerly?) abhorred.
Although other musicals have lost greater sums and met with more intense hostility, none are quite as synonymous with the term "flop" as the Queen of all lemons, the Dean Pitchford/Michael Gore/Lawrence D. Cohen Carrie, which is commemorated at Robbie Rozelle's Carrie the Musical Website. Is that "Carrie the Musical" Website or Carrie the "Musical Website"? Oh, well never mind, Mr. Rozelle's ambitious site aims to compile reviews from the failed 1987/88 productions in London and on Broadway as well as something about the original workshop. The site is currently very much under construction, so there's not a heck of a lot to see at the moment -- just excerpts from several of the London reviews -- but Mr. Rozelle (who has been pretty active in promoting his not quite ready for prime time site of late) deserves kudos for being the first to devote a site to this bloodbath.
Leaving its own stylish footprint after gutting and reshaping the interior of The Broadway Theatre and then abandoning it after only 16 previews and 16 performances, was the 1972 mega-dud, Dude, by Gerome Ragni and Galt Macdermot, the creators of the far more successful Hair. Tracy Harris' single page site, Dude - the highway life, provides brief descriptions of the plot, the "renovation" of the theatre, some sound clips, and a production team and cast list. (I had tickets to see the show, but it closed too soon.)
James Magruder, Jeffrey Stock, and Susan Birkenhead's Triumph of Love, failed less from lack of positive response than lack of interest. BuyBroadway's area devoted to Triumph of Love kind of keeps it both ways, where you read on the front page that it's been closed for awhile (since January 4, 1998, after a shortly more than two month run), but the rest of the pages sure make it seem as if the show's still running, with details on the show, bios, production shots, and -- oops! -- ticket purchasing info. Most ironic is the front page's juxtaposition of the closing info with the rave blurbs, including CNN's "Best musical this year!"
While it would probably be considered a flop based on the fact that it closed out of town here in the states, losing most of its investment, Whistle Down the Wind by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman is currently running London in a revised version, with a new production team, and which opened to some of the most widely varying reviews ever seen (great show/bad music, bad show/great music, great show and music, bad show and music, etc.). Read all about it at this graphically gorgeous Really Useful Theatre Company site -- which makes no reference to the abortive previous effort. There's some bios, background on the show, a brief synopsis, and ticket purchase information.
Next two weeks: Save the Turkeys!
And in three weeks: Turkey Stew.
Which brings us to a brand new contest (ENDED):
TURKEY-LURKEY
Your humble author is no stranger to turkeys, having been involved
with a number himself. Obviously, I believe that the number of
bombs a person is involved with is not necessarily a reflection
on the person's talent or abilities. So, with that in mind, this
contest calls upon you to test your brain and research skills
to come up with the person involved with the largest number of
flops. Provide the person's name, as well as the complete list
of shows and the person's involvement.
Email your answers to me. In the case of a tie, the earlier submission will win -- unless different people come up with different flop-meisters with the same number of flops. In that case multiple entries may be awarded. As always, although anyone may submit an answer, only Suite101.com members are eligible for the prize, which is Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops by Ken Mandelbaum. The contest will run for five weeks in total, ending on September 21. Go to it!
C U @ the Theatre!
Originally published at Suite101.com Theatre, 8/25/98
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