so, uh, i guess it wasn't what you'd call a critical darling? and i love these old review clips 'betty buckley is going to be a huge star, you're going to be seeing a lot more from her, etc. etc' having never heard of her, apparently that was not the case...
i watched clips and i know why this flopped: the director didn't know musicals, the choreographer was a kook, the costume designer was lazy and used leftovers from Grease, and don't get me started on the set (they say the stage is supposed to represent carries world as a box, i think it represents the directors mind: no imagination or creativity ). THEY JUST DIDN'T CARE. It is sad that the actors tried so hard, and the music was catchy too.
Okay, is it just me or is Pia Lindstrum the only one who kept an open mind when seeing the show... She is actually able to point out good and bad things about the show... The other critics are just like 'It Sucked, Enough Said'
The lead does appear closer to the description of Carrie in the novel I can understand why this musical bombed. Whoever thought making a muscical of this was on some serious drugs
Surprised at criticism of set for Carrie's home--any veteran theatre-goer knows concept of setting by suggestion. Sounds like he wants everything spelled-out, set realistically as in film. I like the spare design for the White home, although I agree everything else is fugly. Dennis Cunningham is right on--show took itself too seriously. Worst thing are the lyrics--cringe worthy. Choreography is cliche. Costumes disastrous. Numbers w/ Carrie's classmates = crap. Most of the music is really good.
To me there's a difference between allowing the audience to fill in the blanks and being surreal... And everything was ridiculously surreal... Also Carrie's home is suppose to be filled with Christian Idols and Portraits... Instead it looks like she lives in a shack in the middle of the woods...
What I did like about the set design was just how everything moved, like the house flipping forward, the flying shower, the stairway to heaven.. It was all very cool but made no sense xD
i feel so bad for the actors who worked sooooo hard for this and then just get chucked out on their reers. some of this is ok. just needs a serious rework.
"On an optimistic note, we can only go up from here." History sure showed him, didn't it? Carrie, Chu Chem, Welcome to the Club, Legs Diamond. Sheesh!
Check out Stephen King High School: The Musical! the webseries, type in Stephen King High School: The Musical! into youtube or watch it at skhsm.com
Yeah yeah. You have no taste in musicals anyways, I saw carrie the musical and it was fabulous. A must see for all!!! And if was such a horrible thing, why has it become such a cult hit musical
THANK GOD the 2nd reviewer (and the 4th review a bit) realized that Betty Buckley was amazing in it. Just the musical was very bad. But Betty did her best, and gave a great preformance. Linzi was good too.
OMG! I just found this article where Stephen King gave his opinion on the show! He says: "I liked it a lot. In fact, I liked it for most of the reasons that Frank Rich did not. He and I saw the same show. We just drew different conclusions from different perspectives." He loved it!
These reviews were not spiteful or indicative of a conspiracy. The damn thing was so schizophrenic. Some songs made you gape at the stage in disbelief; others were eerily beautiful--like "I remember how the boys could dance".
Nothing, however, could save the Act II opening song, "Out for Blood".
Still, those theatergoers looking for the unprecedented found what they wanted.
The overwhelming majority realized they had witnessed Broadway's worst fiasco since the "The Moose Murders."
I love the music and I would have killed to have seen the show if I was live the year it opened.
If it was so bad why was it the hottest ticket on broadway at the time. It got standing ovations ever night for the week it was on broadway. Also a playbill of the show was just sold on ebay for over $300, becayse it is a hot collector's item.
There are dozens of sites dedicated to the show an with music from the show I downloaded it and love listing to it on my ipod.
The music is epic, the voices are mind shattering, and the singing is fantastic.
UNLESS you see some clips on youtube and listen to more then half the songs including the DESTRUCTION song where she kills her classmates; you should not comment on how bad it is.
Because I know 6 people who saw the show back when they lived in New York who saw it and loved it.
UNLESS you saw it or at least did what I said earlier, then you can make a fair judgement; because I'll willing to bet a million bucks that 95% of the people shitting the show have not seen a clip or at least heard the music and songs of the show.
It's a good show!
Also some of you may be SURPRISED to hear this but the show is set for a Revival on broadway. Workshops started late last year; which means it will be on broadway by 2012. For those of you who know about 2012; IRONY! Love it!
@daviddarkmaster Yeah, and all they had to do to make it watchable was cut and replace stuff left and right. Promising. So it's basically what everyone said: This show could be good if absolutely everything about it was different. Out for Blood is already out the door.
95% of people didn't see Gigli either, but those of us who didn't waste the money to see this preposterously dumb exercise were nicely warned against it by people who did.
You know, we've all seen shows that have gotten even worse reviews, example, "Taboo" and yet audiences love it so much. It shouldn't be about the reviews. If audiences love it, it should stay on Broadway. I feel that the reviwers kind of exagerated a little bit. Also, Stephen King was at opening night of Carrie. How did he like it? We should get an opinion from the main source for all things Carrie!
My favorite review here is Joel Siegel's. I like how he contradicts it at the end: "The creators did succeed in one way: Carrie is horrible." And the retort is priceless: "At least the weather's nice."
I also love the The Producers/Springtime for Hitler reference in his review.
I really don't see Carrie as a HORROR story. It's more of a supernatural drama. I don't agree with the guy saying the major flaw was presenting a horror film as a Broadway musical. There is more to the story than just pig's blood and killing all your classmates. I actually like the music, and it goes with the dramatic part of the story but not the supernatural.
@goodguy630 I totally agree with what you're saying. The movie is 90 minutes long but nothing horrific and terrrifying doesn't really begin until 20 minutes before it ends.
maybe they werent ready for carrie. lol! cause some of the stuff kind of sounds like a show that would be put on in the 90's and it didnt really seem that bad.
The music is awful... ya right some of the songs are wonderful and the lyrics make me so sorry for Carrie and the duets are POWERFUL.... blaring= AMAZING BELTING
so, uh, i guess it wasn't what you'd call a critical darling? and i love these old review clips 'betty buckley is going to be a huge star, you're going to be seeing a lot more from her, etc. etc' having never heard of her, apparently that was not the case...
bijibadness 2 weeks ago
Stewart Klein was an asshole.
clamman27 3 weeks ago
i watched clips and i know why this flopped: the director didn't know musicals, the choreographer was a kook, the costume designer was lazy and used leftovers from Grease, and don't get me started on the set (they say the stage is supposed to represent carries world as a box, i think it represents the directors mind: no imagination or creativity ). THEY JUST DIDN'T CARE. It is sad that the actors tried so hard, and the music was catchy too.
Batben01 1 month ago
we're not sure why the mom is naked but that does not mean that this is a poor performance
MsForage 4 months ago
Okay, is it just me or is Pia Lindstrum the only one who kept an open mind when seeing the show... She is actually able to point out good and bad things about the show... The other critics are just like 'It Sucked, Enough Said'
babeandandy 8 months ago
You just know this would be a huge hit if it came out today.
moriya2k2 9 months ago
The lead does appear closer to the description of Carrie in the novel I can understand why this musical bombed. Whoever thought making a muscical of this was on some serious drugs
lovecraftis 10 months ago
Surprised at criticism of set for Carrie's home--any veteran theatre-goer knows concept of setting by suggestion. Sounds like he wants everything spelled-out, set realistically as in film. I like the spare design for the White home, although I agree everything else is fugly. Dennis Cunningham is right on--show took itself too seriously. Worst thing are the lyrics--cringe worthy. Choreography is cliche. Costumes disastrous. Numbers w/ Carrie's classmates = crap. Most of the music is really good.
LaMisereHQ 10 months ago
@LaMisereHQ
To me there's a difference between allowing the audience to fill in the blanks and being surreal... And everything was ridiculously surreal... Also Carrie's home is suppose to be filled with Christian Idols and Portraits... Instead it looks like she lives in a shack in the middle of the woods...
What I did like about the set design was just how everything moved, like the house flipping forward, the flying shower, the stairway to heaven.. It was all very cool but made no sense xD
babeandandy 8 months ago
I know what this is, this is the Grease wannabe. No, this is the lobotomized Grease.
Luckily the recent workshop readings makes Carrie a Deconstruction of Grease.
AliaSparrow 1 year ago
hoiw do you do a musical on this though ?
kkgirl300 1 year ago
THIS IS HILARIOUS!!! lol
HappyMadisonDude 1 year ago
Really Bad Broadway Musical Why Because it's too horrible yuck!
imal25 1 year ago
i feel so bad for the actors who worked sooooo hard for this and then just get chucked out on their reers. some of this is ok. just needs a serious rework.
sugarkap 1 year ago
"On an optimistic note, we can only go up from here." History sure showed him, didn't it? Carrie, Chu Chem, Welcome to the Club, Legs Diamond. Sheesh!
rubino83 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Check out Stephen King High School: The Musical! the webseries, type in Stephen King High School: The Musical! into youtube or watch it at skhsm.com
sarahjane23100 1 year ago
Yeah yeah. You have no taste in musicals anyways, I saw carrie the musical and it was fabulous. A must see for all!!! And if was such a horrible thing, why has it become such a cult hit musical
ColbyJones1988 1 year ago
This show was worth it for the "Evening Prayers" duet between Betty and Linzi -- just brilliant! I agree though the Debbie Allen could ruin any show.
phlashba 1 year ago
Great Montage --- THANKS!!!
Were you involved in the production and that's why you recorded the reviews? In any case it a great document!
phlashba 1 year ago
THANK GOD the 2nd reviewer (and the 4th review a bit) realized that Betty Buckley was amazing in it. Just the musical was very bad. But Betty did her best, and gave a great preformance. Linzi was good too.
Museleaders 1 year ago
"... from a box of crackerjacks." anybody else find that ironic?
DrNoYes9 1 year ago
OMG! I just found this article where Stephen King gave his opinion on the show! He says: "I liked it a lot. In fact, I liked it for most of the reasons that Frank Rich did not. He and I saw the same show. We just drew different conclusions from different perspectives." He loved it!
RadioCityChristmas 1 year ago
These reviews were not spiteful or indicative of a conspiracy. The damn thing was so schizophrenic. Some songs made you gape at the stage in disbelief; others were eerily beautiful--like "I remember how the boys could dance".
Nothing, however, could save the Act II opening song, "Out for Blood".
Still, those theatergoers looking for the unprecedented found what they wanted.
The overwhelming majority realized they had witnessed Broadway's worst fiasco since the "The Moose Murders."
YD8189 1 year ago
I love the music and I would have killed to have seen the show if I was live the year it opened.
If it was so bad why was it the hottest ticket on broadway at the time. It got standing ovations ever night for the week it was on broadway. Also a playbill of the show was just sold on ebay for over $300, becayse it is a hot collector's item.
There are dozens of sites dedicated to the show an with music from the show I downloaded it and love listing to it on my ipod.
daviddarkmaster 2 years ago
The music is epic, the voices are mind shattering, and the singing is fantastic.
UNLESS you see some clips on youtube and listen to more then half the songs including the DESTRUCTION song where she kills her classmates; you should not comment on how bad it is.
Because I know 6 people who saw the show back when they lived in New York who saw it and loved it.
daviddarkmaster 2 years ago
UNLESS you saw it or at least did what I said earlier, then you can make a fair judgement; because I'll willing to bet a million bucks that 95% of the people shitting the show have not seen a clip or at least heard the music and songs of the show.
It's a good show!
Also some of you may be SURPRISED to hear this but the show is set for a Revival on broadway. Workshops started late last year; which means it will be on broadway by 2012. For those of you who know about 2012; IRONY! Love it!
daviddarkmaster 2 years ago
I really hope that revival is, in fact, happening. I can´t wait to see what can be done with the show if done right
Jimsteinman 2 years ago
It's set for a revival? I hadn't heard...where did you learn that?
WalrusInATopHat 2 years ago
@daviddarkmaster Yeah, and all they had to do to make it watchable was cut and replace stuff left and right. Promising. So it's basically what everyone said: This show could be good if absolutely everything about it was different. Out for Blood is already out the door.
95% of people didn't see Gigli either, but those of us who didn't waste the money to see this preposterously dumb exercise were nicely warned against it by people who did.
rubino83 1 year ago
I agree with everything he says... except for when he calls Betty Buckley's singing "screaming."
AtLastOnTheGround 2 years ago
HOW TRUE!!!!
moietybaby 2 years ago
The one critic who loved the musical and had a great review couldn't make it to the news station to report it because he was deaf and blind.
sddweller 2 years ago
You know, we've all seen shows that have gotten even worse reviews, example, "Taboo" and yet audiences love it so much. It shouldn't be about the reviews. If audiences love it, it should stay on Broadway. I feel that the reviwers kind of exagerated a little bit. Also, Stephen King was at opening night of Carrie. How did he like it? We should get an opinion from the main source for all things Carrie!
RadioCityChristmas 2 years ago
Pia Lindstrum's review is probably the most positive out all of them I have seen so far!
RadioCityChristmas 2 years ago
My favorite review here is Joel Siegel's. I like how he contradicts it at the end: "The creators did succeed in one way: Carrie is horrible." And the retort is priceless: "At least the weather's nice."
I also love the The Producers/Springtime for Hitler reference in his review.
Maestrojosh87 2 years ago
I really don't see Carrie as a HORROR story. It's more of a supernatural drama. I don't agree with the guy saying the major flaw was presenting a horror film as a Broadway musical. There is more to the story than just pig's blood and killing all your classmates. I actually like the music, and it goes with the dramatic part of the story but not the supernatural.
goodguy630 2 years ago 15
@goodguy630 I totally agree with what you're saying. The movie is 90 minutes long but nothing horrific and terrrifying doesn't really begin until 20 minutes before it ends.
RadioCityChristmas 1 year ago
Even though I love Carrie the musical, I must say that the last guy's review was pretty funny. Especially the quote from Crackerjack/Out for blood.
But they were pretty harsh and mean. I think the musical has some really great songs in it.
LittleGirlFromSweden 2 years ago 4
Ouch. First one was so mean. :(
johnnyvlogs 2 years ago 3
(Re: the 1988-1989 season) "It can only go up from here." BOY WAS HE WRONG.
Maestrojosh87 2 years ago
I wonder if Stephen King killed everyone in the Theater after watching this!!!
krazykittymatt 2 years ago
maybe they werent ready for carrie. lol! cause some of the stuff kind of sounds like a show that would be put on in the 90's and it didnt really seem that bad.
vivalavieboheme14 2 years ago 2
Eh, some of the songs are pretty amazing but a lot of the rest are just... eh. Betty Buckley wins at life forever.
Dude when Chris(? The girl in the red costume) does that body roll it looks so odd. XD
wikitiki99 2 years ago 13
What a bunch of losers. Carrie looks awesome.
Picklepuss 2 years ago
Oh, Stewart....
pomegranatefreak 2 years ago
The First guy is horrible...
The music is awful... ya right some of the songs are wonderful and the lyrics make me so sorry for Carrie and the duets are POWERFUL.... blaring= AMAZING BELTING
TerribleGreenBlizzrd 2 years ago 5
First reviewer is terrible
webuster 3 years ago
good old linzi hateley
Ryanlaskey 3 years ago
OMFG where did you get this at such great quality?
killoa2002 3 years ago
DIANE LOVE???
v1de0gamr 3 years ago
fabulous. i miss stewart klein and ALL ny opening night reviews.
nylilhotman 3 years ago