Is ANNIE considered a box office disappointment?

[degrassifan]

Why do people always rag on Annie? Granted, I have never seen a stage version of it, but I have seen the movies and they were not lame kiddie films. And, even if it was a kiddie show, what's wrong with that? What's wrong with 2 and a half hours of fun?

Matilda is doing very well in London, and I think just by name alone, it will do well here. The movie is a classic among kids and adults who grew up with it. It also comes on ABC Family all the time, and when it comes on, it's a trending topic on Twitter.

I think Cinderella will do well. Cinderella is Cinderella, no matter what the version is. Little boys and girls will recognize the name and basic story. Adults and teens will recognize the "Rodgers and Hammerstein" name attached to the title. Believe it or not, the 1997 version is considered a "classic" among my generation. When that movie came out, it was the High School Musical of my time in elementary school. Everyone in school kept singing the songs. Older adults will possibly remember the 1965 version and maybe the 1957 version. I think it will do fine.

[dramamama611]

I don't thing "everybody" rags on it, there were a lot of people here that were quite excited about it coming back and had high hopes. Many people are down on THIS production, however, based on seeing it.

Personally, I just don't like it. I don't like too many things that get by simply on the "aw, aren't those kids cute" kind of success. It's not because its for kids (or marketed that way).
I find nothing about Annie "fun", even when my own kid was in it.

[GavestonPS]

I "rag" on it. I saw it about 3 weeks into the original run and found it a mess. I understand why little girls like it, but there's no excuse for anybody else.

[TheHappyPhantom]

Exactly. It doesn't matter which production it is. It's a terrible show. Family shows are one thing, but Annie is strictly children's theatre and doesn't really belong in a Broadway house.

[GavestonPS]

I just realized we never even took our children to see ANNIE, even though we lived in New York through most of its run. PETER PAN, on the other hand, we saw many times.

[degrassifan]

Ok, I have never seen the stage show, but is it really that bad? Or, are people just being too nitpicky? This is a serious question. Why is Annie always looked down upon on these boards, while other shows with kids in them (Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Oliver!, Music Man, Peter Pan, The King and I, etc) are held in high regards? I find it hard to believe that a show with such classic tunes, so many Tony Awards, and has stood the test of time to be really bad.

[GavestonPS]

I don't know what to tell you, degrassi, except that I was profoundly bored throughout most of the show. By the time Annie came down the stairs in her red dress during the title number--an obvious homage to a certain Mrs. Levi who came down the stairs in a red dress during HER title number--I was convinced ANNIE was a show about nothing.

I have since learned to enjoy Dorothy Loudon in YOU TUBE clips and I think the song "Maybe" is nice for a kid.

But for me, the show is a random olio of manipulative moments. Sad orphan, cute dog, "I Love New York" song, cardboard villains (yes, I realize it's based on a comic strip), but with none of the satiric bite of the comic strip or another comic adaptation, LI'L ABNER.

No, it probably isn't as bad as it seemed when it won every award in town. At the time I was convinced it was the death knell of the Broadway musical.

[goldenboy]

I don't rag on Annie. It is a great musical.
You would never know it from the crap that is smelling up the palace theatre. You know when you get a foul ball in volleyball and you are kid and you ask for a do-over??? I wish we can erase that Annie mess and ask for a do over. From casting to choreography to sets ---- do over.....
So while it may not be a financial disapointment (yet)... it certainly is an artistic one. How anyone can screw up Annie is beyond me. Leave it to James Lapine and Andy Blankebuehler.

[Mattbrain]

The grown ups are talking now, goldie.

[dramamama611]

It's not becauses kids are in them. Those other shows you mention have quite a bit of substance, and thought, and need nuance. Not so much with Annie.

In a number of those shows, the kids are not the center of attention, they are just a part of it.

[Kelly2]

I'm pretty sure it's not just "little girls" who are allowed to like ANNIE, Gaveston. As an orphaned and adopted child myself, I have always loved the show and continue to love it as an adult. An organization I'm a part of for adoptees and orphans actually took a group to the show of all ages and I'm told that it was an amazing experience and the production was loved by all the attendees I spoke with.

Lots of hate in this thread but say what you want, Annie means a lot to a lot of people and if you can't understand why, then I don't know what to say to you.

[EponineAmneris]

^^^ "Lots of hate in this thread but say what you want, Annie means a lot to a lot of people and if you can't understand why, then I don't know what to say to you."

Well said, Kelly2.

I saw the production on December 16th and loved every second. It was the musical that started it all for me as a child. It is not a "bad" musical and all the hate really upsets me. Like any musical or play, you either like it or you don't.

[frankywhitley]

"LOTS OF HATE IN THIS THREAD"

I couldn't agree more with THAT statement. Wow. sounds like alot of Matilda producers on here having a board meeting. The box office for ANNIE just so everyone knows... is fine. They made over 2 million this past week and made it to the top 5 shows. With all of these shows closing they will certainly make it to the summer and then get a bump from Tony Season. They also have an amazing advance sale for february and march from what ive heard from my friends who actually WORK in the box office.....And afterall they got great reviews, overall a 3.5 out of 4... so lets all calm down Dramamammas and be nice to broadway shows that make people happy. Not EVERYONE in the world is as cynical as you. With that said. you are entitled to your opinion... and its just that... i mean, if we are looking at the 13 million they have already made since previewing in october. Have a NICE day

[finebydesign]

I'm still baffled it opened at all.

[FindingNamo]

That $2,054,848 gross last week does spell flop. If you live in Opposite Land.

[dramamama611]

But the thing is: MOST of us have been saying the entire thread that we didn't see the point of the original question since it's been doing just fine at the box office. We did question it's future with so many other family shows also coming down the pike.

Lastly, I've only discussed my dislike of the show in response to specific questions as to WHY. Of course, people can like different things ... I just never understand why folks get upset because some DON'T like it. How does that affect your enjoyment. (Unless you happen to be sitting next to me when I sigh uncontrollably with my discontent.)

[LizzieCurry]

Ugh, I am all about your last paragraph there. Oh no! Someone doesn't like something you don't like! Ah, I've got the vapors.

[Kelly2]

Dramamama, I wasn't addressing you, I hope you didn't think I was. I was referencing the comment Gaveston made about how only "little girls" should enjoy the show. Of course people are entitled to dislike it, but to be condescending and imply that enjoying the show or finding it meaningful past puberty is somehow indicative of poor taste or whatever it may be is inaccurate and rude.

[mb87]

People on here rag on Annie like it's the antichrist.

Then again, the same old people bitch on here all the time.