My review of 'The Performers'

[MimiJudith]

I saw "The Performers" this past Saturday afternoon. What a bunch of crap. It was probably one of the top five worst shows I have ever seen in my entire life (the other four would be "Is He Dead?", "Catch Me if You Can," "Curtains," and "The Little Dog Laughed").

Some highlights (or lowlights) included (some may be considered "spoilers" although I saw these jokes coming down Fifth Avenue):

- Repeated jokes about "Where's Waldo?" as if we were back in the 80's, when Where's Waldo was actually relevant.

- The Cheyenne Jackson character is named Mandrew. The huge "reveal" at the end is that his real name is actually (wait for it...) Andrew. Riveting.

- The Henry Winkler character is supposed to be an aged porn star. Hysterical. All I could think of when I watched him repeatedly talk about his penis is the fact that he "jumped the shark" as Fonzie and is once again (and, perhaps, for the last time) actually jumping the shark (in his career).

- The fighting between the Ari Graynor and Jenni Barber made the fighting on Real Housewives of New Jersey look like Shakespeare.

I can't really articulate how bad this show was. But I feel like I deserve to get my money back and I saw this for free. Perhaps someone will give me my 90 minutes back. Shameful that this sort of play would actually make it to Broadway.

[aasjb4ever]

My name’s Andrew!

[MusicalBoy]

What a vile, insensitive and unprecedented attack.

I not only read and continue to enjoy Where's Waldo (or Wally), but consider him to be among the most relevant and significant of children's puzzle books protagonists as well as one of the only characters of such a genre to branch out into comic strips, television and video games.

The fact that he repeatedly encounters inexplicably large crowds on almost every attempt to take holidays from what we can only assume is a fairly ordinary day to day life (the man wears the same outfit as his dog and female counterpart, clearly he's part of some bizarre religious cult), only goes to show that he has far greater patience than you have exhibited in this review asking for your 90 minutes back.

Leave Waldo alone.

[themysteriousgrowl]

I didn't realize that the thread about this show with all the other reviews was broken.

Rob, can you fix?

[MimiJudith]

I couldn't find the other reviews thread. What was the general consensus on this show?

[bdn223]

The general consensus was that the show was good...not great. It was just a fun night at the theater.

[MimiJudith]

Thanks for that, bdn223! I am quite surprised that people thought this show was even halfway decent. The audience I was in laughed throughout the entire thing (they were mostly very old people, like 75 years old and up). But then when the show ended, many people around me said things like "uch, that was awful" and "meh, not good." I just think it was a very low-quality show that is not worthy of a Broadway stage.

[Wynbish]

Repeated jokes about "Where's Waldo?" as if we were back in the 80's, when Where's Waldo was actually relevant.

True, since no one dresses up as Waldo practically every Halloween


And here's a thread with some reviews, many positive

http://broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1052557#4343560

[mybigsplash]

I thought this was one of the more entertaining and funny shows I've seen this season so far. Probably the second best play (after Virginia Woolf) and far more 'deserving' of Broadway than the trite and pious Scandalous. True this is the type of play you would expect at Second Stage, but when the actors are big stars, and the subject matter has mass appeal, then it has every right to be commercially successful.

[MimiJudith]

Wow, I am really shocked that people thought this was even remotely funny. Of course, humor is subjective. I just thought this show lacked any humor (as did the person I was with and everyone who sat near us). The jokes were lame, cheesy, and just plain idiotic, and the acting was horrible. Poor Henry Winkler seemed completely lost. And Ari Graynor, who many people seem to be praising, was screechy and annoying. "The Performers" is, in my opinion, a huge jumbled mess.

Oh, and there were people outside the theater afterwards trying to get certain audience members to say how much they loved the show (there was one very pushy woman pulling the oldest people she could find to talk in front of a small camera, I suppose for a TV spot -- I guess it's always funny to make fun of people who are over 85 years old and can hardly walk). When one of the audience members said he really didn't enjoy the show, the pushy woman basically pushed him away, almost knocking him to the ground. It was a pathetic sight.

[mybigsplash]

It's one thing to give a show a bad review. It's another to be as strangely angry you are that the show exists, and that you "had" to see it, and free no less. The show did seemingly nothing to you to deserve such hostility, and to warrant your aims of actively deterring people from this show, and salivating towards its destruction. Lmao.

[Deena Jones]

Is it me or does Alicia Silverstone look pregnant?

[MimiJudith]

I hated the show. It wasted my time. It was a piece of junk not worthy of being on Broadway. The jokes were lame. The acting was horrendous. I'm not being hostile, I'm just giving my opinion. Yes, I am angry that I went to see this show and had to watch 90 minutes of crap. If you don't agree, mybigsplash, that's your prerogative.

[Wynbish]

So, some lady was making fun of old people, before almost knocking a man to the ground?

I'll take Hyperboles for 200, Alex! Whoops, sorry. Probably more of a late 90's reference. Carry on.

[MimiJudith]

Deena, I did think Alicia Silverstone looked pregnant, especially in the blue dress.

[mybigsplash]

Well I think the show was alright and most people here did too. You're in minority in this case.

[MimiJudith]

Okay, Henry Winkler.

[mybigsplash]

[bjh2114]

I have nothing to do with this show, but you said a few things that I feel I must respond to.

It was probably one of the top five worst shows I have ever seen in my entire life (the other four would be "Is He Dead?", "Catch Me if You Can," "Curtains," and "The Little Dog Laughed").

Really? Those are the worst 5 things you've EVER seen? If so, you either don't see much theatre or you don't like a very specific genre of theatre. I didn't care for Catch Me If You Can or Curtains at all, but I would never rank them among my worst 5. Also, The Little Dog Laughed was hilarious. But to each his own. I have a feeling though that you just aren't a fan of this style.

Repeated jokes about "Where's Waldo?" as if we were back in the 80's, when Where's Waldo was actually relevant.

Seeing as Where's Waldo books were very much relevant when I was a child (I had hundreds of those books) and the characters in The Performers are my age or older, it makes sense that Mandrew would have been familiar (intimately) with the books as well. I see no problem with those references.

The Cheyenne Jackson character is named Mandrew. The huge "reveal" at the end is that his real name is actually (wait for it...) Andrew. Riveting.

That's the joke... the audience is supposed to see that coming.


In any case, I enjoyed the show, but I also had MANY problems with it. But all of these things you mentioned seem fairly illegitimate.

[MimiJudith]

Those are the worst shows I could think of. I've seen other awful shows, like "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," "Perfect Crime," and "Movin' Out" but I did not think of them when I wrote my post. And just because you found the Where's Waldo and Mandrew jokes to be funny does not mean my assessment of them as awful is incorrect. It's just my assessment. Also, I found "The Little Dog Laughed" to be a terrible play. Again, my opinion.

[MimiJudith]

Plus I see a lot of theater. I am actually a fan of shows that are of quality, namely "Grey Gardens," "The Fantasticks," "Jerusalem, " "South Pacific," "Tru," "A Little Night Music," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "My One and Only," etc. A play like "The Performers" never should have gotten to Broadway, in my opinion. No need to jump down my throat and insult me.

[labwyfan]

I saw it last week and I loved it. Thought it was very funny and light. Thought Henry Winkler gave a great performance as did Cheyenne. Ari Graynor stole the show. Alicia and Daniel Breaker were the weakest. They did not offer much.

I think it needs a little tightening up but nothing that a few more weeks of previews (which they have) can't fix. Paid for my ticket and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It's not going to change theatre in any way but thought it did exactly what it promised to - kept me laughing.

Thought the hotel room sets were pretty fun too.

Sorry you didn't get the Mandrew joke. I think you're thinking too much about it!

[MimiJudith]

I got the Mandrew joke. It wasn't funny.

[bjh2114]

And just because you found the Where's Waldo and Mandrew jokes to be funny does not mean my assessment of them as awful is incorrect.

Actually, you didn't say the Where's Waldo joke wasn't funny. You said it wasn't relevant. I was simply stating that it WAS relevant. Whether or not you found it funny is another issue entirely.

Also, I actually didn't find the Mandrew/Andrew joke particularly funny. But again, I recognize the intention of the joke. Saying "riveting" made it seem as though you in fact didn't get the joke. But since you say you did, that's fine. Just trying to clarify.

No need to jump down my throat and insult me.

I wasn't insulting you. I know you see a lot of theatre. You've been here since 2005 and post fairly frequently. The first half of my statement was for dramatic effect. Recall that I said "If so, you either don't see much theatre or you don't like a very specific genre of theatre." I think it's pretty clear from your list what kind of comedy you do not find funny. That's all I was saying.

[MimiJudith]

Okay.

[gymman]

I have a relative who is a producer, and my question is "why"? This is simply not Broadway material, mildly funny, but really simple minded (porn stars redeemed!) Henry Winkler as a porn star on the return...that pudgy body, the almost 70 year old face, the Catskills delivery?

Ari Graynor screeches her way through the role, and Mr. Jackson is just embarrassing as a "straight" porn star. Silverstone does what she can, but that's not much. Daniel Breaker is hot, but so obviously gay, and too old for the role,and with zero chemistry with Silverstone. Barber is a boring cliche, with horrible fake tits.

The laughs are few, and sets, lighting and sound are cheap (not in a good way).