Matilda and Kinky are both duds.

[DAME]

Saw them both this weekend. I can't say I was disappointed because I kind of had heard that they were both mediocre at best. But I was hoping. Commercial crap at is most boring. Back to LA now to face knee surgery. Highlight of the weekend was Sleep No More. And I do LOVE NY. What a great city.

[spike3]

Artistically perhaps, financially, no.

[DAME]

As far as financially; time will tell. But you are correct.... I wish people would stop supporting this kind of nonsense... but who am I to bitch.. after all.. I did go. Mostly because there was nothing else to see.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

It does seem that a lot of the reports about Matilda are contracting the near-orgasmic raves it was getting before it got here.

[Starship]

Best of luck on your knee surgery -- been there, done that!

[DEClarke]

It does seem that a lot of the reports about Matilda are contracting the near-orgasmic raves it was getting before it got here

I predicted a while ago (on these boards) that US audiences wouldn't cling to MATILDA the same way the the UK audiences did... :-/

[viola13]

Well, glad you liked Sleep No More at least!

[Scarywarhol]

Matilda at the RSC was one of the best shows I have ever seen. I wonder how much of the less-enthusiastic reception here is cultural difference vs. high expectations vs. a lesser cast/production...

[DAME]

Well I can't tell you what you experienced at the RSC. But I am glad you enjoyed it. Honestly I don't think it has anything to do with cultural differences. I just don't think it was very good.

[Mister Matt]

Huh. I read reports of Matilda detractors on the West End board and like here on the Main Board, they seemed to be in the minority. There are just fewer members on the West End Board. I remember the predictions that Billy Elliot wouldn't be received as well in the US for cultural reasons, but that didn't seem to be the case at all. Though I've yet to see the show, I've a feeling Matilda will do just fine here.

[DAME]

I was bored by Billy as well. And correct me if I am wrong... it had a respectful but not sensational run? And the tour had financial problems? One thing is true.. the best theater is definitely not happening on Broadway.

[spike3]

[Owen22]

"I was bored by Billy as well. And correct me if I am wrong... it had a respectful but not sensational run? And the tour had financial problems?"

It had a fine run. But that doesn't seem to scan with the "DAME is always right, the things I dislike always do poorly" scenario you seem to be writing on this particular post.

Matilda is great as well. There is an effervescent quality, a purity to both it and Billy that I'm sure, being as "subtly" negative as you are on these boards, that would have evaded you.

[DAME]

"It had a fine run. But that doesn't seem to scan with the "DAME is always right, the things I dislike always do poorly" scenario you seem to be writing on this particular post. "

What? Dude.. I paid a lot of money and I just did not like the darn thing.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

MATILDA is not nearly as good of a show as BILLY was. BILLY was a fantastic production of a fantastic show. MATILDA is a fantastic performance of a good show.

I actually had fun at KINKY BOOTS, after the unnecessarily boring first 50 minutes or so. But it's hardly a well-written show.

[DAME]

Wicked; I know a lot of people that liked Billy as well. We can only go by what our own experience was.

[DAME]

And for the record...
BE

[Mister Matt]

Billy Elliot proved to be profitable on Broadway and both the Chicago and Toronto productions extended. Not sure what happened with the national tour, but it sounds like it simply wasn't handled well. At any rate, American audiences didn't seem to culturally struggle with the show. I remember a few people here and there whining about the accents, but to any degree that seemed to keep audiences out of the theatre.

[DAME]

The tour was downgraded before anyone really knew what happened. Matt I will be interested in your Matilda thoughts after you have seen it. However.. I have a feeling we will both be in agreement over Kinky ( just a feeling).

[Chicago Star]

The Chicago run of Billy Elliot closed about two months early.

[Mister Matt]

The extension of the Chicago run of Billy Elliot closed two months early. I never expected it to be the monster hit of Wicked proportions, but it did well. Better than I expected.

I have a feeling we will both be in agreement over Kinky ( just a feeling).

Saw it in Chicago and your feeling is correct. I really want to love it, but the book was a mess and the score was forgettable. I was hoping they would take the time to get a lot of work done for Broadway, but it sounds like very little has changed. But I do think I'll enjoy Matilda. I love the story and from what I've heard on the CD, I love the score. Funny thing is, I had to be dragged to Billy Elliot and I walked out thinking it was quite brilliant.

[bjh2114]

I absolutely adored Matilda when I saw it in London. I'm seeing it here tonight, so I'll be curious to see how it held up on its trip across the pond. I agree that Kinky Boots is a dud. I wanted to love it so much, but the book is one of the worst books to a musical I have ever experienced.

[DAME]

I just don't think Harvey can write a good book for a musical. And yes.. I take La Cage and Newsies into account when I say that.

[SweetLips]

I never tire of watching the movie 'Billy Elliot'-the stage production bored me.Loved the movie 'Kinky Boots'.HATED the film of Matilda-wonder if the reverse will happen on stage with that and Kinky Boots?

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

I'm going back to Matilda again tonight. Absolutely loved it the first time around and now obsessed with the OLCR.

I agree that Kinky Boots was a total dud though.

[ColorTheHours048]

MATILDA is far from a dud. Further proof that this message board is full of duds itself.

I loved MATILDA more than about 95% of shows I've seen in the city over the 4 years that I've lived here. It's an excellent adaptation of a classic piece of children's literature. I don't know what you were expecting going in, but, in my opinion, it hits the Roald Dahlian nail on the head in every single aspect.