A Broadway production that opened within the last 15 years

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1. Select a Broadway production that opened within the last 15 years (circa 2010- present).
2. Once you have selected a play or musical, read professional critics’ reviews and find one that is positive, one that is negative, and one that is mixed. (Broadwayworld.com and Playbill.com are excellent sources, as is TIMEOUT. NEW YORK). You can also use television reviews. Please place the links to each review in your post and tell the authors and the news source. DO NOT USE PERSONAL BLOG
3. After reading the reviews, summarize each of them in about three sentences and then do a compare/contrast of them in this discussion. Include quotes from each review that prompted you to think this way.
4. Use the following questions to guide your comparison: Is this a credible source? What is the main focus of each review? What was the overall position of each reviewer positive, negative or mixed? What was their major criticism(s) or praise(s) of the production?
5. Finally, based on the review, do you think the play is worth seeing?

Sample Solution

  1. Play Selected: Hadestown (2019)

  2. Reviews:

  • Positive Review: Hadestown Review: A Ravishing Myth Made Real [invalid URL removed] – Rebecca Rubin, Playbill
  • Negative Review: Hadestown Review: A Bland Take on a Greek Myth [invalid URL removed] – Adam Feldman, Time Out New York
  • Mixed Review: Hadestown: Broadway Review [invalid URL removed] – Robert Viagas, BroadwayWorld
  1. Review Summaries:
  • Positive Review (Rebecca Rubin, Playbill): Rubin praises the show’s stunning visuals, innovative staging, and powerful performances. She highlights the “visually stunning” set design and the “electrifying” chemistry between the leads, calling the show “a ravishing experience.” (Quote: “Hadestown is a feast for the eyes and ears…”)
  • Negative Review (Adam Feldman, Time Out New York): Feldman finds the show derivative and lacking in emotional depth. He criticizes the music as “generic” and the story as “bland,” concluding that the show “doesn’t quite live up to its hype.” (Quote: “The music…often feels generic and derivative…”)
  • Mixed Review (Robert Viagas, BroadwayWorld): Viagas acknowledges the show’s technical merits but expresses reservations about the emotional impact. He appreciates the “inventive staging” and “lush orchestrations” but finds the characters “less than fully developed.” (Quote: “The show’s technical merits are undeniable…”)
  1. Compare/Contrast:

All three reviews are from established sources dedicated to theater criticism. However, their viewpoints on Hadestown diverge significantly.

The positive review focuses on the show’s visual spectacle and captivating performances, suggesting a strong overall impression. The negative review criticizes the music and story, finding them unoriginal and failing to connect emotionally. The mixed review acknowledges the technical aspects while expressing concerns about the emotional depth of the characters.

  1. Should You See Hadestown?

Based on the reviews, the decision to see Hadestown depends on what you prioritize in a theatrical experience. If you appreciate visual spectacle, innovative staging, and strong performances, you might enjoy the show despite potential shortcomings in the music and story. However, if you prioritize originality and emotional depth, the reviews suggest Hadestown might not fully satisfy your expectations.

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