Deuce

The knives are out for Angela Lansbury's return to Broadway. Super-successful playwright, Terrence McNally, who once sent me a postcard and who I greatly admire for being so prolific, has a new play called Deuce about two aging Tennis stars. I won't be seeing it cause I'm not in New York right now and also because, well, I hate going to plays. I do, however, read the theatre message boards and the New York theatre chatters are being ruthless. The play is only in previews but that hasn't stopped people from tearing the whole enterprise to shreds. I've never seen all the "chatters" so aligned and I've never seen such unanimous brutality aimed at one play.

Here's a collection of the brutality:

"There are serious talks going on about closing Deuce before opening night. Everyone backstage knows the play's a dud and Angela doesn't want to go out with a flop. It's been suggested the show close in order to take time off for major rewrites then open again in the fall. However, I doubt the show will ever open." Posted by twsct
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It is an awful play. It's not a play. You wait and wait and there's nothing there-no big revelation--no subtext--no secrets--no conflict...no payoff for spending 100 minutes with characters you don't give a hoot about. A testament to Ms. Seldes and Ms. Lansbury is that I was still paying attention. The woman next to me paid a lot of money for a nap. I wasn't concerned about them not knowing lines, more that they were forced to say those lines." Posted by Skrigs
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"To the Producers of Deuce:

If you are reading this board (which you should be), please close this show as soon as possible. It would be a great embarrassment to you, your supremely talented cast, your playwright and all others involved to let this play be ravaged by critics. I've seen a wealth of plays in my day and have never seen a play that has amounted to less that what is currently on stage at the Music Box Theater. In the grand tradition of Broadway, let this play be one that the few who had the chance to see only really know how bad it was, while others speculate, bring to legendary status and long for a revival in a decade or more.

Sincerely,
Your Friend" Posted by Pocket
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It really makes one nostalgic for producing plays in the pre-internet era. Have a good Saturday night! Posted by Ronnie