Did Ben Brantley Like It? Check This Site

Proposition #1: It's fun to hate Ben Brantley. There's something about the position of lead drama critic at the New York Times that seems to invite scorn, but there's also something about Brantley himself that makes him that much easier to hate. I mean, check out his NYT headshot. This is the photo that he chose to portray himself to his reading public. Even so, he's the most powerful theater critic in the country, and whether he's spot-on or way off base, what he says can have a huge impact on the success of a particular show.

Proposition #2: Yeah, Brantley's powerful, but that doesn't mean I want to read his every word in order to find out whether he liked the show. Also, he's not the only theater critic out there, and it's always fruitful to seek out a variety of opinions rather than relying on one dyspeptic scribe. Wouldn't it be great if there was a Web site that collected the opinions of all the different drama critics into one easy-to-understand format? Kind of like what Metacritic does for movies, books, DVDs, and video games.

Well, now there is. It's called www.didhelikeit.com. The site collects the available reviews from the major critics and represents the basic upshot for each with a simple graphic element -- the Ben-ometer, modeled after old Benny boy. The site appears to be a work in progress: the site's creator apparently has plans to eventually include Off-Broadway shows as well. But it's a valiant effort overall, and a welcome addition to my list of must-see theater sites.

Comments

[Scot Colford]

Oh, dude, it's way too early to look at that picture.

[chris caggiano]

My humblest apologies, Scot. I should have printed a warning.

[[email protected]]

Thanks for this tip, Chris. It's a terrific addition to the theater blogosphere and worth a visit for just the drawings alone.

[thedramagirl]

That is a seriously screwed up picture.

[Mike]

The Glory Days review is up on did he like it, check it out!

[David Muir]

I have reread the review that Ben Brantley gave Wicked on 10/31/03 after it opened on Broadway. At http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=990CE5DE103FF932A05753C1A9659C8B63 I had not seen the show at the time of his review. Now I have seen the show several times. Being older and rather jaded I can relate to most of Mr. Brantley's reviews. However, he totally missed this one. I am not sure what show he saw but the Wicked that I have seen is not what this review was about. Especially his 2nd to last sentence:

" "Wicked" does not, alas, speak hopefully for the future of the Broadway musical."
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I think now after this show has been as successful has it has that Mr. Brantley should write another review. I have seen this happen before where a critic really wants to set the record straight. I found another review which seemed his second. It is not dated. It is really interesting how Mr. Brantley has changed his tune. I have seen critics do this before. Those who have integrity will often do a second review on a long running show when they blew the first one. However, it can go the other way too. Now that shows are running for years critics can do a 2nd review that can be negative when their first one was more positive. Now with the internet it is really easy to catch their whoops. At http://www.concerttickets.org/wicked-reviews.htm there is this review of Mr. Brantley's:
"WICKED IS STEEPED IN TALENT!
As Glinda the Good Witch, Kristin Chenoweth is giving jaw-dropping demonstrations of the science of show-biz aeronautics. She proves that nothing can top undiluted star power. It's amazing how she keeps metamorphosing before your eyes and ears. Her voice shifting between operetta-ish trills and Broadway brass, her posture melting between prom-queen vampiness and martial arts moves, she evokes everyone from Jeanette MacDonald to Cameron Diaz, from Mary Martin to Madonna. She turns one-liners into something so startling that you have to laugh. Chenoweth is the real thing, melding decades of performing traditions into something shiny and new. Be very grateful that she has returned to the stage.
As the Wicked Witch of the West, the talented Idina Menzel is a vocal powerhouse and a commanding presence. She will no doubt dazzle audiences.
Directed by the understandably in-demand Joe Mantello, WICKED'S cast features gold-standard veterans, Joel Grey and Carole Shelley, and bright rising talents, Norbert Leo Butz and Christopher Fitzgerald. The top-flight designers include Susan Hilferty (costumes), Kenneth Eugene Lee and dazzling costumes by Susan Hilferty. And it is directed by Joe Mantello, the most stylish and inventive director working in theater today. It's got monkeys that fly over the audience and a giant dragon whose eyes light up. And it's got Joel Grey as the Wizard of Oz himself. What more could you want? WICKED has at least six spectacular performances, from the absolutely stellar Idina Menzel, the charming Kristin Chenoweth, the absolutely priceless Carole Shelley, the supremely gifted Norbert Leo Butz, Christopher Fitzgerald and, of course, the legendary Grey. Wayne Cilento choreographs with an easy elegance that is fast becoming a rarity on Broadway."
- Ben Brantley, Wicked Review The New York Times
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Ben Brantley gave Adams Family the worst review I have read. And it turned out to be a very popular show with the public, it is still running and has made a fortune. So I guess it is how someone interprets what a successful show is. I would hope it would be one that is written well, acted well and is good. However, we do live in a society where so much is judged on the monetary results. I think it is fair to say a show is successful on Broadway when it returns a profit. That is how the theater is going to keep going for a long time.