chicagotribune.com: "How can a wicked little show make a living spoofing Broadway musicals that are perfectly happy spoofing themselves?
'We refer to those shows that keep referring back to themselves as the metamusicals,' Alessandrini says with a sigh. 'I like to think the phenomenon has peaked.'
That might be wishful thinking."
9 comments:
I think its interesting that the shows are spoofing themselves and each other more and more. It provides a fun extra for theatre goers in the know, without leaving those who go seldomly behind. I also am reminded of an article posted earlier this year about how Forbidden Broadway is closing. I wonder if its because there's less of a need/demand because the shows are doing it within themselves...?
The whole being able to make cash of spoofs thing is just weird to me. Sure it's a tried and true method handed down through out the ages but still. I've never gotten to see this particular show but it reminds me of Hollywood's version with the scary movie series (aka the series that i wish would kill itself already).
I think one of the reasons that Forbidden Broadway is closing is because other shows are starting to poke fun of themselves. Once shows start doing that in themselves then Forbidden Broadway only has so much to work with. Not to mention that the audience isn't going to want to see a show that they already saw in some form or other.
There's a very clear reason why this show is closing. People do not need to go to a show to simply see other shows get spoofed. The "spoof" genre has been brutally overdone in film as well, and its definitely time for the show to take a break. It certainly wasn't bringing in the ticket sales that it may have before, and listening to some of the modern tracks, they simply were not funny in any way.
It doesn't really surprise me to see that shows are spoofing themselves. The community as a whole has drifted very far towards comedy, especially those that can make fun of themselves. What upsets me is that Forbidden Broadway is unable to keep up with the trend. Even though Spamalot is a fantastic show: For me personally, I would not not see Forbidden Broadway because I got my so called "fill" of this type of comedy.
I love spoofs. And yes now using a spoof has become a little overdone, but at least it is something new and not Disney again and again. Hopefully something new will come along to make up for the fact that Forbidden Broadway is closing.
I think that this idea of 'spoofing' isn't as new an idea as most people think. We need to remember that Shrek 1, 2 and 3 are all spoofs on Disney movies, Dreamworks' largest competitor and that it is right, with an agreeable sense of symmetry, that Broadway adopt the concept as well. Maybe it needs to laugh at itself. Jusr a little bit.
I'd really love to see this show, especially the first installment. I bet it's alot of fun, but probably only if you've ever seen the shows they parody.
I think that it's so sad that forbidden broadway is closing. I think that it's important for broadway to have a tool to keep itself in check - however, I think that one of the reasons it's closing is because it was too 'schmultzy' for its own good. It got to a point where it was as un-original with its spoofing material as the movie to musical to movies have been.
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