The Quality of Mercy
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Don't Hurt the Children
The trope of the cold-blooded critic was strongly challenged this week when some New York reviewers, on Broadway no less, went out of their way not to inflict unnecessary harm on a pair of young artists who were out of their depth. Not wanting to inflict harm on theatergoers, either, however, they did their job and unanimously proclaimed the pair's musical, "Glory Days," the fiasco it evidently was -- "was" being the operative word for a show whose opening night proved also to be its closing night.
"Glory Days," which transferred from Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va., used the youth of its creators, now all of 23 and 24, as a marketing hook. Critics like Clive Barnes in the New York Post didn't let that greenness temper their derision, but others saw it as a reason to take pity.
Here's Linda Winer in Newsday:
Show business is full of stories about talent recognized too little, too late.
Not as obviously sad, but potentially as destructive, is the less common case of too much, too soon.
But so it is with "Glory Days" ...
As a first effort by bright newcomers, the piece has youthful promise. As a grown-up offering in a Broadway house (not to mention at Broadway prices), this little-show-that-can't is so far in over its sweet head that we fear for its safety.
Eric Grode, in The New York Sun, blamed the adults: "Not many writers in their early 20s would turn down an offer to come to Broadway on the grounds that their material wasn't remotely ready yet. That's the job of more seasoned veterans, such as [director Eric] Schaeffer or the producers."
Ben Brantley, in The New York Times, was gentler, though no less clear:
I can see why the producers of "Glory Days" might have thought this was an auspicious moment for a big-time New York transfer.
Ultimately, though, they have done this little, hopeful show no favors by dragging it into a spotlight that invites close and unforgiving inspection. I do find it heartening that a pair of enthusiastic and gifted young artists have fallen in love with that beleaguered form, the musical, as a means of self-expression.
A raft of reviews unambiguously terrible enough to shutter the show immediately, yes, but the most responsible of them were not unkind.
WTF? These are not mewling children here; these are adults who should get used to adult criticism or get out of the business. By 24, my parents had a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old, a mortgage, and my mom was starting medical school. Oh I know, everybody has a similar story, but it's true. 24 is grown enough to hear what people really think.
Am I missing a vital fact here?