Thinning out the heard ... and running even further from risk.

From The Economist:

A reliable choice for a family on the town has long been a splashy musical with some hearty laughs. But the recession is bringing about changes, some of which may be for the better. These days, the expensive tickets are for maudlin Danish princes, not singing mermaid princesses.

 

The Economist article then goes on to highlight the benefits of a leaner Broadway:  Less splashy shows, more theatre written and produced for adult audiences, simpler plays requiring less of those expensive stage hands, 007 & Wolverine acting …

 

I hadn't thought of it this way, but certainly as far as Broadway is concerned, maybe the recession isn't such a bad thing.  Broadway theatres may be competing for a smaller, and perhaps more sophisticated audience.  That means fewer shows geared toward tourists since there are fewer tourists, and fewer big budget spectacles masquerading as art.  RIP you Legally Blonds and Shrek: The Musicals.

I certainly won't miss the bubblegum, and I appreciate The Economist's effort to put on a happy face about Broadway's struggles, but I am not as sure about their take on the recessionary "bright side" for Broadway, and the theater.  When times are tough I see a tendency to run to safety, not necessarily higher art.  Bye, Bye Birdie isn't back on Broadway because it was a groundbreaking work of art.  Oh look, Jude Law is playing Hamlet!  How novel to cast a big star in a play everyone has seen too many times!  But who can blame Broadway producers?  Times like these call for less risky ventures.  I'm just not sure it's such a great thing for the artistry.

There is probably some truth to The Economist article's take, but I see a Broadway scared to take many real chances.  So what if the Spiderman musical is a bad idea (and it is), it's risky – I like that.  Hope it finds investors to reinvigorate the Broadway bubble-gum machine.  If they won't take a chance on Spiderman, how will they react to an actual production of artistic merit?