The Performers, the newest play to open on Broadway, will close after only playing 23 previews and 7 performances following a bloodbath of reviews late last night. This despite having an all-star cast including Cheyenne Jackson, Alicia Silverstone, and Henry Winkler, and a subject matter–pornography–sure to interest comedy fans and Howard Stern mooks.
As the official Twitter account for The Performers has strong social media activity and has built up a small but avid fan base, I thought it interesting to take a look at the Twitter timeline starting on opening night and ending with the news of closing hitting the internet.
As with most Broadway shows, The Performers‘ Twitter account was filled with a flurry of red carpet photos and retweets of celebratory notes from fans and attendees on opening night. All was well in the world of Broadway’s love note to pornography.
We love our cast!! #performersbway#opening instagr.am/p/SCMzj0BWEN/
— The Performers (@PerformersBway) November 15, 2012
The show’s stars were seemingly excited on their own Twitter accounts leading up to opening night.
Opening night of @performersbway!!! Can’t believe it. Love this play and this crew so much it’s stupid.
— Ari Graynor (@AGraynor) November 14, 2012
IT’S THE DAY OF THE SHOW Y’ALL.Happy opening night to my @performersbway family.
— Cheyenne Jackson (@cheyennejackson) November 14, 2012
My mom came to ny for opening bearing opening night gift, chicken soup and toilet paper.
— Ari Graynor (@AGraynor) November 14, 2012
Some more personal than others…
Need a laugh? Get tickets from just $32.50 to see the funniest 90 minutes on #Broadway! Buy Now: bit.ly/VVTbL2 @performersbway
— Alicia Silverstone (@AliciaSilv) November 10, 2012
Henry Winkler could be seen inviting his celebrity friends to come see the show.
@bettemidler hello and hope you& familyare thriving …And We hope you come to THE PERFORMERS at the LONGACRE Until then ..hugs to you
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) November 14, 2012
The show’s social media following seemingly had nothing but OMGs and YAYs to tweet about.
@agraynor was adorable, hilarious and brought laughs and sweetness to every. Single. Word as Peeps in @performersbway killer performance
— Susannah Kiernan (@SusannahKiernan) November 15, 2012
“Last night’s Bway opening of @performersbway @hwinkler4real @cheyennejackson @aliciasilv were hilarious!” I was there and LOVED IT, go!
— Melissa Errico (@melissa_errico) November 15, 2012
@cheyennejackson @performersbway Fantastic Show last night!!
— Danielle Fried (@DanielleElanaF) November 15, 2012
@performersbway bring it to a new level on opening night! It is better the 2nd time around 🙂
— Tracy Moss (@tracymmoss) November 15, 2012
.@agraynor hi. I just watched you in @performersbway and now I may be slightly obsessed with you. k byeeeeee
— Mariah MacCarthy (@MariahMacCarthy) November 15, 2012
One fan event tweeted that they were excited about seeing the show the following week.
Happy Opening to @performersbway!!So excited to be in the audience next Friday 🙂
— Sydney Lipez (@syd10801) November 15, 2012
Even Broadway.com’s leader helped with the positive vibes.
Thinking happy thoughts for the amazing cast of @performersbway on opening night! @cheyennejackson @agraynor @hwinkler4real @aliciasilv
— Paul Wontorek (@PaulWontorek) November 14, 2012
@paulwontorek @performersbway @cheyennejackson @agraynor @aliciasilvThank you
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) November 14, 2012
And then came the negative reviews, including the deadly opinion delivered by The New York Times’ Ben Brantley.
“The Performers” offers proof positive that it’s possible to talk real dirty and still be the squarest show in town. Even in a season featuring two works by a king of Anglo-Saxon expletives like David Mamet, this comedy by David West Read may well clock the most obscenities per minute of any play on Broadway. —New York Times
“Everyone in the limp comedy hails from the planet Stupid. Nothing wrong with that, but it takes real smarts to make dumb people funny.” —New York Daily News
“The show never bothers with anything besides raunchy wisecracks that get less and less funny as the evening wears on.” —New York Post
While the critics were nearly all happy to throw stones, fans jumped to the show’s defense.
Ugh @nytimestheater got it wrong. @performersbway was fantastic. so disappointing.
— Kristin Maverick (@kmaverick) November 16, 2012
However, in the world of show business, fan sentiment means very little. The day after opening, The Performers announced it would close.
THE PERFORMERS to Close on Sunday… bit.ly/Qh6SYv
— broadwayworld (@broadwayworld) November 16, 2012
The first casualty/tragedy of the season @performersbway to close Sunday, 4 days after opening @hwinkler4real @agraynor are amazing, see it
— Jeffrey Miele (@jffmiele) November 16, 2012
Fans were not impressed.
@performersbway is that a joke!? Closing Sunday?
— Alex Linardos (@Awl864) November 16, 2012
So sad about @performersbway closing!!! :(I had so much fun at this show, and the cast is a treasure “chest” 🙂 of talent!! #sogladIsawit
— StageElf (@StageElf) November 16, 2012
@performersbway is closing Sunday!?!?! #wtf #gladIsawittwice
— Nick Liotta (@nliotta) November 16, 2012
More interesting than the fan reaction was that of the stars.
OB-LA-DI-OB-LA-DA
— Cheyenne Jackson (@cheyennejackson) November 16, 2012
Well sad but true THE PERFORMERS is closing this Sunday the 18th of novSOIf u are coming you have 5 more shows to chose from Love, Henry
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) November 16, 2012
Again, some reactions were more personal than others…
Enter to win tix and meet me backstage @performersbwy! Just comment here: bit.ly/performerstix
— Alicia Silverstone (@AliciaSilv) November 15, 2012
As of 10:45 pm on November 15, the official Performers Twitter account had not acknowledged the closing notice. In fact, it went silent after posting one of the few positive reviews to come out.
“A GREAT CAST that keeps the show GIGGLING. Comic timing is in rich supply.” – @ap bit.ly/TK98nF
— The Performers (@PerformersBway) November 15, 2012
Perhaps Broadway.com’s Paul Wontorek sums it up best:
Is modern comedy dead on Broadway?! RIP @performersbway & your brilliant cast. @cheyennejackson @agraynor @hwinkler4real
— Paul Wontorek (@PaulWontorek) November 16, 2012