Socialists' Fave Curmudgeon opens on Broadway.

by Angela K. Durden
Technology inventor protecting creator's copyrights. Business writer, novelist, songwriter, and Citizen Journalist.


Fellow ROTW columnist Kim D. wrote an article on May 2 of this year about Michael Moore's newest production on Broadway called "The Terms of My Surrender."

Variety.com reported on the ticket sales for the two previews — 

"'The Terms of My Surrender' ($199,041 for two previews) played to houses that averaged about 98% of capacity, pulling in audiences with a show that Moore promises will be an unpredictable mix of personal and political anecdotes, hot takes on the day’s news and, possibly, a jaunt or two outside the theater. We’ll see over the next few weeks if “Terms of My Surrender” can maintain the same level of audience interest, especially among the liberal demographic most likely to agree with Moore’s views on Trump..."

But are there enough Socialists to keep it going even for a limited run? Then again, maybe that's why it's a limited-run show. 

New York Times' Jesse Green

The New York Times reviewed the pseudo play. Usually I think of reviewers as jealous wannabees, those who can't do nor teach so they rip you a new one. But in this case I have to agree with Jesse Green when he wrote that even those who agree with Moore find that —

"...his shtick has become disagreeable with age. 'The Terms of My Surrender,' which opened on Thursday at the Belasco, is a bit like being stuck at Thanksgiving dinner with a garrulous, self-regarding, time-sucking uncle. Gotta love him — but maybe let’s turn on the television."

In pointing out all the shortcomings of the one-man show by Socialists' favorite curmudgeon, columnist Jesse Green has inadvertently pointed out why Socialism never works. Such as these witticisms here —

"...'The Terms of My Surrender' is not organized well enough.... Certainly it falls short of offering seriously useful ideas about how individuals can make a difference.... Details are scant. Run for school board.... Be Rosa Parks. Download...an app....His tendency to cut factual corners to smooth the storytelling..." and"...affects a cute, common-man delivery...though the crowd at the Belasco, including a few shills, claps for almost all of the bait he tosses. Some toss bait back, including vulgar imprecations against the president that are hardly distinguishable from the cries of “Lock her up” that horrify us in other settings.

See? Jesse Green is brilliant. I wonder if he even knows why.