Say what you will about the practice, but claiming that it cheapened the revival of a show when it’s not new & was done during the original run as well strikes me as short-sighted, if not ignorant of the history of the show you .apparently seem to want the revival to be (while ignoring that it was–at least in regard to the aspect you’re complaining about).

I was there not on night one (too busy with BARNUM), but soon after and frequently thereafter in the line of duty … the original (New London) production was more remarkable for its concept than its characters or its cast. Musically, Billy McCaw and Memory were definitely the standouts. So there is no reason why a revival with other people involved should not work well. Unless its been cheapened. Which Richard’s notice seems to signify. Shame. But $$ speaks. Sad.

We used to say ‘end of the pier’.