Chita Rivera and Liza Minnelli in THE RINK (1984, Broadway)

Television reviews for The Rink, Kander and Ebb's musical which opened on this day, February 9, 1984 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. Jeffrey Lyons, Stewart Klein (2:32), Joel Siegel (4:20), Dennis Cunningham (5:28) and Katie Kelly (7:41) are mostly unanimous in that the show's story is somewhat thin and its directorial choices questionable, but are equally unanimous in singling out Ms Rivera for her performance, which ultimately won her first Antoinette after four nominations.

[@wickedwizard5377]

It is truly a shame that this show isn't performed more often... Thanks for the upload!

[@johnyzero2000]

I disagree with all the bad reviews The Rink is actually a very good show, it's original and theater critics hate original work that goes against the norm.

[@sgtdroxie]

I love the music in this show!

[@oldmanstyl3]

Michelle Marsh, Kaity Tong... What a flashback to NYC network evening news.

[@SallyWilliams]

Sadly I couldn't see it back then, but I loved the soundtrack album

[@artsyfartsy6286]

That’s a brutal review.

[@Mr17051963]

Good memories! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 (from the show, not the critics, of course 😂)

[@njatty]

Actually, the show played its entire run at the Martin Beck, now the Al Hirschfeld, not the Mark Hellinger.

[@johnv7060]

Some of them are really upset about the cross dressing, which seems a rather perverse and stupid thing to carp about.

[@FolliesFan-yu8mf]

Hardly, since they argue it was a mere gimmick that had little relevance to the story or the way it was being told (and may have been a bid to capitalise on another highly successful show about drag queens that had opened the previous season).

[@johnv7060]

@@FolliesFan-yu8mf That actually never crossed my mind re LA CAGE. I still think there were other things to dwell on. I’ve always heard THE RINK was meant to be an Off-Broadway show, but Liza’s addition changed that despite the small cast still intact.

[@FolliesFan-yu8mf]

@@johnv7060 I suppose Katie Kelly best formulated the critique on the point, that it makes little sense, but would perhaps be more appropriate in a more intimate off-B'way context, yes.

[@johnbavas7417]

Two females actress personalities!!!!!!!***** UTUBE SMILE BY JOHN BAVAS

[@chucknitzberg8396]

i saw it. Have to agree with the critics. It was awful.