Art Imitates Life: 'Enron' on Broadway Fails Miserably

Seemed like a great idea, huh? Let's make a play about a failed company from many years ago and all the Bush-haters will show up in droves! Uh, maybe they didn't account for Enron fatigue or the fact nobody really cares any more.

Let the fallout begin.

Tuesday's announcement of the 2010 Tony nominations set off the usual closing reverberations, most spectacularly for "Enron." Lucy Prebble's lavish docudrama folds Sunday at a loss of $3.5 million-$4 million, making it one of the most expensive flops of a play in recent years.

The production, directed by Rupert Goold, opened last month to largely unenthusiastic reviews, including downbeat notices from The New York Times and The Associated Press. It will close after only 15 performances and 22 previews.

The play about the financial finagling and downfall of the Texas-based energy company received four Tony nominations, but was shut out of the all important best-play category, considered crucial by producers for drawing audiences.

Here's an idea for the folks on Broadway: Maybe they could do a play based on some ever greater financial scandals. Try 'Fannie Mae' or 'Freddie Mac' and see if those will make some money.