Review: Netflix and 'Stranger Things' take on Broadway. Enter at your own peril

Los Angeles Times - 03:59
'Stranger Things: The First Shadow,' a prequel to the hit streaming series, opens at the Marquis Theatre, bringing Netflix branding to Broadway.

New York — An eerie, overpowering force has taken over the Marquis Theatre, home of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” which had its official Broadway opening on Tuesday.

This supernatural power is from a dimension even more intimidating than the Upside Down. The occult realm of Netflix, the streaming service that ensnares viewers in a maze of maybes, has joined forces with Sonia Friedman Productions to convert a piece of prime theatrical real estate into a zone of franchise extension.

Broadway denizens, beware: A portal into a fantasy universe has been established in the heart of the Theater District, unleashing a breed of supernatural creatures that makes the “Harry Potter” lot seem mild and mainstream by comparison. Disney musicals have been accused of turning Broadway into a theme park. “Stranger Things” hurls the art form into Dungeons & Dragons territory.

The good news is that a younger demographic is making the pilgrimage to the temple of their grand...
[Short citation of 8% of the original article]