In the hallowed name of Veterinarians’ Hospital—“Bongos, Dr. Bob?”—what is going on?

The Muppets’ long-overdue Broadway debut is over almost as soon as it began, the show now closing this Sunday. It was originally scheduled to run until Jan. 18, 2026; instead, at the time of its closing, Playbill reports, it will have played just 20 preview performances and four regular ones.

Whatever the exact circumstances behind the curtain coming down so brutally (a spokesperson would not elaborate beyond the announcement), from the point of view of a Muppets fan it may be for the best: I saw this incredibly odd show over the weekend, baffled as to why it wasn’t the Muppets’ own enterprise, and why the scattered moments they were on stage were so awkward in script and sound (the show uses the Muppet

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