Flop?

It is common knowledge that a Broadway flop kills a show forever. Not necessarily. “La Bête”, a satire of high art versus low culture set in 17th-century France, was a record-setting flop on Broadway in 1991 — then went on to win Britain’s top theater award for best new comedy the following year. The play soon built a following across the United States, receiving 25 productions from regional theaters over the years, and became a favorite on college campuses. This summer a revival enjoyed yet another successful run in London, starring Mr. Rylance; that production is heading to Broadway this month, in hopes of proving that New York got it wrong the first time around.