No waxing poetic at Hub’s new museum

A good roasting hasn’t caused a meltdown at Boston’s new wax museum.

Officials at the Dreamland Wax Museum say they’re embracing the extra attention brought by waves of online hecklers who have lampooned some of its less-than-flattering likenesses.

“It’s absolutely been a blessing to have all of that controversy,” said Michael Pelletz, the museum’s vice president of sales.

“Even if it’s negative press,” he said, “it’s working wonderfully.”

Photos of the museum’s life-sized wax figures have been circulating online since i t opened its doors in July, in some cases inspiring scorching ridicule. It started with a wax portrayal of President Trump that some say looks more like South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. Then it was a statue of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady that some called “creepy,” with one online critic saying it looks like someone who “would murder you and hide the body.” Now it’s a figure of former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, which one sportsnews website simply said “looks like someone who’s not Paul Pierce.” Pelletz says some of the figures aren’t perfect because they’re based on photos instead of actual measurements from the celebrities. And if the sculptors aren’t keenly familiar with every contour of Brady’s face, he said they can be forgiven — most are based overseas, in London and Paris.

So far, the jeers have targeted only a small fraction of the museum’s 101 wax models of musicians, actors and historical figures. Several others have drawn admiration for their impeccable likenesses.

Dreamland is in good company when it comes to wax museums that have drawn ridicule: The internet is littered with reviews claiming that others in England or Canada or California are the world’s worst.

Still, it has made for a surprising start for the museum, which marks the first foray into the U.S. by a Brazilian company that owns 30 wax museums in Brazil and Mexico.

Instead of driving people away, though, Pelletz says the attention is drawing curious crowds to the site, which sits steps away from Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall and other busy tourist attractions.

“Pictures and videos, sometimes they don’t do it justice,” Pelletz said. “When people do come, they absolutely love it.”

APPHOTOS THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Boston’s newly opened Dreamland Wax Museum is causing a stir with the likeness of Tom Brady, above, being called ‘creepy,’ while other figures, such as Princess Diana, left, are less than flattering.