Hey Guys, I don't plan on seeing The Visit (I know I'll get flack for this, but just don't want to see) but since some posters on here say it's comical but the commercials make it seem creepy I'd like someone to spoil the ending and tell me what happens. I'm curious. Thank you!
I won't say anything to spoil, but I will tell you that it has a few "comical" scenes which I'm not sure will even be received as comical by everyone. But overall, the show is definitely not comical.
You're also more than welcome to read the original Friedrich Dürrenmatt play, which is a classic of 20th Century theatre and truly a unique work. Not having seen Kander & Ebb's musical, the play itself stands pretty handily as a creepy, comic, weird and discomforting exprience.
Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.
I really don't know if I would call the MUSICAL a dark comedy. There are a few lines that receive laughs, and maybe one number that receives some laughs. But it really plays as a twisted tale of revenge and love story gone wrong, in my opinion. Doyle's production is powerful, dark, uncomfortable, and shocking. Most of all, Chita's performance is devoid of ANY camp, she completely plays it with a razor-sharp subtly. It's a performance that will surprise many, and if someone was not familiar with Chita, they could easily mistake her for having a career as a dramatic actress.
You're also more than welcome to read the original Friedrich Dürrenmatt play, which is a classic of 20th Century theatre and truly a unique work. Not having seen Kander & Ebb's musical, the play itself stands pretty handily as a creepy, comic, weird and discomforting experience.
I second this wholeheartedly. After struggling through the play in German in college, I read it in English and absolutely loved it. I'm looking forward to seeing the musical, but I'd also love a revival of the original play.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
I would definitely categorize it as a jet black comedy in the absurdist tradition. I'd even argue it is a romance - again, in the absurdist tradition.
I "believe" the K&E musical is based on the Valency translation. The same one used by the The Lunts when they successfully played the show. I've read comments that Valency bastardized the original Durrenmatt text. Perhaps so, but I've always liked his adaptation.
To the original poster, a synopsis should be easily found online. But do yourself a favor, read the play. It is staggeringly brilliant.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
TAP DANCING PIGS??!! have I slipped into a message board concerning the pig slaughter scene in my famous Carrrie the musical? Having seen around about production of this play a lot of years ago, (was it Jane Alexandar playing the title role) I can't imagine where any pigs come in the final number. If this is true (??) can't wait for the critics-Enron with the dancing mice anyone? The last time I saw a dancing pig on Broadway was the dreadful state fair.
The play it's based on really is one of my favorite plays - just like Friedrich Dürrenmatts "The Physicists" (which I also recommand to everyone who likes the dark subject matter of The Visit). I'm glad they didn't stray to far from it.
I don't think I'll be able to see The Visit on broadway, but I hope it's as good as everyone says. The play deserves a better adaptation than the german musical they came up with in 2013.
Saw it some years ago at Signature, loved it. The one-acter is tighter and probably more dramatic, but the main thing is that it works. Doyle does a brilliant job, and of course, there is Chita..
For some reason Roxy is under the impression that the one act version has a truncated or incomplete score. It's 100% a full K&E score with several songs that can easily become K&E standards. Only cuts are a tango dance number and a reprise of Winter. Otherwise everything is there, besides a couple songs having a cut verse. It's a streamlined production, but it's definitely a complete show and score.