My love for this score is a little hesitant, because while it has some of ALW's best melodies, it also stretches the film's punchy dialogue into a more somber, gothic amble (with some thrilling exceptions). The balance of inevitable fate and escalating desperation is thrown off, so by the time things come to a head the potent irony has deflated.
On the other hand, almost every song connects beautifully, and the sonic world that's constructed is intoxicating. I love those we
Best Scene Changes Aug 29
2019, 12:02:58 PM
The original Carrie’s transition to Don’t Waste The Moon was also pretty spectacular, with all those headlights coming out of the darkness.
Yerma definitely deserves mention here, mostly for the fact that the transitions were so quick in the darkness. I remember reading about how they did it, but I’ve forgotten - does anyone remember?
Best Scene Changes Aug 28
2019, 03:04:45 PM
The transition to the “real” house on the Fun Home tour was pretty spectacular - so much of the show was mostly suggested with props and minor furniture, and then the wall comes up to reveal an intricately detailed mansion room with intense patterned wallpaper. The shift from abstract to almost painfully real was a little startling.
Also, kind of the opposite, but when I saw DEH I was sitting towards the back of the auditorium, and when the screen lifted up to reveal the sky a bunch of
Ivo Van Hove to direct stage adaptation of The Shining Aug 22
2019, 10:19:30 PM
As noted King originally conceived it as a play, and it has been adapted into a well-received opera, so I’m sure Van Hove could do something interesting with it.
BJR said: "The ushers would stand in the aisles just before Dolly's entrance to the Harmonia Gardens, too. Each time I saw it, I think I saw someone try to take a picture and them come running over with the flashlight. They were serious not to have that moment filmed."
For a moment I thought you were implying she came down the stairs naked.
I love the change. The phrase "the cruelty is the point" has been floating around for a while now regarding the current American situation and I find it's applicable here - it's not an accident, or some invisible hand of the market wiping him out, it's a conscious force. Americans did what they did to get what we have, and the new ending highlights that in a thrilling manner.
If you don't like it, wait for the next Oklahoma! revival. A show is not obliter
The “full disclosure” scene in Addams Family basically straight out of the play.
Also, I’d be curious to see someone do this to Long Christmas Dinner. I know there’s a short opera version but it seems ripe for musical theater.
Denise Nickerson Has Died Jul 11
2019, 10:29:09 AM
It’s funny that two of my newfound flop loves this year - Lolita and Smile - both had some connection to her (she was in the film Smile was based on). Was sad to hear this news. One of the liveliest presences in the Wonka film, for sure - in a movie full of smart casting, she always stood out to me.
jv92 said: "Viertel's theory, like his book, is glib. And it's time for him to step down from his post as Encores! Artistic Director, too.
The reason why MACK AND MABEL doesn't work and never will work is because the book is terrible-- absolutely slapdash and amateurish. It's amazing that Jerry Herman got such a colorful, characterful score out of it. I think his songs for Mabel are among the finest of his career, and unlike Mr. Viertel, I think "Movie
GavestonPS said: "fashionguru_23 said: "Jack Virtel in his book talks about how we don't want to spend time with Mack, because he tells you negative things about movies, and then sings a song ("Movies Were Movies" telling you how great the movies are."
"Movies Were Movies" is the opening number, so he can't sing it AFTER telling us anyt
Mack and mabel Jul 9
2019, 10:09:21 PM
HSH’s book is kind of fascinating for the degree to which it assumes you’ve already seen the movie.
Mack and mabel Jul 9
2019, 09:34:42 PM
Haha yes, one of the first thing Mack says is something about how they just make movies for money now, and then thirty seconds into his first song he’s like “who cares about art, we were just trying to make a buck!”.
Mack and mabel Jul 9
2019, 09:15:12 PM
Because the book sorta sucks. Great tunes, but you’re never given much of a reason to pay attention to either of these increasingly crabby people as they swirl the drain. I like the concept but it really needs a firecracker rewrite to truly sell the disparity between the jubilant score and the agony of the plot.
I can't wait for this! I remember when I was eleven I talked my parents into bringing the little TV from the den into my bedroom so I could stay up late and watch the Judy Davis telefilm, which I found thoroughly engrossing.
Agreed that I would rather she do her own singing - it's preferable to have a fully-formed character created via acting instinct than a Disneyland animatronic.
It's very interesting, and kind of a shame they almost entirely scrapped it - all that was left, basically, were the risers, the stairs, and the billboard platform.
I do think there's a workable concept, and it kind of functions, but you'd have to really change a couple of key things. I said the same in another thread recently, but they were a little bit hamstrung by the use of Gussie in the original play, which only became more of an issue in the late-80s revisions. There
telling you how great the movies are."
