Original "Sunday" dvd before seeing revival?

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:52am

Hi everyone-

I just wanted to solicit from advice those of you with more experience with "Sunday in the Park with George" than I.

I am seeing the Broadway revival next week. I am familiar with the score from both the original Broadway cast recording and the London revival recording, but have never seen a production of the piece.

In your opinions, do you think I would be better off watching the DVD of the original Broadway production before seeing the revival? Or do you think the revival will have a more profound impact on me if I am SEEING it for the very first time?

I'm just torn and I want the best experience possible with this show. Thank you for your thoughts!

Take care.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:59am

Updated On: 5/7/09 at 11:59 AM

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:03pm

Here is how I see it:

While you are familiar with the the score, the score is not the experience of the show as a whole.

Sunday only gets richer the more you are exposed to it.

There are things in the revival that you may not fully appreciate while in theatre if are spending most of evening trying to "get into" the show.

Sunday makes demands on the audience to leave their pre-conceived expectations of musical theatre conventions at the door.. and if you are spending most the evening trying to "catch up," you will not be fully present.

Andy being fully present is what Sunday is all about.

So I say watch the video.

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 12:03 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:31pm

I'd def watch it. Both productions are wonderful despite the trend to bash the original (which seems to happen with every revival).

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:39pm

Only watch the original DVD if you want to see how the roles of Dot and Marie and George and George played as warm-blooded living human beings rather than British sitcom stock characters. You might want to wait until after seeing the unfortunate passion-free emotionally refrigerated revival.

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 12:39 PM

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:43pm

Since you're already familiar with the score, I don't think it matters if you watch it before or after, as long as you do watch it. They are both great productions.

It comes down to whether you want to see how it was done in the mid 80s first, or how it's done in 2008. They both utilize technology that is available during its time.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:44pm

Oh yeah, and only if you want to hear that radiantly gorgeous score performed by more than 5 people who sound like 2 people.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 1:57pm

Watch the DVD.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:05pm

I agree. Watch the DVD.

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:17pm

i didnt, & i loved it!

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:17pm

i didnt, & i loved it!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:22pm

It's not necessary at all, but I think the original is far superior so it might disappoint you. It's really not that difficult a show that you need so many crutches.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:26pm

Since it is available, I would watch the DVD. I agree with BigFatBlonde that it gets richer the more you are exposed to it. I have not seen the revival yet, but I know I will watch the DVD again before seeing it. JMO

[tomemiller]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:27pm

On the contrary, I believe that this production is far more superior and more humane than the original. See this version first and then watch the dvd.
Updated On: 3/7/08 at 03:27 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:27pm

Don't watch it. You also don't want to go into a show like this totally blind, but if you know the score and the story and the premise, you have enough knowledge of it not to be lost or anything. I was pretty much in the same position before I saw the revival. I ended up not watching it before and I adored the production. I decided not to watch the DVD until after I saw it because I felt like you can only have that element of surprise once, you know? I didn't want to sit there comparing the revival to the original the entire time. And there's nothing like experiencing something that kind of emotional impact for the first time.

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 03:27 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:31pm

The only reason I suggested watching the DVD is to appreciate the changes.

*slight spoilers*

In the original, the "cut outs" of the dog, the soldier, and of George during "Putting it Together" are done in this production with genius projections. I don't think I would have appreciated those things as much if I hadn't known how they were originally done.

But no, it's not necessary at all. I do agree, though, that the material gets richer with every revisit. If you watch the DVD after you see the show, you'll want to go back and see the show again. Enjoy it, it's brilliant.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:38pm

"I believe that this production is far more superior and more humane than the original."

Really? Did you see the original production live? I found it magical and beautiful...and this was a pale version. Even the Chromolume #7 was better!

[Tag]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:41pm

In the revival would anyone else have preferred if the projection of the painting at the end of Act 1 was larger? Almost as if it lines up with the final tableaux on stage. I haven't watched the DVD in a while so I can't remember if it was larger in the original (but I think it was).

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:46pm

It was larger in the original.

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:48pm

exactly what luvthe emcee said!!!

i wanted to experience it live for the first time!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 3:52pm

I almost cried like nineteen times. I can't wait to see it again.

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:17pm

oh, i did cry!!!!!

i started crying during WE DO NOT BELONG TOGETHER & i was bawling like a funeral by CHILDREN & ART.

& i didnt stop til 2 days later.

[teka21]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:23pm

I never saw the original production in the theater, but I found the DVD to be horrendous in sound quality. I was grateful that I saw this revival first, which I loved- was moved to tears by the end of the first act. I watched the DVD with Mandy and Bernadette a week later, and was disappointed.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 5:04pm

Thank you all!

Your articulate, sensitive thoughts on this matter are so appreciated.

My insticts have been to wait and watch the DVD after I've seen the show because I think I want my first visual exposure to it (and my first experience with the musical's book scenes) to be live and in person. That impact is usually best felt that way I think. But because of this production's adjustments and new techniques, the comparison to the original will definitely play a part in one's reactions and deciding whether or not to take in the original first was a challenge for me. I am anxious to see the DVD of the original, but I think I will probably do it afterwards.

Again, thank you for taking the time and effort to address this for me. So very kind.

Take care.

Posted: 3/7/08 at 5:12pm

be sure to post your impressions after watching both!