Oliver! (Revival 1984)...

Posted: 6/12/08 at 1:39pm

..with Patti Lupone and Ron Moody. Why such a flop?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:13pm

Patti LuPone. Who would cast Patti LuPone as abused, alcoholic frightened Nancy? The character needs nuance which LuPone doesn't have.

In the reprise of "As Long As He Needs Me", Nancy is frightened and confused. She knows that Bill Sikes will kill her. LuPone played it like she was standing on the balcony of the Casa Rosada. I think the actor playing Bill Sikes was more frightened of LuPone than the other way around.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:13pm

Double post.

Updated On: 6/12/08 at 02:13 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:14pm

I read the Times review a couple years ago and it was negative.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:18pm

There was no hue and cry for a revival of Oliver before, during or after. It was also the end of the season and there was no advance sale.

The production was an exact replica of the then-innovative 1962 production. Nothing new.

It took Ms. Lupone approximately 2 hours to roll down the steps after being clubbed to death. Seriously, the moment which ought to have been a bit longer than a moment but only a bit, demonstrated the difference between acting and self-indulgence. The audience as one wanted to scream, "Oh, get on with it!"

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:20pm

"It took Ms. Lupone approximately 2 hours to roll down the steps after being clubbed to death."

You obviously saw it in previews. By the time the show opened, the audience was able to get up, go to dinner at Mama Leone's, come back and LuPone was still rolling.

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:52pm

I LOVE it! I am going to have to search for the Times review- thanks!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 2:59pm

According to Patti, the boy they had initially cast as Oliver was fired on the first day of rehearsal. It's on her website.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 3:23pm

So it is the kid's fault the production bombed...?

Ron Moody had no energy and did nothing different from his fine film performance except age. Patti overacted all over the eaten scenery that was covered with her tooth marks.

Patti's ultra performance was all that anyone talked about during the brief run. Essentially, every show queen in town was asking, "What in the hell is she doing?"

The show itself did not age well either, at least for me. What was fluid in 1962 was stogy in 1984. The pace was very slow. Visible lighting instruments and changing the scenery using revolves in view of the audience was barely ever done the first time, but was old hat 20+ years later. Also the leading adult man doesn't enter for 35-40 minutes and the leading lady makes her first entrance at 9:05--I remember looking at my watch.

Have to admit though, the score is still lovely.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 3:54pm

I know there is a video floating around of this production. I have seen it and while vocally patti rocks she was rather miscast.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 7:20pm

This production toured for a year before coming to broadway. Christian Slater was Oliver on the tour. Then he hit puberty, his voice changed and he was too big to do Broadway.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/12/08 at 8:57pm

I was just sharing a factoid was all.