A revival production that topped the original?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:18pm

Can anyone think of a revival production of a show that they saw that was better than the original production? And I'm talking about the all-around production; the performances, direction, technical aspects etc. If so, what show was it, what year was it revived in(if there have been more than one revival) and why was it better than the original?

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:20pm

chicago
caberet

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:23pm

Purpleprince, did you see the original productions of CHICAGO and CABARET?

[goofy108]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:25pm

sidenote - wickedrocks, did you enjoy dreamgirls?

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:26pm

sorry misread the question

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:28pm

goofy108, I'm too blinded to determine.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:31pm

Ehh Chicago? While this production is more successful financially, I don't think it can beat Bob Fosse/Chita Rivera/Gwen Verdon. Anne Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth were great except they were no Chita and Gwen. Also Melanie Griffith, Huey Lewis, Marilu Henner, Denise Van Outen, Paige Davis, John O'Hurley, Kevin Richardson, Brooke Shields, and Patrick Swayze are not even comparable.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:41pm

Sweeney...

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:43pm

Sweeney...

- Not even close. The original is a Broadway legend. One of a kind. The 05 revival was a well respected effort, and just that.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:54pm

Pajama Game with Connick/O'Hara
42nd Street with Ebersole/Cumpsty
Anything Goes with LuPone/McGillin
Guys and Dolls with Lane/Gallagher

And while NOTHING tops and Robards/Dewhurst staging of any O'Neill work, Dennehey/Redgrave came close with Long Day's Journey.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:05pm

The Sweeney Todd revival was a tighter production that worked better than the original and came across as much more dark and realisic. Also, almost across the board, the performances were stronger. They are two very different productions, almost different shows in many ways, but the Sweeney revival is largely considered stronger that the original.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:09pm

Which SWEENEY revival? Circle in the Square did a fantastic one in the early '90s.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:09pm

By whom? I don't think the cast, production, direction, design or any aspect, frankly, of the revival of Sweeney Todd is stronger than the original -- and I know that I'm far from alone in that opinion.

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 06:09 PM

[musicalsaregreat]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:32pm

Although I did not see the original, I cannot imagine a better Show Boat than Hal Prince's revival.

[alterego]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:45pm

Could someone please explain the costume plot of the recent SWEENEY TODD for me. I don't get it.

[javertim]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:52pm

Dirty Rotten Guy, I cannot disagree more. The original Sweeney was a big, operatic spectacle that was absolutely ace when it came to sets, costumes, orchestrations, and not to mention storytelling. The latter is where I felt the revival (the '05 revival, that is) failed the most. I've never heard so many audience members complain about such an uncomprehensive plot before. Also, even though the concept revolving around the instruments was interesting, the orchestrations suffered a lot (obviously).

And let's not even compare Michael and Patti to Len and Angela.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 6:54pm

dirty rotten guy,
one preoblam I had with the sweeney revival was that it wasn't a great new concept.. it was a tired old gimmick for this director, and his new production company just reinforces that. it was nothing revelatory or intriguing that he created for sweeney. he has openly said that he stages MANY shows that way, preactically ONLY that way, and he does it to save money.. not to bring new insight.... that makes it a cheap hook and a gimmick and cheapens the effect in my opinion...

[D2]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 7:45pm

I've seen both the original and revival productions of both CHICAGO and SWEENEY TODD.

The original productions of both were brilliant. While I did enjoy the most recent revival of SWEENEY, it did not top the original in any way. The revival of CHICAGO is entertaining in it's own way, but again the original production remains in a class by itself, and far superior to the current production.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 7:50pm

The original production of Chicago was an absolute masterpiece that artisitcally surpassed anything playing on Broadway at that time, even A Chorus Line. It was concieved brilliantly, designed brilliantly, written brilliantly and performed brilliantly. If only someone would post those long lost clips from out of town on the site that is not to be named. The revival is nice, but comes nowhere close to Bob Fosse's brilliant response to Watergate and a brush with death.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 8:00pm

Yeah, the original Sweeney Todd is hailed as one of the best Musical Theatre Productions of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed the revival, but it doesn't come close to my experience through even just the taped tour with Hearn.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 8:07pm

Actually the revival of SHOWBOAT that was done at Lincoln Center many years ago was much better than the Hal Prince version. With a cast that included Barbara Cook, Stephen Douglass, David Wayne, William Warfield, Allyn Ann McLearie, Margaret Hamilton--and the incredible Constance Towers, how could it miss?

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 08:07 PM

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 8:12pm

Dirty Rotten...Im sure at your tender age, you did not benefit by seeing the original production. Commenting on a video or dvd or the original is simply not fair. As a theatergoer, I'm sure you KNOW how important it is to BE THERE--SEEING the show--EXPERIENCING the show in person. Now, at my advanced age, I simply could not bring myself to witness the revival. Why fix it when it ain't broken?

Perhaps we should BOTH be more openminded.

[misto625]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 12:12am

I'm surprised no one mentioned Big River yet.

[sondhead]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 12:23am

I LOVED the revival of Sweeney, but I wouldn't call it better than the original, and I don't think that it is "widely regarded" as such.

And yea, where is the discussion of Big River? It was a nice show originally but the revival was more moving then I ever thought possible from that material. Made me really love the score which I can't say of the original.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 12:25am

Although I did not see the original, what about Carousel?