A. R. Rahman and The Lord of the Rings musical

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:34am

From Playbill On-Line...

PBOL: You're also working on The Lord of the Rings musical. What's happening with that show at this point?

A. R. Rahman: We are still doing the creative [aspects] — writing numbers. But a readthrough or a workshop will probably happen soon.
_______________________

I like A. R. Rahman, but I don't think The Lord of the Rings will make a great musical. I didn't realize that the project was this far along. What do we think?
PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with A. R. Rahman

[mominator]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:01pm

I am some what scared. I mean come on a chorus line of orcs, singing and dancing wizards? When I hear LOTR I don't think musical. If Bombay Dreams bombs I just don't know if it will fly.But who knows, it could gp gangbusters. Anyone else???
Barbara

[Ruffian]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:08pm

I am a LOTR Freak. I will feel compelled to see Dancing Wizards

Might it be any good? To quote Aragorn: "There is always hope."

lmao

[mominator]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:15pm

I too loved the movies and books, but remember that horrid Hobbit cartoon?YIKES!!! It is sooo vast and epic it could be very hard to pull off on a live stage.
Hopefully others will cherp in with their opinions.
Barbara

[Ruffian]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:21pm

Dancing Wizards
Dancing Hobbits
Dancing Elves

Already buying a ticket

LMAO

It could realllllly be tricky to pull off

[mominator]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:35pm

Awww Who the heck am I trying to kid!! Save me a place in line. I hope they get Viggo far Arragon ( HUBBA!!)

[junglered]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:36pm

I loved reading "The Hobbit" and "The Trilogy - Lord of the Rings" - twice - many years ago. I thought that the recently released Lord of the Rings movies were incredible. The whole story is of such a massive scale, that is amazing that Peter Jackson did such a good job of translating the books into movie format. As a fan, attention to detail and staying true to the ENTIRE story were key in the success of the movies. I hope that the story can be adapted for stage, but I am a bit skeptical about it being truncated properly to fit within a 2 and 1/2 - 3 hour time frame. I will be anxious to see how this project progresses.

[Ruffian]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:38pm

VIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(wipes the drool)

We will have to watch the progress, it cannot stand up to the books or the films....but ...stay tuned....

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:50pm

I couldn't get through one of the books and slept through the films. I don't think I'll be catching this one. Is he trying to fit the entire trilogy into one show? Or will it be a Wagner thing?

[Ruffian]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 12:54pm

I must confess the final movie did not meet my expectations, but the first two were AMAZING. I hope we hear more info on this show as it progresses.....

[junglered]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 1:00pm

Mr. Matt - I believe that Tolkien is someone you either love - or not. There's not too much in between with his works. Personally, I love his work - the massive scope and attention to detail in a fantasy world - Middle Earth - a parable for our own world.

I can't imagine how the 'entire' LOTR can be truncated effectively to a "fan's satisfaction" for a 2 and 1/2 - 3 hour stage musical. I'm intrigued and interested, but skeptical.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 5:50pm

Interested
but not excited

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 5:52pm

One word: Shogun.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 7:11pm

I have not seen, nor do I have any desire, to see these films. About 30 minutes into the first one is as far as I got.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 7:59pm

Are you talking about the Clavell book, Borstalboy? They tried to musicalize that? The mind boggles.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 8:07pm

The composer of Shogun disowned it as he more or less designed it as an opera & the score was gutted. I saw it & found it enjoyable . Not great but enjoyable

[lvpblues]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 6:40pm

I'm not sure this could work as a musical. Especially if its just one. You need to assimilate all the material and characters into about 2 1/2 hours? It seems like so much of the gargantuan work would be lost in the process. I wish them luck, but I don't keep my expectations high on this one.

~K

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 6:56pm

I'm not quite sure I can see this working as a musical. But I guess you never know. I mean, there are probably a number of shows that started out seeming really far-fetched, but ended up successful.

[Sally]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 8:03pm

Yeah, how about story in which a very ugly guy who lives in the cellar of an Opera House---it will never fly

[musicalmjk]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 9:04pm

isnt it opening in london? those people in london have some intrestering show, mary poppins and jerry springer to name a few i think that LotR is a perfect fit to be on stage, we know everything cant be included, or if it is it could be done with several intermissions, and include a dinner break etc.