An Idea for a John Doyle Production

[James2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 9:09am

I know some of you think his style is getting kind of old, but I think Man of La Mancha might work as an "actors-with-instruments" show. The prisoners act Don Quixote out in the show, so why not have them play instruments as well?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 9:12am

He'd have to carry a pretty big-ass trunk with him in the opening. Actually, that concept could work. Believe it or not, there actually was a production of the show (I don't know where) where the only instrument was an onstage guitar.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 9:35am

How about a production of Chorus Line where the actors play instruments? "All I really needed, was the music, and the tuba" How about a production of Hello Dolly where the actors play instruments ONLY and the orchestra says the lines?
How about Oklahoma...where Dream Laurie plays piano instead of dances?

Can we get beyond this flavor of the month and get back to
musical theatre?

[D2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:13am

Here's an idea for a John Doyle production: FULL ORCHESTRA. That's the revolutionary concept for today.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:18am

OMG! D2 that is brilliant! No one has done that before!

The scary thing, a group of my friends were auditioning at SETC, and the information packet actually said that a triple threat was no longer act/sing/dance BUT act/sing/play musical insturmnet. Now, while, admittedly, that can be handy if you are in "Sound of Music" or "A Little Night Muisc" and the character plays the insturment, what it sounds more like, is others trying to replecate Doyle's work....which means coming soon to a regional theatre near you:
Starlight Express- John Doyle Style!

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:19am

thank you, bertandrew2.

how about he retires or starts actually hiring an orchestra for his productions?

[D2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:21am

Thanks, Husk.

I've done A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, playing Henrik and that damned cello. Once was enough for me.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:22am

suessical
once on this island
into the woods

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 11:27am

A production of Gypsy just played in Minneapolis where the actors played the instruments. It actually worked very well. At the end, before Rose's turn, all the actors dressed in costumes from the past filed by her into some onstage seats and then played Rose's Turn. It sounds kinda corny but it worked very well.

Now...the guys playing the strippers didn't work as well... (they had three guys that played nearly all the ensemble characters)

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:34pm

Into the Woods would not be whimsical enough with the actors playing their own instruments, and this would also make the which’s transformation much more difficult. Correct me if I’m wrong (I’ve only seen Sweeney so far), but I believe that the actors never leave the stage in his productions.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:38pm

Correct. Otherwise there wouldn't be enough sound from the "orchestra". I agree that i'd like to see him do something traditional. He has great ideas that go beyond just actors playing instruments. It'd be nice to see what he can get actors to do when they don't have to worry about playing an entire Sondheim score at the same time.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:52pm

John Doyles next production is opening next week at the LA Opera, 'The Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny', starring Patti LaPone and Audra McDonald.

Guess what?

It has a full orchestra and not ONE of the singers plays any instrument.


www.laopera.org

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:59pm

I didn't realize he was doing Mahagonny....love it.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:04pm

We are in techs right now.

It's like Cabaret meets The Grapes of Wrath meets Chicago.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:10pm

Sounds very cool, Diva.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:30pm

Awesome! Let us know how it goes.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:31pm

Will do!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 3:22pm

It's one of Weil's best....

[cooperross]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:09pm

a better idea would be to retire the old hack before he can ruin any more shows.

Updated On: 2/4/07 at 04:09 PM

[CERULEAN19]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:14pm

Doyle's Sweeney and Company worked for me...I'm just not sure it would work for any other shows or composers/lyricists. He should tread softly if he tries this again...

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:20pm

cooperross,

Why would you call John Doyle an 'old hack'?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:36pm

Still waiting for an answer.....

[costumes1]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:07pm

meh...I didnt really like John Doyle's version of Company. But the show it's self is great!