#1
Posted: 12/14/04 at 9:24pm
Anyone ready?? I am!! I wanna see the show back on its feet!!
Anyone ready for Once on this Island Revival????
#2
Posted: 12/14/04 at 9:26pm
I loved the original. I would like to see a revival as long as it is kept simple and not overblown.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#3
Posted: 12/14/04 at 9:44pm
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
You aren't feeling overwhelmed are you?
#4
Posted: 12/14/04 at 9:52pm
I AM! :)
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
#5
Posted: 12/14/04 at 11:07pm
I'd love to see ONCE ON THIS ISLAND have a revival.
I'm not sure that it could be a success. The original production was so brilliant, such a perfect alchemy of writing, acting and direction, and yet audiences for some reason didn't go to see it.
I don't think that it would be possible to surpass the original production of that show. Graciela's direction and choreography were so thrilling, and La Chanze was a dynamo that broke your heart, singing those wonderful Ahrens/Flaherty tunes. I do love the show, and I hope that new audiences get a chance to experience that very special, wonderous show.
So yes, revive it by all means.
I'm not sure that it could be a success. The original production was so brilliant, such a perfect alchemy of writing, acting and direction, and yet audiences for some reason didn't go to see it.
I don't think that it would be possible to surpass the original production of that show. Graciela's direction and choreography were so thrilling, and La Chanze was a dynamo that broke your heart, singing those wonderful Ahrens/Flaherty tunes. I do love the show, and I hope that new audiences get a chance to experience that very special, wonderous show.
So yes, revive it by all means.
#6
Posted: 12/14/04 at 11:52pm
The show needs to be taped for PBS. Unfortunately, many folks only know the show from the all-white version their local high school did.
I swear, if I hear one more blue-eyed blonde say, "Ooh I love that show - I played TiMoune in high school!"...
I swear, if I hear one more blue-eyed blonde say, "Ooh I love that show - I played TiMoune in high school!"...
#7
Posted: 12/15/04 at 1:54am
Yes but keep it off Broadway where it won't be overblown--that's what killed theoriginal.
We'll see how Dessa Rose does--Lincoln Center's off broadway Ahrens/Flaherty/Graciela musical
We'll see how Dessa Rose does--Lincoln Center's off broadway Ahrens/Flaherty/Graciela musical
#8
Posted: 12/15/04 at 2:04am
EricMontreal, I respectfully disagree.
I don't think ONCE ON THIS ISLAND was "overblown" when it moved to the Booth. It fit that intimate house beautifully. I saw it several times, from several different vantage points, and it never felt like an Off-Broadway musical that didn't belong in a Broadway house.
It was, in my opinion, a musical that was perfectly suited to its Broadway home.
Audiences just didn't want to see it, for whatever reason. It's a shame, because it's a wonderful show.
I don't think ONCE ON THIS ISLAND was "overblown" when it moved to the Booth. It fit that intimate house beautifully. I saw it several times, from several different vantage points, and it never felt like an Off-Broadway musical that didn't belong in a Broadway house.
It was, in my opinion, a musical that was perfectly suited to its Broadway home.
Audiences just didn't want to see it, for whatever reason. It's a shame, because it's a wonderful show.
Updated On: 12/15/04 at 02:04 AM
#9
Posted: 12/15/04 at 2:15am
'Whatever reason' may have something to do with the decidedly un-wasplike nature of the piece - as disgusting as that is.
#10
Posted: 12/15/04 at 2:19am
DGrant, I suspect that you're right.
That particular truth makes me very sad. It implies that audiences didn't want to see ONCE ON THIS ISLAND because they thought it was a "black" show.
It's an amazing musical about the human spirit. And the people who lost out are not the writers, the actors, or Graciela. It's the audience, who for their innate prejudice, missed one of the most transcendent experiences musical theatre has to offer.
Sad.
That particular truth makes me very sad. It implies that audiences didn't want to see ONCE ON THIS ISLAND because they thought it was a "black" show.
It's an amazing musical about the human spirit. And the people who lost out are not the writers, the actors, or Graciela. It's the audience, who for their innate prejudice, missed one of the most transcendent experiences musical theatre has to offer.
Sad.
#11
Posted: 12/15/04 at 2:25am
VeuveClicquot, you're probably right. I was 10 when it ran and never saw it so can't comment--just on what I've heard. Still it DID do well OffBroadway, no? I know Lynn Ahrens has said many times that moving it to Broadway was a mistake.
That said it had a respectable run all things considered, IMHO.
How big was the cast? When Man of No Importance (which I did see and loved) wasn't transfered, they said that if it had transfered, cuz of its cast size, it woulda gone to a Broadway house--
E
That said it had a respectable run all things considered, IMHO.
How big was the cast? When Man of No Importance (which I did see and loved) wasn't transfered, they said that if it had transfered, cuz of its cast size, it woulda gone to a Broadway house--
E
#12
Posted: 12/15/04 at 2:25am
I agree - but at least it gets to live on in regional life. We saw a fabulous production in Riverside, CA last year 
#13
Posted: 12/15/04 at 2:34am
Eric, that's very interesting that Ahrens said she felt moving the show to Broadway was a mistake.
It really worked. That cast raised the rafters of the Booth Theatre.
There are shows that belong Off-Broadway, and shows that lose something if they try to transfer. I think LITTLE SHOP is a good example of this. I don't think that THE FANTASTICKS would have worked in a large Broadway house, it would have lost its charm. But I don't think that ONCE ON THIS ISLAND falls into that category. Trust me, when the cast came out for the opening "We Dance," it reverberated to the back row of the house. It's a big show, with big ideas, regardless of the size of the cast.
It really worked. That cast raised the rafters of the Booth Theatre.
There are shows that belong Off-Broadway, and shows that lose something if they try to transfer. I think LITTLE SHOP is a good example of this. I don't think that THE FANTASTICKS would have worked in a large Broadway house, it would have lost its charm. But I don't think that ONCE ON THIS ISLAND falls into that category. Trust me, when the cast came out for the opening "We Dance," it reverberated to the back row of the house. It's a big show, with big ideas, regardless of the size of the cast.
#14
Posted: 12/15/04 at 3:33am
I have loved listening to both the original London and original Broadway cast albums, and am excited that it will be produced for So. Calif. audiences this coming July at the Fullerton Civic Light Opera! They have a great season by the way. The first non-touring locally produced productions of Miss Saigon, Aida, and the new Flower Drum Song, as well as OOTI. I subscribed, and can't wait to see them all!
#15
Posted: 12/15/04 at 4:51am
Ya i think part of the prob wasin 91/92 peoplereally expected *hugemegusicals"
#16
Posted: 12/15/04 at 7:06am
we literally just closed a production of Once on this Island at my university, i was the producer and assistant choreographer. it went extremely well and we got some really good reactions from the audience. i think overall, its not a hard show to sell to people who don't know it but its an extremely hard show to do well. i do think we pulled it off very well.
"Contentment it seems merely happens, It appears Accompanied by no bravos and no tears"
"The world is good you said Enjoy it's highs you said The summer flies you said So make a parade Of every moment Now throw away your hate And focus on what's great instead" ~William Finn
#17
Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:05am
I would love to see the show back, but I think it is too early. Give it a few more years. The original staging was beautiful, but the show could easily be given new staging and choreography and still work. The show is well-written and could be interpreted in many ways.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#18
Posted: 12/15/04 at 10:46am
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too early. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the original production and it could not be improved upon.
However, a television film of the piece would be WONDERFUL.
However, a television film of the piece would be WONDERFUL.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
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