Bare Revival Licensing

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Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 12:29am

Apparently they aren't going to license the revised script of bare

I love the original but the revival's book (existed) was absolutely hilarious and I loved the new songs and the new characters.

I feel like the revival has a lot stronger of a libretto, and I know a lot of people don't like the amount of change from the original to the nws version, but the additional songs and the use of a book gives the show a lot more body. Not to mention you can actually know the characters in the revival. Nadia seemed to be the only character with any development or meat to it in the original. With a book, it's understandable why Jason and Peter love each other, instead of a vague mutual horniness.

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 12:53pm

Didn't see the revival, but I'm certain this is good news.

The licensed version follows the Concept album, right? In that case, strong actors can make audiences see that there is more to Jason and Peter than being horny. Much like the Off-Broadway cast did in 2004. Nadia is well devleoped, her love for her twin Jason is strong and protective. Also, she's a angsty chunky teen girl that many women and teen girls (chunky or not) can relate to. There was no need to make her hot and the one who gices Jason the drugs.

I didn't see the new version, so I can't say this with certainty, but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't agree that the new book was better in way than the concept album's libretto.

With that said, there were some horrible lyric changes for the concept album. Listen to the 2004 studio recording of "All Grown Up" from the Sampler CD and then compare it to the Concept Cast Recording... it's shameful!

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 5:31pm

I'm pretty sure we can say the original sung-through version has a book. All sung-through musicals have what we consider a book. I think you mean book scenes and/or dialogue.

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 6:49pm

Duly noted MeyMrMusic. I thought sung-through "books" were librettos. Thank you for the clarification.

Which, let me ask... what is the difference between libretto and book or are they synonymous?

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 7:04pm

Libretto consists of book and lyrics, the textual portion of the show.

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 9:24pm

I dont know that musical theatre considers it any differently, but in opera, "libretto" is the text written to the music. If a show is sung-through, like LES MIZ, it has a "libretto". A "book" to me anyway means something with songs separated by spoken pieces of dialogue.

http://docandraider.com

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 9:27pm

Libretto, at least according to what I learned in undergrad and then graduate school, is the full "text" that is not written music. Book and lyrics together, or lyrics in a sung-through show, make up the libretto.

#10

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 10:22pm

Are we not watching Smash? The Hit List is still said to have a book even if none of the words are the bookwriter's (Andy Mientus) but the lyricist's (Jeremy Jordan).

The book is the overall structure of the show. This includes the story, characters, dialogue, song placement in many cases, etc. Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber are credited for the book of The Phantom of the Opera, a sungthrough musical with "additional lyrics" by Stilgoe and (of course) music by ALW. Jonathan Larson is credited as the bookwriter of Rent. There's hardly any dialogue in Sweeney Todd, but o what a thrilling book by Hugh Wheeler, considered as one of the best. Boublil and Schönberg are both credited for writing the book of Les Misérables. And the reason why Brian Yorkey is the bookwriter of Next to Normal isn't because he wrote the lyrics; it's because he created the structure of the piece, the characters, the plot, the arc, etc. Yes?

And yes, libretto refers to the full text of a show.

Updated On: 3/26/13 at 10:22 PM

#11

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 10:36pm

^Phantom isn't entirely sung though. There are some book scenes, but they are pretty short.

#12

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/26/13 at 10:45pm

O yes, you're right. Those short scenes are not the only things that make up the book, though. The two of them adapted the novel into the structure of the musical we are so familiar with.

#13

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/27/13 at 12:52pm

I'm really glad the revival isn't being licensed. I feel like the creator's vision should remain the definitive version.

"I shall stay until the wind changes."

#14

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/27/13 at 3:01pm

^This. Or at least, what they all agreed on the first time around.

#15

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/27/13 at 3:14pm

Thanks for all the clarification!

#16

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/27/13 at 8:58pm

Absolutely agree, but I think the option show still be available for weirdos like me who like the revival version more. I mean most shows liscene both the revival and original versions, I don't see why they can't especially for 2 drastically different productions

#17

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/27/13 at 8:59pm

Back on topic: A little birdie showed me something, and boy was I flabbergasted.

The new opening is not bad, but I prefer "Epiphany" better. First of all, considering the shows theme of SELF DISCOVERY and not submitting to fate/death, Epiphany is a much better time in the Holy calendar to set the show. I mean the Lenten season where we are rushing towards the crucifixion of Jesus seems kinds of inappropriate for this show's story.

The book scenes are not terrible. Some are actually quite good and clever. Of course, the lyric changes made me roll my eyes. The rhyme schemes don't sound as sleek as they once did (but that was already starting to occur on the concept album).

Then "Portrait of a Girl" started as a Matt solo... weird. But the show redeemed pretty quickly after that.

Things really picked up with the duet between Nadia and Ivy! This actually made me okay with Nadia being made thin and the drug dealer. That number is quite possibly the shining moment of the first act.

But later, came a scene with Diane and Peter that included a song that was horrendous. The song is a total mockery of everything the show once stood for. Then while "911! Emergency!" had its flaws, the new scene with Mary is a hot mess. It's boring, and Mary is kind of racist (i.e. "Peter, don't tie up the request line. I'm the universes 911 service, especially for latino women. Do you know how many calls I get from them a day?").

So, about 30 minutes into Act One the revisal/revival completely falls apart. They try to redeem it with a "Role of a Lifetime" sung by Jason... but it doesn't seem appropriate for the Basketball Jock to be singing about roles. I mean, Romeo is his first time to be in a play. The whole use of the word "role" was intended for drama nerd Peter and it fit him. At least they had the foresight to not have him sing about himself in 3rd person, I guess.

Then as a side note, Stafford Arima's staging is awful. Does he not know how to have people move across the stage?

So, donnamurphybemymom, I certainly appreciate your standing by your convictions and support for the revisal. Yet, the new version just seems so weak compared to what was staged in 2004 and then recorded in 2007 (with some laughable rewrites). I do see where the revisal shows some promise, but I think a lot of it gets wasted. I think if they revisited the 2004 music and lyrics and they changed that libretto to have book scenes and not be sung through, they could incorporate some of the singing moments from the revisal into it. Maybe the Nadia and Ivy duet could become a new song in that script. Of course, Nadia would be changed back to her former self, so she would no longer sing it.

For the time being, I'm very happy that the revisal is not the licensed script, and I hope it stays that way.

Updated On: 3/27/13 at 08:59 PM

#18

Bare Revival Licensing

Posted: 3/27/13 at 9:08pm

This show was created by composer Damon Intrabartolo. His name and "fingerprints" (for lack of a better word) were no where on this revival. While I can understand why some people would want to license this version-- this show is his and he clearly doesn't want this version out there.

"I shall stay until the wind changes."

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