#1
Posted: 3/6/15 at 9:03pm
A brave but expected choice coming from Sher. I am pleased. It's a short but enjoyable song, and gives Thiang some more to sing.
BL: For many years now, some productions of The King and I have cut material, so as not to risk offending contemporary sensibilities. You are sensitive to the social questions, yet you are not afraid of the material as it was written. In fact, you think it is worth exploring.
BS: Yes. For example, I’m keeping “Western People Funny”, which is often cut. Once you can redo that number from the point of view of, in this case, the dominant culture, you can have irony about situation. If you do it from the point of view of lowly easterners who don’t understand what’s going on then it would be received very differently. If you take older versions and tilt them back then you can change how they land.
http://www.lct.org/explore/blog/why-bartlett-sher-wanted-do-king-and-i/
I'm also expecting him to keep the often cut "Puzzlement" reprise. I cannot wait to see the first preview!!
BL: For many years now, some productions of The King and I have cut material, so as not to risk offending contemporary sensibilities. You are sensitive to the social questions, yet you are not afraid of the material as it was written. In fact, you think it is worth exploring.
BS: Yes. For example, I’m keeping “Western People Funny”, which is often cut. Once you can redo that number from the point of view of, in this case, the dominant culture, you can have irony about situation. If you do it from the point of view of lowly easterners who don’t understand what’s going on then it would be received very differently. If you take older versions and tilt them back then you can change how they land.
http://www.lct.org/explore/blog/why-bartlett-sher-wanted-do-king-and-i/
I'm also expecting him to keep the often cut "Puzzlement" reprise. I cannot wait to see the first preview!!
Updated On: 3/6/15 at 09:03 PM
