Well, Bobby, that's a pretty elitist comment. Not many people can get to NYC to see a Broadway show with its original cast. You would just deny thousands the opportunity to enjoy performances because of financial and geographical constraints.
Yes, live theatre is special. DVD/Video can't duplicate some of the rush - the explosion of dance/music at the beginning of ACL, or how the music brings tears out in Miss Saigon, or the rapturous glee of the dancing feet at the beginning of 42d Street, or the shrill whistle throughout Sweeney Todd; or the wonderment of the steps being lowered in Man of LaMancha or the car taking off in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or any number of other magical moments.
Still, I now get to see Elaine Paige as Grizzabella, thanks to a DVD. See Barbara Harris from the Tonys in Apple Tree thanks to DVD. See Bernadetee Peters in Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park, thanks to DVD. I wish we had a DVD of Richard Kiley when he was doing Man of LaMancha instead of the Tony clip. I wish we had more of Dreamgirls than the Tony clip. Why should these performances just be performed to be forgotten or remembered only by a few, and even then, dimly. Seems to me a DVD would be much less expensive than a feature film - would capture more of the stage feel, and while not "live", still preserve some of the magic. Whether you like CATS or not, the DVD, I thought, was very well done. The Hugh Jackman Oklahoma DVD was well done. Now, neither was "live", but they still felt like theatre. I have no idea how those sold, which is the key to more of them being produced for sale.
I'll tell you what - you don't have to watch any DVD of a theatre performance, but then, you're not allowed to talk about what a wonderful performance you once saw, and how it's just a shame that no one else did or ever will.
Updated On: 1/24/07 at 06:07 PM
