Regardless of the questionable book, that score sounds GLORIOUS! The arrangements alone are worth sitting through the admittedly overwrought book (though I agree the telecast script, while lovely, is hardly a masterpiece). Plus the original cast gave some stellar performances.
I don't think it would have really affected the show's performance if they had gone for a more fairy-tale / less modern & ironic route. I would bet most people that went to see it would have been fine with a more traditional old-fashioned book, seeing that it is a fairy tale and not a modern story. Personally I think that the modernized book slides into the silly end a bit too often, though it's certainly a more solid musical than past attempts.
How fascinating to think what it would have been like if Hammerstein had expanded it for Broadway himself?? Who knows what subplots he might have added in or what other routes he might have taken with the story and characters.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
Updated On: 9/4/14 at 08:57 PM
