Carnival Revival?

[BroadwayBaby24]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 10:23pm

I heard that they are thinking about doing a revival of the musical "Carnival" on Broadway in 2010. Anyone heard if it's for sure yet?

[jdtp12]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 10:36pm

Isn't it a bit late for that then?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 9:20am

The show's dated. By today's standards, Paul seems to be a pedophile. I felt uncomfortable watching the Encores! production a few years ago.

Updated On: 1/2/11 at 09:20 AM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 9:30am

At the New York times talk that Stephen Sondheim did with Frank Rich back in November, one of the audience members asked if there was a show Sondheim regretted not being able to write and he replied CARNIVAL. He loved the idea of Paul talking through the puppets. The movie LILI is one of his favourite films.

It made me wonder: That show is 50 years old this spring, what would stop SS from writing his own new musical adpattion of the original story.

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 10:44am

The two dilemmas are keeping Paul from seeming creepy, and keeping Lilli from appearing to be mentally handicapped, as that puts an interpretation on the play that completely recolors it and changes the whole show's meaning.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 11:28am

There WAS talk of the Encores production transferring for about a year, but Anne Hathaway decided to do more films instead. I think that this is a very difficult musical to do well and the casting of Lilli is crucial. Right now I can't think of any actress who could do the role well. However, I think that either Bartlett Sher or Nicholas Hytner (with either Michael Yeargan or Bob Crowley designing) could bring this piece to vibrant life.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 3:16pm

I agree with darquegk. Great score, but Lilli's age makes the book, and whole scenario, very problematic. Too old and you avoid the "ick" factor in her relationship with Paul, but she comes across as mentally not all there. If she's young enough that you can still believe that she can view Paul and the puppets as entirely separate entities, you end up wanting to put Paul on Dateline: To Catch a Predator.

I also agree with wickedfan, right now there are no name actresses who I think would be appropriate. Laura Benanti and Kelli O'Hara could both sing it wonderfully, but both are way too old to play it without the audience going into the "what's wrong with this woman's mind" realm.

I did a terrible production of the show about 12 years ago where the Lilli was way WAY too old (think at least early forties). Sadly it took a long time for me to be able to look at the show and listen to the score without it being tainted by the memories of the utter absurdity of that production.