"Caroline, or Change" Going to London

Only gives me more reason to get my ass over there. Once Evita, Sunady in the park with george, and Caroline or change all get started up, I am taking a much deserved vacation

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Its going to be running at the National Theatre.

It doesnt need to be a financial smash as the purpose of this subsidised venue is to produce challenging works of theatre that are not going to get done elsewhere..... all supported by tax payers money, dont you just love the UK?

Your logic is pretty convoluted C is for Company. The whole point of the show (which I didn't like) was to relate Americans to their racial issues. Though maybe some Britons know about the civil rights movement and such, they won't be able to connect to the show quite as much. IN addition, the R&B/ Gospal Music of C or Change is not as familiar of a style to Britons as Americans. Notice that the jukebox musicals haven't been a big thing in Briton, excepting those based on artists they know well. The main contributor to the success of a show is how it relates to its audience.
Great shows don't need "patience." Great shows are shows where you know you have just seen something extraordinary. Even though it is supported by the taxpayers, if it isn't doing well, then it won't stay open.

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The Brits enjoyed the Brian Dennehy revival of DEATH OF A SALESMAN well enough, even though it's a deeply American work. And ANGELS IN AMERICA -- which takes place in a complicated, American historical context -- was a big hit in London before it hit Broadway. Not to mention MISS SAIGON (though one could argue MISS SAIGON was a distinctly foreign interpretation of a Viet-American phenomenon).

I'd say CAROLINE OR CHANGE has enough universal themes for it to be appealing to British audiences. If it fails, I don't think it'll be because the Brits don't get it.

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Updated On: 1/24/06 at 11:46 PM

"the OBC went to LA and San Francisco, received rave reviews from the critics in both cities and proved a popular hit with audiences"

I saw the show in LA on a Saturday Night, and the theater was half empty. In addition, I saw around 100 people leaving at intermission. The show itself was not received heartily at the end of the performance as well. I stayed only because I have never walked out of a play in my life. My father, who works in Hollywood, also talked to a bunch of people who saw the show, some of whom were regular theater goers. About half of them walked out at intermission, and none of the rest liked it either. So it wasn't incredibly popular with my experience.
All the shows you mentioned mrkingas (With the exception of Jerry Springer) are classics, so of course they are going to be received well. Certain works can be universal in their theme, but in my opinion Caroline or Change was not good enough to warrent this universal theme. Caroline won't really relate to them as well. And Gospel never was as popular in London as it was in New York and London. Jerry Springer is an exception, and everyone could get that show because of the international success of the show.

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I know people who live in San Diego that drove up two, three, even four times to see the show. So how about we all agree to disagree.

I was not comparing those classics to Caroline, Or Change merely seeking to point out that the National has produced a wide variety of musicals over the years and its starting to focus now on new musicals rather than revivals.

I still totally disagree with the idea that shows are not as "relevant" to a British audience. Theatre is universal. London is the most diverse city in the world and I am sure there were be an audience for it especially once it receives critical praise from all the high brow theatre critics.

Current hot ticket in London is "Sunday in the Park with George". Superb revival of a great show. Also seem to recall Assassins running a hell of a lot longer over here than it did on and off Broadway.....

I say to each his own. Some people really hated Caroline. But many people also really hated Woman in White. That's all ok.

You can definitely keep your Phantom and Woman In White, that leaves more Caroline for me to feast on. YUM!