Carrie Revival? — Page 5

I knew it was! I remember you telling me about the RSC and that there was a revival in the works, I hope it works out, you're lucky that you have the work in progress script!

On the other hand, Stratford was unlucky because they had Barbara Cook as Margaret, who no doubt is a great singer, but did not fit the role.

If Barbara Cook had wanted to, she could have fit the role. Barbara Cook is an inveterate performer, and can do anything she sets her mind to. I don't know at what point the Stratford video was filmed, but I know that Barbara Cook was over it. She felt that Terry Hands and Debbie Allen were ignoring the outstanding problems with the show, and trying to fix things by simply rehearsing the dance numbers over and over again. That, coupled with almost being decapitated by the set, (No, I don't have the dirt on that - wish I did, though) caused her decision to leave the show. I suspect that the RSC's archival video was shot after this decision was made.

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westendartist1- Thank you for agreeing with me! I don't think she fit the role at all. I mean, she is a great performer, but she didn't have the intensity of Margaret. Her choice in leaving the show was definitely a great one, because through her departure, Broadway received one of the most gripping performances to ever hit the Broadway stage. As for the booing at the end of Act I on the DVD, you're completely right. You can vaguely hear booing in the last few seconds as the curtain goes down on Act I, but at the same time others were going crazy! Hopefully when it's revived there will no longer be a reason to boo!

that video was shot 4 nights in to the run so at that point she had no excuse to be holding back(and cook quoted that in an interview that was used for not since carrie)
I have also seen her do a lot better and she is a great artist but she was not phoneing in her performance in carrie she was really trying you can tell ,but she was just lowsy

Sorry, guys. We're just going to have to agree to disagree on the Barbara Cook thing. Yes, Betty Buckley was electrifying, and yes, Barbara Cook was a disappointment, but I honestly feel like Barbara Cook could have been a good Margaret White if her heart had been in it. Sure, the video was shot four nights into the run, but who's to say what went on during rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and previews? At four nights into the Stratford run, the show would have been frozen, so anything affecting her performance would have already happened by then.

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Please do!

I think just to say that she was "weak" because she lacks the steel belt of Buckley or Maureen McGovern's tones is too harsh.

Barbara Cook as a lovely warm voice that in its prime was stronger than most of the wannabees around today. For whatever reasons she didnt give the same bravura performance that Buckley went on to give. Is that miscast? Perhaps. It certainly isnt an indictment on her abilities and a slur against those who dont belt.

The workshop actually sounded great actually and Maureen McGovern was actually a great Margaret, maybe she can be considered for the revival! Annie Golden has a great voice and she can definitely belt, but I couldn't imagine her as Carrie. It's amazing to hear (for those who have heard the workshop) how different the song "Carrie" actually was. "Out For Blood" sounded really horrible in the workshop, but even with the addition of a catchy 80's rock beat behind it, it could not be saved from it's horrible lyrics. At least it wasn't called Crackerjack on Broadway (still don't know the meaning of it). Overall, some aspects of the workshop stayed the same, and some aspects should have been put in the final production.

hi there

I dont think Barabara cook was awfull coz she couldnt belt she was awfull because she lacked the intensity to make miss white the threat she needed to be(i thought she sang open your heart very well)but she never had a the air of danger that should have been looming throughout the show she was just MISCAST
M mcgovern was very good on the workshop audio as miss white and had a very similar voice to buckley(thats why i always thought it was odd that they would cast cook)The workshop song line up was awfull and they had a lot of work to do but they did have the book going in the right direction at that time.

as for the gos on rehearsals this is what i know as fact

From day 1 of rehearsals several cast members knew this show was goona be in trouble due to the fact the script and songs were been re written almost twice a day(right up to the opening night they were still re writting to the point that in the stratford programme the song ONCE I LOVE A BOY is still in even though it was replaced with when theres knowone).The cast also felt that terry hands was not in charge of the show or what was going on around him and diddnt really know how to fix things he was also over powered by choreographer debbie allen(the cast says they were several arguments between the 2 due to her using all the rehearsal times to keep changing the dance routines).Barbara cook and Linzi Hately were left sat around a lot of the time due to this which angered cook to the point she one day left rehearsals telling them to call her when they were ready to work with her.
When rehearsals began for carrie they were 3 songs in the show that eventually got cut they was also a replacement song for crackerjack(or out for blood as it would be called on broadway)but they went with crackerjack instead.
Barbara Cook was also said to be difficult to work with and rarely spoke to the younger cast members during rehearsals so just sat on her own.
The dance routine for IN was changed an amazing 14 times which the cast were not happy about(or the director).They were even talk of the show tanking on broadway before the stratford run had even opened.
The 4 lead teen cast members playing sue,chris,tommy and billy got on really well as did linzi with everyone(some cast members say she was one of the sweetest people they had ever worked with).
The cast oftern worked later than they should have as the director tried to come up with new ideas to improve the show(though he just ended up cutting a lot of scenes out making parts of Carrie incoheriant)
The opening night went well and they got a huge applause(audiences seem thrilled by the show)and for a second it looked like they had it right but then the reviews came out.Unlike people like to say the stratford reviews were not all bad they actually had quite a few good ones which gave them confidence that with a few changes they could make it work in new york.Cook announced she was leaving the show mid way through the stratford run(a lot of cast members were happy at this news as THEY TO thought she was miscast)and the story of her almost been dicapatated by the set been the reasson she left is rubbish(though she did almost get hit by a revolving panal)she left because she wassnt happy that the director diddnt seem to have a handle of the show.
Once the show ended its sold out run in stratford betty buckley was hired and the cast went back in to rehearsals ready for the new york opening.The cast were blown away at betty and would sneak in to the rehearsal room to watch her and linzi practice(one cast member said they thought she would give the performance of a lifetime ).Buckley also had a lot of faith in the show and was excited to be a part of it(she pretty much staged hers and linzis performance of Eve Was Weak.The director started making changes to the show (he had already had someone come in to work on the orchestrations)but he again seemed unclear on what to do(he cut one song,replaced another,added a few more bursts of fire)yet failed to get to the route of problem.The cast also thought the costumes and sets were silly and diddnt tell the story at all(they called it the operation room as it looked like one)
Charlotte who played Chris hated out for blood but always gave it her best and all the girls hated Dream On (wotta night also wassnt popular)
And then the show hit broadway and well the rest they say IS HISTORY

Wow, that's surprising. After seeing Charlotte performing "Out For Blood", she seemed as though she was the only one having any fun. She really got into it, and I haven't really seen so much energy come out of one person. I can believe she didn't like the song though, because it was completely pathetic. It seems as though the cast was just going along for the ride considering they basically hated almost the whole concept of the show (sets, costumes, choreography). The other 14 dance routines used for "In" couldn't have been as bad as the end result, because I've never seen such aerobics in my life. I think Betty did perform the role of a lifetime, she was brilliant and really got into the character, it was almost scary. I also understand why the cast disliked "Dream On" and "Wotta Night", because first of all, they must have felt weird about the set (a raised shower?!) and the song was really bad. Same goes for "Wotta Night", the choreography was terrible and the song didn't fit the scene at all, it was all about the happiest time in Carrie's life (until the pig blood), and it was ruined by a song you'd hear in a bad TV Movie. Don't get me started on the Disco Ball.

im going to get shot here

but i actually liked some of debbie allens choreography i thought IN was actually very good and expressed teenage sexuality very well(and it was a gym class so the acrobatics were quite fitting)i also thought wotta nights choreography had some good moments(as a dancer i can appreciate glimpses of brilliance in a flawed routine).Charlotte had great fun in the show as did a lot of the cast they just diddnt think it was been handled right thats all.
Though when all is said and done Terry hands is to blame he was clueless about this type of show and i just hope the new director approaches it with the wit what is needed to make carrie redeem itself

I may be alone, but I love "And Eve was weak" as it is. That scene is chilling! Do we know when this production will be running and in what part of Englad? I will be back to London for another theatre visit in February!

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hi guys

to the comment about the destruction if u read one of my earlier posts about what i found out about the new act 2 you will see they will be a lot of use of real fire.They also is a pause after the blood is dropped where it goes silent as they are using the film line there of there all gonna laugh at you.Linzi hately was approached ages ago to either play margaret(i think shes to young)or miss gardner but she said no and i have no idea about the rest of the cast(i hope they approach buckley)
Also agree that the song wotta night is awfull its badly written and feels cheap(though for me some of the choreography worked)
As for eve was weak well every carrie fan loves that it was a huge point in the show which really stood out hately and buckley were jaw dropping in this song(even the critics had to agree that it was a high point)

lol