Could a Kismet revival work?

[carnzee]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 5:57pm

I've long wondered if a Kismet revival was viable anymore. My understanding is that even when it premiered in the '50s it was considered corny. It ran because of a hit song (Stranger in Paradise) and a fun production. But I enjoy the OBCR and if nothing else it would make a great concert, if it hasn't been done by Encores already.

[ajh]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 7:39pm

I would say no. The music is beautiful of course but the script and story, just no.

i had the misfortune of seeing the ENO revival at the London Coliseum and it was just dire, completely wasting the talents of Faith Prince (who wasn't even funny), Alfie Boe and Michael Ball. Ugh, it went on and on and on.

[jo]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 7:45pm

I was able to see the London production by the English National Opera years back. It featured Michael Ball as Hajj, Alfie Boe as the Caliph, and Faith Prince.

 I enjoyed the singing a lot, but the acting from some of the actors ( who are mostly from the opera company, presumably) could have been a lot better.  Except for Michael Ball, who suited the role very well, vocally and fittingly over- the- top- acting in the lead role of Hajj The Poet!  Alfie Boe in particular had excellent pipes but his acting was wooden ( and that disappointed me because he sang the two most popular ballads in the show).  
 
Here's a review --

http://londonist.com/2007/06/review_kismet_e

 The score was beautiful and engaging.  Memorable songs included were AND THIS IS MY BELOVED ( my favorite!), STRANGERS IN PARADISE,  BANGLES, BAUBLES AND BEADS, and Hajj's THE OLIVE TREE. Too bad they never did a cast recording that would have preserved the beautiful score and singing.


I think it may be worth a second look by musical theatre professionals. The music is very good but the book may need to be updated. It is a period piece and could use a dazzling display of the Baghdad of older times (production and costume design).  One aspect which I remember not enjoying was the part of  the opening scenes which featured a contemporary replay of what is happening to Baghdad these days.

 

Updated On: 6/5/16 at 07:45 PM

[EdBroadway5]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 8:10pm

Encores did a good production  several years back with Brian Stokes Mitchell and (I think) Marin Mazzie.  Considering the costs involved (sets and costumes are staggering),and the dated book, I doubt that a full-scaled production would be financially viable in today's economy.  PS.  I love the show, which is an indicator of what generation I come from.   

[jo]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 8:46pm

I remember one complaint about the ENO production were the costumes, especially of the harem women. Someone said that the production, in an obvious effort to keep costs trimmed, must have bought all the blue bedsheets from Marks and Spencer, because the women ended up in nondescript blue harem wear

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 10:33pm

Reprise LA did it about 10 years ago with Len Cariou. As others have said, the songs were pretty and the book was unendurable.

Moreover, KISMET is a prime example of "cultural appropriation"; it merely borrows the Middle East to tell a more or less traditional Western farce. Given that news of the Middle East dominates our front pages, I don't think this can be anything but a problem. (The last Broadway revival set the story in TIMBUKTU!, i.e., Central Africa.)

[sparepart973]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 11:01pm

Given how equally offensive and politically incorrect Aladdin is and yet manages to be "okay" to do with no noticeable consequences, I don't see any issues in performing Kismet. Commercial viability and success is something else, and I don't think it would have mass appeal. 

Updated On: 6/5/16 at 11:01 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 12:42am

It would work for me. At least in an Encores-like concert context. I also enjoy the OBCR.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 3:27am

What about the all-black version TIMBUKTU? Probably too disco.

[Fan123]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 3:29am

To my understanding, Kismet was intended to be an Arabian Nights-style tale, even if it wasn't based on a specific tale. Some of the original Arabian Nights tales are just as farcical, impious and/or bawdy as Kismet, if not more so. (For an example of that bawdiness, try reading pages 7-8 of the prologue of this edition - http://www.amazon.com/Arabian-Nights-New-Deluxe/dp/0393331660/ - yikes!) So one could, perhaps, argue that the show draws on a certain tradition of Middle Eastern and Islam-influenced storytelling and culture, rather than just shoehorning in a Western farce sensibility... although it is awfully convenient that the show cherry-picks all the 'sexy' and 'exotic' bits of fictionalised ancient Baghdad for inclusion. In a way I kind of like that the show provides some representation of 'casual Muslims' who have a sense of humour and run around having misadventures, breaking rules and falling in love and so forth, rather than the characters being either saints or terrorists. Well, maybe I'm being a bit generous to the show really. And I don't really know how I'd feel if I saw my culture portrayed through another's lens like that.

To actually answer the thread question, I don't think a revival of Kismet would work at this time, too politically and culturally sensitive. Maybe in the future, when there's a greater variety of portrayals of Muslims in other Western media/arts, and with some revisions to the book, it could work. I do love the score.

Updated On: 6/5/16 at 03:29 AM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 3:51am

Terms such as 'cultural appropriation' are thorny, aren't they.  Whilst I think we are likely to agree that scenes like Peter Pan's "What Makes a Red Man Red?" are uncomfortable viewing now, imagined exotic settings are more in question.

Surely every play or musical is creating an imagined setting, even if based on a real place.  'Oklahoma' isn't a documentary, 'The King & I' seems to be entirely acceptable on Broadway now as is the aforementioned 'Aladdin'.  'She Loves Me' is set in an entirely romanticized Budapest.  I would have thought the fantastical 'Kismet' falls into the same class.

I love the score, too, and the dated book could be revised, but maybe the show cannot succeed because 'Baghdad' is now a taboo subject?

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 6:34am

Because I love the score, I would love to see it attempted in my lifetime.

"And I don't really know how I'd feel if I saw my culture portrayed through another's lens like that."

In a sense, that is part of the appeal of "Hamilton."

"Encores did a good production  several years back with Brian Stokes Mitchell and (I think) Marin Mazzie."

I think most of the performances were canceled due to a blizzard.

 

[Fan123]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 7:59am

For what it's worth... a concert of this show is being planned in October in Santa Barbara with Naila Al Atrash as Cultural Consultant, and a note that "We strongly encourage submissions of MENASA performers". There's also a blurb there about cultural responsibility.

https://www.playbill.com/job/kismet-equity-video-submissions-principal-deadline-071621/0000017a-904a-d6a6-a1fe-957f9a780000

This related article indicates that some dialogue would be updated:

https://www.montecitojournal.net/2021/07/01/its-kismet-a-love-for-broadway-and-bringing-it-home-to-santa-barbara/

I suppose time will tell how much the show actually gets changed for this concert, and whether the changes work.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 10:00am

sparepart973 said: "Given how equally offensive and politically incorrect Aladdin is and yet manages to be "okay" to do with no noticeable consequences, I don't see any issues in performing Kismet. Commercial viability and success is something else, and I don't think it would have mass appeal."

Good point.  But perhaps Kismet would be seen as more objectionable because Aladdin actually comes from an Arabian source (One Thousand and One Nights); whereas Kismet comes from a 1911 American play rooted in orientalist exoticism.

And I doubt "Baghdad, don't underestimate Baghdad" would still go over all that well as a fun musical comedy lyric.

Updated On: 7/16/21 at 10:00 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 10:04am

Yes, Encores! did KISMET several years ago. It was enjoyable despite ill-cast juveniles (one had had a speech impediment) and ugly and terribly unflattering costumes. Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell were brilliant, though.

[ggersten]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 10:56am

I have fond feelings for seeing this in 1976 at Los Angeles CLO. My mother was major fan of the songs. I recall so little of the story and dialog - only that I was entranced, the music was sweeping, and I had a great time. Wikipedia says the cast included: John Reardon, Rhonda Fleming, Victoria Mallory, George Gaynes, Martin Vidnovic and Jack Manning. But I have no recollection.

I've never seen the film version - nor any other production. I've also not seen Timbuktu! (other than a few clips on YouTube)

 

[Fan123]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 11:28pm

For those interested, Jonathan Raviv and Shez Aletaha have been cast in that upcoming Santa Barbara concert as the Poet/Hajj and Lalume, respectively. I don't think the rest of the cast has been announced yet.

 

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 9/13/21 at 2:48am

It looks like they have foreseen any questions about cultural appropriation with the ethnic casting.  I would like to see an updated version on Broadway mainly because I love the music.  

[unclevictor]

Posted: 9/13/21 at 11:06am

No

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/13/21 at 11:56am

I knew we'd hear about "cultural appropriation" in this thread. Funny how no one ever trots out such terms for, say, Cowboy Bebop. In other words, when other cultures utilize Western motifs in their own way, the response is "what a cool adaptation of our tropes." Whenever we do the same in term, people here react as if some sort of physical/mental assault has been committed. 

Yes, Kismet is a fantasy-land show based on storybook concepts of the Middle East rather than anything resembling the real thing. The music is 19th century Russian to boot. Who cares? It's fun. 

For what it's worth, even when the show premiered, the critics jeered at the book, jeered at the whole show, in fact. It was an audience's show, not a critic's show. But I agree with Sparepart that it probably isn't in synch with current popular taste

[Fan123]

Posted: 10/1/21 at 7:43pm

Some more casting for that concert mentioned here:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/santa-barbara/regional/KISMET-2852666/cast

Poet/Hajj - Jonathan Raviv
Marsinah - Ani Djirdjirian
Caliph - Ariel Neyvadoud
Lalume - Sherz Aletaha
Wazir - Austin Durant

Ani Djirdjirian posted a snippet of herself singing 'Baubles, Bangles and Beads' back in July:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rKttr15e6s

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/1/21 at 8:13pm

Fan123 said: "Ani Djirdjirian posted a snippet of herself singing 'Baubles, Bangles and Beads' back in July:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rKttr15e6s"

Thank you for that. She sounds gorgeous. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 11:44am

This thread has me pining for the days when the Jones Beach Marine Theater did spectacular book musicals. (Their SOUTH PACIFIC was utter perfection). KISMET would have worked beautifully with the palace floating in the lagoon.