Dance of the Vampires

How was this show on Broadway? I know it got panned and closed quickly. I ask because I recently saw the German-language version in Berlin, which has been playing to packed houses for over a year. And, to be honest, it was pretty darn good.

As I understand it, the German production was a straight-up Gothic fantasy, right? The Broadway production was hampered by a severe identity crisis: it didn't know whether it wanted to be serious or comic. The serious parts were often really cool (everything from "Red Boots Ballet" to the end of Act One was pretty awesome), and the funny parts were often genuinely funny -- but they just didn't blend into a cohesive whole. I don't know if it was the producers or director trying to "Americanize" it, or if it was the fact that Michael Crawford is a comedian and wanted some funny stuff, but they should have left it as is.

(Also, the translation of the lyrics was mostly terrible.)

That said. I kind of loved the show. I have a special place in my heart just for bad vampire musicals.

~JJJ

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Tanz der Vampire is unmeasurably better. There was humor in it, yes, but it was much more sophisticated (or, at least, handled that way). We get it, that it's just a wee bit sexual when Sarah rubs the sponge all over Alfred. We don't need a penis-shaped sponge. Yes, we know garlic "makes stronger what sleeps", we don't need the line "garlic, garlic, it's why we're so well hung".

Even the cool dance stuff in the American version was way better in Tanz. I'll just say it...look up Carpe Noctem and Die Roten Stiefel on YouTube. Absolutely fantastic choreography.

I'll repeat what I said in the BWW chat room a month ago, believe me or not. The team of producers in Germany surrounding the show are aiming for a UK run. As such, they've hired a new book writer/lyricist to "fix" the show. He's returned to a faithful adaptation of the German version, and a London opening for 2008 or 2009 is anticipated.

They anticipate a Broadway transfer, but I think they're naive. However, judging by the chat room reaction, not many theatre buffs are that averse to a return of DOTV or the show it was based on, so maybe I'm wrong.

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 06:07 PM

The worst show i have ever seen on Broadway and possibly elsewhere.....by far! Deserved its fate.

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Yes i know that version well. Its not a new show.

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If I'm remembering correctly, there was an entire song dedicated to garlic so what's left to say?

i saw this in NY about 3 times and never saw anyone leave, in fact the audience loved it when i saw it

Its the same with the dvd as well, it gets a standing ovation at the end.

It was a mistake, and they should have just taken the original and done a straight translation but it was by no means the mess people say.

In fact if i remember its reviews werent all bad, they were more mixed.

There was a lot to like in the Broadway version but also a lot to laugh at, but after sitting through some of the stinkers ive sat through DOTV looked like a tony winner lol

Oh and wasnt MC career pretty much stalled in terms of theatre anyway?

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Updated On: 12/10/07 at 06:34 PM

Garlic sounded like it was penned by Mr Wildhorn & I like his work.

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Saw this show after previews...there were huge chunks of empty seats in the back of the orchestra...I was able to move my seat after the first act. I loved parts of this show, and some of the music...but the humor was just awful! Nothing made me laugh, the penis sponges were just stupid, and I was dumbfounded when the bat puppet made by the jim henson co. showed up and started chatting using foul language! Believe me I'm no prude...but the foul mouthed puppet bat was just not funny..along with most of the show. It also had some cool visuals...I remember a dance late in the second act between Max von essen and asa somers (who was a vampire) where they danced in front of a large mirror and of course you could see max's reflection, but not asa somers'. I also enjoyed the last 15 minutes of the first act, and really loved the song "Braver Than We Are!"

Mostly, the show was a mess...and not what it originally was intended to be...

I loved it when I saw it, but then again I was 12 and starstruck by MC.