It's a re-telling of the Ugly Duckling and it beat LION KING for Best Musical in the UK. I was in it last summer and it was so fun to do. Does anyone think it'll come on Broadway?
It's a fun show but I don't think it will ever come to Broadway either. I have always been surprised that Stiles and Drewe haven't had more success in America (except Mary Poppins).
Also it opened in London 14 years ago, I would've thought if someone had wanted to take it over, then it would have happened by now! Although I wouldn't be too surprised to see it open Off-Broadway or regionally at some point!
It's funny how different people have different reactions to the two different versions of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," which I think is motivated in part by both the difference in awareness of the Peanuts characters over the past fifty years, and changes in media and culture.
The original staging was far more intimate and innocent, definitely portraying the characters as somewhat naive, winsome children in a decidedly childlike musical environment. It had its moments of wit, but lacked the "edge" that the Peanuts franchise had developed over the years- the slight embrace of the grotesque elements of the characters (Charlie Brown's perpetual suffering and misfortune, Lucy's casual cruelty, etc.) Additionally, Patty the Extra Child was used instead of more interesting characters like Peppermint Patty or the later Sally.
The revised/revived Charlie Brown can almost be seen as a precursor to "Spelling Bee" in its tone and musical style. It reflects the more modern understanding of the Peanuts characters, with Charlie Brown's eternal goodheartedness and optimism making him an oasis in a world that is at once idealistic and cruel- after all, every conceivable bad thing happens to Charlie Brown, and most of the characters in this version of the show openly hate on him, yet still claim to admire him. The neuroses of the characters are played up far more: Linus's dependence on his blanket and bizarre precocious intellect, Lucy's crabbiness, Schroeder's monomaniacal obsession with Beethoven, Sally's... whatever is wrong with Sally (she seems to suffer from "Brittany S. Pierce Syndrome," in that it's hard to tell if she's an absent-minded genius or an utter simpleton).
I love HONK. About 10 years ago I saw a production of HONK with Jonathan Groff at a community theater in PA. The moment he popped out of that egg, I knew he would be a star. He was brilliant as Ugly. It's a great little show with a great score, but I'm not sure if it's more than an A+ kid's show...
I think the show is quite brilliant and charming. Music Theatre of Wichita did a big production of it that yielded a cast recording, but if the show was ever going to Broadway, it would have been back then. I generally like Stiles and Drewe. Honk and Soho Cinders are my favorite scores of theirs. I also saw a production of their Three Musketeers at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and while the score was nice, the book was flat and dull.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
I agree with Matt and Taz's takes on the show. It's an absolute charmer, but I don't think it has any real place on Broadway. If I thought there was room off-Broadway for a long running family show, I would say that was its best chance.
