I may not be a super duper regular on this board, but I've commended on EVERY thread about this show. I've been following it since literally day one over a decade ago. It's still amuses me that people still aren't aware of how long it's actually been around, but I digress.
I have opinions yo, (this is one of my top favorite films of all time) and they are plentiful. I remember thinking back in college that it could work as a stage piece...but strangely even then when I wasn't as astute to what works in various mediums, I recall thinking it could be a better straight play than musical. I didn't know why at the time, but back when Papermill came around, someone said that it's seemingly not working as a musical because musicals generally live in their own unique universe, almost like a 3rd dimension. So the film that treated as 'history' isn't translating well as a musical. But then again, I don't think a straight play would get a lot of people to see it because it could come off as boring because 'no music'..maybe? I'm not entirely sure. That said, I still am of the belief it could work as a musical, but it really needs more careful thought and creativity than it's been given because in it's current state, it's just a rehashed, messy hodge podge of its' source thrown on stage...an all too familiar problem. I''ll also admit I'm not huge on Goldrich/Heisler, the only song they've ever written that's memorable to me in any way is that chestnut, Taylor, the Latte Boy.
I saw Papermill, and there was more weaknesses than strengths. A almost Shakesperean production design for a musical isn't a great mesh, moments that don't needs songs (sadly almost all of them), a lack of a linear structure which I think it desperately needed, and as many have said...a lack of consistent tone and POV, which ties into much of the above. The strengths were few, but one was Margot to a degree. I appreciated more than words than say that they didn't cast an ingenue but she lacked a pointed humor. I'm not sure if that was Margot herself or the book...that book is a bit WOOF. I didn't see Atlanta, but it seemed to go more in the 'fairy tale' design direction but still seemed to be balanced well with the historical costuming aspect. I remember thinking if Danielle's gown were Atlanta's design but Papermill's color, it could have been glorious. I've heard Sierra was decent considering her career has been almost nothing but delicate ended ingenues, and I do love her, but she still feels just a bit too 'doe eyed' for a witty, pointed, basically Elizabeth Bennet type. Same with Christy. Talented and her voice fits the music, but even more ingenue than Sierra. An ingenue works for the RnH, it's fairy tale as fairy tale gets, but the opposite is why I love the film and Danielle so much. It's my favorite "Cinderella with a twist' adaptation, bar none. It's not a cookie cutter princess role, so seeing them go the ingenue direction is bit disheartening.
This isn't even the comprehensive list of my opinions, but I've already written half a novel.
, collaborated to revamp much of the rest of the show, including writing a new finale."
