Enchanted April

[Ready 2 Defy Gravity]

Enchanted April#0

Posted: 7/9/06 at 4:55pm

Is this a play or a musical, and could someone please tell me what it's about.

[Mr Roxy]

re: Enchanted April#1

Posted: 7/9/06 at 7:55pm

A play that takes place in England & a villa in Italy

Poster Emeritus

[Johnnytoc]

re: Enchanted April#2

Posted: 7/9/06 at 8:59pm

Quite a nice play at that. I got to see this done this past winter and enjoyed it.

[Broadwaylady]

re: Enchanted April#3

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:24pm

I loved the show and never understood why it closed so early.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by moments that take our breath away." "Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain."

[MaronaDavies]

re: Enchanted April#4

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:21pm

I adored the show, and I was also surprised and disappointed it closed so quickly. It was beautifully done.

To answer the OP's question: it's far too long to describe here. It's a play and you can find both the 2003 script and the original novel on Amazon. I think the original novel might actually be public domain (it's from the 20s) so you might also want to see if it's on the Gutenberg Project as an e-text.

[Dollypop]

re: Enchanted April#5

Posted: 7/10/06 at 6:01am

It was a nice play but not a great one. I think Broadway's physical production harmed it greatly: the villa looked like it was furnished from everything that was on sale at K Mart that week: including plants that would never be in bloom during the same time period. The set just never captured the magic of Tuscany.

The acting was good, the story was nice and Michael Cumpsty's butt was a treasure. However, all the parts didn't mix well in this production.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

[ThereIs1Director]

re: Enchanted April#6

Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:14pm

I just saw this over the weekend at Shakespeare and Co in Lenox Mass, what a brilliant production. Beautifuly blocked and staged, and the actors were perfect and the timing was amazing.

First act takes a little while to get going, but second act really is fabulous.

[munkustrap178]

re: Enchanted April#7

Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:41pm

I saw it's final performance on Broadway...it is probably the most boring show I have ever seen in my life. A nice performance from Jayne Atkinson, but a terribly lame and boring play.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[chess12]

re: Enchanted April#8

Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:49pm

Missed the play, but I adore the movie. The Italian scenes in the movie are set in and around Portofino in Liguria; not in Tuscany. Just a quibble. Would love for this movie to be on DVD! Off topic, a little, but just felt like throwing in my two cents about something that is really special to me.

[ChrisLovesShows]

re: Enchanted April#9

Posted: 7/10/06 at 1:49pm

It is a terrific movie -- I recommend the rental. I enjoyed the stage production, but it was a pale reproduction all in all.

"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"

[ken8631]

re: Enchanted April#10

Posted: 7/10/06 at 1:52pm

Was an OK play. Best thing I've seen Molly Ringwald in recently - she's no "Sweet Charity", but she did fit in well in this play.

[justme2]

re: Enchanted April#11

Posted: 7/10/06 at 2:15pm

You've seen Molly in Sweet Charity already? I thought it was opening in SJ later this summer?

I saw the movie years ago with Joan Plowright, as well as the 1935 Jessie Ralph version. Plowright's version was great visually, as you really got the feel of the villa and the time. I enjoyed Ralph's version for the innuendoed dialogue of the 1930's version.

It is a laborious story, to agree with Munk a bit. It's hard to really care what happens to these people. But that's just my opnion.

"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."

[munkustrap178]

re: Enchanted April#12

Posted: 7/10/06 at 2:16pm

You are correct, but it wasn't just the fault of the terribly boring play - but the direction was HORRID.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[justme2]

re: Enchanted April#13

Posted: 7/10/06 at 2:26pm

You're referring to the stage version that you saw, right? I haven't seen it on stage, and after seeing both versions available on VHS, I don't think it's a ticket I would buy. I had trouble sitting through to the end of the films!

"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."

[ken8631]

re: Enchanted April#14

Posted: 7/10/06 at 3:13pm

Saw Molly in Enchanted April, saw Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity (she was great). Can't imagine (and wouldn't go see) Molly in Charity....

[justme2]

re: Enchanted April#15

Posted: 7/10/06 at 4:42pm

ahhhh...I see! I'll see it in SJ, just to see if Molly can pull it off. I'm curious, as I've never seen Ringwald on stage, and SJ theater prices are relatively low.

"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."

[ken8631]

re: Enchanted April#16

Posted: 7/11/06 at 4:43pm

Hopefully she will! She seems a bit heavier (and kinda scary looking at the Tony's) than she used to be, maybe she'll slim down some for the role.

[justme2]

re: Enchanted April#17

Posted: 7/11/06 at 5:18pm

Really? I hadn't noticed, but of course now I will!

"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."