FINIANS RAINBOW REVIEWS — Page 3

They updated stuff that wouldn't have made sense at all today. They left the rest of the show the same because that's how it was written. You don't rewrite a show every time you revive it. The show is hardly dated. The themes are still relevant. As for the plot, it didn't make much sense in the 1940s either. It's a fantasy plot that has no foundation in reality whatsoever. So the plot isn't dated, it's fantastical. So the only thing that could be considered dated is the dialogue itself. But if you look at any musical from that period, the writing styles are the same.

Nearly every revival alters something about its original source. Theatre is a constantly morphing thing. Somethings that worked in the 40's don't work today. Especially in comedy. Them tinkering with it has nothing to do with them thinking the show is dated. They wouldn't DO it if they felt that way. It's about making a few alterations so that today's audiences can view the show with the same enthusiasm as they do.

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Dare I say I actually enjoyed Finian's Rainbow more than I did the revival of Ragtime? Yes, the Ragtime score is impeccable, but I think I was ultimately thought Finian's created some magic, while Ragtime left me more admiring that moved by the piece.

Dare I say I actually enjoyed Finian's Ranibow more than I did the revival of Hair? I find it hard to believe that people feel that Hair is more relevant outside of its original time period than Finian's is.

Updated On: 10/29/09 at 11:33 PM

Perlman recently had an interview on TheaterTalk in which they asked him about retooling the show and the only thing he referred to really strongly was the racism and dated elements of the book. It was completely evident that it was a major, major reason why he reworked the book.

And I think FIDDLER is an unfair comparison. The plotline IS this family's struggles living in Tsarist Russia. ACL's major plotline isn't about being gay/a drag queen; its a subplot. Same with FINIAN'S racist themes.

Updated On: 10/29/09 at 11:36 PM

givesmevoice: If Fiddler is dated, then I personally give up. I've never seen the film, but I sort of want to dive in and check it out.

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It's a total downgrade from the play, but I would definitely recommend looking for it on Netflix, Clumsy! It's very 60s and pretty terrible. And I love every minute of it.

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Very readable and quotable review from Isherwood.
Sometimes an actress/singer has to let a magical role
come to her and Baldwin's reviews prove it's her time.
Isherwood's sainthood to Newman is well deserved.

The reviews all point out how fabulous the score is,
so why no mention of Rob Berman, who is responsible for taking care of it?

I was talking about the gay/drag plotline.

How is that plotline dated? The only thing in Paul's monologue that could be considered dated is the mention of Times Square in its sleazy days. But that's history.

Fiddler on the Roof is not about pogroms; what the show is about is the title of the opening number.

Yes, but I just picked the pogrom plot point as an example.

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"Woah, I don't even know where I got an AIDS subplot from. I was talking about the gay/drag plotline. Sorry about that."

Ahh. I was literally going nuts thinking I had somehow blanked out on part of that show.


Most musicals that are set in, and comment on, the time they are written are going to be dated after its premiere.

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Updated On: 10/29/09 at 11:50 PM

Finian's Rainbow is one of the most popular musicals in the Czech Republic, in case anyone needs to be carrying that little piece of trivia around.

allofmylife, I love that picture!

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wow wow wow wow is all i can say horray for finians! this is phenominal news. that an old show that nobody thought was a.) needed on broadway and b.) wouldnt succeed, is adored by the critics, and, from the word of mouth im hearing, the audiences as well! proves my point exactly that and old fashioned golden age show WAS in fact needed on broadway. it's adding whimsy and beauty to the great white way. i love you finians!!!

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I am delighted to read the rave reviews and look forward to seeing the show when I am in town next month.

It's hard to argue with a score that just sparkles from Overture to Finale without a single weak song in the group.

But like a lot of 1940s musicals the book scenes do go on and on without really leading anywhere. I think that is the element that makes the show feel (to use a loaded word) dated. The fantasy and political satire are pretty timeless...but unlike more recent shows were every line of dialogue and every lyric carries the action forward, there is still a lot of the vaudeville-styled "sketches" in the show, and songs like "Something sort of Grandish" that just take an idea and spin it out into a 4 minute number But the song is so delightful that only a tone-deaf curmudgeon would object.

And yes, Wickedrocks, this isn't another WICKED. But we already have one of those playing. Isn't it fun to see what shows were like before 2003?

It was an era when the songs were paramount. Composers aimed at getting hit records from their scores, and audiencs were content to relax and enjoy the songs and get back to the plot later.

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