Filming A Little Night Music

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 8:07am

So it's not going to happen is it? We're not going to get a video of A Little Night Music with CZJ and Angela Lansbury.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 8:37am

When I went to see it (in awe and rapture of Sondheim's brilliance; I felt like I was in church, except I believed in the religion and knew the "Bible" by heart), there was a man behind me who taped most of the first act and some of the second. If you're resourceful and cunning, you will find a recording. No sweat.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 9:00am

Yes I understand there are (whispers)bootlegs out there, but I wanted a professional copy like "Sweeney" "Sunday" "Into the Woods" and "Passion".

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 1:10pm

This needs to stay near the top so people can freak the eff out.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 4:03pm

No, it won't be preserved.

A shame I guess. The DVD could be sent to all future companies producing the show, with the notation DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.

Updated On: 5/21/10 at 04:03 PM

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 5:04pm

^ Yeah, I would hate for any other theatre who wants to produce this show consistantly make over $800,000 dollars a week. Or have patrons easily willing to pay on average $115 dollars a ticket. Don't let that happen to your theatre!

Updated On: 5/21/10 at 05:04 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 5:11pm

It won't!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 5:23pm

Please, without Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones, this mediocre production would have been 50% at TKTS from the start and closed by January.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 5:25pm

But y'are Blanche, y'are in that chair! And Catherine Zeta Jone and Angela Lansbury ARE filling the house! They are, Blanche! They are!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 6:00pm

Orange, Roscoe et. al - I am not seeing this until June 10 but wondering what specifically you think is wrong with it? Is it the performances? The Direction? The way they play the subtext?

I have seen over a dozen productions of ALNM over the years including the excellent Kennedy Center staging, Shaw festival's intimate approach and the New York City Opera's mammoth production. Even the worst community theatre staging can be salvaged by just following the script, so I wonder what people feel goes so horribly wrong in this version?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 6:55pm

Joe, your response definitely made me laugh.

So many what ifs with the casting. Much as I LOVE Night Music I have to agree that it would be a tough sell on Broadway these days without a star name attached as Desiree, no matter the quality of the production. Yes, many regional productions are able to sell it without a Hollywood name, but those also have the wonderful advantage of a built in subscriber base. And even then they are still attempting to cast someone of some star level as their Desiree, even if it's just the actress who has been in numerous other productions for the company that they know their core audience is familiar with and loves.

[Holbee]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 7:48pm

Perhaps lowered expectations are what you need. I saw the Trevor Nunn production in previews at the Menier and did not like his direction (or much of the casting barring Alexander Hanson and Maureen Lipman). I eventually HAD to see the Broadway version ("Night Music" is one of my fave shows, I flew to Paris last Feb to see the beautifully directed production there). And surprisingly I liked the B'way production so much more than the London Menier version. For one thing, save, Anne and Henrik, it was amazingly well acted (and that includes CZJ). Hanson had even grown deeper into the role and Lansbury found line and song readings I've never heard. As I mentioned, I've seen it alot and have NEVER heard a Petra sing "Miller's Son" the way I wanted it to be sung. It was literally a dream come true to hear Leigh Ann Larkin sing and act it. She probably wondered who that insane man in the mezzanine was who was cheering and screaming for her... I didn't like the idea of Erin Davie when I heard the casting. LOVED her. Aaron Lazar--I knew he'd be good, but MAN! I have to actually say I loved the Broadway revival.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 9:04pm

This mediocre production would have been 50% at TKTS from the start and closed by January.

Exactly like those multimillion dollar flops Ragtime and Finian's Rainbow? Sorry, you know I HAD to. lol.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 10:33pm

Well, not exactly. Finian's and Ragtime both got better reviews, so the "mediocre" part wouldn't apply.

Night Music sold out the production for star power and still couldn't break even. At least Finian's Rainbow and Ragtime can say they kept their dignity.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 11:01pm

*snap* OHHHHHH

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/21/10 at 11:03pm

Skittles, I was just playing around. I have no reason to argue with you anymore, lol. I actually enjoy your posts for the most part.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 12:17am

Their dignity? LMAO. Please tell me you're kidding.

Anyways, ALNM > Ragtime. The musical and the production.

[lulu10]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 1:17am

I saw the show on Wednesday -- there were two cameras filming the performance. Not sure if it's meant for distribution, but they seemed to film the entire show. I agree that it's not the best production out there...but seeing Angela Lansbury in person was worth every penny! (CZJ was out, but her understudy was great) The Bedknobs & Broomsticks obsessed child in me giggled with glee every time she came onstage. :)

[binau]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 1:51am

Well that's interesting. I would have guessed for the Lincoln Archives - but do they usually do the recordings this late?

(I'm guessing there is no way they'd release a commercial video without CZJ though. It's interesting that she won't be in the archive).

Updated On: 5/22/10 at 01:51 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 11:41am

CZJ appears to be coming down with a case of Donna Murphyitis

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 1:04pm

I was kidding as well. I didn't dislike Night Music that much.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 1:09pm

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 3:56pm

Sounds like it was filmed for Lincoln Center Archives. They film with two cameras. One in wide view and one in close up.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 4:00pm

So it's going to be archived without CZJ? That really blows.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/22/10 at 10:24pm

Maybe CZJ didn't want to be filmed. Christopher Walken didn't want to be filmed for "James Joyce's The Dead" so they had to wait until after he left.