Finian's Rainbow

[musicgal04]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 6:48pm

I just was looking around on Amazon and saw that "Finian's Rainbow" is coming out on DVD on March 15. I am super excited. Just wanted to let ya know.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 6:49pm

It's one of my favorite shows...amazing score.

[musicgal04]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 6:51pm

Its one of my favorites too. I have thing for Tommy Steele as one can tell from my avatar. I am hoping that a revival will happen in the future.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 7:33pm

One of my favorite shows. I'm going to pre-order the DVD as soon as I finish posting this. Do you have the new cast album with Melissa and Malcolm Gets?

[pab]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:17pm

It is a really good show. I played 'Woody' a number of years ago but I'm not really a fan of the movie.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:24pm

I strongly dislike the movie, but it's such a moving show. I would love to see a Broadway revival of it. Sadly, I didn't get to see the production last year.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:33pm

I too would LOVE to see a revival. However, I read in Broadway: The American Musical that a revival might be difficult because people would be offended by the blackface that the lead role would require. Why not get two different actors? I think it's a silly reason.

EDIT: or use "whiteface"? haha, I'm kidding. Tastelessly kidding, but kidding nonetheless.

Updated On: 2/10/05 at 10:33 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:34pm

Wait...blackface? Am I missing something?

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:35pm

This is the play where the racist senator gets turned into a black man by a leprachaun, right?

Boy will me face be red if i'm thinking of a different show.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:36pm

I just realized that in my last post I said, "me face" instead of "my face". Lets pretend I was just typing in an Irish accent!

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:37pm

I saw it on stage at Cape May Playhouse in the early 60's and loved it. The film, on the great-big screen was wonderful and different. It's so unique, with almost every second of it taking place outdoors. I think the cast is excellent, and the musical arrangements are first-rate. There are some issues with cinematography, and Tommy Steele is as over-the-top as one can be, but these are minor issues. The film is better than almost every other musical film made since.

[pab]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:43pm

Geologists, working on a secret dam project, detect gold on the sharecroppers' land. Learning this, Rawkins moves in to take the land by force. As he is manhandling a Negro sharecropper, Sharon wishes that Rawkins was black. Unwittingly, she is standing over the magical pot, and her wish is granted. Rawkins dashes into hiding.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:45pm

No, I remember now. Why would that be offensive? It's how the play was written. I think it would work better as two actors anyway.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:51pm

When blackface was first used, primarily in vaudeville acts, the performers depicted black people as uneducated, fumbling, ridiculous buffoons. People would probably still associate the practice of using blackface with these racist attributes and be offended. I think it's understandible in this day and age, but the use of two actors in the role would only update a GREAT show and keep it from being lost in time!

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:52pm

How would it work better? He's the same person, only black. Why wouldn't you be able to have a white actor turn black?? I don't get what the issue would be.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:54pm

In last years Irish Rep revival they used a mask when the senator turned black.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:57pm

Personally, I wouldn't be offended by the use of blackface. Yes, historically it's use has some racist connotations, but in the context of the play I certainly don't think it would be offensive. Unfortunatly, some people would have trouble getting past the historical connections with its use, which is why I think that in our society that is obsessed with Political Correctness, two actors would be a good choice.

[pab]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:03pm

I totally disagree with using two actors. The whole point is to see what effect turning back has on the character and that would be lost with a different actor playing the role. People who have a problem with it will just have to get over it. That's what happens in the story so they should just learn to deal with it. Enough of this political correctness bulls**t.

[musicgal04]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:05pm

A revival was supposed to happen a few years ago, but it closed out of town I think due to issues with the book if I remember correctly. Or I could just be crazy.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:07pm

The Irish Rep production last year was pretty near perfect. It could have transferred, in my opinion, if Melissa didn't have to go do the dreadful "Dracula".

[musicgal04]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:10pm

I saw the Irish Rep production over the summer but by then Kerry O'Malley had already taken over. I still loved it and was pleased to see the show do well.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 6:39am

I'm sure Kerry made a wonderful Sharon.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 8:11am

With a name like Kerry O'Malley, they couldn't have found someone more Irish?

[Flahooley]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:46pm

Did anyone see the revival with the Peter Stone book that closed out of town? Didn't Lonny Price direct?

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:55pm

I wonder how many people in this post are actually black. I find this show rediculously offensive. Now mind you I appreciate what they were trying to do, but times have changed a bit. The show's too dated now and the changes they made to try to make it more PC make no sense. The blackface isn't the most offensive part of it. It's the whole ohh he turns black and joins a gospel quartet with the other singin' negroes. Like I said I do understand where this comes from. While I do believe it was important at the time, times change and the forum just doesn't work for me.