Finian's Rainbow
Finian's Rainbow
#0Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 6:48pmI 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.
#1re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 6:49pmIt's one of my favorite shows...amazing score.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#2re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 6:51pmIts 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.
#3re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 7:33pmOne 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?
#4re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:17pmIt is a really good show. I played 'Woody' a number of years ago but I'm not really a fan of the movie.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#5re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:24pmI 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.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#6re: Finian's Rainbow
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.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
Updated On: 2/10/05 at 10:33 PM
#7re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:34pmWait...blackface? Am I missing something?
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#8re: Finian's Rainbow
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.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#9re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:36pmI 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!
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
Feodor Sverdlov
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
#10re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:37pmI 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.
scooter3843
#11re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:43pmGeologists, 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.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#12re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:45pmNo, 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.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#13re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:51pmWhen 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!
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
Feodor Sverdlov
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
#14re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:52pmHow 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.
scooter3843
#15re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:54pmIn last years Irish Rep revival they used a mask when the senator turned black.
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#16re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:57pmPersonally, 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.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
#17re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:03pmI 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.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#18re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:05pmA 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.
#19re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:07pmThe 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".
#20re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/10/05 at 11:10pmI 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.
wildcat
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
#22re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 2/11/05 at 8:11amWith a name like Kerry O'Malley, they couldn't have found someone more Irish?
Flahooley
Leading Actor Joined: 11/17/05
#23re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:46pmDid anyone see the revival with the Peter Stone book that closed out of town? Didn't Lonny Price direct?
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#24re: Finian's Rainbow
Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:55pmI 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.
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