How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#0How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:40amNot a musical, a play? I personally think it could work very well with the correct creative team/cast to erect it. I am reading the book now and think its one of the greatest peices of literature Ive ever written if not, the best. Its immensely thrilling, and truly stunning. Any ideas about a stage version?
#1re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:42amWow... it would be scary to see it as a play. If you have the right people doing it i guess it could be really good. But arn't they making a movie of it now?
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#2re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:44amDon't know how they'd address the fact that the book goes off the rails two thirds of the way through and has a weak ending.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#3re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:00am
Im about halfway through and cant wait to see what happens at the end. I guess its a disappointing end(same thing happened at the movies with War of the Worlds).
And yes, it has been announced that Peter Jackson is directing the film version although casting etc hasnt been announced yet. We'll let his King Kong (which looks like a total let down, IMO) come out first.
lovettespies
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/04
#4re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:04amIf it was highly edited and produced in a very creative way, I could see it working very well as a play. I certainly loved the premise.
Keep the peace, take care of each other, and may you find your promised land.
-TJST
#5re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:26amI actually think this is much better suited to a film. A compelling read, though I thought the author's concept of heaven particularly by books end was kind of creepy and cold.
peach
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/05
#6re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:30am
Timely post. I'm about half way through the book now ( no spoilers pleaase, I haven't quite finished it yet).
As a play, I think this could be very good. I'm not sure I can imagine it as a movie. For a play, I envision Susie as sort of a "narrator." When she's on stage, she's alone, one spotlight, wearing faded jeans, bare feet, and a white T-shirt, telling the audience the story. Fade into the individual situations with the characters on "earth." In terms of Mr. Harvey, I wonder if it would be more powerful if they never actually showed him...just talked about him.
Intersting post. Thanks!
YessicaB
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/05
#7re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:40amhey peacxh that wounds like a cool idea. love it!
Sarah2
Leading Actor Joined: 5/11/05
#8re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 12:53pmI love the book and think it sounds like a good idea. When I read the first post I pictured the pillowman because the Lovely Bones is a bit dark as well and has kind of the same theme of loneliness. If it was done I think they could kind of do something like was done in the Pillowman where there was just a plain stage with not many props and then Billy Crudup would narrate while scenes were played out behind him.
#9re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 2:45pm
I, for one, loathed this book beyond human comprehension and would love to personally buy every copy and burn them...but, different strokes for different folks.
Movie, yes. Play, no. It wouldn't work at all on-stage, IMO. The story is too intricate with too many subplots for a stage production.
toughcritic
Swing Joined: 7/6/05
#10re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 3:07pmI feel as if I've already seen that play, only it's called "Our Town."
wonderland
Understudy Joined: 6/6/05
#11re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 3:54pm
I took a class similar to the BMI workshop in Dallas, and I ended up having to write a song for a musical adaptation of Lovely Bones. (The song turned out ok, not an easy one to write.) It took a long time to come up with a workable concept for a stage show, but with the right director, writer, and an amazing technical director, not to mention some very creative cutting, it could be done. The biggest issue is that the narration is very fragmented and non-linear, which is fine in a novel and workable in a movie, but very difficult to do onstage. (See also- "Why Merrily we Roll Along flopped")
Updated On: 7/6/05 at 03:54 PM
Broadway_freak
Broadway Star Joined: 11/4/04
#12re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 4:06pmIt would be astonishing if done well. I love the book so it would have a lot to live up to. I'm hopeful.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#13re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 4:31pmMEF: Wow. Never heard anyone speak so harshly about it.
#14re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 4:32pmI just really, really hated this book.
#15re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 4:37pmI think the entire format of the book would have to be completely rethought for a play. It's so overwelmingly visual which makes it a natural for film.
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#16re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 4:44pm
I cannot imagine why.
The only way I think it could work onstage is as a monologue. Any attempt to visualize "heaven" can't possibly please everybody, especially onstage (and probably not on film, even with CGI). Like the movie of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", the scenes which are fascinating when described would probably turn obvious and banal if acted out.
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
Sarah2
Leading Actor Joined: 5/11/05
#17re: How would 'THE LOVELY BONES' work as a play?
Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:18pmThat's the thing though, I don't think they need to have stunning visual effects for the heaven scenes because in the book Susie's version of heaven is kind of the opposite, not what you would expect heaven to look like...kind of lonely.
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