If THE HELP was a play/musical... — Page 2

I don't usually go for all the threads on this site re: "which Disney cartoon should be the next musical" and all the specious material that gets thrown about for possible shows....but "The Help" could actually work if the right team pulled it together. I agree that the book & movie have problems with stereotyped characters and over-stressed plot points, but those issues could be addressed. So many of the characters seem larger than life and their outsized emotions almost cry out for musicalization. "Caroline, or Change" does come to mind as material that might not have seemed right for a musical but truly worked in the final analysis. "The Help" could make quite an interesting show.

The Help does go more in depth into the maid-employer relationship than Caroline, or Change does, and explores racism in a far less subtle fashion. I would agree that Caroline is obviously the superior piece, and that a stage adaptation of The Help would almost certainly pale in comparison.

That being said, the main thing I walked out of The Help thinking (other than Minnie's fried chicken looked so damn delicious) was that Viola Davis would be an incredible Caroline if she could sing.

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I am a huge fan of the book and movie. I am a Jackson, MS native and am quite proud to have had this story come from and have been filmed here. I am still very confused as to the comment claiming that Skeeter is a racist. She is the one trying to get these stories out and taking the risks, along with the help, to get the truth out. When this story was set was a very bad time in the south where racism ran high, so yes, most of the white people were racist, it was common at this time. This was a pretty groundbreaking story in my opinion to have come out now and still been as popular. As for adapting it for the stage, I think it would lose a lot of the power it has. Also, it wouldn't have much relevance out of the south in my opinion. While I love this story and all of the characters, a stage production would ultimately flop.

There is a fine line between racism and white guilt

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"The score would be full of delights, including "Ode to Crisco", "Minnie Don't Burn No Chicken", "White Folks Like to Beat Their Own Child'n" and the eleven o'clock number when Skeeter decides to give the money to the maids, "Helping, the Help".' "

Good start! Plus:

"You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important" - Abilene, Mae Mobley
"Oh Lord!" - Mr. Blackly
"Oysters and Crackers and Ketchup" Skeeter, Stuart
"All Alone At A Table for Twelve" - Celia, Johnny
"Mama Did The Best She Could" - Constantine, Skeeter, Rachel, Charlotte
"Just Fine Here (Together At A Table For Two)" - Celia, Minnie
"A Tea for the Heterosexually Challenged" - Charlotte, Skeeter
"It Isn't Jackson" - Hllly
"Mr. Blackly Takes the Floor" - Mr. Blackly, Company
"Two Whole Slices" - Missus Walters
"We'll Go Up North" - Rachel, Constantine
"Separate But Equal" - Hilly
"No Sassmouth!" - Minnie
"Get Your Raggedy Ass Off My Porch!" - Charlotte
"Glad You Told Me, Minnie (but excuse me while I barf!)" - Celia
"A Girl Needs Her Own Apartment" - Elaine Stein
"Ain't You Tired, Miss Hilly?" - Abilene
"Bring Your Commodes!" - Skeeter, Company
"For As Long As You Want" - Celia, Johnny, Minnie
"Never Been So Proud" - Charlotte
"Don't Leave Abie" - Mae Mobley
"I Can't Leave You" - Skeeter, Abilene, Minnie
"We'll Go Up North (reprise)" - Skeeter, Constantine, Company

and of course

"Eat my SH*T!" Minnie

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As awful an idea as this is, the idea of Leslie Jordan and Allison Janney reprising Mr. Blackly and Charlotte in a musical is pretty delicious. Maybe LaChanze could be coaxed into playing Rachel again like she did in the movie (with some major upgrades to the role)!

Updated On: 12/24/11 at 05:03 PM

There will be a dream ballet where all the toilets in the yard dance, won't there?

"Ain't You Tired, Mrs. Hilly" will be performed in an It's All over-esque fashion.