Is EVITA coming over the pond?- Page 2

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:48pm

If the rumor that ALW wants to return to the Hal Prince version of Evita is true, that's pretty sad. I've enjoyed the re-incarnations of the Prince staging but was excited that a new - rethought production (with some score, orchestration changes/alterations) was being done.

I realize ALW doesnt want his productions to fail or not be commercially successful, but the problem's basically because he set the bar so high... Into the Woods opened the same time as Phantom - Into the woods closed, was revived and closed on broadway - while Phantom still runs with attendance figures other shows would kill for.

That's not a dig at Into the Woods - I like that show - it just means that just because somethings not a money juggernaut doesn't mean it's poor or a failure.

The new Evita got a lot of great reviews from London critics who praised not just Rogers, but the new production.

I think it's just that with a steady stream of kid or family friendly stuff or musicalizations of popular stuff (Legally Blonde, Young Frankenstein...) it's a harder sell.

I loved The Woman in White - but for American audiences it's not a popular novel (never heard of it myself) and really required the theatregoer to pay close attention to the story, music and lyrics. The vast numbers of people going to the theatre today aren't prepared to do that.

And to bring this LONG disertation full circle - I think thats why Evita isn't as huge a success in London - not because of Rogers, or the new production - but that it's a story many who go to the theatre these days aren't familiar with - it requires paying attention to the story, music and lyrics. In short, I doubt the Hal Prince version would be much more successful these days than the new production

Jim

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:19pm

chernjam

woman in white was not a great success here in the UK either so i dont think that matters.

Evita hasn't done as well as expected here simply because people here were not crying out for a revival of it.

People are also very familiar with evita here as its on tv every other month (film version with Madonna) so i dont think that was the problem either.

The show did get some good reviews but also got a lot of luke warm reviews as well , people tended to like the cast more than the new revival.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:44pm

"Madonna was in the movie version - there are many, many children growing up with that DVD and they would beg their parents for tickets to see the real thing on Broadway; older people also love the movie and rent it alot on Netflix"

What is the basis for this assumption? Children beg their parnets to see Wicked, Lion King, or Beauty and the Beast, not Evita.

"tourists would would want to see a revival of one of the most popular ALW shows of the 1970s"

Tourists don't even want to see it in London. What makes you think it would sell better on Broadway? There's no sign of a demand for Evita to return (Dreamgirls, possibly, but not Evita) and tourists have proven that Lloyd Webber's name is no longer synonymous with hit shows. Lloyd Webber has not opened a hit show (new or revival) in almost 20 years.