Is Streisand's Yentl Right for the Stage?

[latitudex1]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 2:55am

After watching the movie on Encore a few weeks ago, I thought to myself, "I'm of surprised that no one has attempted to put a musical version of Yentl on stage." It could have been a real big hit on Broadway a few years ago (might still have a shot) and this show is a perfect vehicle for the right stage actress, even in it's play form.

Now, of course, they would have to cut most of Streisand's songs and either write new songs for the remaining characters, rework the current songs to fit the other characters, or both. As long as Yentl/Anshel still keeps "Papa, Can You Hear Me", "The Way He Makes Me Feel", and "Piece of the Sky", Barbara stans shouldn't be too pissy about the cuts.

What do ya think?

ETA: I've been picturing Stephanie J. Block in the role on stage every time I see Babs perform these songs in the movie.

Or better yet, Idina Menzel! gag Updated On: 8/30/09 at 02:55 AM

Posted: 8/30/09 at 3:38am

Well it certainly wasn't right for the screen.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 6:31am

I was always amazed that she had Mandy Patinkin as a co-star and didn't give him anything to sing.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 7:08am

1. No one really knew who he was -- although that's where I fell in love with him.

2. I remember an interview with him about that very thing. Babs had said something like, "Well, the songs are Yentle's inner thoughts." His reply in the interview, "What, MY character doesn't inner thoughts."


The original play (starring Tovah Feldshuh if I remember correctly) was not a terribly well written one. Very episodic and vignette like. Very choppy.

And yes....it would have to be totally re-written to the point that it wouldn't resemble the movie at all.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 7:17am

I'm not so sure that no one knew who Mandy Patinkin was by the time Yentl was made. He had already won a Tony Award three years earlier for Evita and played Tateh in Milos Forman's 1981 screen adaptation of Ragtime. It was surely Streisand's ego that prevented anyone else from getting a chance to sing.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 7:20am

By "no one" I really meant beyond the theater world..."the masses".

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 11:17am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Bergmans_Planning_Broadway_Yentl_More_20080210

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 11:23am

If only there were a young, singing Lily Tomlin type who could play all the roles. It would work as a salute to Babs and her magnificent narcissism.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 1:16pm

"It was surely Streisand's ego that prevented anyone else from getting a chance to sing."

That is the correct answer.

A reviewer at the time the movie came out said that Streisand had accomplished an amazing feat with Yentl. She had limited the number of times her name appeared on screen to just five. (I think it was "Starring" "Directed" "Produced by" "Written" and I forget the fifth one).

PS: I love the episode of The Simpsons when Nelson is wondering what happened to his father and he sings "Papa Can You Hear Me?"

[sabrelady]

Posted: 8/30/09 at 3:47pm

CO- written w the late(great) Jack Rosenthal.

[latitudex1]

Posted: 8/31/09 at 2:42am

"A reviewer at the time the movie came out said that Streisand had accomplished an amazing feat with Yentl. She had limited the number of times her name appeared on screen to just five. (I think it was "Starring" "Directed" "Produced by" "Written" and I forget the fifth one)."

According to the credits, it's "Musical Scenes Staged By" - get this - Ms. Streisand. Though I shouldn't be too surprised, I'm sure everyone from the cast to the crew had to call her that.

And for those in the US that haven't seen Babs' version of Yentl, you can watch it for free on Fancast. As an extra incentive for some of you, it features a young Mandy Patinkin (and other Jewish boys) fully nude somewhere in the middle of the movie.

http://www.fancast.com/movies/Yentl/558/882112070/Yentl%3A-Full-Feature/videos