Laurents vs. LuPone - does Sondheim have a say?- Page 2

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 10:14pm

The Dramatist Guild contract only covers major stage productions, not film. Not sure who holds the film rights to the show now (but it's not him). Maybe it's still Meron and Zadan (who made the Midler tv film version)?

[Mutts]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 1:06am

Unfortunately, even if Laurents had a change of heart, realistically what producer would bankroll a production of Gypsy starring LuPone. If the Sweeney grosses are any indication, it seems unlikely that LuPone could generate enough boxoffice to keep a show of that size running for more than a few months. Of course they could try a Doyleized version, but I don't think people would want to see the strippers playing the children or the children playing the strippers, Mark Jacoby trying to play the trumpet riff in the overture or a white stick as the little lamb. I suppose they could set it in a mental institution then it wouldn't matter who played what; however, a more traditional production, like the Peters revival, had a cast of 35 and an orchestra of 23.

I don't know what the weekly nut for the Gypsy revival was, but according to the nifty BWW historical grosses chart, Gypsy grossed almost twice what Sweeney will have when it closes and it still reported returned only about half its investment. So if LuPone couldn't keep her critically acclaimed revival of Sweeney with one set and a total cast and orchestra of 14 running for even one year, what chance would her Gypsy have without maybe Will Ferrell as Herbie or Brittany Spears as Dainty June.
Updated On: 8/22/06 at 01:06 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 3:39am

It's Britney Spears, love.

[AngusN]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 4:07am

You know, I recently saw a bootleg version of the Bernadette Peter's / Sam Mendes' production of Gypsy and I thought it was fantastic. What I liked about it, was that it wasn't a glamorous production showing off it's $14 million dollar budget (like a certain green musical). The show was stripped bare, exposing the actors and forcing the audience to become more involved in the tumultous relationship between Mama Rose and her daughters. I feel that Bernadette truly understood the depth and complex nature of what drove Rose.
Although I never saw Merman's version, I wouldn't wish to either. From what I have seen of her, she is no actress, and certainly doesn't have the ability to get to the heart of such a multi-faceted character like Rose. I just imagine her charging around the stage like a bull in a China shop, belting out the numbers like her life depended on it.
Give me depth and understanding over power any day.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 5:04am

A question for Margo perhaps. If Laurents does not permit a re-write on Anyone Can Whistle, would it be legal for Sondheim (if he wished) to re-use all the songs in a new piece, which bore a strong resemblance to the original concept?

I directed a production in the UK and my fingers were itchy to do a little trimming; there is so much potential, I believe, that with a few tweaks this could be as successful as the Chicago revival, (possibly).

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 5:24am

I don't know the answer but what I imagine is that since this musical is not based on any previous work, Arthur Laurents as the book writer and director of the original production probably holds the right to the story line along with Sondheim. So it is most likely another case of shared rights.
I agree that Anyone Can Whistle could make a brilliant revival, it is actually the only show I'd like John Doyle to tackle anytime soon. It'd work so well. The score is simply among Sondheim's best and most underrated. Unfortunately, Laurents book never rises to the occasion.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 10:15am

The Dramatists Guild contract is tight in granting authors their rights. Jo Loesser, who felt bruned by the 76 black revival of GUYS AND DOLLS, kept another New York revival from happening until the Nathan Lane/Faith Prince version. She said in interviews she held back the rights until "all the elements fell together."

I also remember when I was at Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, we produced a tremendous production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN starring Hal Holbrook. While Arthur Miller granted the rights for the production to tour, he wouldn't let it come into NYC ... he didn't think Hal was a "big enough star."

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 11:48am

If Sondheim wanted to re-write the book to ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, he would have to do it with the permission of Laurent's estate.

To give another real life example, Jerry Herman has tried for decades now to rewrite MACK AND MABEL, but has always been saddled with the script by Michael Stewart, and the revisioins approved by Stewart's estate - written by Francine Pascal, who happens to be Stewart's sister. Pascal has not been able to solve the book problems with the show, but they aren't allowed to bring in another author to rewrite the book.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 12:02pm

I just want to sound in on the Anyone Can Whistle to-tweak-or-not-to-tweak issue. Anyone Can Whistle is NOT a perfect score as someone said earlier. It has some incredible moments, I'll grant you, ie, "Simple" and "There Won't Be Trumpets," but Sondheim made huge advances in his later work. I appreciate Anyone Can Whistle for what it is, an imperfect beginning to a brilliant solo career, but it is not all that good or interesting and I don't think it should be tweaked or revived, other than in concert form as at Ravinia.

Posted: 8/22/06 at 12:10pm

mejusthavingfun said about Patti LuPone:

"With any luck she will give up acting permanently."

I didn't realize she could act

Posted: 8/22/06 at 12:31pm

tsk, do i need to kick some a** on Patti's behalf?

[jewishboy]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 6:37pm

I truly think the only way Patti will do Gypsy in full fledged mounting would be if Sondheim somehow convinced Laurents to let Patti play Rose. I think Sondheim hasn't tried to argue with Laurents because Sondheim credits him for his start on Broadway, just my opinion.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 6:52pm

"I didn't realize she could act"

You should have seen her in The Old Neighborhood. There was a point where she was supposed to break down crying. Yikes. She should have just stuck an onion in a handkerchief and held it up to her nose. It would have been more convincing. (And they say Madonna in Speed the Plow was bad).

[DG]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 7:05pm

I wonder if Mr. Laurents is receiving any pressure from the people around him after the resounding success of the Ravinia production?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 7:42pm

Who would he be receiving pressure from? The clamouring fans on message boards who are dying for Ms. LuPone to do the role again? I haven't heard about Laurents stopping her from doing a major production of the show, because there have been no offers to star LuPone in a major production of the show. He simply chose Tyne Daly and Bernadette Peters for the last revivals. This whole debate about Laurent's "vendetta" against LuPone is getting a little out of perspective.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 7:42pm

double post.
Updated On: 8/22/06 at 07:42 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 7:47pm

MB, I'm afraid you're slightly wrong.

On ATC, someone posted an interview with Laurents. They asked if he's looking foward to seeing Patti at Ravinia. And he said. "NO! She begged me to play it in 1989, but I cast Tyne Daly." I'm not going to waste time finding the link, but that's exactly what he said. Unless someone made that up, which I doubt. It seems he DID deny Patti from a major production.

Even the offical reviews for Patti were pretty spectacular, so it's not just obsessive fans raving about her Rose.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 8:14pm

Ljay, an actress begging for the role in a planned revival is not the same as somebody coming to Laurents and saying, "I want to produce a production of GYPSY on Broadway starring Patti LuPone" and being denied permission because of her involvement.

Laurents directed the Tyne Daly revival. I'm sure lots of people begged to play the role in addition to LuPone.

I'm not saying he isn't being nasty, but he hasn't yet prevented a major revival from happening because of her proposed casting.
Updated On: 8/22/06 at 08:14 PM

Posted: 8/22/06 at 8:22pm

Whew... That is like watching a telenovela. I just think Bette should go and do it on Broadway. Then I would be a happy camper.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 9:21pm

MB is right! Laurents has never officially denied a production of the show because of LuPone being attached to it. (Although we all know his opinion of her being in it) The revival with Tyne he directed, so he had final say no matter what.

Interesting side note: Before that revival, there was much talk about Bette Midler doing a revival with Mike Nichols directing. Both parties became unavailable when Laurents was intersted with another revival. That's when he presumeably took over. Bette ended up doing the TV version (which Laurents had little control over) and Mike, clearly had no problem continuing his directing career...

The true horror is that someday, Madonna, is gonna wanna do it!!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 9:35pm

LuPone wouldn't have "begged" to do that 1989 revival specifically as it was conceived after one of the producers saw/heard Tyne Daly sing on Dolly Parton's variety show.

That same producer was later screwed over by Laurents from producing the Peters revival (which had been in the works for many years, at one point it was going to begin in London and maybe end up here) when despite his best efforts, he couldn't find backing for a vanity play of Laurents's. I read it - it's not good, and this producer put himself on the line trying to get it mounted due to his loyalty to Laurents. As it was completely impossible (again, because of the poor quality of the script), Laurents blamed HIM and took him off of the Peters GYPSY.

There is nothing "cute" about Arthur Laurents.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 9:36pm

He does seem unusually vindictive.

[Londonskyguy]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 9:37pm

I know its not the thread but I couldnt resist replying to a comment ,, I saw Speed the Plow,, and Madonna was terrible,,, she had a line where she said,, " ive been very bad",, I swear to god some guy yelled from the Mezz.. "YOU ARE BAD",, in addition it was so bad that a famous News person,, who I will not disclose ( she does host a show where a lot of women give their "views,, ) who I happened to be sitting next to turned to me at curain call and said in a rather sarcastic manner " Well ,, that was (pause pause, pause) Interesting"

[ThenBlowOnIt1st]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 10:03pm

I honestly think Laurents is staying alive just to spite her. Really.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 10:17pm

"I saw Speed the Plow,, and Madonna was terrible"

I know that Madonna was bad, but she didn't have a Julliard education and several years of high profile acting behind her like LuPone did. Lupone had no excuse for being bad.