Let's discuss the upcoming Sondheim revivals - Page 2

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/29/18 at 7:18pm

We had an extremely stripped down version of Night music in 2009/2010 with Nunn's production. The next major production of that show needs to be large and lavish again. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 2:41am

I feel like the Chocolate Factory production of Assassins would be perfect for St. Ann's Warehouse. I was shocked when it didn't transfer.

I agree that a lush production of A Little Night Music starring Cate Blanchett and Julie Andrews needs to happen.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 10:42am

GeorgeandDot said: "I feel like the Chocolate Factory production of Assassins would be perfect for St. Ann's Warehouse. I was shocked when it didn't transfer.

I agree that a lush production of A Little Night Music starring Cate Blanchett and Julie Andrews needs to happen."

I would buy tickets for that Night Music the instant tickets went on sale.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 12:19pm

LuPita2 said: "I have never seen "Merrily We Roll Along". I am looking up tickets, and don't recognize anyone in the cast. I understand many people on here did not like Fiasco Theater's stagingof "Into The Woods".Did it just look cheap? Were the people not strong singers? This is a wonderful score and I would be very disappointed if the singers didn't do it justice."

It was a wonderfully inventive, creative production with strong directorial choices and yet the cast was filled almost entirely with inadequate singers (with the exception of The Witch and a very sympathetic Baker’s Wife). I loved so much about the production but it was so encumbered by its lackluster cast, it never took off the way it should have. An unfortunate mixed bag. 

Updated On: 12/30/18 at 12:19 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 11:52pm

The Quibbler said:
It was a wonderfully inventive, creative production with strong directorial choices and yet the cast was filled almost entirely with inadequate singers (with the exception of The Witch and a very sympathetic Baker’s Wife). I loved so much about the production but it was soencumbered by its lackluster cast, it never took offthe way it should have. An unfortunate mixed bag.

Exactly my reaction. The singing voices were so amateurish that it actually made me a little angry that I had paid a decent amount for a production at that level.

 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/1/19 at 4:28pm

Why is no-one considering a revival of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE in the list of possible revivals? To my knowledge, it's never had a full commercial mounting in NY since the premiere in '64. The misanthropy at its core would seem very suited to our current age, no? 

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/19 at 4:39pm

Encores! Did Anyone Can Whistle in 2010 with Donna Murphy, Sutton Foster, and Raul Esparza. Obviously, it wasn't a commercial mounting, but it was a staged concert version met with a lot of excitement. The performances and score were obviously lovely, but that book.....my god. 

Updated On: 1/1/19 at 04:39 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 1/1/19 at 5:09pm

Anyone Can Whistle is definitely due for a revival, but the book really does need work. If we're going to see a revival, it needs a complete rewrite of the book which I assume Sondheim would approve of for a major Broadway revival. I think the piece could easily be done like Urinetown or in the style of Brecht.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/1/19 at 11:25pm

ljay889 said: "I’mGeorgeandDot said: "I think Melissa McCarthy would be perfect for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

Wow! That’s a fantastic idea."

 

 To each their own. I think that's a terrible idea.

 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 12:24am

How is it a terrible idea? She's shown she can act and sing it and a woman has played the role before. It could even help soften some of the much criticized misogyny of the piece and she'd sell tickets. I'm sure she's thought about coming to Broadway. She's a trained actress and her style would lend itself brilliantly to the stage.

[binau]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 3:37am

ljay889 said: "Encores! Did Anyone Can Whistle in 2010 with Donna Murphy, Sutton Foster, and Raul Esparza. Obviously, it wasn't a commercial mounting, but it was astaged concert version met with a lot of excitement. The performances and score were obviously lovely, but that book.....my god."

I’m just convinced it can never ever work. If it couldn’t work with that cast it can’t work with any. I’m still annoyed they didn’t record it though!

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 12:43pm

It's not like a female Pseudolus is unprecedented. Whoopi Goldberg did it, and there have been numerous such castings regionally. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 12:47pm

GeorgeandDot said: "How is it a terrible idea? She's shown she can act and sing it"

Am I forgetting when we've heard her sing in any of her roles before?!

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 12:47pm

GeorgeandDot said: "Anyone Can Whistle is definitely due for a revival, but the book really does need work. If we're going to see a revival, it needs a complete rewrite of the book which I assume Sondheim would approve of for a major Broadway revival. I think the piece could easily be done like Urinetown or in the style of Brecht."

I would love to see this. The score is incredible but the book makes the show un-producible, 

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 1:04pm

haterobics said: "GeorgeandDot said: "How is it a terrible idea? She's shown she can act and sing it"

Am I forgetting when we've heard her sing in any of her roles before?!"

She sang "Anything You Can Do..." with Barbra Streisand on Streisand's "Encore" album a few years ago.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 1:13pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "GeorgeandDot said: "Anyone Can Whistle is definitely due for a revival, but the book really does need work. If we're going to see a revival, it needs a complete rewrite of the book which I assume Sondheim would approve of for a major Broadway revival. I think the piece could easily be done like Urinetown or in the style of Brecht."

I would love to see this. The score is incredible but the book makes the show un-producible,"

I saw a revival in London about 8 years ago that was staged in a very Brechtian style... and it worked very well. 

 

[JVJ93]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 2:17pm

Manu Narayan was absolutely horrible in MFL. Not funny at all and obnoxious. Significantly less excited for Merrily now that I know hes in it

[binau]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 4:19pm

Bernadette Peters or Patti LuPone for Cora! 

[reginula]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 3:57pm

Just to let you know, someone at the NT told me the Follies transfer is happening, and the reopening was cast with people who could move to NY. 

(Still, take this with a grain of salt)

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 4:00pm

I hope Follies transfers because the design was incredible, but the singing left a lot to be desired. I wonder if they'd go with an American cast for a transfer. There are several big stars that could fill those leads.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 7:28pm

I don’t think this Follies needs to transfer. I much rather see an LCT revival directed by Sher in a few years.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 10:31pm

Sondheim.

Is 88 years old.

Like...give the guy a break. We get the Bunuel musical when we get it. I'm not eager. We are lucky that he's got another new one in him still.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 2/5/19 at 11:33pm

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see imelda I’m gypsy previews beginning in October

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/19 at 12:05am

Don’t even put that out into the universe.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/6/19 at 12:16am

Jordan Catalano said: "Don’t even put that out into the universe."

My thoughts exactly.