Most Misguided Interpretation You've Seen?

The 2001 revival of FOLLIES was so horrifyingly misguided that I wanted to breakdown with Ben Stone but I wasn't able to.

That revival of FLOWER DRUM SONG with David Henry Hawng's atrocious, GOD-AWFUL, wincing book was an injustice to Rodgers and Hammerstein's original work that I want to scream.

The original CARRIE, that is all.

Levaux's GLASS MENAGERIE, Mantello's DESIGN FOR LIVING.

---

"The new Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde. Absolutely nothing about that version worked."

Sorry, I have to disagree with that SO SO SO much.


THIS WORKED.

The most recent Shakespeare in the Park production of Hamlet where Laertes was shot and died (complete with blood bag and all).

The Taming of the Shrew, reset in a 1950s diner because reasons. The director, a friend, could never explain why she did what she did. She just said "it worked so well" when asked to explain her reasoning.

trentsketch, that reminds me of that production of SPRING AWAKENING that was set in a 50's diner. Another choice that I don't see how it helps.

Des McAnuff's GUYS AND DOLLS. Whoa!

Craig Revel Horwood's actor/musician production of Chess was the worst interpretation of a show that I've seen. If I remember correctly, Anatoly was playing the triangle during Mountain Duet. The whole show was a mess and Horwood's production was dull and uninspiring.
Actor/musician productions have proven to be a successful approach to some shows, but for others I don't believe they work.

Trevor Nunn's revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC that was set in what looked like an abandoned mortuary, populated with bizarro zombies who learned human behavior by watching SHOWGIRLS.

It took Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch to remind them that the play is a romantic musical comedy of great wit and sophistication.

And Trevor Nunn's production of OKLAHOMA! in which Laurey was played as an ill-mannered little bitch who wanted to take a walk on the wild side with Judd, she was so appallingly unpleasant that I started to think that a night with Judd was about what she had coming.

---

Updated On: 8/25/14 at 11:33 AM

Original Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde. The original cast was the only reason to see it. Everything else about it was ruined.

Steppenwolf's Hedda Gabler starring Martha Plimpton in 2001.

---

Arena Stage (DC) production of My Fair Lady. Such weird casting -- the actor playing Henry Higgins looked nearly old enough to be Eliza's great-grandfather. The costumes and makeup made him look older and her look about 17. They were good individually, but paired together ... oof. So awkward. I remember the audience laughing at the end when she returns to Henry over Freddy. Casting just made it totally unbelievable.

A photo of Henry and Eliza: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/my-fair-lady-starring-manna-nichols-begins-arena-stage-engagement-nov.-3

I saw a Community Theater production of Dreamgirls where they had a “narrator” character that would appear onstage to announce the music groups during the Apollo scene and throughout the show. For some reason the actress who played the narrator decided to talk like she was J.J. from “Good Times” and walk around with a stooped posture. (During the curtain call she was standing up straight and walked off the stage that way, so it was not a medical condition.) Then after Lorell and Jimmy’s last scene together this guy come onstage and says “Jimmy needs to take it easy don’t he?” and proceeded to sing a song that wasn’t even it the show. It turns out he was a “local recording artist” and they were selling his CD during intermission and after the show!

Oh and they couldn’t be bothered to get the Deena to wear the proper undergarments. At one point when she turned around, she was wearing a dress with a low back and you could the entire backside of her bra.