My Man Godfrey: The Musical

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 10:57am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/98887.html
Dirty Blonde's Claudia Shear to Pen Book for My Man Godfrey Musical

What do you think? It's an odd choice to be made into a musical, mostly because I feel all that's holding up the 1936 film are the performances (haven't seen the 1957), and because it's not really a bankable name to modern audiences. Then again, the article mentions that they're adapting the book, not the movie.
I'll see it, regardless.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 12:00pm

It has a good slant for a musical. The story of a rich man becoming poor, the two sets of characters from the movie - the Rich Bullocks and the Hobos living at the Dump, the love story with the third wheel (Cornelia), and I can very easily see musical numbers around the opening at that ridiculous scavenger hunt where the hobo is displayed as a "catch" and the ending with the opening of the club on the dump site crys out for a musical moment.

I'd like to see them stick to the underlying theme of the book, the deep divide between the wasteful rich and the hobo population and the character of Godfrey straddling both environments.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 12:40pm

I have not read the original book, but after thinking about this, I think it could work very well as a musical for the reasons JustMe2 mentioned. This will be one that will need some brilliant casting and direction, though.

[CharlieBrown]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 1:06pm

Many years ago, Alan Jay Lerner reportedly adapted this as a musical, but I don't think it was ever produced.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 1:37pm

I agree with the assessment regarding bankability. It's not a well known piece to modern audiences, though on second thought, that may make it appear to be "original" to some and this may end up working in it's favor.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 1:58pm

It's a very solid story, and a classic romantic film comedy (with a social message to boot!). I think it could work quite well... provided the songs and the direction/choreography are given a fresh approach.

As long as it doesn't come off like another assembly-line new "old" musical...

But maybe it'll be the next Crazy For You, or Me and My Girl.

Hope so.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 2:03pm

Wouldn't that be nice!!

This "fresh approach" to the material is definitley needed, but I fear that the theater purist crowd will immediately begin b*tching about how yet another show is being unfairly tinkered with.

This is a show I will be waiting for and watching the progress on!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 5:17pm

Ever since the first time I saw the original film in 1991, I have thought that it would make an excellent musical - the characters practically sing already - just give them some music!
I love the story, and the performances in the film are simply fantastic. I am all for them giving it a try. I wish them great success.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 6:20pm

There's a lot of movies from that era that would lend themselves to the stage wonderfully. I'd like to see someone take on the Barbara Stanwyck film "Baby Face" and turn it into a musical. The montage scene of her sleeping her way to the top of the corporate offices screams out for a musical interpretation. They could use her line "See what's in this suitcase? A half a million in jewels. Someday I'll have the other half" as a tagline.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 6:27pm

I agree about films from that era...

I've always thought that "Midnight" (by Brackett and Wilder, starring Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore in a "modern" '30s screwball take on "Cinderella") would make a GREAT stage musical.

It's one of that genre's best!

[justme2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 6:46pm

oooooh, that is a great choice! Love that film....Mary Astor and John Barrymore steal the film in what little screen time they have.

[Effie]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 7:54pm

"Baby Face" would be brilliant, Justme2.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 8:33pm

As my sign in name suggests, I love old movies! I think "My Man Godfrey" could work very well as a musical. It's madcap, there are opportunities for big dance numbers, and there are some great lead and supporting parts for good musical comedy actors/actresses. There's also a great romance at its center, and the message about rich vs. poor is still timeless. I think many, many people "of a certain age" will be drawn to this because they remember the movie(s). And if "The Drowsy Chaperone" can be of interest to today's audiences, so can "My Man Godfrey."

I could definitely see Rachel York playing the Carole Lombard role - the dizzy but sweet heiress who befriends the dump dwelling Godfrey, then falls in love with him. She has an elegance that lends itself to the 1930s, plus we know she can handle the comedy and music. Any thoughts on who'd be good as Godfrey, the forgotten man? He'd need to be a charismatic and strong actor - someone who could play the unassuming hobo who transforms first into the dutiful butler and then into the suave, take charge leading man. If this were a film remake, I could see George Clooney playing the role. On stage, Brent Barrett, perhaps? Or maybe Michael Hayden? Or how about Brian Stokes Mitchell? He's got that smooth, rich baritone that would suit the role.

Musical numbers could be fabulous - a big production number in the ballroom for the opening, a solo for Godfrey as he confronts the spoiled sisters at the dump, another number between the two sisters back at the ball, and so on. There can be a really silly number for the artist protege and his adoring fans, a couple of duets for the romantic couples, perhaps a song for the mother and father of the girls, and, as justme2 suggested, a boffo finale at the dump/nightclub.

I really think it will be fun to see how this evolves. I'd go see it.

lc

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 9:14pm

I love the idea of Rachel York! I just saw her in DRS, and she was fabulous. I am a little worried about how the character's childish behaviour will go over without a really charming actress - could York pull that off?

William Powell is irreplacable in my mind. Whenever I imagine the possible musical, I see him onstage singing.
Which is strange.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 9:20pm

Charm is Rachel's middle name!

Seriously, think of how charming she is as Christine Colgate in DRS. I think she would find just the right balance between charm, daffiness, and naivete.

lc

[justme2]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:41am

When I watch those thirties comedies, especially the screwball ones like Midnight,Awful Truth, or Easy Living...I can't help but try to picture them in musical comedy form. The format and pacing of these films lends itself easily to the musical comedy format.

I love the suggestion of York in Lombard's role. She's always impressed me as having good comic timing, and her voice is great as well. I, too, am hard pressed to think of a suitable actor to fill the Godfrey role. There are no names that come to mind immediately. Out of all the names you brought up, lovestheclassics, Brian Stokes Mitchell comes closest to fulfilling the vision of Godfrey for me.

I'd have so much fun with the Cornelia role casting, though. As written, it's pretty one dimensional, but what fun could an actress have with those lines! After watching Anastasia Barzee recently in White Christmas, I'd like to suggest her. She played ice queen well.

I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in my enthusiam for projects such as this!

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:55am

Why?



BooBooKitty
Nell's Kitchen, NYC

[alterego]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 8:18am

When I read the story yesterday on Playbill I thought 'great idea'. Let's hope it follows through.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 10:32am

Why am I glad? Or why are they working on this musical?

If it's the former, enchantedhunter, it's because it's nice to see that others share my love of these great films and also see their potential in usage for Broadway today.

If it's the later, it's because it is there.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 10:50am

justme2,

I agree, casting Cornelia could be lots of fun. They could really give that role more dimension if they wanted to. I don't know Anastasia Barzee's work, but it would be interesting to see what Megan Mullaly could do with the part. Or Jane Krakowski. They'd get a chance to play against type a bit and show their versatility.

lc

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 11:08am

I just watched this last night and my only concern is that not a whole lot happens in the story. It's not like there are huge issues or complications. There's not even much action or wordplay to replace the action (such as The Philadelphia Story). It was cute and I enjoyed it, but perhaps the book has more depth from which to flesh out the story a bit more. The whole time I watched the film, I felt like I was reading Cliff's Notes. When it ended, I felt like I had only watched the previews. It was quite odd.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 11:35am

The book is much more involved in the differences between the two classes, and there is more social commentary regarding "The Dump" and what is done with it.

A lot more story information on Godfrey, as well. The movie just touches on why Godfrey is "hanging out" as a butler. If the creative team here is adapting it from the book, we may see a more fully developed storyline around Godfrey's reasons for butlering.

If I am remembering correctly (I'll have to dig out the book), the character of Irene is not much better in the book. She is much more changed though, instead of simply "hooking Godfrey" as she does in the movie.