Revivals that will be hard to beat

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Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 11:50am

I think it's often very hard to beat the hugely successful Broadway or indeed London revivals of well known shows... For example, the 1992 "Guys and Dolls" - the 2009 revival didn't come close to it. Also, Nicholas Hytner's widely acclaimed "Carousel" (London 1992 then Broadway 1994).
And the 2005 "Sweeney" - while some people didn't take to this interpretation, it will be interesting to see how the next Broadway revival is done...

Any other revivals of late that will be hard to beat in the future?

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:05pm

The Normal Heart (2011 Broadway revival)
Mary Stuart (2005 London; 2009 Broadway)
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2003 Broadway)

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:08pm

South Pacific.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:10pm

Seconding South Pacific and '92 Guys and Dolls.

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:17pm

Two what the two above me said, the LCT South Pacific and 92' Guys and Dolls are definitive. They had perfect casts and well conceptualized productions.

"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:21pm

The Mendes Cabaret. Almost every production of Cabaret since has taken many elements from this revival (the same is true of most productions of Guys and Dolls taking ideas from the 92 revival).

David walked into the valley With a stone clutched in his hand He was only a boy But he knew someone must take a stand There will always be a valley Always mountains one must scale There will always be perilous waters Which someone must sail -Into the Fire Scarlet Pimpernel

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:38pm

Ooh yeah I agree about the Mendes Cabaret and LCT's South Pacific. Also, Mendes' Oliver! which was revived in 2009 by Rupert Goold. That was a fresh approach to a classic, much like his Cabaret and also Bobbie's Chicago... they're all so definitive

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:42pm

YES! Chicago!

Every production I have seen since this revival has taken far more from this production than the original.

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:44pm

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the 2009 revival of HAIR. Before this revival the only other attempt made to revive the show on Broadway was a critically maligned 1977 revival. Many wrote the show a death sentence: It was dated, no longer relevant and a relic.

The 2009 revival surpassed expectations and it's going to be really hard to top the kind of reception that this revival had from the Delacorte and it's subsequent transfer.

#10

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:50pm

It seems like everyone on this board who saw the original CHICAGO and the revival says that the revival is leagues better--some have even said it completely changed their opinion of the show. That's no small feat.

#11

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:57pm

Whoa whoa whoa there, AC. This poster begs to differ on the Chicago revival surpassing the original. I'm firmly in the give-me-a-full-goosebump-inducing-20's-production-over-the-rehearsal-clothes-concert-staging camp any day of the week. As Fred Ebb properly said, give me the OLD razzle-dazzle.

#12

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:00pm

I stand corrected. However, there was a long discussion about the old-vs.-new CHICAGO on one of the FOLLIES thread; I was going off of the empirical data I saw there. I'll amend my post to say that MANY people on this board (not all) who saw both prefer the new.

#13

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:02pm

I would actually say the recent revival of Sunday in the Park with George would be hard to beat for me. The use of technology was so effective and beautiful for me. (And the performances weren't too shabby.)

I would also add my voice for the 2008 South Pacific revival.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 01:02 PM

#14

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:16pm

In total agreement with South Pacific & Cabaret!

Since Chicago may never close, I'm not sure if we'll every truly know!

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#15

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:22pm

South Pacific. And the 50th anniversary production of West Side Story.

#16

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:24pm

I would have said the 1988 Anything Goes as well, but I think the 2011 revival is doing a damn good job at being on a par with the '88 version.

Also what about the 2004 La Cage? Was the 2010 revival better?

#17

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:25pm

And the 50th anniversary production of West Side Story.

I'm pretty sure that's a minority opinion.

#18

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:35pm

I'm not talking about the Laurents revival, btw...

#19

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:37pm

Which one, then? Wasn't that production billed as the 50th Anniversary Revival?

#20

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:41pm

Lloyd's Mary Stuart with McTeer and Walter

Mendes' Cabaret with Richardson and Cumming

Leveaux's The Real Thing with Ehle and Dillane

#21

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:43pm

I disliked the 2004 Revival of La Cage, and found the last year's was far superior. (I have NO idea how my opinion stacks up against others, however.)

Then what are you talking about, clap?

#22

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:48pm

What would people classify as the definitive GYPSY? (I don't want to start any major arguments here btw...lol)

Would the 1974/1989/2008 Laurents productions (overall) be the ultimate Gypsy, or would Mendes' 2003 concept version beat them?

#23

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:49pm

The 50th Anniversary world tour with Daniel Koek and Sofia Escobar that opened at Sadler's Wells and toured the world throughout 2008/2009.

#24

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:51pm

I consider the 2008 Gypsy to be definitive in terms of the performances. But as a physical production, not so much.

Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#25

Revivals that will be hard to beat

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:52pm

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most people who saw the original GYPSY would consider that production definitive.

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