Revivals that will be hard to beat

[Musicaldudepeter]

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?

[AC126748]

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)

[Kad]

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

South Pacific.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

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

Seconding South Pacific and '92 Guys and Dolls.

[E.Davis]

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.

[jacobtsf]

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).

[Musicaldudepeter]

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

[jacobtsf]

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.

[CarlosAlberto]

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.

[AC126748]

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.

[charlesjguiteau]

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.

[AC126748]

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.

[givesmevoice]

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.

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

[dramamama611]

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!

[ClapYo'Hands]

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

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

[Musicaldudepeter]

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?

[AC126748]

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.

[ClapYo'Hands]

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

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

[AC126748]

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

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

[henrikegerman]

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

[dramamama611]

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?

[Musicaldudepeter]

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?

[ClapYo'Hands]

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.

[Mattbrain]

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.

[AC126748]

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.