Revivals that will be hard to beat
Revivals that will be hard to beat
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#1Revivals 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?
#2Revivals 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
#2Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:08pmSouth Pacific.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#3Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:10pmSeconding South Pacific and '92 Guys and Dolls.
#4Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:17pmTwo 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-
#5Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:21pmThe 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
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#6Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:38pmOoh 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
#7Revivals 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.
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
#8Revivals 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.
#9Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:50pmIt 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.
"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
#10Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:57pmWhoa 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.
#11Revivals 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. 
"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
#12Revivals 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
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#13Revivals 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.
#14Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:22pmSouth Pacific. And the 50th anniversary production of West Side Story.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#15Revivals 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?
#16Revivals 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.
"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
#17Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:35pmI'm not talking about the Laurents revival, btw...
#18Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:37pmWhich one, then? Wasn't that production billed as the 50th Anniversary Revival?
"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
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#19Revivals 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
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#20Revivals 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?
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.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#21Revivals 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?
#22Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:49pmThe 50th Anniversary world tour with Daniel Koek and Sofia Escobar that opened at Sadler's Wells and toured the world throughout 2008/2009.
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#23Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:51pmI consider the 2008 Gypsy to be definitive in terms of the performances. But as a physical production, not so much.
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--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
#24Revivals that will be hard to beat
Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:52pmI'm going to go out on a limb and say that most people who saw the original GYPSY would consider that production definitive.
"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
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