Sondheim gives a synopsis of his new musical and more in Billboard interview

[tazber]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 10:40pm

There's not a lot of new stuff here, but this is the most I've heard about his new Bunuel-based musical:

 

Yes, I'm writing a show with David Ives, the playwright who wrote Venus in Fur. We decided to take two movies by Luis Buñuel, one of the first surrealists in the 1930s. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is about a group of upper-middle-class people trying to find a place to have dinner. Odd things happen in the restaurant; there's a wake being held right in the kitchen. That's the first part of the show; the second part is another movie that he made called The Exterminating Angel. It's about another group of people, also upper-middle-class, who arrive at this elegant mansion for a large ­dinner and they can't leave. They get their ­dinner, but something ... it's not like a glass wall; it's a ­reluctance to leave. They stay in this one room for weeks, running out of food and water. They're trapped within their own desire.

 

Link

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 10:53pm

GREAT interview.  And so funny to see him name check The Association, Steely Dan and Radiohead.

 

So funny.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 10:54pm

Wow, that was awesome! Wasn't there a rumor going around recently that the Ives collaboration was halting? Glad that's not true. The premise of the second part sounds phenomenal. 

Updated On: 11/13/15 at 10:54 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 11:13pm

It is a great read and a nice surprise. I believe the only comments about the Ives collab being over were people worried that nothing had been said for a while. Some people seems to think he should be writing faster

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 11:39pm

ljay889 said: "Wow, that was awesome! Wasn't there a rumor going around recently that the Ives collaboration was halting? Glad that's not true. The premise of the second part sounds phenomenal."

 

Agreed! The "They're trapped in their own desire" idea sounds right in Sondheim's wheelhouse, and I hope we don't have to wait too much longer to see how this all comes together.

Updated On: 11/13/15 at 11:39 PM

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 11/14/15 at 12:39pm

Yay, I'm really looking forward to this. I'm also encouraging everyone who hasn't to check out the two Bunuel films this is based on, which are hilarious, sharp, and fresh (and still relevant).

 

Also lmao:

"Is the theater community too insular to age well?

Yes. Next question."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/15 at 1:04pm

I'm really excited by this.  Exterminating Angel is one of my all-time favorite films.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/14/15 at 5:41pm

I admit, when I first heard about Sondheim and Ives doing a Bunuel adaptation, I immediately thought of Belle du Jour I suppose because the only Ives work I know is Venus in Fur.

 

I have seen, but not in a long time, both films they are adapting.  I assume they won't be very faithful adaptations, especially if they reduce both to one acts but I am intrigued--I wonder if they will be distinct or if they will somehow combine the characters (or use the same characters in both?)  Definitely more intriguing (albeit of course far less commercial) than Sondheim's plans to adapt Groundhog Day--at least to me.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 11/14/15 at 6:28pm

i loved THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISE movie and when i saw it so many years ago i was enthralled by it...i cannot wait to see if/when this comes to fruition and i of course am hoping it does...i am after all the SONDHEIMMANIAC...(i had this word added to the URBAN DICTIONARY)...:)