State Fair

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State Fair

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:09pm

what was wrong wth this production? Personally, I think it opened in the wrong season which already had Rent and Lion King and Chicago, but had ut opened in another season may well have succeeded. Will there be a revival anytime soon?

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/26/07 at 6:12pm

A few key sections of the book are terrible. Act two needs major help. And many the cast members were too old for their roles. Also--wasn't it the year of Big, Noise/Funk and Rent? I know it was before 98.

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:59am

Correct, State Fair had the mifortune of opening in the 96-97 season which included Rent, Big, Bring in da noise Bring in da funk, as well as lion king opening during its run. I saw a tour of it though in the lte 90s and thought it was a charming production. It may never rival the other 5 R&H, but I thought it was a nice addition. I thought it especially played well here in the midwest. I loved it for its simplicity, and hope it gets a Broadway revival.

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:40am

Wow... Your question brought back some memories. I saw State Fair on tour as part of a 4-show package, which also included Victor/Victoria (pre-Broadway), Stomp, and Damn Yankees (w/ Jerry Lewis) as part of the 1995-96 'Broadway in Chicago' season.

I remember the main problem with State Fair was that it was too syrupy sweet... kind of corny... for lack of a better term. I think that the leads, John Davidson and Kathryn Crosby, helped contribute to that feeling. It felt like a 90 minute segment from The Lawrence Welk Show.

Unfortunately, I don't think a change of season could have helped.

Updated On: 8/27/07 at 01:40 AM

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:31am

Don't forget R&H originally wrote State Fair for film. Watch the anniversary edition of the film because the special features discussthe journey from screen to stage.

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:38am

Listening to the CD is like eating 10 sticks of cotton candy. As was said it was a great film but didnt transfer well to the stage, at least not in this short lived production. Andrea Mcardle sounds sweet- see, theres that word again!

A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:20am

Everything about this production was horrible. I went in wanting to see Andrea McArdle but she was out, and her understudy was extremely underwhelming (especially in the vocal department).

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:58am

I never saw the stage production, but the original musical film is one of my favorite movies.

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

re: State Fair

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:02pm

I must say....I love the version with Ann Margret. It was actually my avatar until about 10 mins ago. Maybe I should change it back.

(formerly bronte604) "You really just love money and power and capitalism? You know they're never going to love you back." "Things happen for the best...I don't even believe that myself."

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