Stripped down versions of big musicals?

[aces25]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:01pm

what are some great "stripped down" versions of big shows you've seen? Such as Fiasco Theatre's Into the Woods. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:02pm

The Color Purple 2005 versus The Color Purple 2015 is the best—and most successful—example of this, in my opinion.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:03pm

I really enjoyed the Sunset Boulevard London revival:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2008/nov/20/west-end-musicals-sunset-boulevard-rent

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3556531/Sunset-Boulevard-a-dark-twisted-masterpiece.html

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:12pm

I very much enjoyed the so-called "Teeny Todd". The excellent cast made up for having the orchestra reduced to a couple of synthesizers.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:35pm

Doyle's Sweeney Todd, Company, and The Color Purple are all wonderful reinventions of classic shows.  His production of Passion is absolutely phenomenal as well.

Daniel Fish's Oklahoma! with Mary Testa was pretty great.

I almost feel like the current production of Chicago is a stripped down version of the original larger production.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:36pm

The 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd is another famous example of this. 

[RJ14]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 2:50pm

Fiasco theatre's ITW was a disaster, a real insult to the material....

Doyle's Sweeney is a perfect example of a great stripped down or great interpretation of a musical. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 3:31pm

I liked the staging of Fiasco's Into the Woods, but the performances could have been better.

I'd love to see Doyle do A Little Night Music.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 3:38pm

The Donmar's stripped down version of PARADE, on the other hand, felt like an absolute insult. One of the worst re-envisioned productions I've ever seen. And don't get me started on their arrangements & orchestrations. Disgraceful. 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 3:41pm

 

I'd love to see Doyle do A Little Night Music.

 

Okay, as long as Henrik is the only one who has to play an instrument.

 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 6:28pm

I saw a chamber music version of Ghost. For me Ghost is supposed to be loud and rock concert like especially with Rain/Hold On. In that version it was taken out.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 7:36pm

PalJoey said: " 

I'd love to see Doyle do A Little Night Music.

 

Okay, as long as Henrik is the only one who has to play an instrument.

 

 

" Actually I think it is a show where it is appropriate for the actors to play instruments.  He has had some shows such as Company and Allegro where it was unnecessary, but A Little Night Music and Pacific Overtures would lend itself nicely to that style.

 

[binau]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 10:35pm

I'd like to see do Doyle do A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC where not only do the characters play instruments, they are instruments. Desiree can sing "Send in the Clowns" to 'Frederick', the double bass with an off-stage vocalist. I expect a very graphic sex scene with Desiree and the double-bass. 

Desiree: Isn't it rich

Frederick: Are we a pair

Desiree: Give me your bow

Frederick: Don't stick it in there

Updated On: 7/14/16 at 10:35 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 10:40pm

Goodspeed Opera's production of Hello, Dolly! a few summers ago was stripped down to fit that tiny space but was truly delightful.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 11:45pm

I don't think the recent A Little Night Music was big or anything. I thought the design was wrong, but everything else I was a fan of. 

I don't think this Color Purple is all that successful in the storytelling, but the performances are great. 

Passion I'd love to see like this. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 1:51am

I'm not an aficionado but PASSION was never a "big musical" in the first place right??

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 2:23am

^it wasn't but Doyle's production was stripped down even from the original.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 8:17am

I've always felt the grandeur of the original House on Sunset was an important part of Norma's distorted reality.  It's a museum to all things past, and plays into her madness.  I've seen productions without it, and it's always lacking in my opinion.  I also feel this is one of the major drawbacks of the show...and it's one of my favorites.

[John Adams]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 10:02am

This production of "The Lion King" left me cold. Poor lighting and a pre-recorded "orchestra" left a big hole in the production.

 

The decision to use non-Equity actors saved money, but the absence of training and experience was evident throughout.

 

Updated On: 7/15/16 at 10:02 AM

[castlestreet]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 10:27am

^ That just made my morning!

[dissimilate]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 11:29am

aces25 said: "what are some great "stripped down" versions of big shows you've seen? Such as Fiasco Theatre's Into the Woods. 

 

"

Yes, YES! Fiasco’s Into the Woods was a transformative experience for me. Sure, the performances could’ve been better, but what a concept. Pulled off with such aplomb.

Now, what if someone stripped down some long-running classics like… Les Mis? Wicked? Dare I say it, Phantom??