Terrific subject, but terrible musical

[dry2olives]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:16am

Here's a game. Name a source (book, play, movie, history subject, etc.) which you think would make a terrific Broadway musical, but the musical based on it was dissapointing. A missed opportunity that could have been great in other hands.

For example -- I think "Miracle on 34th Street" could make a terrific musical. But the show Meredith Willson wrote based on it, "Here's Love" was pretty dreary.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:21am

Oh boy, here come the rock throwers.
Wicked.I can honestly feel that the book was better and the musical did not give it all the justice it deserved.
However, anyone who could have made that book family friendly is a genius if only for that fact.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:26am

I agree. Wicked was good but it could've been better.

[Blair]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:30am

I agree as well, Wicked could definitely be a lot better.

[sean martin]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:36am

Henry VIII becoming Rex. Oy.

[Dawg]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:45am

Footloose becoming Footloose...not a book, but a case where the movie is pretty engrossing and the show, well...not so much.

Carrie?
Jekyll & Hyde, Scarlet Pimpernel and Ragtime, all books that I feel were not brought to justice by their musical counterparts.

[GretchaSketh]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 2:03am

I LOVE some of the music to Here's Love especially the one where one of the guys is talking about when the woman will get there and "the back of the room of the toy toy." Anyone remember this song? What is it called. My whole family loves that song:) We all know all the words:)

"She had to go back, she had to go back to get them, leaving us to join the ranks of aging men, well a guy could catch a goat, cure the hide cut and stitch her a pair before a dame could go out pick up her gloves and start out again."

[Delphine]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 2:18am

I completely agree with everyone who has said Wicked. And I second Dawg about The Scarlet Pimpernel. Love the book, dislike the musical.

[NDS34111]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 9:07am

"Matador"

I don't know of the book had the same name but the musical was aweful! The only good thing was "The Boy From No Where"

[mominator]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 9:20am

"Ah Wilderness" by Thorton Wilder was made in to "Take Me Along"
which wasn't so hot a musical.
I also agree that Wicked the book was way better than "Wicked" the musical.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 9:35am

Meet Me In St. Louis. Great, great movie musical. Horrible onstage.

[sean martin]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 10:04am

>> "Ah Wilderness" by Thorton Wilder

TURN IN YOUR THEATRE CARD.

It was Eugene O'Neil, not Thorton Wilder.

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 10:08am

Okay...

Movin' Out.

I reall did not enjoy this show. The band and music were great...And I LOVE Billy Joel...but I didn't care for this show. I thought it had a lot of potential. I would have liked to have seen Billy's songs written into a real storyline instead of just dancing (like Mamma Mia...)

I feel like I'm the only one in the world who didn't love that show...

[sean martin]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 10:14am

This may be stretching the rules a bit, but Lerner and Loewe's miserable attempt at The Little Prince. Maybe it's impossible to stage that little book -- the Houston Opera's attempt last year was truly disappointing.