The Visit Benefit- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 10:57am

Chita obviously deserves her day in the sun with this, but I think the musical would also be interesting with some other performers; if they were to cast it the age the characters are in the original play, I'd love to see Donna Murphy as Claire opposite Boyd Gaines as Anton.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 11:01am

Do we think there's actually a chance this could be headed for some kind of engagement on Broadway? Was the benefit a good sign? I would just love to see Chita and this show live, so I guess I'm just being hopeful...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 11:08am

I somehow doubt it; in truth the musical has been around for a decade. Most of the major producers in town who had interest in the property saw it at Signature/Goodman and passed.

There is always the chance that somebody saw the benefit and will pick it up (the show felt like a big scale backers audition to me) but I think everyone involved, as much as they are committed to the project, probably, at this point, feels its something of a long shot. The benefit, according to the composer, was in part to let Chita have a chance to, at least once, get to perform the role for a New York audience.

It seems like even if it were picked up for Broadway, a full production would be a season or two down the road, and who knows if Chita would even still be up for a full production of it by then.
Updated On: 12/2/11 at 11:08 AM

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 12:21pm

Sorry I missed this concert performance, but saw the full production at Signature a few years ago and was blown away by it. Not surprised to hear that Chita can still nail it, she is amazing. And it is one of Terrence McNally's most provocative books for a musical, and the Kander and Ebb score is really great.
This show belongs on Broadway this season!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 8:05pm

Phil Crosby's post raises a question I have. The original play (particularlyas staged in Europe--less so on Broadway and of course the happy film is ridiculous) is very much in the Bracht epic-theatre mode. Does this musical present it more as a "realistic" story? Or does it have some of the element that K&E used to varrying degrees in Cabaret, Chicago, etc.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 8:08pm

I get the feeling a Broadway transfer is a long shot, unless it is picked up for a limited run by Roundabout or whoever--but it would be great if this led to a recording (far less commercial musicals get recorded by PS Classics, Ghostlight, etc) and led to more regional interest.

In the video on BWW the creators say the role was written for Chita. Wasn't it written for Angela Lansbury?

[Glitter]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 12:48am

it was faaaaaaaabulous night, and played like gangbusters (in the audience Bebe Neuwirth, Charles Busch, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brent Barrett, Ann Harada). It's bizarre, romantic, thoughtful, eerie, funny, tender, and vicious....some of K&E's best work.

The show has grown a lot since Chicago, and is slightly tighter than in Arlington. The performance was filmed. Not sure if they recorded it, but if they did it would need a lot of sweetening. Cullum went up a number of times, and Chita had some minor tongue trips; even in the bww performance highlight vid, it shows her missing a particularly alliterative lyric. Overall she delivered the big moments and 99% of the small moments spell-bindingly and this is unquestionably among the best work of her life.

Eric, to answer your question: there are 2 kander and ebb hallmarks: There is a "show within a show" sequence (both from claire's perspective and the village people's) and Yellow shoes, which starts out one way and ends quite a different way. The lyrics are the same, but the music, mood, and staging changes, ala Tomorrow Belongs to Me from Cabaret and Where You Are/Come from Spider Woman.


The character was conceived for Angela Lansbury but has been tailored in a major way for Chita, not just through the one-legged tango but to numerous references to the Claire's sexuality.

John Kander and Terrence Mcnally both told me at the after-party they are considering putting "You Know Me" (cut after the chicago run) back into the show. Chita was relieved and elated and deservedly had everyone fawning over her.

Broadway as it is would not support a huuuuge long run for The Visit, but Lincoln Centre, The Public, or Roundabout would do well to have a limited run (and bring back George Hearn).

I doooooooooooo believe recordings of the night are out there. Somewhere. Can't imagine where'd they be found :)

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 1:10am

Good to know it's out there--not that I ever know where to look :P

Thanks for the added details! It makes sense that the role as written was conceived around Chita--seeing her in clips and hearing the Chicago performance makes that very clear. I actually don't think much of Anne Reinking as a choreographer (her work int eh Fosse vocabluary for Chicago is an exception although I think some of her numbers still just seem like diluted versions of Fosse's originals), but I like the little I've seen here.

It's be nice if this got some sort of recording and fully staged (I agree, limited) run. The score as I've heard it is pretty great, and it would be nice to have K&E go out on a high note and not on (the perfectly acceptable and decent) Curtains.

[RainbowJude]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 2:40am

Eric, have you forgotten all about the brilliance that is THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS?!!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 2:46am

The Public had plans to mount a production of the show with Chita and Frank Langella between the run at the Goodman and the run at Signature, but it fell through due to financing shortly after it was publicly announced.

If one of the non-profits was to pick it up for next season, it would be wise of them to go after Langella for Anton again. He's certainly the most dynamic personality of the men who have been attached to the role thus far, and I imagine it would fit many of his strengths quite well.

Updated On: 12/3/11 at 02:46 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 3:25am

HA, I did blank on Scotsboro Boys. I think--from the little I've heard--musically I like Visit more. But it sounds like a huge part of the appeal of Scotsboro was the staging. Still--it is a much more fitting final act than Curtains, ragardless (and bhetter score).

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 3:57am

The staging of Scottsboro Boys was fine, but never outshone the score, which needed no help.

[Glitter]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 3:58am

scottsboro is great writing, but occasionally dishonest storytelling. I wish they'd hewed closer to the facts a bit more.


And I still think The Visit has a stronger score. It's a deliciously odd little show. Langella would be a great Anton for sure, but I loved the idea of the Spider Woman squaring off against Sweeney Todd!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 4:41am

Having seen neither live, but "seen" both, I feel the score for Visit is superior, but I have a few (albeit small) issues with Scotsboro as a show in general.

[Glitter]

Posted: 12/3/11 at 7:27pm

curtains was a nice romp, scottsboro boys was pointed and political, but The Visit *feels* like a last show. It would be fitting to have it be the final original Kander and Ebb to play broadway, and if Chita chooses to go out with this as her swan song, nothing could top it.


as they pleaded in dreamgirls: move, move!