VANITIES to begin previews Feb 2

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:15am

Theatre to be announced, per the NY Times.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:23am

Are they eyeing the Lyceum?

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:18am

Shubert.

Sounds good to me!

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:28am

It belongs Off-Broadway.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:31am

It says A Shubert theatre, not the Shubert theatre. Read before you post.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 10:54am

BroadwayFan - The Shubert Organization owns 17 Broadway house, only one of which is the actual Shubert Theatre... Vanities will be going into one of the others:

Ambassador, Barrymore, Belasco, Booth, Broadhurst, Broadway, Cort, Golden, Imperial, Jacobs, Longacre, Lyceum, Majestic, Music Box, Schoenfeld, Winter Garden

Of these, the only one that will definitely be open (as of now) is the Schoenfeld, after All My Sons closes in January.

[jake6970]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:03am

Schoenfeld sounds like a good choice to me anyway.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:38am

When I read the story about Vanities they have this quote: VANITIES is a funny and poignant look at women who discover that even in 30 years of rapidly changing times, friendship can last forever.


Did they change the plot? If I remember correctly, the plays message is that friends change and grow apart and friendship does not last forever. Has anyone who has seen the musical and the play know anything about this?

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 11:38 AM

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:38am

Double post - sorry Updated On: 8/25/08 at 11:38 AM

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:48am

I saw it last night - the review is on another thread - and yes, they changed the plot, I think, (I never saw the play) by adding a new final scene set in 1990 - the ladies are all 44 at that point. It's more or less as the press release describes it.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:58am

Then that sucks - another dumbing down of a really excellent play. I guess they had to go with a "happy ending" when the plays ending is perfect.
Pitiful.


SPOILER>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
The play ends with Joanne staggering off drunk after she finds out that Mary has slept with her husband. The other two are left to toast their friendship of past, realizing that none of them will ever be friends again.

How different is it?

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 11:58 AM

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:13pm

if they push the preview date back a little, then they could get the broadhurst.

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:31pm

South Fl Marc, the scene you describe is still there - it's just not the final scene.

SPOILER



The story now jumps ahead 16 years - 1974 to 1990 - to the funeral of one of the unseen mothers. The ladies meet after this long interval and... reconnect. Whatever you think of it, the original playwrite, Jack Heifner, approved - he wrote it!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:35pm

I wonder if he wrote it because he wanted another scene or if he wrote it because it wouldn't be produced without a "Happy" ending.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:42pm

He wrote it because he wanted it in there, a coda of sorts not because he was pressured into it by the producers. Also, I wouldn't call it a happily ever after ending either. I for one am very excited about this show!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:48pm

Being a big fan of the play I'm not really looking forward to it - the change in the ending makes me less so.
I wish it all the luck in the world but I doubt if I'll see it. Hopefully someone will produce the play again. It needs a revival.

Another question - do they keep the original staging by having the actresses on stage for the breaks, at their "Vanities" changing clothes and make up.
The HBO version of the play cut that.
Updated On: 8/25/08 at 12:48 PM

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 1:27pm

Jack Heifner's program quote.... "When I met (composer) David Kirschenbaum I found someone who wanted to keep the integrity of the play intact. I also became excited about the possibility of adding another scene to the musical, one that was never in the play, to show what happened later on in the lives of the characters."

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 1:43pm

Yes, to your last question, South Fl Marc - the actresses do the transitions and wardrobe changes on stage. Since they're great looking ladies, this was a pleasure to behold.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 2:07pm

Thanks for the info. I have to say that this entire conversation has piqued my interst in the show.
Maybe I'll have to check it out.