Whistling the set.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/22/03 at 11:37pm

Everyone has been talking about shows that were bad and which were good and all that. What I want to know is which shows had the most original sets you've seen and also did you just whistle the set or was both the show and the set great? Just wanted to know. When Les Mis came to Indianapolis last year it was the first time I had seen it. The stage energy and the story were amazing I think, but I also loved the way they did the set with the turntable and all. Somehow I had managed to have been shielded from the fact about how it was satged after all those years. Just looking for some thoughts.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 12:07am

I wonder if I'm just bad at coming up with good topics for posts or if its just because I try to start them when everybody is about ready to go to bed:)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 12:09am

LOL. awwww It is the bedtime thing sweetie....


I liked the Hairspray set.. the Lite-Brite back wall was a great touch... and there are MANY little details and fun things on that stage
and I LOVE teh show over all

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 12:10am

i like the aida sets! soo clean nd kinda modern nd fresh! =D

[RobbO]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 12:46am

for me, it has to be the lion king. the stampede scene and the stars coming together to form mufasa are two highlights. and, although they are not sets, the grass men were really cool too.

Updated On: 12/23/03 at 12:46 AM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 2:17am

Ya, all Disney productions have amazing sets, lighting, costumes, etc, but that seems to be all they have...(not all of the time!)

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 2:55am

Tha National Theatre in London has been great for some of their sets this year. They had a season of £10 plays that used little sets but the others were great.

Particularly memorable - Mourning Becomes Electra - form my review "Initially a huge veranda on a white New England house with a gigantic tattered stars and stripes as the ceiling, it transforms swiftly into house sets and then later the ceiling collapses downwards almost to the ground to reveal the deck of a huge ship complete with sails."

Also Three Sisters at the National had great sets wonderfulyl impressive particualrly the huge house with two rooms, one seen through the other, used for initial acts and later a house courtyard set with trees and wind and rain.. wonderfully done.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 3:32am

The big Cameron Mackintosh flop show NAPOLEON had an amazing set. Unfortunately, although some of the Music was rather good, the Book was dire and the Lyrics appalling.

I thought that the sets and effects of THE LION KING and PHANTOM turned very ordinary scores into thrilling pieces of theater. I agree with Chinkie about the AIDA sets - I found them impressive too and I also enjoyed the John/Rice score.

As for stunning "effects" on stage, the thing that most stands out in my memory is seing the witches flying way above my head in the orchestra stalls in the act one finale of WITCHES OF EASTWICK. (It's a shame that never made it to Broadway - it's a superb show.)

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 7:39am

The Inspector Calls

The Endgame scene in Chess London where the whole floor (a chess board) lifts and pivots then tilts with one edge hanging over the Orchestra pit- very cool

Sunset Blvd.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 7:41am

The Sets for DINNER AT EIGHT at Lincoln Center. I could have moved right in.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 7:41am

I'd have to go with Sunset Blvd too. A set that rose above a score that made me yawn.

[Cadriel]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 8:39am

I have to go with Deena Jones2 on this one. "Endgame" in London Chess is one of the greatest theatrical moments using a set. Ever.

It's a shame Michael Bennett got so sick and didn't finish the show, and Trevor Nunn just wasn't up to his vision.

-Wayne

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 9:24am

I'm one of those Luddites when it comes to scenery. Too often with a big musical, it overpowers what we're watching.

The best scenery for a musical recently for me was The Full Monty because we saw it, it registered and then we went back to watching the play.

Copenhagen had a wonderful set--a semi-circle of curved polished plywood that reflected the sound into the house and we did not need any mikes at all.

In 1970 Jo Melziener (sp) won Tonys for lighting and scenery for Child's Play. Accepting the scenery award after the lighting one, he confessed that most of his set design was there to hide the lighting instruments.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 9:44am

An Inspector Calls, with its collapsing house set
Lion King, spectacular
Starlight Express, unusual and complex
Sunset Boulevard, awe inspiring and surprising. Any time the set gets applause, that's something.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 11:48am

An Inspector Calls
Lion King
Les Miserables

.....and Jane Eyre! The set and lighting design evoked the "memory" narrative of the show so perfectly. I was blown away by its innovative design. I wish I could see it again...

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 12:49pm

Mr. Matt, I forgot about Jane Eyre- I loved that set too. Simple yet so effective.

[CharityHope924]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 1:25pm

The Jane Eyre set and lights were incredible. I was so annoyed that the lighting fell victim to The Producers' juggernaut at the Tony's that year.

Sunset Blvd. was very impressive. The way the whole, huge mansion set lifted off the ground and other scenes wre played beneath it-- amazing!

The Private Lives revival with Alan Rickman had a really beautiful set. It's not often that you go to a non-musical and the set gets a huge audience reaction.

[RobbO]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 1:31pm

is "whistling the set" a theatre term?

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 1:37pm

The King and I set was amazing.
The Urinetown set was really cool- so original!
The Rent set is really cool, too. It's so cool- everything was right there- that's gotta be one of my favorite sets.
The Man of La Mancha set- this set is so incredible!! The grooves in the wall, the staircase, the swirly parts on the sides... wow.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/23/03 at 1:37pm

CharityHope - I felt the same way about the lighting design at the Tonys. The Producers offered nothing as innovative as Jane Eyre, only more bulbs used per square foot. The use of lighting in Jane Eyre in conjunction with the carousel, turntable and sweeping cyclorama was mesmerizing. Also the best use of slide projections I've ever seen (I always hated slide projections before).