Who wants a "Drood" Revival?- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:08pm

I'd say yes, but as someone who's performed in the show and directed it, I dare say its something that actors like more than general audiences. Plus, even though the musical did it first, in this age of reality-everything, the voting gimmick of DROOD would perhaps seem a little less novely and a little more pandering.

If it were to be revived I think it would make sense for the Roundabout - a limited Broadway engagement.


I'd like to see a more authentically British Puffer than Mary Testa (how about Brenda Blythen, Imelda Staunton or Tracey Ullman?) - but I love the idea of Jim Dale as the Chairman. I think Julia Murney would be a great Drood. I also like the Kritzer/Helena idea.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:12pm

All great suggestions, Michael B.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:28pm

I have always dreamed for a revival since I never got to see the original. I would prefer the original score, however. I'm not fond of the new material.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:34pm

have you seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fE2VW1rYZ0

God, I love YouTube!

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:39pm

Gotta love the subliminal Bea Arthur appearance at the start, too.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:43pm

What I love about that video is the plethora of belting altos rarely heard in a Broadway musical, which gives that particular recording such depth and richness not even heard on the cast album.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:47pm

Hear, hear, Mr. Matt! And they're really showed off in the "Moonlight Quartet" on the OBC (though not, of course, belting at that point).

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:58pm

I'd LOVE a DROOD revival

There are LOTS of very good, plausible casting ideas here. I like them all!!!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 1:16pm

did you notice that in that youtube video, Patti Cohenour is singing to the legendary Hume Cronyn?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 1:22pm

Gotta love the subliminal Bea Arthur appearance at the start, too.

Yes--and it's not even Halloween yet!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 1:37pm

My favorite DROOD story is about Loretta Swit who replaced Cleo Laine as Puffer. Apparently, she wasn't getting voted murderer enough for her tastes and so she started sneaking behind the windows during the dinner table scene (which Puffer is not a part of) and throwing Bela Lugosi stares. She got fined by Equity.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:09pm

I would love to see a picture of Loretta Swit making a Bela Lugosi face.

How could they tell she was making a face?

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:11pm

Oooh, Jim Dale.

And Block as Drood.......

I love this show, as it is one of the first shows I saw in New York.

However, as one of the last Best Musical winners to have absolutely NO spectacle, I'm not sure it would work in today's climate. I just don't know. But the score is rapturous, the script is funny and entertaining, and the tone is decidedly post-modern.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:19pm

However, as one of the last Best Musical winners to have absolutely NO spectacle, I'm not sure it would work in today's climate.

I read that as THE last Best Musical winner to have absolutely NO spectacle, and I was wondering what the spectacle in Passion was.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:21pm

The spectacle in PASSION was Marin Mazie's chest. The spectacle in SPRING AWAKENING was I guess Jonathan Groff's ass. I'm still working on the spectacle for the others, but DROOD was at least as splashy has half a dozen other Best Musical winners since. It did after all have that huge train at the top of ACT 2.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:21pm

LOL

That was my first thought after sending the post.

Not to get into how short "Passion"'s run was, but......

It did have that big staircase, which I'm sure was directly copied from the one in "Sunset Boulevard," or vice versa! Well, of course it was plainer.......

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:23pm

Oh, and it had nudity.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:43pm

touche. Marin Mazzie's chest was a big spectacle, indeed.

I thought the spectacle in Spring Awakening was the use of hand held microphones?

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:19pm

Don't get me wrong--a good script, score and cast is enough spectacle for me any day. TMOED (to use its full acronym) had those in spades. As did P. (lol)

But producers these days usually feel they have to put in some big sets, or at least shiny lights, in order to convince audiences to shell out 125 bucks a cushion.

SA has the aforementioned attributes, and also has shiny lights. :P

[little_sally]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:29pm

Oh, me, I do!

[Jon]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 7:11pm

Maybe Buckley could play Puffer this time!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 7:23pm

I did not see it so I would welcome a revival.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 7:44pm

"My favorite DROOD story is about Loretta Swit who replaced Cleo Laine as Puffer. Apparently, she wasn't getting voted murderer enough for her tastes and so she started sneaking behind the windows during the dinner table scene (which Puffer is not a part of) and throwing Bela Lugosi stares. She got fined by Equity. "


HAHAHA

[dlass727]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 8:55am

Mary Testa would be a fantastic Princess Puffer! She always gets overlooked for the British parts. What's up with that?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 9:12am

Am I the only one who really hates DROOD?

I think so...


I mean some of the music is good but that's about it. Everyone else I know who loves musical theater loves this show and I just am not a fan...