Why Aren't These Shows Revived? — Page 2

#26

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 10:57pm

PROMISES PROMISE needs to be revisited, revived and rediscovered. Next to DREAMGIRLS and RENT it's third on my all time favorite lists. The show is sublime. (And hell i don't toss around that word frequently).
I was fortunate to see the 1997 ENCORES! mounting starring Martin Short, which although it didn't really use the original Bennett moves was a good show. It was so succesful that there was talk about a full fledged revival and then. . .NOTHING!
If they ever get around to doing this I would love to see either Jean Louisa Kelly or Kelli O'Hara play "Fran Kubelik".

#27

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:00pm

How can you do Pippin these days? I remember a few years ago a production (Goodspeed?) where the show was set in an alley at the back of a theatre, Berthe did her number from a motorised wheel chair. Sounded a dreadful production.

#28

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:00pm

I think Stephanie J. Block could take on Fanny Brice, despite the fact that she isn't a huge name...

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awkward.

"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912

#29

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:03pm

Pippin can be done today without major change in setting, structure, or book. It is a period piece (in that it takes place during Charlemegne's .sp?. empire), so it sounds like the bad production you saw may have been a creative team that tried to get too creative.

#30

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:42pm

42nd Street failed to recoup because the cast was too frikkin' huge! Look at SPAMALOT - a total cast size of 20 - half the size of 42ns Street.

#31

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:46pm

For me Pippin's success was mostly due to the brilliance of Bob Fosse and Tony Walton/Patricia Zippdrodt being able to make a clever spectacle out of what is a pretty light show. Without their contributions it would be apretty tame night in the theatre.

#32

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:46pm

I did Carnival, years back, and it was a fun show...But the thing is, are we really supposed to believe that this girl is actually DUMB enough to think these puppets are real? That's what turns me off about the show...her stupidity.

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"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.

#33

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:51pm

Justice that made me laugh out loud!

#34

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:53pm

How about Raisin the Musical? How will that fair out as a revival?

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"The cynicism you refer to, I acquired the day I discovered I was different from little boys!~All About Eve

#35

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:54pm

In the original movie LILI, Leslie Caron comes across downright retarded!

And it is, after all, a show in which an underaged girl is lusted after by several older men. Grobert, the souvenir seller, tries to molest her 15 minutes into the show!

#36

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:55pm

Alterego --

That's why I've never quite understood people who say "Oh just toss out the Fosse staging and choreography and come up with a different concept."

Huh?

Underneath it all, PIPPIN is a pretty lousy show, with some good songs, but a terrible, incoherent book that makes no sense -- what made the show a hit was all of the brilliant smoke and mirrors Fosse created that were so entertaining that audiences forgot that basically, there's not much to it. Perhaps another visionary director/choreographer will come along who can also make it work on his/her own terms, but, as it stands, the material itself is pretty weak.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#37

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:57pm

That "Lili" was a kinky li'l thing wasn't she?
She knew what really made the world "go 'round"...

#38

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 12:50am

Margo, my sentiments exactly!

#39

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:19am

dear margo,

i wish i had the theatre knowledge that you posess.

i wish you would be my girl.

wanna wear my pin?

♥

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whatever and ever amen - ben folds five

#40

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:51am

Margo -

You're like my Broadway World Message Board idol.

(bowing down)

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Be the change you want in the world....

#41

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:00am

thibodeaux --
If that's you in that avatar, pin away.......

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 02:00 AM

#42

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:08am

Didn't Schwartz and Hirson take out parts that Fosse added? Maybe the missing peices were used and mounted by someone brillaint then Pippin could actually work.

#43

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:13am

Simply Heavely-maybe for Encores?

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TWOGAAB "A Class Act" will never die!

#44

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:31am

I agree - we had a revival of Simply Heavenly here in London last year (from which a cast album is available). It was a nice enough little show, but I think it would have to be blown out of proportion to get on Broadway and really wouldn't work. Encores would proabably be the only way to go

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 10:31 AM

#45

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:41am

I think that another reason Promises, Promises is tough to mount is that, it should not be updated, and therefore is going to come off very sexist.

Also agree that Pippin without Fosse's vision is not a very interesting show...also a fave of mine, was my first professional theater experience, saw the tour...It was the concept of the show, performances and alot of the score that drove it home.

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#46

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:13am

How about Salad Days for the York. (Perhaps, again, this may be a tad too English)

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TWOGAAB "A Class Act" will never die!

#47

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:16am

Well my question is, in a day where it seems everyone is "recreating" the original choreography why can't the same be done for Pippin. I saw a production last year in Ohio that attempted to do just that, and it was a very good show.

#48

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:22am

Even though 42nd STREET didn't recoup, I say it's a success because first, the revival was first rate. Secondly, it had a very nice long run - what? 4 years?

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#49

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:33am

Lil' Abner is not being revivied (or should never be) because it's NOT good.

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"You won't fight without layers of armor Suit on up and come brace my sword You look back when the pieces are missing Hollowed out hope that no time can restore."

#50

re: Why Aren't These Shows Revived?

Posted: 6/14/05 at 12:04pm

Funny Girl--indelibly linked to Streisand; think about the inevitable comparisons. Sara Ramirez has been mentioned recently, but seems all wrong. Plus as someone mentioned, this show needs a star who can sell tickets.

Mame--Revived with the original, Lansbury, several years ago. Failed.

Do Re Mi, Carnival--dated, no interest for the general public

Pippin is very '70's in conception, and so the book seems quite dated (finding your "true self"--aagghhh!)

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 12:04 PM