Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
#1Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 4:25pm
It isn't just this board, but reviews and general word-of-mouth as well. I've noticed that when a revival comes along, the original gets trashed or ignored. Now I love Patti's Gypsy, it is a wonderful performance, but can't we just let her stand alone and not bring down legends like Merman and Lasbury, who I imagine most of the people were around to see those performanes nor have listened to the cast recording more than once! I'm all for revivals bringing classics to a new audience but can't we just let it stand alone?
When the Sweet Charity revival came along I was shocked by the hate for Gwen Verdon and even, in a few rare cases, Fosse's choreography and the text itself. Now that has to be one of the worst revivals I've seen on Broadway but it has enough theatre names in it for people to feel free to trash the original!
Even South Pacific. I mean, love Kelli O'Hara's performance but just watched Martin perform on Ed Sullivan and O'Hara just doesn't come even close.
Another example came with the Broadway production of Assassins, which I liked well enough but not as much as the off-Broadway cast. With few textual changes, the critics loved the new one and trashed the original. Ken Mandelbaum had a wonderful article at the time where he posted the same critics' reviews, now and then, side by side and they did a complete 180.
I just don't understand why we can't enjoy both? Why does it always turn into a Lupone or Merman fight when most of us don't have enough experience seeing both to really compare. And why should they be compared? Rose can be played so many ways, and while it is fine to have your favorite, does the fact that something is NEW make it better?
I think a lot of this has to do with the better quality of Cast Recordings, though I still prefer the sound of the older recordings to the overblown style of recording most producers favor these days.
#2re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 4:27pmWell spoke.
#2re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 4:29pmTHANK YOU!! This is what I have been thinking for awhile!
#3re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 4:53pmI have just counted four recordings of "Follies" on my self, and there is room for them all.
#4re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 4:55pm
No! Only Donna Murphy! 
#5re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 5:37pmout with the old in with the new!
#6re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 5:39pmBut, everything old is new again!
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#7re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 5:45pm
I agree with you in some aspects, but certainly there are some revivals that are not as well received as the original. The EVITA revival in London...well I really didn't like much of it at all. The sets, direction and orchestrations were different which some people liked better, but I defanetly think the Hal Prince version is the only way it should be, with the original orchestrations!
Now, Sunday in the Park with George is a revival I like better than the original (which I only saw on the DVD), but the technological advancements made it that way!
So it could go either way!
#8re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 5:53pmThere are a bunch of original recordings I'd rather listen to than the revivals. The first one that pops into my head is Into the Woods. The revival just sucked the life out of that wonderful show.
#9re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:39pm
I don't believe I've ever seen an original followed by a revival, so I can only comment on my personal viewpoint with regards to cast recordings. I think a lot has to do with the quality of the recordings. Revivals, being newer, often just sound a lot nicer. I'll totally take my off-Broadway recording of 'Assassins' over the Broadway recording ANY day; a nice but sadly rare example of two shows being recorded near enough to each other that you don't have an attack of "but that one sounds like it's been left in a dusty cupboard for twenty years!", which is nice.
Can't speak for critics though. Only spout a load of self-indulgent waffle. ^_^
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#10re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 7:42pm
A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, La Cage aux Folles, Les Miserables, Into the Woods, Gypsy (Bernadette), The Apple Tree, etc.
The original productions for these shows were well reviewed generally, but the revival was not.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#11re: Why Does the Original Get Trashed in Favor of the Revival?
Posted: 6/1/08 at 8:46pm
Another thing to remember is sophistication.
What was once acceptable as amazing acting (or technical design or whatnot) is no longer. We have learned to be better actors and more sophisticated audiences. Our expectations are different.
That being said: Many revivals have not overshadowed their originals (see post above). It's all about perspective. Not too many of us on these boards, for example, were alive or old enough to actually SEE the origianl SP.
BTW, I saw both the original as well as the new SITPWG and while I liked the new one immensely, the original still swells in my heart and memory. To me, it has more heart.
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