Worst Changes Made in an Amateur Production — Page 2

When I was in high school we did Carousel, which of course is a long show, and performed by students can be even longer. A lot of cuts were made to keep it to a reasonable length, some which might bother purists but ultimately don't effect the show too much (like cutting a large amount of the Carousel Waltz and the ballets).

But... for some strange reason, the director cut some of the bench scene and removed the part where Julie is explaining what she'd do if she loved Billy: "When I'd work in the mill, weaving at the loom..." etc. Which is the stupidest cut I've ever seen since that's the part that tells us that she is in love with Billy, since Carrie says earlier that she's doing all those things. I have no idea what was going through his head that he thought that was a disposable part of the score.

Years ago I did a horrible community theatre production of A Chorus Line,, the first number we rehearsed was hello twelve... and at the end of the number the coreographer said" and now everyone sit down on the line",, she wanted us to sit down on the line after every number cause she thought we would be tired , Ive never had such a fight in my life. I finally won the argument after pointing out that the name of the show is " A Chorus Line not A Chorus Sit Down"

There's the famous case of a production of "The Fantasticks" where they were nervous about the frequent use of the word "rape"...so they substituted the word "snatch" instead.

I've seen JCS with girls playing Simon Zealots, Kind Herod and Annus. Which I thought was a little odd.

I just watched that Mike and Ike clip. That might be the stupidest thing I've ever seen in my life. The kids we're even identical.

Isn't "snatch" a derogatory term for the vagina? At least, I've heard people use it as that. Because if it is, that's probably the funniest thing ever.

"Morosco, did one of them end up getting cut and the other getting the job? Maybe the director was giving them a tryout for a planned Side Show production."

Hahaha. Don't know. However it might be interesting to see a production of SIDE SHOW with males as the twins.

in 'grease,' rizzo was 'in trouble,' not knocked up.
and fongoul became 'je drool.'

good times.

eugene also was a girl, eugenia.

1. A community theatre production of Tommy where, when the actress playing the mother was sick, they just eliminated the role!!!

2. High school production of Singing in the Rain. Director wanted a big opening number, so actress playing the gossip reporter at the movie opening did a medley of Another Opening, Another Show/There's No Business like Show Buisiness...and all the extras in the scene (like 40!) did a big production number.

3. A Chorus Line cast with a combined character of Richie with either Bobby or Gregory (can't remember which one). Then, moments after his I can't catch a football-he sings about playing basket ball.

4. A Chorus Line (different one) that TRIED to use Fosse-type character as Zach and the choreogrpahy was poor attempt at his style. Instead of gold lame top hats and tuxes, they work black and white leotards, white gloves, BOWLER HATS. Instead of precision kicks at the end, they did this sort of low leanback and stick your leg out thing (think Rich Mans Fruge from Sweet Charity).

"Jesus just walked out from the wings, hugged Mary and Peter, and then Waved to the audience. "

Did he then go to Disneyland?

"StickToPriest, sadly it's true. The Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center's 1993 Children's Theatre Production of A CHORUS LINE featured a variety of alterations, the chief one being "Boobs & Tush" sung by a barely blooming 12 year old Val wearing a padded bra."

That sounds so wrong. Just doing A Chorus Line with children sounds just wrong.

And, sondheimboy2, I totally don't understand what your director was thinking. Did he win in the end? Because, if you do Something Just Broke as the opening number, you ruin the point of the show and the audience won't be able to connect with these characters. They'll just see them as the monsters they were perceived to be. I'm not saying I support these people. I'm just saying there's more to them than meets the eye.

"Isn't "snatch" a derogatory term for the vagina? At least, I've heard people use it as that. Because if it is, that's probably the funniest thing ever."

It IS a derogatory term for vagina.

---

Updated On: 4/24/07 at 05:08 PM

I told him that would be like starting a production of "Fiddler on the Roof" with the song "Anatevka", but he just didn't get it.

Fortunately, there were enough serious Sondheim fans in the cast who balked at his suggestion and saner heads prevailed.

Though, it's then that he started complaining about working with "Divas"...

---

"WE can do that..."

How about the pianist that can't play more than two notes at once?