Worst Revival Ever- Page 5

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 11:44am

Though I didn't love the ITW revival, I did think there were some vital things about it that made it worthwhile. The conception of the giant was infinitely better...and actually quite scary. Benanti's Cinderella was a complete re-thinking of the character, and she was sublime. And the pacing of Act Two went from Godot-like existentialism to something far more urgent. The stakes were simply stronger, due to its immediacy. I can't help but wonder how the second act of the original production would have played with that direction.

And, I may be alone in this opinion, but the Kathleen Marshall GREASE had many more pleasures than the early 90's GREASE. That one was brutal.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 11:57am

I'll add my hate for the INTO THE WOODS revival here. It's my favorite musical and finally seeing it live was such a huge deal for me but after about 20 minutes (okay, maybe 10), I was very upset. The entire concept around the revival seemed to be to take it as far away from the original production as possible. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing in some instances, removing what (to me) made the original so special for the sake of "making it different" was a bad move. I normally love Vanessa Williams but she's the epitome of miscast in this as was Kerry O'Malley's astonishingly awful portrayal of The Bakers Wife. The entire thing was a waste to me and I was happy to be out of that theater when it was over.

[aliceripleysnumber1]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 1:20pm

I, too, am shocked that acl was down on the Rocky Horror revival. It stands out as one of my favorite nights at the theatre!

[Jon]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 1:20pm

There seemede to have been some kind of post-9-11 tone to the ITW revival. The baker and his wife in the original (at least with Gleason and Zien) seemed like contemporary New Yorkers - a couple out of a Woody Allen movie. In the revival, they were more like simple, heroic All-American rural folk - the baker looked like Paul Revere with his ponytail. The irony and sophistication was gone.

Posted: 9/2/11 at 6:38pm

Earlier in this thread, someone said in the ITW revival that the Witch turned into a snake... I'd never heard this before, so am doubting it, but anyone know the truth?

I did wonder why Lapine (and Sondheim I guess) brought back elements that so clearly seemed to not work in the original LaJolla workshop production--like the little pigs... (And I'm a bit amazed that some people felt Tony Staiges' original scenic designs were dreary--I find them striking, even on video).

[cooltu]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 8:00pm

Grease in 2007

[ooblogway]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 8:07am

My vote goes to the 2001 revival of BELLS ARE RINGING directed by Tina Landau. Faith Prince seemed way too old or at least way too old for Marc Kudisch - it gave the whole show an unintended Oedipal complex.

Bells

Updated On: 9/3/11 at 08:07 AM

[BwayDreamer00]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 8:50pm

Okay I know the 2004 revival of La Cage Aux Folles was a low key flop but the costumes were absolutley over the top BUT in the best way possible and the choreography was SO can-can that in a way it was irrisistable...this revival is often forgotten so right now go to Youtube and type in "La Cage Aux Folles 2005 tony awards" you will be blown away!!

[Chicken_Flavor]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 8:56pm

I didn't like the Guys and Dolls revival from 2009 and the Les Mis 2006 revival.

Also, why did you revive a thread from 2006? 

See what I did there

[BwayDreamer00]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 9:02pm

The 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls......Guys and Dolls is one of the most iconic american musicals and one of the most famous musicals of all time thanks to its funny book, wacky characters and CATCHY SONGS I know the 1977 revival is often quite forgotten about but the 1992 revival with Nathan Lane and Faith Prince was outstanding (I didn't see it but I have seen my fair share of videos and I have seen reviews) but this is WORST revival.....the 2009 revival with Oliver Platt and Lauren Graham was just a sloppy mess...they made amazing material so in your face and obnoxious....the cast was so meh..I like Lauren Graham but as ADALAIDE (spelling?) sorry Adalaide is supposed to have an annoying high pitched voice and is supposed to be the "really annoying musical theater character but annoying in a good way that you love her" here Lauren had a reaally pretty? voice? And just made her portrayal super whiney....the sets were at times okay but projections in a show that takes place in the 1920s is awkward....the only costumes I was into were the crapshooter costumes and the missionary costumes those hot box costumes were just ugly....the dancing was fine except for "Bushel And A Peck" which was pretty much dancing with pitchforks and straw hats....

[10086sunset]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 9:27pm

Chicken_Flavor said: "I didn't like the Guys and Dolls revival from 2009 and the Les Mis 2006 revival.

Also, why did you revive a thread from 2006? 

See what I did there"

 

Love what you did there.

The Guys and Dolls revival was beyond bad. It was tragic.

[Chicken_Flavor]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 9:28pm

BwayDreamer00 said: "The 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls......Guys and Dolls is one of the most iconic american musicals and one of the most famous musicals of all time thanks to its funny book, wacky characters and CATCHY SONGS I know the 1977 revival is often quite forgotten about but the 1992 revival with Nathan Lane and Faith Prince was outstanding (I didn't see it but I have seen my fair share of videos and I have seen reviews) but this is WORST revival.....the 2009 revival with Oliver Platt and Lauren Graham was just a sloppy mess...they made amazing material so in your face and obnoxious....the cast was so meh..I like Lauren Graham but as ADALAIDE (spelling?) sorry Adalaide is supposed to have an annoying high pitched voice and is supposed to be the "really annoying musical theater character but annoying in a good way that you love her" here Lauren had a reaally pretty? voice? And just made her portrayal super whiney....the sets were at times okay but projections in a show that takes place in the 1920s is awkward....the only costumes I was into were the crapshooter costumes and the missionary costumes those hot box costumes were just ugly....the dancing was fine except for "Bushel And A Peck" which was pretty much dancing with pitchforks and straw hats.... "

Woof! You must really hate this revival. No need to write an essay.

 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 9:35pm

The Into the Woods revival was terrible except for Laura Benanti and the 2009 Guys and Dolls revival was literally one of the worst things that I have ever seen.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 11:04pm

A Chorus Line 06

Bye Bye Birdie (Roundabout) 

Sunday in the park (Roundabout) 

Grease (200?) 

Once Upon a mattress (1996)

Pal Joey (Roundabout) 

Pretty much 80% of Roundabouts revivals have been awful. 

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 5/12/17 at 11:53pm

The 2009 Guys & Dolls and the Roundabout Bye Bye Birdie were shocking to me in the sense that professionals took iconic shows and somehow managed to be less inventive, less clever, and less entertaining than many (though not all...) high school and amateur productions of the same shows.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 12:25am

Les Miz & Miss Saigon - having just seen the original staging in London - and crying throughout - and being frustrated at how "lacking" the Miss Saigon revival was all around: no one could act, the singing was bland, the staging was bland, everything was bland. 

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 12:44am

"MY FAIR LADY (Chamberlain) I still giggle when I think of those people suspended mid-air during the Ascot scene!"

 

I didn't know anything about this but I am LIVING for this. Anyone have any details on this?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 7:25am

Voila. It was a very strange visual production. I remember a giant skull in the Higgins study as well? 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 8:53am

This past season's Cherry Orchard has to be in the running.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 10:01am

I quite like the look of that My Fair Lady scene- not sure it works for that show, but it's a striking visual for something.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 10:07am

The most recent revival of Les Miserables. Dirt cheap, tacky, and poorly cast.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 10:10am

I agree with others that have posted, the 2009 revival of "Guys And Dolls" was terrible especially in comparison to the 1992 revival.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 11:15am

Any revival of GREASE.  Doesn't matter what one.

The Roundabout production of BYE BYE BIRDIE.  I found myself getting embarrassed during Put on a Happy Face, because of Stamos's pathetic attempt at dancing.

PROMISES PROMISES.  I loved the original production, but when I saw the revival, it seemed sleezy to me in a way that made no sense, since it was the same material as the original.  I also didn't like the look if the show and Chenoweth was miscast, as stated thousands of time on this site.

Must be a PAL JOEY thing.  Years ago, Pal Joey was done at the Circle in the Square.  It was terrible and the leading male -- who I think was a last minute replacement -- was so devoid of charisma that he seemed dead.

Does LORELEI count?  God knows it was awful.

Disagree:

I loved the MAME revival.  I know it was not great and that the glittery get were tacky.  But I was in a state of joy due to one word, Lansbury.I also loved the revival of SITHWG.  Since I didn't like the original production, that is quite an accomplishment.  I thought that Jenkins and Russell were wonderful and the set was great.

[hork]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 12:05pm

I also kind of like that My Fair Lady scene. It's like Seurat meets Magritte, or something.

My answer is Cats. Just because it's Cats. I don't really have an answer if we're restricting it to revivals of shows that were originally good, because I've enjoyed all the ones I've seen.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 5/13/17 at 4:13pm

Roundabout revival (or revisal) of Boys From Syracuse. Especially coming after the sublime Encores production. The Roundabout one was painfully bad.

 

The Rob Ashford Carousel in Chicago was also godawful.