Yentl, The Musical

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:16pm

I think this would translate well to the stage. The songs from the film are amazing. With providing some musical numbers for other characters, I think this would work really well. Any thoughts on this or casting?

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 02:16 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:17pm

I saw the film once and that was enough for me. Boring show with some great music.

They should do a concert - not the show.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:34pm

I think people would too closely identify the theme with Victor/Victoria, which was much closer to splashy Broadway fare. Perhaps it could be done in a small off-Broadway house.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:41pm

Yeah but do you thin anyone would buy the role of Yentl played by anyone byt Barbra?

[november]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:42pm

The Music was the best ever done, but the movie was so boring

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:43pm

This role isn't so attached to Streisand as Fanny Brice is. And Yentl was a straight play prior to being made into a musical, so I don't think there is that Funny Girl revival problem.

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 02:43 PM

[hypertruffle]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:44pm

Yentl actually played on the Great White Way with Tovah Feldshuh. No wait...that wasn't a musical.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:07pm

No.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:10pm

Mister Matt - that was the best reply to a thread EVER!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:19pm

Yentl worked as a film because all the songs were interior thoughts commenting on the externals. Rather than a musical per se, Yentl is a film with music. This is splitting hairs, but there is a difference.

If other characters sang or if any character sang externally the specialness of the film would not translate.

Yentl is the only character who can metaphorically 'sing'. All the others are earthbound. Having them sing makes them her equal and in this tale, they are not.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:37pm

It's a given that songs in musicals are already "interior thoughts commenting on the exteriors." I love YENTL and its score dearly (I want WHERE IS IT WRITTEN? sung at my funeral!) but to have the songs as voice-overs is not only a bit of a dodge but it's inconsistent with other songs where she does sing in a "stylized reality" (like the final number) and doesn't really work. Finally, it robs the audience of watching the actor 'perform' the song (or, in the case of film, giving the illusion thereof), one of the joys of the musical, especially in the case of Streisand, who is such a fascinating and expressive (not to mention talented) screen presence.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:45pm

"If other characters sang or if any character sang externally the specialness of the film would not translate."

Mandy Patinkin still can't understand this 22 years after the fact.

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 03:45 PM

[Avigdor]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:46pm

i could be wrong..but i almost remember it being an off broadway musical a few years back. way off

[BwayLover]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:10am

WOSQ said it best. The songs are internal monologues, so giving other characters songs to sing would not be true to the core of the story, as it's told in the movie (which is very different from both the book and the play).
Adding songs to the original play isn't going to work either, since it has such a unique feel to it, with Yentl speaking directly to the audience..Having songs just doesn't feel right.

The songs are gorgeous, though, and the movie is beautiful - it's my absolute favorite movie of all times.