I've said this, and I'll always this, (sorry to the naysayers) that Batman should be on Broadway. I have heard one of the songs from this show (the Steinman project from 2001) and it's absolutely heartbreaking. It's pssibly, out of a thousand musicals (literally) I have come into knowledge of, one of the greatest highlights of all. The idea itself... particularly the Burton version... is just crying out to be done in the theatre.
The Gotham City environment, its portrayal of New York, and the larger-than-life characters: the gothic operatic Batman, the tour de force role of the Joker, the slinking Catwoman in the style of Lotte Lenya (very Brechtian and Kurt Weill), the grmacing Penguin, Robin, you name it. It just lends perfectly to the artform for the location alone: about a caped crime-fightrer in a mythical dimension of New York City. And then add the over-the-top music of Jim Steinman: which would have served it so well... it would have been really something. Batman in general, the original 30s concept (and the Burton movies), would make a compelling, fascinating, tour-de-force Broadway musical. It would be a like a big funny combination of My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom of the Opera: with all the word-play and cleverness of the Joker, the rock opera (Gethsemane-style) of Batman, and the scope and the spectacle to match the insanity and 'largeness' of it all (Phantom-wise)
I really want to see this done... especially if Vampire Lestat succeeds. Perhaps Warner Bros. should then turn to this old flame: and see what happens. Dance of the Vampires was a flop, I know, but Steinman has had more success in his life that this shouldn't over-ride everything (and Lestat and Bat Out of Hell III could be the means of bringing this back: not to mention the overwhelming success of Batman Begins in general). Whatever the case, I want to see this: BADLY:
Other than that, and The Little Mermaid (a guilty pleasure), I think musicals should be a balance of everything: bring in the London invasion, the golden era, the Sondheim, the Disneyesque, and try and makeit full circle. Just don't over-balance eveyrhting with one big phase at the one time. Still, I want Batman! I want Batman! I want Batman!
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
Updated On: 7/9/05 at 12:43 AM
