musicals who waste a good source material
musicals who waste a good source material
#0musicals who waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 7:53am
rather self-explanatory title to this post.
start your listing.
i'll say:
*PETER PAN (practically ANY version i know)
*WICKED(don't crucify me. it COULD have been better with such a great book as source)
*AIDA- well... you know...
*CAMELOT-great great songs- but how came such great legends end up sooo dull?
that's all i can think of for now...
http://musicalkid.multiply.com/
#1re: musicals who waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 8:28am
I COMPLETELY agree about Peter Pan! The book is incredibly moving, but just about any adaptation simply grabs the fun stuff and leaves the good stuff behind. It makes me want to cry.
I also agree about Wicked. I readily admit that I love this musical . . . too much, but after I saw the musical, I read the book and realized how amazing the musical COULD have been. Alas, people just don't care anymore.
#2re: musicals who waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 9:37amTHE COLOR PURPLE is a waste when you consider what a more accomplished writing team could have done with that novel.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#3re: musicals who waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 9:55amI completely agree, Michael.
#4re: musicals who waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:05amLennon pretty much trashed all The Beatles songs.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#6re: musicals who waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:22am
"Lennon pretty much trashed all The Beatles songs"
I would think that the book would be the source material you might take issue with. The performances of all the songs in this show were NOT the problem at all. In my opinion, of course.
#7re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:19am
HIGH SOCIETY - Take a sparkling play (THE PHILADELPHIA STORY) add sparkling Cole Porter songs and the show that arrived on Broadway was flat and stale. (The current staging at Shaw Festival is much more entertaining, but given the source material this should be a better show.)
All of the M-g-M screen musicals that they have tried to transfer to stage: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, 7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROS, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE PIRATE, EASTER PARADE - none have worked and wasted good source material.
SUNSET BLVD. - a great screenplay ruined by ALW and company which they tried to hide with a fantastic physical production and a megawatt star performance from the leading lady.
ALL ABOUT EVE - the musical (APPLAUSE) lacks the bite of the original but was a success on Broadway (and television) thanks to its original star, Lauren Bacall. But the script could be much better and that is why recent attempts to revive it have failed.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - Maury Yeston's version gets more of it right, but the ALW version on Broadway is sloppy in the story-telling department and is weighed down with terrible lyrics.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
broadwaybaby692
Leading Actor Joined: 5/11/06
#8re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:22am
I agree with Lennon, the Cirque du Soleil "Love" in Vegas sounds much more interesting.
#9re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:30amCraig- You are right- Especially in the case of Will Chase, however, the direction, book, and entire production of the musical was messed up
#10re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:46amTHE COLOR PURPLE
jimnysf
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/05
#11re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:54am
"All Shook Up"
"Lestat"
#12re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:01pmHarold and Maude the musical
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#13re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:03pm
the civil war
#14re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:05pmThe Civil War is not a book musical, and was not based on anything to waste good source material. It is a concert of songs that tell stories about people living through the Civil War. I'm not sure that counts as a waste of good source material.
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
#15re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:37pm
Wicked--imagine what a good book writer and a better score could've done for this novel? It should be darker.
Little Women
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#16re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:41pm
What "book" was ALL SHOOK UP based on?
Read the thread head kids.
#17re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:42pmI think the poster meant that All Shook Up was based on the music of Elvis, and ruined the songs.
#18re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:42pm
CPD - I "guess" they might be referring to Twelfth Night - wasn't the book based VERY loosely on that?
If they are indeed referring to the music and lyrics - I'd have to repeat my comment re: Lennon..
jimnysf
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/05
#19re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:44pm
"What "book" was ALL SHOOK UP based on?
Read the thread head kids"
Perhaps it is you who needs to do some reading? Ever hear of "Twelfth Night"? :)
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#20re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:49pmWhistle Down The Wind - it never really captured the theme of the story.
#21re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:53pmWow- How idiotic am I? I never made the connection between that play and All Shook Up! (I feel stupid now)
#22re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 12:53pm
Forget "Twelfth Night"...ALL SHOOK UP is based on Elvis' music. Therefore, the SOURCE material is the Elivis Presley songbook.
CPD: This thread merely references source material. Not only shows whose source material is a novel.
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#23re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 1:02pmWicked was the first thing that came to mind. I think it could have made an incredible musical, but it was turned into a horrible Disney-like, cartoonish, high school drama.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#24re: musicals that waste a good source material
Posted: 5/26/06 at 1:35pmSource material isn't limited to books, plays or films. Events and the lives of real people have been sources of many theatrical productions.
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