There has been some whisperings in the air that, with the financially successful transfer of Into the Woods to the screen, director Rob Marshall is considering a screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. If that film were to happen today, the gestation from stage to screen would be 44 years. Given that it would take a few years for the film to be completed, we would be looking at closer to 46 years from opening night on Broadway to sitting at our local Cineplex and finally devouring Follies in movie form. This inspired me to start thinking: what are some of the longest gestations between opening night and film adaptation in Broadway history? If Follies does happen, would it hold the record?
Let's Not Whiz on The Wiz!
The renaissance of the television musical is a wonderful idea that has been executed poorly with the "live" concoctions as of later. Both The Sound of Music and Peter Pan were highly anticipated and resulted in stellar ratings, but artistically lacked any spark of inspiration. The interest is fortunate because this is a terrific opportunity to introduce the uninitiated to the world of musical theatre. The lack of quality is a different matter as the producers of these "events" should strive to not only capture this new audience, but deliver them top drawer experiences. Help them see WHY theatre is magical and life-changing when all of the elements come together into one cohesive, sparkling creation.
Oscar Snubs Woods - Really?
This entry is probably not going to be a popular one, but since it's topic is timely and relates to musicals, I feel compelled to address it: the alleged "snubbing" of Into the Woods for a "Best Picture" Oscar nomination.
I am a bit surprised at the number of people who are acting like it should have been a foregone conclusion that Into the Woods would receive one of these coveted slots. It is true that, had a film of Into the Woods added up to something spectacular that it could have received an Oscar nod. The ingredients were there, but the editing of important content, the caricature notions of would-be character development, and the lack of unique visual storytelling with the camera made it a good film, but not the great film that it should have been.
Broadway Heartbreaks: The Anti-Love Song
We are a month away from Valentine’s Day, and though many people adore this holiday, I am not one of them. It has nothing to do with the commercialism of Valentine’s Day. I think it is quite fine for greeting card companies, florists, jewelers and candy makers to fleece the couples of the world by making them see that they need to show their love with presents.
How was that for bitter?
No... I am not the curmudgeon that I painted in the previous paragraph, but I did use a little hyperbole to set up a theme that I have wanted to explore on this blog: the anti-love song. Broadway musicals are full of love songs where people outright declare their love for each other in intimate duets that make you wonder how they can sing so enthusiastically in each other’s faces and not shower their beloved in saliva. These songs are a dime a dozen. The songs that have always intrigued me are the anti-love songs; songs that skirt or altogether dismiss the possibility of love, or songs that rage against the emotion with contempt. Very often these are out favorite songs to be found in a Broadway show. Today’s blog plunges into the world of the shy, the scorned, the bitter and the lonely.