Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Representing Us, Thanking Troops, Scoring Firsts!
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Why One B'way Musical Works; The Other Doesn't
Broadway and the movies have been going steady for a long time.
That's because the movies often provide good, solid stories that can be turned into Broadway musicals. Since the book is often one of the weakest parts of any musical, an already available well-structured story is a godsend. And if the movie was very successful, the musical that is constructed around its story comes with its own established brand and a huge built-in audience.
But none of this necessarily guarantees success.
Recent cases in point: Groundhog Day, The Bridges of Madison County, Rocky and Honeymoon in Vegas. All of these musicals made from successful movies failed to gain a big audience on Broadway.
Adapting a movie into a musical is a tricky business. It requires just the right balance. It can't follow the movie too closely but it can't veer too far from the essence of what made the film a success. It usually needs star power but the actors cannot and should not mimic the successful stars of the original film production. And, the movie must be condensed to the confines of the stage while retaining some of the scope of the big screen. That, in itself is a huge challenge.
Two adapted movie comedies are currently running on Broadway -- one a RonCom, the other a biting social satire. One succeeds wildly, scoring a solid 10 while the other sputters a bit and can manage little more than a six or seven on the 10-point scale.
There's almost a cult surrounding Pretty Woman, the 1990 Cinderella story that starred Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. This now classic megahit has kept is loyal audience and added new followers over a period of nearly three decades.
Now, along comes the musical with Samantha Barks and Andy Karl. Somehow, the whole thing comes off as surprisingly tinny. Overall, the music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance make for a not-particularly-memorable nor fully integrated score. And the book by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton follows the movie scenario so closely as to be all too predictable.
While we love Andy Karl and have admired his performances in several other musicals, despite his best efforts there seems to be no real chemistry between him and Samantha Barks. Karl's wife Ofeh is also in the show in a supporting role and, though she has a powerful voice, she comes across as shrill and imposing.
There are some bright spots. In a dual role, Eric Anderson steals several scenes and probably should have garnered a Tony nomination. And some of the numbers (like On A Night Like Tonight, Freedom, Something About Her and I Could Get Used to This) really pack a punch. And, it's not as if the show is a dud. In fact, it's been running for almost a year now and seems to have found an audience. But it charts no new ground and garnered no award nominations.
And the show suffers by comparison with the season's big new hit, the movie-to-musical Tootsie starring Santino Fontana in a role that allows him to knock it out of the park. Based on the 1982 movie, the adapted Tootsie musical digs deep to find new relevance in this trailblazing gender-blending story.
When it comes to praising Tootsie, we almost don't know where to begin. Veteran director Scott Ellis has mined pure comedy gold with Tootsie. But, with a book by Robert Horn we also have a fully woke Tootsie that is up-to-the-minute with zingers that are as fresh as the morning's headlines. No question about it, this is the funniest show on Broadway right now and it truly breathes new life into Broadway musical comedy. In fact, we haven't heard such sustained laughter from the audience of a musical in years. And the show manages to be aware and meaningful without being peachy or doctrinaire.
Much of this has to do with the impeccable timing and the superb performances of Fontana, Lilli Cooper, Sarah Stiles, Andy Grotelueschen. Michael McGrath, John Behlmann and the entire cast. Stiles' staccato delivery of the hilarious number What's Gonna Happen literally takes your breath away. Ditto for Gotelueschen's Jeff Sums it Up. And Behlmann's take on the hunky, clueless Max Van Horn comic heaven. But it's Fontana who pulls it all together via a tour-de-force performance that brings back memories of the best of shows such as La Cage Aux Folles, Hirspray and Victor, Victoria. Fontana manages to be sagacious, funny, neurotic, ingenious, poignant, endearing and exasperating from one moment to the next. And it all works.
Beyond all this, the show's production values are superb. Tootsie is not only blessed with great tunes by the hugely talented David Yazbek but also a large cast; a full, rich, resonant orchestra; great costumes by the legendary William Ivey Long; sets by David Rockwell and choreography by Denis Jones. The show acts looks and sounds like a big, real, live Broadway musical.
No wonder it has attracted huge raves and 11 Tony award nominations. This is the one to see!
If you want to read more stories like this visit our Broadway Blog: Dan On Broadway!
That's because the movies often provide good, solid stories that can be turned into Broadway musicals. Since the book is often one of the weakest parts of any musical, an already available well-structured story is a godsend. And if the movie was very successful, the musical that is constructed around its story comes with its own established brand and a huge built-in audience.
But none of this necessarily guarantees success.
Recent cases in point: Groundhog Day, The Bridges of Madison County, Rocky and Honeymoon in Vegas. All of these musicals made from successful movies failed to gain a big audience on Broadway.
Adapting a movie into a musical is a tricky business. It requires just the right balance. It can't follow the movie too closely but it can't veer too far from the essence of what made the film a success. It usually needs star power but the actors cannot and should not mimic the successful stars of the original film production. And, the movie must be condensed to the confines of the stage while retaining some of the scope of the big screen. That, in itself is a huge challenge.
Two adapted movie comedies are currently running on Broadway -- one a RonCom, the other a biting social satire. One succeeds wildly, scoring a solid 10 while the other sputters a bit and can manage little more than a six or seven on the 10-point scale.
There's almost a cult surrounding Pretty Woman, the 1990 Cinderella story that starred Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. This now classic megahit has kept is loyal audience and added new followers over a period of nearly three decades.
Now, along comes the musical with Samantha Barks and Andy Karl. Somehow, the whole thing comes off as surprisingly tinny. Overall, the music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance make for a not-particularly-memorable nor fully integrated score. And the book by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton follows the movie scenario so closely as to be all too predictable.
While we love Andy Karl and have admired his performances in several other musicals, despite his best efforts there seems to be no real chemistry between him and Samantha Barks. Karl's wife Ofeh is also in the show in a supporting role and, though she has a powerful voice, she comes across as shrill and imposing.
There are some bright spots. In a dual role, Eric Anderson steals several scenes and probably should have garnered a Tony nomination. And some of the numbers (like On A Night Like Tonight, Freedom, Something About Her and I Could Get Used to This) really pack a punch. And, it's not as if the show is a dud. In fact, it's been running for almost a year now and seems to have found an audience. But it charts no new ground and garnered no award nominations.
And the show suffers by comparison with the season's big new hit, the movie-to-musical Tootsie starring Santino Fontana in a role that allows him to knock it out of the park. Based on the 1982 movie, the adapted Tootsie musical digs deep to find new relevance in this trailblazing gender-blending story.
When it comes to praising Tootsie, we almost don't know where to begin. Veteran director Scott Ellis has mined pure comedy gold with Tootsie. But, with a book by Robert Horn we also have a fully woke Tootsie that is up-to-the-minute with zingers that are as fresh as the morning's headlines. No question about it, this is the funniest show on Broadway right now and it truly breathes new life into Broadway musical comedy. In fact, we haven't heard such sustained laughter from the audience of a musical in years. And the show manages to be aware and meaningful without being peachy or doctrinaire.
Much of this has to do with the impeccable timing and the superb performances of Fontana, Lilli Cooper, Sarah Stiles, Andy Grotelueschen. Michael McGrath, John Behlmann and the entire cast. Stiles' staccato delivery of the hilarious number What's Gonna Happen literally takes your breath away. Ditto for Gotelueschen's Jeff Sums it Up. And Behlmann's take on the hunky, clueless Max Van Horn comic heaven. But it's Fontana who pulls it all together via a tour-de-force performance that brings back memories of the best of shows such as La Cage Aux Folles, Hirspray and Victor, Victoria. Fontana manages to be sagacious, funny, neurotic, ingenious, poignant, endearing and exasperating from one moment to the next. And it all works.
Beyond all this, the show's production values are superb. Tootsie is not only blessed with great tunes by the hugely talented David Yazbek but also a large cast; a full, rich, resonant orchestra; great costumes by the legendary William Ivey Long; sets by David Rockwell and choreography by Denis Jones. The show acts looks and sounds like a big, real, live Broadway musical.
No wonder it has attracted huge raves and 11 Tony award nominations. This is the one to see!
If you want to read more stories like this visit our Broadway Blog: Dan On Broadway!
Now, This Is A Real Eye-Opener!
Here's another story that the dominant liberal media are hiding from you!
Monday, May 27, 2019
Right Now, These Words Ring More True Than Ever!
An inspirational message from Ronald Reagan that resonates today more than ever!
Small Town America: The Essence Of What It Means!
On Memorial Day, does anything say "America" better than the observance of a small town -- a town united in its devotion to our country and to those who gave their all?
These scenes are from this morning's Memorial Day commemoration in a nearby small town here in South Jersey.
This is America!
May it always be so.
A Solemn Place To Remember The Fallen . . .
If you go to Washington DC and you don't see the beautiful World War II memorial (between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial) you will miss one of the most majestic and inspiring places in our nation's capital.
The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people. The Second World War is the only 20th Century event commemorated on the National Mall's central axis.
This classically-designed memorial traces the history of the war and those who fought it with words, wreaths, columns, gold stars, fountains, ramps and a huge plaza complete with seating around the rim for moments of quiet contemplation.
And yet the World War II memorial contains not a single statue of any one person. And that's appropriate because it honors every single person who contributed to the success of the war effort.
The Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war, the D-Day Invasion, the Battle of Midway and every state and territory are all here. Nothing has been forgotten.
And yet for all it's grandeur -- and it is grand -- the World War II memorial lends itself to quiet reflection and a real sense of intimacy.
This is an exceptionally well-designed public space and it stands as one of the finest monuments in Washington.
The memorial is operated by the National Park Service and is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about visiting the memorial, accessibility, parking, directions, special events and other details, please visit the National Park Service Web site at www.nps.gov/nwwm or call the Park Service at (202) 619-7222.
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