DD, I see your points but can't agree with all of them. Adding an audience to the broadcast would have added a lot of time, and awkward, unnatural pauses in the action waiting for applause to die down.
I agree that mostly it was not a visual stunner, but the Cinderella you compare it to was filmed and edited, without the constraints of one soundstage over a few hours. Cinderella would not be done live with those same sets.
As for your suggestion about choosing a less iconic title to perform, that is tough. A show without a very well known film version probably wouldn't garner the faith of the producers and network as to it's marketability. I think SOM will do okay in the ratings (even a lot of non-theatre friends were on Facebook talking about it; a lot of people with kids). If it got good ratings, what will have done it is the combination of Big Title & Star. I would imagine that will need to be replicated in any future project. My suggestions for consideration: Oliver!, Forum, The King & I, maybe Hello, Dolly!. I also think Into the Woods would be great, although obviously that won't be on the agenda soon. Also, while not a big title to most of America, Pal Joey could effectively be done for TV, I think. Did you hear that, Timberlake?
Agree entirely about Laura and Audra's performances. I shared a little worry that Audra's race would seem jarringly odd; for me, though, it didn't. What was odd is that she still managed to look so young and attractive. Also loved Christian Borle.
The only performance I seriously disliked was the Captain. If Carrie can be accused of under-acting, he went overboard the other way. Also, in the film, Plummer is cool to the children. Here, he seemed hostile. The Captain should be calm, imperial, an in-charge sea captain. He wasn't here.
The kids seemed fine, although I think in this format, with the few lines most of them have, they can't charm in quite the same way they can either onstage or in a normal film. Also, I think the Rolf-Leisl roll-down-the-hill was too much. Less is more. A nervous first kiss is both more exciting and romantic.
And yes, thanks to those who put this on.
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