Reading the reviews of Rocky, I am struck by the number which mention the show following the screen plot very closely (slavishly?), not only that:
AKarls's performance is noted as being
from the SStallone mold (10 years ago,
who would have thought the SS and Bway musical would be directly linked?). Also, it's been posted here that MMazzie's performance in BOB is reminiscent of DWiest's in the film. Not only are the books by rote, the performances are following suit -as if that's a good thing.
Years ago, films (and books and plays)
were adapted: music indicating the points of a show as it coalesces in excitement and depth, music generating its momentum, and music expressing lyrically what could best be heightened by live performance. A show didn't necessarily follow source material (in these years, 'commodity').Characters were conflated and situations eliminated: Mame combined the characters of Gooch and the housemaid, and the memoirs scene is rather shortened. The liner notes of Applause note Comden&Green devising a way to make the show less all about Eve, and more about Margo, effectively dropping about 20 minutes of the film plot. Musical adaptations had a different title (most times), and I think the attitude of audiences was "let's see what they'll do with this" rather than
"how great to see our fave film live and in person."
all this smacks of Peter Pan on Ice
and other Disney movies brought to skating rink. Some years ago, shows became "attractions" by world-wide popularity and longevity. (Phantom+)
now, production values are getting ultimate attention and the book-music
are at best, "make do." Can you imagine Fiddler's finale incorporating
all the devises the film's conclusion used - charming simplicity turns to overkill and kills the tone of a great musical.
I know this has been thought-posted before, but I find this all extremely distressing, and wanted to state my ever-declining interest in current musicals ("spectacles with music")
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