All That Chat - It's acceptable to judge the viability of a premise and relevance of a story very early.

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It's acceptable to judge the viability of a premise and relevance of a story very early.

Posted by:	Delvino 10:19 am EST 01/17/15
In reply to:	re: Gigi. First preview - lowwriter 11:53 pm EST 01/16/15

I strongly agree that no production fully coalesces around the earliest previews. Performers acquire a specific confidence, understanding the shape and demands of playing a whole show very late, circa the 10 out of 12. A first preview can be one of the earliest full run-throughs with design elements. Happens all the time. Yet the material itself, first exposed to air, the subject matter and how it lands in 2015 are certainly fair game. The OP made it clear that a certain mustiness prevails in the text, a flatness of storytelling perhaps associated with translating a beloved if vintage film to another medium (again) in a decade wherein such tales might have less emotional resonance. I don't think it's too soon at all to look at the show's relevance (particularly for a post-millennial female audience, who we're told buy the lion's share of musical seats) and likely connection to a contemporary audience. That's what intrigues me the most here, since it's Broadway bound: why this was revived, who is targeted for tickets, and what is the expectation in terms of providing that demographic a satisfying theatrical experience. Full disclosure: I'm lost as to the why and the why now.

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