Thank you for this! A lot to unpack. Short response: I suspect there is a difference between re-arranging some songs and some dialogue trims vs. completely changing the time period and wholesale rewriting a major character, or just flat out completely revising the script to teach audiences a contemporary "lesson." In all the cases you outlined (very impressively) the loyal audience didn't feel as gypped as they did with TAP DANCE.
The revival of NO NO NANETTE qualifies for Encores!, in my opinion, because it was an unexpected and legendary hit in its day. So, it is educational to see this "revival" that took Broadway by storm in the 1970s. It was not revised "for" Encores!. Also, one of the joys of Encores! is hearing stuff we've heard on cast albums, live. A great many people adore the orchestrations on the Nanette album. You must admit, the arrangements are top-drawer. It was a treat to hear arrangements not heard in NYC for decades. We had the 1970s experience of a 1920s show. |
