CODA is an incredibly powerful film about Ruby, a teenage girl who is the only hearing member of a deaf family. For my money, it's the finest film I have seen from 2021. I suspect it will win the Best Picture Oscar on Sunday.
By no means a musical, there is a great deal of singing in it. Both Ruby and her friend Miles belong to a choir. They are preparing for a concert, and they have auditions coming up for entrance into a college of music. The film also has a beautiful original underscore by Marius de Vries.
I wonder if it would be better for the stage version to be a play with music, using the songs and score from the film that have already made it into such a moving and emotionally striking piece. Just my thoughts. Adding book songs to such a strong story might dilute its strength. The scenes of Ruby communicating with her non-hearing family work so well as is in telling their story. |
