I couldn't agree more. Looking at the two supposed adaptations offers a masterclass in adaptation from LaChiusa & Wolfe, compared to a surface level lazy attempt by Lippa. I'll grant that Lippa's score is fun, and a lot of people like it, but the show itself is not my cup of tea... whereas I can't get enough of LaChiusa's. LaChiusa's score is an intelligent layered masterpiece and is also very fun - a lot more fun if you ask me.
I think Encores did Lippa's because Sutton wanted to do it (miscast though she was). But I think it was a bad choice. It's also a show that gets produced pretty often around the country. |