| I'd be happy to return to the bare bones format, when the score was the focus and thus the event. But I agree, audiences might never happily return to those terms, particularly with prices as they are. I remember the (enjoyable) Encores Zorba, which was both completely staged and thoughtfully designed and yet woefully lacking in a concept to match the original Prince staging (the Leader was a Muse, or something; results were bland). Sometimes we end up with summer stock (if star-studded stock) that lacks the vision thing. Arguably, a directorial conception -- a bold new way into material -- was never part of the Encores! mission. Yet it's crept into the equation, inadvertently. |
