| re: Review of “Sunday in the Park” in New Jersey. | |
| Last Edit: Chazwaza 03:59 pm EDT 03/23/24 | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 03:42 pm EDT 03/23/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Review of “Sunday in the Park” in New Jersey. - AlanScott 02:38 pm EDT 03/23/24 | |
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| Yes, in *most* cases, the original production, assuming the authors are alive for it, is the most true to the original intention and expression of the authors, and is built in concept and execution, out of the process of developing it or at least discussing it at great length and in each step of the process (any rewrites, readings, casting, design concepts/meetings/execution, rehearsals and previews) with the writers. In some cases the director's concept is different than the writers original idea of how it would be directed, but is in happy congress with it and is fully approved and embraced by the writer (like Sweeney Todd), or in some rare cases it is both a happy congress and at notable odds with the writers' vision (like Pippin... and usually I side with writers, but in this case Fosse was 100% right it seems, and I think Schwartz has come around to acknowledging that). I think it's surely true that in many cases other directorial visions are just as good or just as in line with the authors intentions or vision for the show, or even that it found ways to better or more interestingly express the show the authors wrote... but I can think of few examples where the original production was ever spoken about by the authors as so off from their desires that it didn't represent what they wanted. Many shows have changed during the process of the original production, and they ultimately assessed that elements of the direction or production led it down the wrong path. Whether that be in the ways things went astray on Mack and Mabel or Dear World, or even more on Rags, or disastrous mismatch like Carrie (though I still prefer that version). **But they key thing is that this is rarely if ever said of an original production that was successful, either critically or at the box office. If anyone can thinking of shows that were critically admired, successful at the box office, ran any notable length of time (I'd say that's more than 4 months in the old days and more than 9 months more recently), or that became popular to produce using the original version of the script and score... that are considered to not have had an original production that was essentially definitive in serving the authors intention. Which isn't to say there couldn't be future productions that are more interesting or inventive or bring an equal but different take on it. But not to replace the original or to fix it. I can only think of Jesus Christ Superstar really... even though I imagine I'd have absolutely loved the original Tom O'Horgan Broadway production. But I think this is also different than most examples because it was already born and known to the world as a concept album, it existed outside of this production first, with i think the entire score already there with few changes (i could be wrong there)... and additionally, being a string of songs following a Bible story, rather than a new story or a longer/more ambitious story adapted into a 2 hour musical (like from a novel), and having no dialogue... that's quite different than most musicals or how they begin. |
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