194 posts
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Post by thebearofwestend on Mar 10, 2017 2:15:37 GMT
Have Disney Musicals gone good to bad or just the same?
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Post by viserys on Mar 10, 2017 6:05:41 GMT
I don't think there's a particular pattern of things going either way.
I never liked Beauty and the Beast, the very first Disney stage production, for example. I know it had (has) lots of fans but I thought it was garishly overwrought and silly and didn't have many memorable tunes. A lot of commerce and little heart.
Then came Lion King, which I'm undecided about. To some extent I think Julie Taymor did fantastic work in bringing the savannah to life and I love the authentic African sounds. But in a cynic/sober mood I also think that half the cast is reduced to puppeteers and there's also a lot of silliness around. Still it gets the thumbs up from me and I can see why it has been as successful as it did.
Next came Aida (I think), which was not based on an animated movie. It was far more grown up and I personally loved it, saw it a total of five times in the Netherlands and Germany and Elton John's soundtrack is among my favorites. I don't know why it never came to London.
It's been a mixed bag since. I saw Tarzan when it first opened on Broadway and didn't think it was bad at all. Not sure why it flopped so badly there. It's found favour here in Germany, but German musical fans' taste is no measuring yard. Again, a thumbs up from me.
I saw a downsized Little Mermaid on tour in the Netherlands and disliked it - despite the movie being one of my favorites. They just didn't manage to create a convincing underwater world and it became obvious that the movie is just too short/thin on substance to be spread into a musical. Would have needed a lot more work and someone who brought the kind of creativity to it that Taymor brought to Lion King.
When Aladdin was announced, I was over the moon as it was my favorite movie of the bunch that came out in the 90s. I saw it on Broadway and enjoyed it very much - James Monroe Inglehart was stunning. When I saw it again in London though, I realized that it didn't make for good repeat viewing as I started noticing the many flaws. Perhaps I was unlucky in that we saw an understudy Genie during the previews, when the actor in question couldn't have had many performances yet. He definitely couldn't hold a candle to JMI and sadly the Genie carries the entire show.
I didn't like Newsies (on Broadway) or Hunchback of Notre Dame (way back in Berlin) very much - both had great production values, but I don't like it when Disney dumbs down serious dark subjects into something bland and family friendly. I guess Aida worked better because it was never a Disney movie and had been conceived as a "grown up" stage musical from the start. I've never seen Mary Poppins, simply because I once started the movie when it was on TV and turned it off after 30 minutes because I couldn't bear the twee sugary nonsense. I know the stage musical isn't like that, but somehow I could never nudge myself into going.
Not sure if I have forgotten one or several, it's early in the morning. But generally I think it's always been up and down in terms quality. I personally hope that Disney will adapt stories like Pocahontas and Mulan, that have more substance than, say, the Little Mermaid, but are fairly family-friendly tales and don't need to be blandified like Hunchback of Notre Dame. While I don't think Frozen was worth the incredible hype, I do think it has the potential to be a really good stage musical. Finally I hope that Disney will try their luck with original productions like Aida again. And stop this new round of recycling old stuff with their "live versions" of Beauty and the Beast, Lion King and Aladdin.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 7:15:35 GMT
It's not only their stage shows; Walt Disney films have gone from Wonderful to Atrocious too. I wonder if today's kids will still be remembering magical film moments from their childhoods like some of us? Peter Pan flying over London to the Neverland ("When there's a smile in your heart..."); Dumbo in his mother's arms ("Baby mine, don't you cry..."); the seven dwarfs leaving the mine to return to their cottage in the woods ("Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it's home from work we go...")
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 11:36:54 GMT
I think for Disney films and I guess musicals to it's about hitting on a right 'moment' which nobody can predict- what will kids/families fall in love with is a bit of a 'magic' that not even the mouse can predict!
Personally I'm not a Disney fan in general- adored them as a kid but never got to that 'grown up still loving them' stage, and Toy Story aside I've not seen any of the newer Disney films since around Lion King, so maybe I'm not the best judge!
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Post by kathryn on Mar 10, 2017 11:48:54 GMT
It's not only their stage shows; Walt Disney films have gone from Wonderful to Atrocious too. I wonder if today's kids will still be remembering magical film moments from their childhoods like some of us? Peter Pan flying over London to the Neverland ("When there's a smile in your heart..."); Dumbo in his mother's arms ("Baby mine, don't you cry..."); the seven dwarfs leaving the mine to return to their cottage in the woods ("Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it's home from work we go...") None of your favourite moments are magical to me. For me, it was The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King. I suspect the scenes we love in Disney films is entirely dependent on how old you are when you first see them! |
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Post by David J on Mar 10, 2017 12:28:39 GMT
On the film front, there's people who are saying that Disney is in it's second renaissance of quality films at the moment, including The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, Wreck-it-Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia and Moana. Perhaps Up and Inside Out depending on whether you think Pixar is a part of Disney now.
Thats up for debate, especially depending on when you grew up. I enjoy a lot of Disney films old and new, but I certainly think they've stepped up their game recently. Maybe not as good as the first renaissance but still great
Its noticeable how say Pixar was a leading studio in animation during the 2000s. I loved most of their films up to Toy Story 3, but now a days they've lost the magic whilst Disney seems to be going in leaps and bounds. Part of me likes to think that John Lasseter becoming Chief Creative Officer and Creative Advisor at Disney has contributed to their recent success.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 12:47:25 GMT
It's not only their stage shows; Walt Disney films have gone from Wonderful to Atrocious too. I wonder if today's kids will still be remembering magical film moments from their childhoods like some of us? Peter Pan flying over London to the Neverland ("When there's a smile in your heart..."); Dumbo in his mother's arms ("Baby mine, don't you cry..."); the seven dwarfs leaving the mine to return to their cottage in the woods ("Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it's home from work we go...") None of your favourite moments are magical to me. For me, it was The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King. I suspect the scenes we love in Disney films is entirely dependent on how old you are when you first see them! Yup those are my 'magic' ones too! Also I had to be taken out of Snow White because I was too scared haha! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 15:31:15 GMT
On the film front, there's people who are saying that Disney is in it's second renaissance of quality films at the moment, including The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, Wreck-it-Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia and Moana. Perhaps Up and Inside Out depending on whether you think Pixar is a part of Disney now. Disney's main animation studio has undergone a renaissance from The Princess and The Frog onwards, but the live action side seems to have fallen into a pattern of unexceptional films that come and go without anyone really caring along with CGI-heavy remakes of animation classics. There's something a bit wrong when I see a trailer for Beauty and the Beast prior to watching Moana and I'm more aware of the technology in the supposedly live action film than in the fully animated one. I still think of Disney and Pixar as distinct. I recall reading somewhere that John Lasseter wanted to keep the various teams separate so each group would have its own style. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 15:41:09 GMT
You may not know
Of the top grossing films last year
Numbers 1-5 were Disney
Captain America
Rogue One
Finding Dory
Zootopia
Jungle Book
At least 4 of these were highly critically acclaimed
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 15:46:55 GMT
I mean having a high box office success doesn't always equate with quality...look at 50 Shades of Grey.
(Obviously mine and Monkey's theatre musical extravaganza will be both quality and box office gold though)
*I'm not saying any of those films are bad, I haven't actually seen them...but 2 are joint franchises (Marvel/Star Wars so no the traditional Disney the OP was talking about)
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4,970 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 10, 2017 16:00:38 GMT
Beauty and the Beast I saw on Broadway by accident, First trip to New York - I rocked up to TKT's on a Sunday evening, only show on,mint and loved it.
The Lion King, this is brilliant because it is so beautiful, no wonder why this is an out an out super hit, the artistic vision to realise this was immense.
Regarding Aida a score by Tim Rice and Elton John, would've punters Queue round the block, why it never came to the West End is one of the biggest mysteries in theatre.
Saw Little Mermaid and I leave it there.
Also saw Tarzan and there is a good show in there somewhere and would do well in the West End, if it was reimagined, public love Phil Collins. Understand this was a massive hit on the continent, so maybe import that version over, the score is excellent.
Newsies a couple of decent songs and some great choreography, but in the end could you really care about a paper round boy, who got paid late?
Aladdin, saw the pre-Broadway try out in Toronto and loved this, saw later in Broadway and loved and seen it thrice in the West End, still kind of love it and agree it isn't as special in the West End, last time I found I was just waiting for 'Friends Like Me' and 'A Whole New World'.
No doubt Frzen will be critic proof and be a massive hit, But sad to see Broadway turned into some Disney production line.
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Post by Jon on Mar 10, 2017 16:00:45 GMT
Disney's main animation studio has undergone a renaissance from The Princess and The Frog onwards, but the live action side seems to have fallen into a pattern of unexceptional films that come and go without anyone really caring along with CGI-heavy remakes of animation classics. There's something a bit wrong when I see a trailer for Beauty and the Beast prior to watching Moana and I'm more aware of the technology in the supposedly live action film than in the fully animated one. I still think of Disney and Pixar as distinct. I recall reading somewhere that John Lasseter wanted to keep the various teams separate so each group would have its own style. Disney's live action films outside of the fairytales, Marvel and Star Wars have been a mixed bag but I do think the failure of things like John Carter, The Lone Ranger have led to Disney becoming more safe. The Touchstone label is all but dead but they have released smaller films like Saving Mr Banks under the Disney name but not to the same degree that the other studios do. I think Disney did lose their way when DreamWorks and Pixar and dominant but they seem to have their mojo back with a string of hits such as Zootropolis and Moana. Ironically it seem DWA is not doing as well having been bought by Comcast and going through a restructure which has lead to many projects being canned, the rise of Illumination really hurt them as well as smaller studios like Warner Animation Group Disney Theatrical has evolved and their slate is more diverse going into more adult material like The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well as plays like Peter and the Starcatcher and Shakespeare in Love. |
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Post by Nelly on Mar 10, 2017 17:08:26 GMT
Surprised only one brief mention on Mary Poppins. For me that's one of the best. The production values in that (both touring and west end) are fantastic. I do love the Lion King a lot, but I'm not sure if it's more the score I appreciate than the stage show itself.
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193 posts
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Post by groupbooker on Mar 11, 2017 0:04:44 GMT
Saw Beauty & the Beast on Broadway before it came to London - loved it, even though we could say it was rather panto (starts in a village - don't all pantos?). I also saw over time Aida, Newsies, Little Mermaid and Hunchback when at Papermill. Loved Lion King and Mary Poppins in the UK. There was the bit about Disney cutting out the bit where the toys turn on the children on Broadway - would frighten the American kids - they let them shot guns!! I also agree with some comments here regarding Mermaid and Newsies. Loved Aida and seem to remember some thing of a rumour stating it wouldn't go down well in the UK?? How many Opera companies do Aida each year. What twaddle is that!! As for Hunchback that was total magic as far as I was concerned and Disney should be made to release it under Menken/Schwartz banner. They seem to think it isn't good enough to go to Broadway and its been given to schools etc to produce - what a waste!!
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