270 posts
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Post by littlesally on Mar 17, 2016 21:59:05 GMT
Has there ever been a revival of this in the west end? Woukd one be successful or is it too American (as I have heard many times).Have always been bemused by the fact that this won the Tony over West Side Story!
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Post by duncan on Mar 17, 2016 22:43:00 GMT
I think its one of those musicals that was big in the day but which has fallen through the cracks now. They'd need to cast big to draw a crowd as it isnt still a big name from the past ala West Side Story. If someone could reinvent it for the new millennium with a different take then it may just work, I think the last US revival had Matthew Broderick and you'd really need someone of similar stature here to sell it.
Maybe they could cast Robert Peston and pretend he has an extra R in his surname, that would get the crowds in.
I can see it now,
"76 Trom ---------------bones in the big--------- par-------------a--------------de"
Back it up with the actual Buffalo Bills and we could be onto a winner.
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4,171 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 17, 2016 23:14:27 GMT
Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenoworth, Molly Shannon and Deborah Mink all starred in the movie remake.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 23:24:30 GMT
I seem to recall the Chichester production wanted to transfer. I reckon it would've done as well as any transfer-from-Chichester of a decades-old musical, "too American" my foot. So much film and television and, well, EVERY source of entertainment we see over here comes from the US, they're not as culturally strange to us as they like to think they are. Remember when people thought Hairspray wouldn't work in the West End 'cos they couldn't conceive of English people understanding the civil rights movement? Utter tosh!
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270 posts
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Post by littlesally on Mar 17, 2016 23:44:57 GMT
I loved the revival on Broadway with Eric McCormick and Rebecca Luker, some years ago. Hoped that might come over. At the time I'm sure I recall reading that it was considered too American.
I personally don't think it is. There are some great songs, including a few that are very well known.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Mar 18, 2016 0:15:18 GMT
It was the first show I ever, ever did as an amateur, 8 years old playing Winthrop Paroo. I could not have adored the Chichester revival more (still remember the round of applause the opening got once the 'train' was full motion) and I would also love to see a West End revival. Gutted the Chichester production never came. One of the most brilliant musical theatre scores, IMHO, of course!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2016 5:48:16 GMT
The chichester production was the best musical I've seen them do, and possibly one of the best musical productions I've seen. Absolutely loved it and it's such a shame it never got a life beyond there
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 18, 2016 6:55:03 GMT
I saw the broadway revivial. It's was good, dated but charming. A limited west end run could easily work
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Post by macksennett on Mar 18, 2016 7:35:48 GMT
The Chichester revival was sensational and should have transferred. Wonderful score, a great favourite of mine!
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Post by max on Mar 18, 2016 7:53:18 GMT
Some people have said that the scenario of School Of Rock is essentially The Music Man updated. Personally I've always wondered if the 'businessmen on the train' scene in The Music Man invented Rap.  Jump to about a minute in: |
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Post by foxa on Mar 18, 2016 14:14:03 GMT
I saw that production. I'm a big Brian Cox fan and he sounds good in this recording of 76 Trombones: soundcloud.com/jayrecords/76-trombones-from-the-musicbut there was something odd about the show. I remember Cox was really heavily made up and everything was shouted. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2016 16:32:46 GMT
I haven't seen this, but I have heard and love a few of the songs. Seth Macfarlane did a great performance of "Ya Got Trouble" at the Proms a few years ago here:
(also worth mentioning Peter Grffin did Shipoopi in Family Guy!) I doubt he'd do a full revival however.
I remember an interview with Brian Conley saying that hopefully the Chichester revival would go to the West End. That production was 2008 so I imagine it won't come around now, which is a bit of a shame.
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Post by viserys on Mar 18, 2016 16:57:38 GMT
I have very fond memories of this show, as I was taken to an amateur performance in the US many years ago by American relatives who were involved in it. Apparently it's one of the most-staged shows among amdram, colleges and so on in the USA.
Would love to see a professional production sometime. And yes, it may be "pure Americana" but hardly more so than many other musicals and movies of the period.
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Post by musicallady on Mar 18, 2016 17:09:36 GMT
I've done the show twice as an amateur and loved it. Would love to see a professional version of it. There is only one Harold Hill and that is Robert Preston. Superb.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Mar 19, 2016 1:03:10 GMT
Maybe they could cast Harry Hill?! He'd be in character for life.
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