Revivals
“Cats” is returning to Broadway. This was NOT one of my favorite musicals. In fact, probably my least liked musical. I remember reading the spectacular reviews when it first opened on Broadway and then running out to pay top dollar for a pair of tickets. But even though I paid premium price we sat 2 rows from the back wall of the mezzanine. So where were the cheaper seats located? In the lobby? In my opinion the music sounded like a collection of cheap, unsophisticated TV commercial jingles. My summary of the plot line: “A bunch of alley cats dance around in a junk yard. One of them dies and goes off to heaven. The end.” And I could not understand all the fuss over Betty Buckley’s performance. It consisted of standing on the stage twice to sing ‘Memory’ and then rising up to the ceiling of the theatre while standing on a noisy fork lift in need of a new carburetor. Was she on stage for more than 10 minutes? For that she won a Tony Award. But I don’t make my living as a theatre critic. Thank goodness. Some people actually loved it.
Bette Midler is returning to Broadway in “Hello, Dolly!”. This is excellent casting. ‘Dolly’ is low-brow musical comedy - with the emphasis on comedy - requiring a very strong comedienne to carry the show. Originally Patti LuPone was rumored to be in the running for the lead in this 50th anniversary revival. While I agree LuPone has a very strong singing voice and could carry the music – she is an overly dramatic and imperious diva and rarely funny. But I wonder if Midler will perform all 8 weekly performances and whether it is simply a limited run. The last time she appeared on Broadway in a very short run of “I’ll Eat You Last” she was interviewed by a reporter to whom she admitted that the 8 per week performances was very tiresome for her. She said it was doubtful she would ever appear on Broadway again. What changed her mind? If I were a casting agent I would have chosen Kristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher (recently co-starring in ‘On The 20th Century') for ‘Dolly’. They are closer to the characters' ages. But I doubt anyone could top the casting of Midler.
At the top of my must-see list is the "Fiddler on the Roof" revival. At the bottom of my list the joyless "The Color Purple" revival. The golden age of Broadway musicals has passed. The inspiration today for new musicals is so-so movies. Revivals keep Broadway alive.
Bette Midler is returning to Broadway in “Hello, Dolly!”. This is excellent casting. ‘Dolly’ is low-brow musical comedy - with the emphasis on comedy - requiring a very strong comedienne to carry the show. Originally Patti LuPone was rumored to be in the running for the lead in this 50th anniversary revival. While I agree LuPone has a very strong singing voice and could carry the music – she is an overly dramatic and imperious diva and rarely funny. But I wonder if Midler will perform all 8 weekly performances and whether it is simply a limited run. The last time she appeared on Broadway in a very short run of “I’ll Eat You Last” she was interviewed by a reporter to whom she admitted that the 8 per week performances was very tiresome for her. She said it was doubtful she would ever appear on Broadway again. What changed her mind? If I were a casting agent I would have chosen Kristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher (recently co-starring in ‘On The 20th Century') for ‘Dolly’. They are closer to the characters' ages. But I doubt anyone could top the casting of Midler.
At the top of my must-see list is the "Fiddler on the Roof" revival. At the bottom of my list the joyless "The Color Purple" revival. The golden age of Broadway musicals has passed. The inspiration today for new musicals is so-so movies. Revivals keep Broadway alive.
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