Saturday, September 29, 2007

Broadway Bits

Many things to talk about but not much time. So there's always national news to fill the space: I’ve seen a few articles hyping Claire Danes in Pygmalion; always interesting to read the mainstream media’s take on a big name actress working on the stage. Also, USA Today has a fall Broadway preview today, with a big piece on “Young Frankestein.”

Some related thoughts: A friend who saw Stoppard’s “Rock-n-Roll” in London said it is moderately dreadful and I saw a production of “The Grinch” last year, which was fine but when it comes down to it, not as good as the original ½ cartoon. And I really enjoyed Mel Brooks when I was an adolescent but I don’t know that the basics of his humor have gone anywhere since. I didn’t see “The Producers” but also don’t feel like I missed anything much. I love the movie “Young Frankenstein” but I have no burning desire to see a stage version. So I’m still waiting for the new, exciting, original play for this fall, i.e., this year’s “Doubt” or “Spring Awakening.”

And finally, something that has me both scared and just a touch excited is this item on Bono teaming up with Julie Taymor to produce a stage version of “Spiderman.” It could be an interesting experiment. Or it could be like Jim Steinman’s long-gestating desire to stage a musical version of “Batman”: a sketchy idea that never really gets filled in.

9 comments:

Scott Wichmann said...

Dibs on Spiderman!! Where do I go to audition??

Frank Creasy said...

Spidey's all yours Scotto. I just want to be J. Jonah Jamison!

Scott Wichmann said...

Oh, man- now that would be awesome-- Bruce? Phil? Are you guys getting all of this??

Andrew Hamm said...

I'm having the exact same reaction to the news about Spider-Man as I did to The Lion King:

[curmudgeon voice]"Spider-Man, the MUSICAL? What the hell are they THINKING? Any recognizeable name to make a buck, right? That's all Broadway is about these days, take some name kids recognize, put a movie star in a costume, and-- Wait, what? It's directed by Julie Taymor? [/curmudgeoun voice] Oh, I'll see that, sure."

Seriously, though, Batman scored by Jim Steinman? With what, Meat Loaf as Bruce Wayne? What an ungodly terrible idea.

Angelika HausFrauSki said...

I mean, he IS like a bat out of hell...

Frank Creasy said...

Angelika SCORES! WELL played, m'lady!

And Andrew - not so hard on The Loaf, amigo...he's an ACTOR now, ya know!!! (He would do ANYTHING for a role...but he won't do THAT)

Scott Wichmann said...

He's also a Yankee fan. Yuck.

Dave T said...

I always thought Mr. Loaf started out as an actor -- that whole getting eaten at Frank-n-Furter's dinner party thing. (Actually, if you check him out in wikipedia, one of his first big gigs was a Broadway production of Hair!)

Also, being from Cleveland (Go Tribe!), I have a special affection for Mr. Loaf -- not THAT kind of special! -- given that the first BooH album was released by Cleveland International.

And Angelika, that talent with the one-liner makes me wonder: have you done standup? Perhaps you should?!?!

Princess Crabass said...

I'm stoked about Young Frankenstein. I never saw The Producers (and didn't really care about it either). But the cast for YF is amazing - even without Kristin Chenoweth. I hope I can get one of the $25 front row seats though, because I sure as hell don't want to pay $450 - that's insane!