Pride and Prejudice at Rochester’s Geva Theatre (A Review)
Clarence Threepwood asked:
The author has no prejudices to speak of. Yet when I hear that someone has tried to adapt one of my favorite works of literature for stage or screen, I expect a failure, and I am usually right.
There are, of course, exceptions. I think of Booth Tarkington’s Alice Adams (1936 movie starring Katharine Hepburn), Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (1949 movie starring Broderick Crawford), Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1980 musical play), and (surprisingly) The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, and 2003 movies starring Ian McKellen).
But the list of failures is much longer. Notorious among these are Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1974 movie starring Robert Redford); Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990 movie starring Tom Hanks); and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1997 Broadway musical; we had the misfortune of attending a performance with the unspeakably awful Sebastian Bach in the title role).Geva Theatre
So when I saw that Geva Theatre (Rochester, New York) was planning to adapt Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for the last show of its 2007-08 season, I had grave reservations. I know and love the novel, but I didn’t feel any need to see it enacted – or worse yet, mangled – on stage. Fortunately, the Geva show was a pleasant surprise.
Marge Betley (Geva’s resident dramaturg) and Mark Cuddy (Geva’s Artistic Director and director of this show) adapted the novel themselves, and they chose to stick as closely to Jane Austen’s story as they could. They added no new characters or new scenes, and they used as much of Austen’s language as possible. Prudently, they decided not to employ a narrator.
Despite Betley’s and Cuddy’s intelligent choices, the result was not compelling theater. For one thing, there were simply too many characters; familiar as I am with Pride and Prejudice, I still had trouble keeping track of some of them.
David Christopher Wells and Meghan Wolf in But all the Geva audience really wanted was to see their favorite Austen characters come to life. They were not disappointed, especially in Elizabeth Bennet, played by Meghan Wolf, a fetching brunette who gave us all the vivacity, wit, and intelligence that one could want in Austen’s heroine.
For the romantically inclined, Ms. Wolf and David Christopher Wells, who played Mr. Darcy, made a striking couple. And as director, Mr. Cuddy made sure that his audience woudl believe not only in Elizabeth’s improbable attraction to the ill-mannered Mr. Darcy, but also in her relationships with her sister Jane (Alyssa Rae), her best friend Charlotte Lucas (Vanessa LaFortune), and, most of all, her father. As played by Guy Paul, Mr. Bennet was a gratifyingly complex character.
Most of the actors did seem to appreciate that they were actors in a dramatic entertainment; they brought their characters to life. Randy Rollison played the pompous, self-absorbed Mr. Collins to full comic effect. Another audience favorite was Melanie Little as the bookish, sanctimonious Mary Bennet.
But some cast members seemed merely to be reciting passages from the novel – most egregiously, Vanessa LaFortune as Charlotte Lucas. Moreover, to my mind, Carole Monferdini as Lady Catherine de Bourgh failed to capture the essence of Austen’s dragon lady, and her costume suggested one of the witches from The Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, we were not able to understand the first lines of the play, shrilly delivered by Mrs. Bennet (Peggy Cosgrove) in an accent that continued to challenge us throughout the play.
Women have no monopoly on Jane Austen. But if this had been a movie, it would be a chick flick; the women in the Geva audience loved Mr. Darcy’s bungling courtship of Elizabeth Bennet. The men, however, were no all so appreciative. In the men’s room at intermission (which followed immediately after Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Darcy’s proposal), one man commented to a friend, “She owes me big time for this.” His friend agreed: “I’m not saying I’m holding the gun to my mouth, but close.”
Incidentally, if one must adapt someone else’s novel, it seems to me that one is better off starting with a piece of literature that is merely second-rate, rather than a masterpiece like Pride and Prejudice. It worked with Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind (1939 movie starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable), Edna Ferber’s Showboat (1927 musical), Stephen King’s The Shining (1980 movie also starring Nicholson), and Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men (2007 movie starring Tommy Lee Jones).
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The author has no prejudices to speak of. Yet when I hear that someone has tried to adapt one of my favorite works of literature for stage or screen, I expect a failure, and I am usually right.
There are, of course, exceptions. I think of Booth Tarkington’s Alice Adams (1936 movie starring Katharine Hepburn), Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (1949 movie starring Broderick Crawford), Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1980 musical play), and (surprisingly) The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, and 2003 movies starring Ian McKellen).
But the list of failures is much longer. Notorious among these are Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1974 movie starring Robert Redford); Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990 movie starring Tom Hanks); and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1997 Broadway musical; we had the misfortune of attending a performance with the unspeakably awful Sebastian Bach in the title role).Geva Theatre
So when I saw that Geva Theatre (Rochester, New York) was planning to adapt Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for the last show of its 2007-08 season, I had grave reservations. I know and love the novel, but I didn’t feel any need to see it enacted – or worse yet, mangled – on stage. Fortunately, the Geva show was a pleasant surprise.
Marge Betley (Geva’s resident dramaturg) and Mark Cuddy (Geva’s Artistic Director and director of this show) adapted the novel themselves, and they chose to stick as closely to Jane Austen’s story as they could. They added no new characters or new scenes, and they used as much of Austen’s language as possible. Prudently, they decided not to employ a narrator.
Despite Betley’s and Cuddy’s intelligent choices, the result was not compelling theater. For one thing, there were simply too many characters; familiar as I am with Pride and Prejudice, I still had trouble keeping track of some of them.
David Christopher Wells and Meghan Wolf in But all the Geva audience really wanted was to see their favorite Austen characters come to life. They were not disappointed, especially in Elizabeth Bennet, played by Meghan Wolf, a fetching brunette who gave us all the vivacity, wit, and intelligence that one could want in Austen’s heroine.
For the romantically inclined, Ms. Wolf and David Christopher Wells, who played Mr. Darcy, made a striking couple. And as director, Mr. Cuddy made sure that his audience woudl believe not only in Elizabeth’s improbable attraction to the ill-mannered Mr. Darcy, but also in her relationships with her sister Jane (Alyssa Rae), her best friend Charlotte Lucas (Vanessa LaFortune), and, most of all, her father. As played by Guy Paul, Mr. Bennet was a gratifyingly complex character.
Most of the actors did seem to appreciate that they were actors in a dramatic entertainment; they brought their characters to life. Randy Rollison played the pompous, self-absorbed Mr. Collins to full comic effect. Another audience favorite was Melanie Little as the bookish, sanctimonious Mary Bennet.
But some cast members seemed merely to be reciting passages from the novel – most egregiously, Vanessa LaFortune as Charlotte Lucas. Moreover, to my mind, Carole Monferdini as Lady Catherine de Bourgh failed to capture the essence of Austen’s dragon lady, and her costume suggested one of the witches from The Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, we were not able to understand the first lines of the play, shrilly delivered by Mrs. Bennet (Peggy Cosgrove) in an accent that continued to challenge us throughout the play.
Women have no monopoly on Jane Austen. But if this had been a movie, it would be a chick flick; the women in the Geva audience loved Mr. Darcy’s bungling courtship of Elizabeth Bennet. The men, however, were no all so appreciative. In the men’s room at intermission (which followed immediately after Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Darcy’s proposal), one man commented to a friend, “She owes me big time for this.” His friend agreed: “I’m not saying I’m holding the gun to my mouth, but close.”
Incidentally, if one must adapt someone else’s novel, it seems to me that one is better off starting with a piece of literature that is merely second-rate, rather than a masterpiece like Pride and Prejudice. It worked with Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind (1939 movie starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable), Edna Ferber’s Showboat (1927 musical), Stephen King’s The Shining (1980 movie also starring Nicholson), and Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men (2007 movie starring Tommy Lee Jones).
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Categories: Performing Arts Tags: Alice Adams, Betley, Bonfire Of The Vanities, Booth Tarkington, Broadway Musical, Broderick Crawford, Christopher Wells, Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde, Favorite Works, Geva Theatre Rochester, Grave Reservations, Great Gatsby, Ian Mckellen, Intelligent Choices, Pride And Prejudice, Robert Penn Warren, Sebastian Bach, Threepwood, Tom Hanks, Victor Hugo
Edith Day– Alice Blue Gown
pax41 asked:
made her Broadway debut in Pom-pom in 1916. Three years later she became a major star playing the title role in Irene. Five months into the run, she departed the cast to create the role in the London production. Embraced by the London critics, she decided to remain there after the show closed and went on to become the first lady of West End musicals, with triumphs in Rose Marie, The Desert Song, and Show Boat. … 1920’s vaudeville broadway musical Irene “Edith Day” 78rpm showtune opera …
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Categories: Music Tags: Alice Blue Gown, Broadway Debut, Broadway Musical, Desert Song, First Lady, Five Months, Irene, London Critics, London Production, Opera, Rose Marie, Show Boat, Triumphs, Vaudeville, West End Musicals
Forbidden Broadway – Musical Parody
choiwlee asked:
… “Jesus Christ Superstar” Cats Memory “Forbidden Broadway” “Broadway Musicals” “West End Musicals”
west end musicals
Categories: Comedy Tags: Broadway Broadway, Broadway Musical, Broadway Musicals, Cats Broadway, Cats Memory, Forbidden Broadway, Jesus Christ Superstar, Musical Parody, West End Musicals
Wicked – A Wickedly Awesome Broadway Musical
Martin Paul asked:
Wicked is a musical based upon the best-selling novel of Gregory Maguire called Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. This great production was staged using the music and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz. It debuted on October 30, 2003 and has since conquered Broadway and its audiences. This musical is produced by Universal Pictures under the direction of Joe Montello and Wayne Cilento leading the musical staging.
Wicked was created to tell the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and how she was originally just a simple and green-faced Elphaba (originally played by Idina Menzel). The story develops and shows the friendship of Elphaba to the Good Witch of the North who is Glinda (played by Kristin Chenoweth). Along the way, this friendship sours as both witches fall for the same guy. Complexities develop as the Wizard enters the scene with his corrupt government. And since this musical is more like a prequel to the classical novel of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, it is quite surprising that Elphaba would end up with Fiyero, the love of her life. There were mixed reactions to the musical, even The New York Times gave its share of criticisms but this did not hamper the production people from moving forward and eventually gaining patrons.
Since the Broadway production proved to be successful, there have been productions in other areas like the West End of London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Australia, Tokyo, and Stuttgart. There were also two tours in North America which made the Wicked cast and crew visit 30 cities in U.S. and Canada. Wicked broke box office records all over the globe with tickets selling like hotcakes in the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and London. West End recorded an all-time-high of ¤100,000 just on its first hour of ticket selling during the musical’s opening. The musical started with $14,000,000 in capital and it has earned this back by December 21, 2004 just a year after its Broadway premier. The first year alone recorded a gross of $56 million and every week of performance proves to give back a million dollars at least! Wicked continues to break records of other musicals and, amusingly, it also goes on to break its own box office records. Wicked tickets continue to sell online and on ticket stores in key cities.
People are still going crazy over this musical. Indeed, so much has happened before Dorothy arrived in the Land of Oz-and this musical’s success is definitely one of the biggest happenings! More Broadway news available here.
london musicals
Wicked is a musical based upon the best-selling novel of Gregory Maguire called Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. This great production was staged using the music and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz. It debuted on October 30, 2003 and has since conquered Broadway and its audiences. This musical is produced by Universal Pictures under the direction of Joe Montello and Wayne Cilento leading the musical staging.
Wicked was created to tell the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and how she was originally just a simple and green-faced Elphaba (originally played by Idina Menzel). The story develops and shows the friendship of Elphaba to the Good Witch of the North who is Glinda (played by Kristin Chenoweth). Along the way, this friendship sours as both witches fall for the same guy. Complexities develop as the Wizard enters the scene with his corrupt government. And since this musical is more like a prequel to the classical novel of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, it is quite surprising that Elphaba would end up with Fiyero, the love of her life. There were mixed reactions to the musical, even The New York Times gave its share of criticisms but this did not hamper the production people from moving forward and eventually gaining patrons.
Since the Broadway production proved to be successful, there have been productions in other areas like the West End of London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Australia, Tokyo, and Stuttgart. There were also two tours in North America which made the Wicked cast and crew visit 30 cities in U.S. and Canada. Wicked broke box office records all over the globe with tickets selling like hotcakes in the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and London. West End recorded an all-time-high of ¤100,000 just on its first hour of ticket selling during the musical’s opening. The musical started with $14,000,000 in capital and it has earned this back by December 21, 2004 just a year after its Broadway premier. The first year alone recorded a gross of $56 million and every week of performance proves to give back a million dollars at least! Wicked continues to break records of other musicals and, amusingly, it also goes on to break its own box office records. Wicked tickets continue to sell online and on ticket stores in key cities.
People are still going crazy over this musical. Indeed, so much has happened before Dorothy arrived in the Land of Oz-and this musical’s success is definitely one of the biggest happenings! More Broadway news available here.
london musicals
Categories: Performing Arts Tags: Broadway Musical, Broadway Production, Classical Novel, Corrupt Government, Elphaba, Good Witch Of The North, Gregory Maguire, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, L Frank Baum, London West, Mixed Reactions, Montello, Music And Lyrics, New York Times, Selling Like Hotcakes, Stephen Schwartz, Wayne Cilento, Wicked Witch Of The West, Wizard Of Oz
Getting into Broadway Musicals
Philip Nicosia asked:
Les Miserables is considered the most well-known of all French musicals. The musical, written by French composer Claude-Michel Schonberg and librettist Alain Boubil originally for the Paris audience debuted in September 1979. It is actually based on Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Miserables” which relates the stories of major characters ex-convict Jean Valjean, police inspector Javet, French student Marius, Valjean’s daughter Cosette and her single mother Fantine as well as Eponine, young daughter of the Thenardiers. Among the musical’s famous and Tony award-winning songs are “On My Own” and “I Dreamed A Dream.”
The Les Mis musical returned to Broadway last November for a limited six-month show. It marked its 20th year in 2006 and is the third longest-running musical in the history of Broadway with 8,372 performances. It has also been watched by more than 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages. The Cameron Mackintosh-produced musical opened in Broadway in March 1987 garnering seven prestigious Tony Awards that season such as for Best Musical.
Being able to join a Broadway musical is no easy feat. You need a combination of theatrical training, academic instruction and determination to be able to get a part. You have to go through very rigid screenings and rehearsals that entail vocalizations, dancing and acting. How much more being able to play a major role in a well-acclaimed musical like Les Miserables. You have to be really talented to be able to get into Broadway. Many Asians, including Filipinas, are fortunate to have fulfilled their dream of performing in Broadway. One notable Filipina who has brought great honor to her country is none other than Lea Salonga.
The name Lea Salonga is synonymous to internationally-acclaimed talent as well as confident and impressive performance that warrants a standing ovation. No other Filipina has performed in several musicals in the east and west end and has performed twice in a famous musical. Since playing the lead role of Kim in the world-renowned Miss Saigon, Lea Salonga has not ceased to perform before international audiences across the globe. And what amazing feat she has achieved at a young age making her fellow Filipinos very proud of her. Playing Kim alone earned Lea several awards such as the Sir Laurence Olivier award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for the 1989-1990 season as well as the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.
The latest buzz is that Lea will be returning to the Broadway stage beginning March 6, 2007 via the musical Les Miserables once again. The actress, who has settled with her family in her home country the Philippines, said although it’s hard to leave her family behind she’s going to New York for her country’s sake. This time around, Lea will be playing the role of Fantine replacing Daphne Rubin-Vega. Fantine is a poor woman forced to work as a prostitute to support her daughter Cosette. How time flies, it’s been already 14 years since she peformed as street waif Eponine in the same Broadway production in 1993. Unknown to many, Sir Cameron MacKintosh personally invited Lea to play Eponine for the 10th anniversary concert of Les Mis at London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of a “dream cast.”
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Les Miserables is considered the most well-known of all French musicals. The musical, written by French composer Claude-Michel Schonberg and librettist Alain Boubil originally for the Paris audience debuted in September 1979. It is actually based on Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Miserables” which relates the stories of major characters ex-convict Jean Valjean, police inspector Javet, French student Marius, Valjean’s daughter Cosette and her single mother Fantine as well as Eponine, young daughter of the Thenardiers. Among the musical’s famous and Tony award-winning songs are “On My Own” and “I Dreamed A Dream.”
The Les Mis musical returned to Broadway last November for a limited six-month show. It marked its 20th year in 2006 and is the third longest-running musical in the history of Broadway with 8,372 performances. It has also been watched by more than 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages. The Cameron Mackintosh-produced musical opened in Broadway in March 1987 garnering seven prestigious Tony Awards that season such as for Best Musical.
Being able to join a Broadway musical is no easy feat. You need a combination of theatrical training, academic instruction and determination to be able to get a part. You have to go through very rigid screenings and rehearsals that entail vocalizations, dancing and acting. How much more being able to play a major role in a well-acclaimed musical like Les Miserables. You have to be really talented to be able to get into Broadway. Many Asians, including Filipinas, are fortunate to have fulfilled their dream of performing in Broadway. One notable Filipina who has brought great honor to her country is none other than Lea Salonga.
The name Lea Salonga is synonymous to internationally-acclaimed talent as well as confident and impressive performance that warrants a standing ovation. No other Filipina has performed in several musicals in the east and west end and has performed twice in a famous musical. Since playing the lead role of Kim in the world-renowned Miss Saigon, Lea Salonga has not ceased to perform before international audiences across the globe. And what amazing feat she has achieved at a young age making her fellow Filipinos very proud of her. Playing Kim alone earned Lea several awards such as the Sir Laurence Olivier award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for the 1989-1990 season as well as the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.
The latest buzz is that Lea will be returning to the Broadway stage beginning March 6, 2007 via the musical Les Miserables once again. The actress, who has settled with her family in her home country the Philippines, said although it’s hard to leave her family behind she’s going to New York for her country’s sake. This time around, Lea will be playing the role of Fantine replacing Daphne Rubin-Vega. Fantine is a poor woman forced to work as a prostitute to support her daughter Cosette. How time flies, it’s been already 14 years since she peformed as street waif Eponine in the same Broadway production in 1993. Unknown to many, Sir Cameron MacKintosh personally invited Lea to play Eponine for the 10th anniversary concert of Les Mis at London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of a “dream cast.”
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Categories: Music Tags: Academic Instruction, Broadway Musical, Broadway Musicals, Cameron Mackintosh, Claude Michel Schonberg, Daughter Cosette, Filipina, French Composer, French Student, History Of Broadway, Impressive Performance, Jean Valjean, Lea Salonga, Les Miserables, Librettist, Police Inspector, Single Mother, Standing Ovation, Tony Awards, Victor Hugo