UGG. AND UGG: In anticipation of tonight's live broadcast, can I just confirm with everyone that ... Peter Pan just isn't that good of a musical in the first place?
Indeed. It's a good book, and there's a decent song or two, but the whole thing doesn't come together well in the musical, which drags a lot. That said, I'll do what I did with the Sound of Music and give it an hour or so.
Oh say it isn't so Joseph! The original Annie musical was magical - especially as a 7 year old kid watching Alison Smith (who later went on to Kate and Allie fame) in the lead roll on B'way. Nothing ever came close to it in my book.
Correct on every count. Both the choice of show and the casting has been perplexing here. I don't have the raw hate for Allison Williams that many seem to, but the decision to promote her as a Big Star doesn't make sense.
No love for Peter Pan, but you can't dismiss Annie in the same sentence. I saw it as a kid and was transfixed and have been able to see two daughters independently fall under its spell. Sure it's not perfect, but you just can't deny this...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bOH8ABpco
I didn't get at all why they picked it - I thought it was cheap rights or something - until I heard all the stuff about the prior live versions. NBC, Mary Martin, 3 times! All that. But back then, no bitching on the internet, only two or three other options on TV, a cast that had done it 239508 times on Broadway, and no one could rewind and replay the bits that went badly.
It should be a good musical. Jules Styne. Comden/Green. But no, it isn't.
The heritage kind of makes sense, but it seems to me that they're targetting the wrong generation for the nostalgia play. Sound of Music on TV was still a big deal in the 80s/90s. Peter Pan hasn't been a big deal since the 60s.
Slightly off topic: yesterday I saw a commercial for "Into the Woods" for the first time and, if it weren't for this blog, would have had no idea that it was a musical. It looked like it had an action/adventure Snow White and the Huntsman/Maleficent type vibe. No hint of songs or singing, no mention of it being a musical.
I still maintain that the very best songs Sondheim ever wrote are in Merrily. Alas, the book doesn't really work. I have tons of affection for the show, however.
Yes! I said the same thing to my husband yesterday when I saw the commercial. Where is the singing? This is a beautiful musical. I want to hear snippets of "Agony" and "I Know Things" or "Giants In The Sky"! I mean, why on earth aren't they at least teasing the title song? Even with Meryl Streep as the Witch, this makes me worry.
Thank you for linking that. I hadn't seen it. Although, if I didn't already know this was a musical, I still wouldn't know by the trailer, with the exception of The Witch singing to Rapunzel. Although, that could be part of the marketing- let's see if we can hook the ones that aren't much for musicals.
Agreed, which also applies to Annie.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. It's a good book, and there's a decent song or two, but the whole thing doesn't come together well in the musical, which drags a lot. That said, I'll do what I did with the Sound of Music and give it an hour or so.
ReplyDeleteOh say it isn't so Joseph! The original Annie musical was magical - especially as a 7 year old kid watching Alison Smith (who later went on to Kate and Allie fame) in the lead roll on B'way. Nothing ever came close to it in my book.
ReplyDeleteIt's fantastic. Have some fairy dust mother fuckers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lih3gyvgn0
ReplyDeleteAgreed. My niece played Peter in a local production last year, and though she was perfection (of course!) the show itself was painful to watch.
ReplyDeleteI realize that changes have been made to the NBC show to downplay the original's racism, but still: it's just not a very good show.
Correct on every count. Both the choice of show and the casting has been perplexing here. I don't have the raw hate for Allison Williams that many seem to, but the decision to promote her as a Big Star doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteI just feel that Peter Pan and Annie are good starter sets for kids, which is fine, but they could be much better.
ReplyDeleteNo love for Peter Pan, but you can't dismiss Annie in the same sentence. I saw it as a kid and was transfixed and have been able to see two daughters independently fall under its spell. Sure it's not perfect, but you just can't deny this...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bOH8ABpco
ReplyDeleteBigger disaster tonight...Allison Williams or Jay Cutler. It's gotten to be the only way to get through a Bears game is to hate watch.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get at all why they picked it - I thought it was cheap rights or something - until I heard all the stuff about the prior live versions. NBC, Mary Martin, 3 times! All that. But back then, no bitching on the internet, only two or three other options on TV, a cast that had done it 239508 times on Broadway, and no one could rewind and replay the bits that went badly.
ReplyDeleteIt should be a good musical. Jules Styne. Comden/Green. But no, it isn't.
The heritage kind of makes sense, but it seems to me that they're targetting the wrong generation for the nostalgia play. Sound of Music on TV was still a big deal in the 80s/90s. Peter Pan hasn't been a big deal since the 60s.
ReplyDeleteMy mom disagrees with you all. She spent half of Thanksgiving watching videos of Cyril Ritchard on youtube.
ReplyDeleteAlso according to the NYT, next year's live musical will be The Music Man.
ReplyDeleteWhich is a completely sensible choice. And either Jackman or NPH would make a fine Harold Hill.
ReplyDeleteSlightly off topic: yesterday I saw a commercial for "Into the Woods" for the first time and, if it weren't for this blog, would have had no idea that it was a musical. It looked like it had an action/adventure Snow White and the Huntsman/Maleficent type vibe. No hint of songs or singing, no mention of it being a musical.
ReplyDeleteI still maintain that the very best songs Sondheim ever wrote are in Merrily. Alas, the book doesn't really work. I have tons of affection for the show, however.
ReplyDeleteYes! I said the same thing to my husband yesterday when I saw the commercial. Where is the singing? This is a beautiful musical. I want to hear snippets of "Agony" and "I Know Things" or "Giants In The Sky"! I mean, why on earth aren't they at least teasing the title song? Even with Meryl Streep as the Witch, this makes me worry.
ReplyDeleteThe second trailer did a much better job of representing the singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Byk9Is3TjY
ReplyDeleteThat 4th quarter on-side kick was pretty sweet, though.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see NPH as Harold Hill.
ReplyDeleteBzzzttt. Sondheim wrote Forum. All downhill from there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking that. I hadn't seen it. Although, if I didn't already know this was a musical, I still wouldn't know by the trailer, with the exception of The Witch singing to Rapunzel. Although, that could be part of the marketing- let's see if we can hook the ones that aren't much for musicals.
ReplyDelete