Everything you love about Musical Theatre without all the rigmarole of ACTUALLY going to a theater. Come for the Sondheim puns and stay for the Lloyd Webber mockery. Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End, movie musicals, composers, lyricists, and everything in between!
From just a general audience member perspective, I'm at least engaged when watching Lansbury - and I want to take it all in! The other two might do something better according to you and others. But if I'm not drawn in, then whatever they're doing and however they're doing it... Well, it's lost on me - as I'm not REALLY listening. At one point you used the word "performative" in a kinda negative connotation - which didn't make sense to me. IMO... Neither comes close to Lansbury.
I have read a Lot about George Furth, including speaking with multiple people who knew him and how he worked. I generally agree with the others in the comment section about the take you mention specifically here. I would like to mention, however, that Furth and Bennett had a very interesting relationship themselves. The title A Chorus Line is the ORIGINAL title of Furth's play "Twigs" that Michael Bennett directed. There aren't many stories from the production of Twigs, but Bennett and Furth generally spoke very highly of each other and in interviews with Bennett, I can definitely see that they had similar philosophies in regards to their work. Bennett also notably tried to get Furth to fix the book to Follies, which Furth responded to with a passive aggressive letter about how terrific Follies was, pretty silly. Bennett and Furth had a brief falling out, prior to A Chorus Line, over a never produced musical with Marvin Hamlisch, because Bennett wanted the "conceived by" credit for it. Furth was not willing to give him that credit and Bennett in turn left the project after convincing Hamlisch to join him on what became A Chorus Line. (Bennett asked for Furth's permission to use the title and most sources seem to claim that they'd made up by then and Furth was absolutely all for it... Furth and Hamlisch didn't seem to make up nearly as well, as Hamlisch was an influence behind the character of Frank Shepard in Merrily) The show that Furth had been working on was eventually mutated into 1977's Kander and Ebb musical, The Act, which was a total disaster for all involved. At one point, Michael Bennett was brought in to see if he could fix it, but he apparently showed up high off his ass (as he often was) and then spewed what everyone perceived to be nonsense, and then Gower Champion was brought in instead. Bennett actually expressed interest in working with Furth again but that never happened :( Oh, 70s theater, you never disappoint.
I dont get people who describe this musical as having "no plot". ???huh?? Yes, the musical has a plot. No, its not linear. No you dont really know what parts are imagined or are memories. Yes, certain scenes happen over and over again. But that doesnt mean there isnt a plot?? Theres conflict, issues, desires, character arcs, etc. It definitely has a plot, its just told very unconventionally.
Enjoyed your very insightful observations/reflections on this musical. (By the way, 4:23, just curious as to why you said Larry "Kept," since it's Larry Kert who'd replaced Dean Jones.)
A friend makes a case for Lucy simply being the wrong type for Mame. Mame Dennis is a free-thinking upper-crust intellectual, which Lansbury could project with ease. Lucy, after years of playing the daffy working-class woman. was simply wrong for the part.
LUCY WAS HORRIBLE!!!! She had ruined her voice from decades of smoking. She never had a credible singing voice. Everything that could go wrong with MAME went wrong BECAUSE OF LUCY!!! The movie should be locked in a safe and dropped to the bottom of the ocean!!!!
I just discovered your channel 9 years later. There is a London version of Next To Normal. Gabe is played by Jack Wolfe. I would He and Aaron Tveit to have a Gabe off at some point.
Matthew Broderick also tainted The Producers with his interpretation of Leo Bloom not only on stage, but in the 2005 film remake of the musical… a role that was enshrined in the halls of cinema by the performance of the late Gene Wilder. Broderick exists to urinate and defecate on everything that I love in life.
By the time the film version came about, Lucy's voice had deteriorated and she couldn't reach the nect octave required for those songs. Loved her talent, but she was not at her best in the film.
I have to say that Helenas Lovett is the most iconic. 'I never heard Sweeney Todd' Yes, yes you did. Both of those intros made it to fame, being turned into trends. I haven't watched enough (definitely legally found) versions, but I think she'll stay my favorite
Angela Landsbury is Sondheim's Mrs. Lovett and to perform it with Len Cariou is perfect. They were the original players that Sondheim chose for the parts. This guy's review is terrible. He doesn't seem to know what he's talking about. Very biased. Not a real review at all.
I think Patti LuPone is great, but Mrs. Lovett is Angela Lansbury's role. She's someone who's impulsive, but not as scatterbrained as you might guess on first impression; never allowing you to know if she's mad as a hatter or a sinister schemer.
If there was a theatrical remake of the Music Man the cast would be different and probably better than the 2003 film. How about: .Harold Hill- Lin-Manuel Miranda Marion the Librarian- Lady Gaga Marcellus Washburn- James Monroe Iglehart Mayor Shinn- Martin Short or Steve Martin
1. Read both books and seen a few adaptions 2. Probably borrow elements from both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass since that is pretty standard at this point. In terms of the play itself, I’m just going to put out a wild guess that it will be some sort of nontraditional retelling maybe? The poster has the new york skyline mirrored with Alice and the Mad Hatter, so maybe they will draw some parallels there?
I loved Angela Landsbury in “Mame” on Broadway when I was in high school. So beautiful! My whole life since, Angela and the songs have meant so much to me! 💗🫶
I’d like to see one on Dolly Levi. So many people have their own opinions on who played the part best, Carol Channing, Bette Middler and of course for the movie we had Barbara Streisand. Idk if this series will get any new additions though :/
I saw them all and it was Emma Thompson who did the best Mrs. Lovett. Landsbury was great, my first Broadway show, but she played it her way, not how it was written. Nobody loves LuPone more than me but not her role. Bonham Carter? Splendid actress. Terrible film. Emma Thompson can't sing but boy, she can act. Smart, crazy, funny. Alas, Terfel Todd was awful.
Omg loved this video, my favorite musical, and Angela was my favorite but this actually makes me respect Bonham Carter. Totally deserved win to La Lupone
"Of course it's Patti LuPone??" Had it not been evident from the beginning she was your favorite, I might have given you a pass, as you are obviously too young to have seen Ms. Lansbury perform the role live as I did seven times. Had you had that privilege, you'd know even mentioning LuPone in the same breath as Ms. Lansbury as regards to their portrayals of Mrs. Lovett is pure and utter folly. Seriously. Were I you, in future I'd be more circumspect about evaluating theatrical performances by video alone, as if you haven't experienced them live you're in no position to credibly opine about them, as evidenced by your fanboy evaluation of LuPone. I happened to have seen her Mrs. Lovett live, and left at intermission. Had you been with me, I believe you may have as well. Trust me. She stank.
I guess your views have dropped solely because of your hugly contraversinal Mrs Lovett video. In that you were so one sided and so wrong. We used to watch your videos in drama class but after that video our drama teacher banned your channel 😂
I haven't seen all of these, just meryl and bernadette, and parts of vanessa. I love bernadette and Meryl for different reasons, ultimately, I think I'd go with Meryl.
Peters really can't be beat. The humor, the cynicism, sarcasm, tenderness. Many other strong witches but Peter's *gives* the role a soul in a way others only tend to *describe* the soul. Streep did well imo but Peters just brought more depth.
I’ve seen the play with Miss Lansbury and the movie with Miss Ball. Lucy can’t sing and was too old to portray Mame. She fell back on her comedy acting and it fell flat. The filming her through cheesecloth to “soften her face” proved they’d cast it wrong. It also made the movie look strange because she was never in focus, just the other actors and the set were. I’d like to see a modern version with contemporary actors get a new take at this great script and soundtrack. Maybe it will prove successful.
