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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 13, 2021 9:35:37 GMT
The original Oklahoma! was recreated and filmed. I found the videos long but fascinating. Some, strong performances especially Judd. The original choreography hasn't stood the test of time but I adored the painted backdrops, no projections or fancy hydraulics just the equivalent of an art gallery. A shame painted drops have gone out of fashion.
It was interesting to see a singing chorus and then a dancing chorus and it then makes realise how hard folk work today and how stingy producers are.
The geek within me would love to time travel and see some more but really heritage can't be the way the way forward can it? But then I don't want to see a 30 odd year old production limping along with 'him off the telly'. No golden formula on how to revive but when's it done well you appreciate it as a classic
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357 posts
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 13, 2021 10:35:02 GMT
What an amazing find thank you!
I'm sure it would take a bit of researching but I love this idea of being able to preserve and see what really made the classics classics, and see how things have changed now.
I'm trying to think now of a list of old shows I'd love to see but I feel daunted! Perhaps some of Hal Prince's early works like The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, or Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity, Chicago?
Thanks for sharing!
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236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on Jan 13, 2021 10:36:19 GMT
I watched this on YouTube a couple weeks back and it's fab!! I've only ever seen the Gordon MacRae film and the BBC Proms one so it's really interesting to see a stage production, nevermind a 1943 one. This restoration is stunning and there are some incredibly strong performers in there - 100% agree with you about Judd. Definitely worth a watch on a rainly day like today (at least it is for me right now in Lpool).
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309 posts
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Post by barrowside on Jan 13, 2021 12:04:28 GMT
The original Oklahoma! was recreated I found the videos long but fascinating. Some, strong performances especially Judd. The original choreography hasn't stood the test of time but I adored the painted backdrops, no projections or fancy hydraulics just the equivalent of an art gallery. A shame painted drops have gone out of fashion. It was interesting to see a singing chorus and then a dancing chorus and it then makes realise how hard folk work today and how stingy producers are. The geek within me would love to time travel and see some more but really heritage can't be the way the way forward can it? But then I don't want to see a 30 odd year old production limping along with 'him off the telly'. No golden formula on how to revive but when's it done well you appreciate it as a classic |
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309 posts
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Post by barrowside on Jan 13, 2021 12:11:00 GMT
I think the recent Hello Dolly on Broadway while not a replica of the original production used painted drops. In general though I think shows can become moribund if the original production is replicated too many times. West Side Story comes to mind. I saw Arthur Laurents last revival on Broadway and it felt drained of all energy and as if it had been running since the 1950s. While I haven't seen them, the new revivals where the original choreography and design is not used seem to have injected a new life. Beautiful though it is, it was the decision to allow productions without Agnes de Mille's choreography that allowed the Rodgers and Hammerstein shows to have a new injection of life starting with the NT's Carousel.
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