March 1, 2012

Restaging a famous fiasco.

The original "Carrie" Broadway musical was savaged, lost $8 million, and closed after 5 performances.
Where the Broadway version had Carrie singing a song while the objects on her make-up table levitated around her, the off-Broadway version makes do with just a few magic tricks — a tiny figurine of Jesus levitates between the girl's hands and a couple of chairs move...

And... here's no stage blood spilled in the climactic scene at the prom, when Carrie violently erupts. The carnage is implied with red lights, projections and stylized movement. Director Arima says it's an artistic rather than a financial choice.
That's the expedient thing for the director to say. But better work can spring from limitations. Copious financing can lead to horrible work. Ugh! Suddenly, I'm thinking about the government!

7 comments:

MadisonMan said...

The movie theater next door to where Carrie will debut is showing Ishtar.

Wince said...

Hell, what they need is that opening nude shower scene. Nancy Allen, OMG. NSFW

Peterironrails (whatever happened to him?) could be artistic director.

It really was 1976.

Methadras said...

Spiderman did better. Ugh.

edutcher said...

Broadway is as creatively bankrupt as Hollyweird.

Ann Althouse said...

Copious financing can lead to horrible work. Ugh! Suddenly, I'm thinking about the government!

These days, Madame, it's become reflexive.

MikeR said...

A musical? :O

Kurt said...

If you've never read the New York Times review of the original Broadway production, you really should, it's a comic gem which was written by Frank Rich back when he actually wrote about things he knew about, and before he went completely off the rails with his severe BDS.

Craig Howard said...

But better work can spring from limitations.

Yes! Think of the beautiful and memorable poetry from a time when a specific meter, rhyme, and even the number of syllables were all adhered to.