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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 12:43:12 GMT
Thought I'd start a thread about this as it opens next month (18th May). This must have been a long time coming as Luke Treadaway mentioned it and his desire to play Macheath in his Olivier nomination interview 3 years ago! Even before Rufus Norris was announced as Artistic Director! (http://youtu.be/QNaXWolcQr4)
But also I want to ask, what exactly is this and how does it compare to the Beggar's Opera or the Busker's Opera? And why are there so many translations? I fear I may have already made a blunder by putting it in the musicals section!
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Post by Michael on Apr 10, 2016 13:56:56 GMT
Thread moved to the Opera and Dance section.
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Post by mallardo on Apr 10, 2016 15:20:49 GMT
With all due respect, Threepenny Opera is not an opera. It belongs in the musicals section.
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Post by Michael on Apr 10, 2016 15:24:18 GMT
Wikipedia says "Play with music", so Plays section?
One user proposed to moved this thread to Opera&Dance and it sounded reasonable to me.
Edit: If you guys thinks it fits better to Musicals, I'm happy to move it back, but I wouldn't classify it as such.
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Post by Scots UK Theatre on Apr 10, 2016 15:31:47 GMT
It's an adaption of an opera. Wikipedia classes as a play with music, but I would not class as a full musical.
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Post by mallardo on Apr 10, 2016 16:41:58 GMT
Well, Brecht called it a "play with music" because he wrote the play part. There are 21 songs in it (including reprises) so where does one draw the line? Certainly Weil's music is the reason it's performed, not Brecht's uncompelling script.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 17:20:17 GMT
"A landmark of twentieth century musical theatre" (NT)
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Post by Michael on Apr 10, 2016 17:43:35 GMT
NT says musical, Wikipedia says play (with music), but then again, it was also nominated for a Best Musical Revival Tony in 2006.
Back to Musicals it is (even though I still wouldn't classify it as such).
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Post by crabtree on Apr 10, 2016 17:59:20 GMT
I would not say that The beggar's Opera is an opera either....there's an irony about the whole thing.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 18:23:50 GMT
Looking at the 2006 Tony Award winners and nominations list, which the Roundabout Theatre production with Alan Cumming, Cyndi Lauper and Jim Dale was nominated, it is categorised as a musical I.e. Best Musical Revival and Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical for Dale, neither of which won.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 10, 2016 19:01:41 GMT
I think play with music is the perfect definition, it's closer to a musical (but it's not one) and definitely it's not an opera.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 11, 2016 11:54:47 GMT
I just refer to it as Music Theatre. Covers all bases - you can squeeze ballet, dance, opera and musicals all into the Music Theatre category
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Post by crabtree on Apr 11, 2016 12:31:59 GMT
The Beggars' Opera was, I guess, the first jukebox musical, the Mamma Mia of its' day.
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Post by westendwendy on Apr 11, 2016 15:25:25 GMT
I was in it.. It's a musical..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 15:38:52 GMT
Didn't they do this at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre a couple of years ago?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 15:52:44 GMT
They did The Beggar's Opera, which is what this is based off. I think I'd class that as a play with songs.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 16:36:48 GMT
Didn't they do this at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre a couple of years ago? That was The Beggar's Opera by John Gay. There was a production a couple of years ago by the Graeae Theatre Company (with Birmingham REP, New Wolsey, Nottingham Playhouse and WYP) that looked quite interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 16:39:03 GMT
I saw it at West Yorkshire Playhouse and really enjoyed it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 16:43:27 GMT
With around twenty-five songs, it's more "musical" than "play with music"... That's more than some musicals. Definitely NOT opera, and very different from other Kurt Weill pieces (and Bertholt Brecht for that matter) in that it's much easier on the ear!
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