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Post by viserys on Aug 1, 2017 11:47:53 GMT
Don't get me started on the nonsense that's Miss Saigon.
And while I'm fine with a bit of inaccuracy or bending facts to fit the story, I just don' t see what they thought to gain by making Anya the genuine Anastasia? There would have been a terrific story of "is she or isn't she?" and making-believe in this, perhaps even with the old Countess wanting to badly to believe that she is real (while knowing deep inside she isn't) and that at least one person survived. And Gleb, whose role doesn't make sense at all right now, could be the one who firmly believes she is not who she claims to believe and finally exposes her. And amid the crumbling of the lie and people accepting the truth for what it is, there could still be the happy end for Anya and her common-born chap.
But while listening to the cast recording (not having seen the actual show) I just went from "yea right" to shaking my head at the insistence that she IS Anastasia. I don't expect a deep history lesson from a cartoon adaptation, but this was just too much to swallow for me. That said, I'd see it anyway when it comes over.
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Post by danb on Aug 1, 2017 12:00:33 GMT
I've had the wrong end of the stick all along thinking that this was the story of Anastasia set to the songs of Anastacia. Apparently it isn't...
No "I'm Outta Love", no "Left Outside Alone"...no Dan. 😢
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2017 12:56:10 GMT
... I'm not sure I'd hold Miss Saigon up as an example of doing it right just 'cos it's at least better than Anastasia in that regard... Didn't he say "almost". I totally get what showbizkid means.. The revolution sequences and Vietnamese war scenes in Siagon try to be authentic, Anastasia has gurning Russians, crass lyrics and is cheesy and tacky and lacks class. You're saying that like it's a bad thing. |
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Post by ali973 on Aug 1, 2017 18:35:57 GMT
LOL that actually WAS funny..I occasionally find your irreverence refreshing  |
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Post by Stasia on Aug 2, 2017 8:02:16 GMT
Reading frases like "Anastasia lacks class" I'm getting nervous, sir - like, how can they all know that about me?  And getting back to the topic - obviously it was my favourite cartoon when I was a kid, as I am named after the Grand Duchess. Even my first boyfriend's name was Dmitriy. Since the first talks and ideas (of Stage Entertainment Russia head, who organised first steps of it) for more than 5 years I've been waiting for this musical to happen. But when it happened I didn't like it. I can judge only by a not-so-good video my friend shown me, and by the album, so there is a benefit of a doubt. But I don't like the whole Gleb line, and the show itself lacked something for me, so now I am not very keen on getting it here in Russia next year |
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2,702 posts
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Post by viserys on Aug 2, 2017 8:13:58 GMT
so now I am not very keen on getting it here in Russia next year I'd be really keen to find out the Russian reaction to this show (same if "Great Comet" ever made it there). At least the Austrians had the sense to ignore the atrocity that was Frank Wildhorn's take on the story of their crown prince Rudolf and stayed away in droves when it ran in Vienna. Not that I'd compare Anastasia to the stuff Wildhorn churned out, it's way better than that. |
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Post by ali973 on Aug 2, 2017 10:26:43 GMT
I think this could go both ways in a place like Russia. Not that I know the theatre market there too well, but it's a recent new market for large-scale commercial musicals from Broadway. They've had Phantom, Tanz der Vampire, Notre Dame De Paris (and perhaps Cats?). So we know that there is appetite. However, given the newness of the genre and scale to the market, I'm not sure the audience would be too critical of Anastasia that for all intents and purposes is entertaining, but has a lot of historic and book problems. The only issue I see it having with the Russians is the historical elements.
Not worried about the way Londoners will receive it. The West End loves anything that comes from America, and with the American tone of the show, it will do well.
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Post by showbizkid on Aug 2, 2017 11:03:21 GMT
I think this could go both ways in a place like Russia. Not that I know the theatre market there too well, but it's a recent new market for large-scale commercial musicals from Broadway. They've had Phantom, Tanz der Vampire, Notre Dame De Paris (and perhaps Cats?). So we know that there is appetite. However, given the newness of the genre and scale to the market, I'm not sure the audience would be too critical of Anastasia that for all intents and purposes is entertaining, but has a lot of historic and book problems. The only issue I see it having with the Russians is the historical elements. Not worried about the way Londoners will receive it. The West End loves anything that comes from America, and with the American tone of the show, it will do well. There isn't much of an American tone to the show - I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Russians will not like it in its current format, Russians are very particular with what shows they like. It's a totally different market. They had Cats, Mamma Mia, Singing in the Rain, Zorro, Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom - some failed while others did well. The main issue with Anastasia is that its factually inaccurate and has so many bad or stereo typical references to the revolution, the people, the Bolsheviks and indeed the story itself. That said having spoken to the Russian Stage Ents team I doubt it will transfer to Moscow. (At least without the vast changes it needs). |
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Aug 2, 2017 14:11:24 GMT
I would think they'll either produce it in its current format, or not at all if the current format and book would cause a problem.
Just because it's Russian/based in Russia, it doesn't mean that it needs to be done there. It's like saying Les Miz and Phantom absolutely need to be done in France because of their setting. Stage Entertainment has a handful of shows in their portfolio that could be done in Russia and bring in the money. The sole premise of these shows is that they are done in one place and then exported identically across. Though its second incarnation might see some rewrites (either for the tour or for London, for example), I doubt a bespoke production would be developed for Russia.
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Aug 2, 2017 17:21:47 GMT
I think this could go both ways in a place like Russia. Not that I know the theatre market there too well, but it's a recent new market for large-scale commercial musicals from Broadway. They've had Phantom, Tanz der Vampire, Notre Dame De Paris (and perhaps Cats?). So we know that there is appetite. However, given the newness of the genre and scale to the market, I'm not sure the audience would be too critical of Anastasia that for all intents and purposes is entertaining, but has a lot of historic and book problems. The only issue I see it having with the Russians is the historical elements. Not worried about the way Londoners will receive it. The West End loves anything that comes from America, and with the American tone of the show, it will do well. There isn't much of an American tone to the show - I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Russians will not like it in its current format, Russians are very particular with what shows they like. It's a totally different market. They had Cats, Mamma Mia, Singing in the Rain, Zorro, Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom - some failed while others did well. The main issue with Anastasia is that its factually inaccurate and has so many bad or stereo typical references to the revolution, the people, the Bolsheviks and indeed the story itself. That said having spoken to the Russian Stage Ents team I doubt it will transfer to Moscow. (At least without the vast changes it needs). If you know people from SE Russia that means we are one handshake from each other. I used to work there for 3 years a few years ago The head of Russian team was involved into producing/creating the Broadway version and judging by the social media canpaign they handled this spring and by a handful of his interviews they are very looking forward to having Anastasia here in Moscow. Of course things may change... |
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