Some Like It Hot…(ter)?… Reheated?…

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Hello Gentle Reader!

I hope you are well and being able to enjoy some time to energize/heal your self. I know that I wrote that in two words. I meant it any way you want to use it. You can heal your spiritual self, your personal demons, your emotional health or physical, It has been a massive 2 weeks and a lot has been shown to the world. I know that it has brought up some inner things that I didn’t realize I was refusing to face. So I hope you are having a chance to find a little peace for you.

One of the things that I wanted to talk about today was a show that is forthcoming to Broadway next season, Some Like It Hot.

A few days ago, in my favorite fails, I mentioned a show called Sugar, which is basically the musical version of the movie Some Like It Hot. Can you see where I am heading?

While there are some small differences between the musical and the movie, the script for the musical has most of the dialogue lifted directly from the movie. This begs the question, Dear Reader, why make this musical?

Well, one of the big “gets” is that the songwriting pair of Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman will be a part of the creative team. These are the men behind some great Broadway music from Hairspray (One of my personal favorites.), Catch Me If You Can, and Smash. So there will be a massive update in the sound of the music. The music from Sugar which is by Jule Stine (Gypsy) and Bob Merrill (Funny Girl) and is, in my opinion, really cute but has room for deeper emotional payoff. I know Sugar is a comedy, but adding heart never diminished comedy. I think Wittman and Shaiman can offer this.

As far as the book, which will be penned by award winning playwright, Matthew Lopez, I hope they make Joe similar to the character that was made for the show, Sugar. He is always looking out for himself, but he is at least charming and funny. In the movie, he is a legit bully with threats of violence which I found completely dislikable and was hoping he wouldn’t make it to the end of the film. Mr. Lopez easily has the skill to deepen the lives of the characters in this show.

In the story, one thing I would like to see more of is the “villain”, Spats. I feel like the threat he posed in Sugar was not as heightened as could have been and the way the show ties up his story feels so quick and generic to the times and style of the piece that it really makes it seem like his whole character arc is an afterthought; the catalyst to get Joe to Sugar, and that is all. I know all of this stuff is ridiculous to be hopeful of to stuff into a show that should run about 2 hours and 30 minutes, but it can be done. I fully believe that it can if some scenes were run in a split stage style and a few other stylized directions.

I hope that when Broadway finally does reopen, it can thrive and Some Like It Hot gets the chance to show the world how hot some people really like it. With the pedigree of the people involved, I am REALLY excited for this show to open. I am incredibly intrigued to see what’s changed, what’s been left the same, and what has been flushed out more. I am also going to make a guess that while the basic plot of the story is the same, all the dialogue will be much different. I am just giddy with anticipation!!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Kind Reader, I am going to go and listen to the Hairspray cast recording.

Until next time, stay safe, alert, and willing to listen and learn.

Revenge of the 5th…Goodbye to a legend

It’s a sad, sad day on Broadway and the in the theatre community.

The Tony Award winning director and writer, the legend Arthur Laurents has passed away at 93 years young at heart. He died while sleeping.

He is the author of such great works as Gypsy and West Side Story. In light of his revival of WSS still selling great houses, he is featured in a magazine interview. Just over a year ago, Out Magazine had an interview with this amazing man and you can read it HERE. He is brutally honest, and actually quite funny in that honesty.

I was so happy when his latest production of “Gypsy” took home so many Tony’s especially when it came to the actors.

I was stunned to know that he was as old as he was. He was incredibly active and was still producing some fantastic work.

Dear Mr. Laurents,

In a world that is plagued by hatred and greed and corporations and bad politics, you were able to be yourself for nearly the 100 years you’ve walked the Earth. You were incredibly blessed that you found love, true love in a time when it was forbidden. I only hope that I will be able to stay in love for 52 years like you and Mr. Hatcher. I am so relieved that somewhere in the world two men were able to hold their home together for so long while the world went on.

Forever your fan,

Jery.

arthurLaurents1 — Courtesy of Out.com via A. Laurents

Shuboy, the Fresh Prince says “the sun’ll come out tomorrow!”

A few weeks back I wrote about Barbra wanting to remake “Gypsy.” I grabbed at my hair and tried to tug it all out while asking myself WHY?? It’s been done already!! We don’t need another. Let it be, Babs. Let it be.

But hold the phone kids this one is just as bad. Will Smith would like to head a remake of “Annie” starring his daughter, Willow Smith, as the lead role. Worse than that, Sony pictures seems to be on board as a backer for the movie. Even worse, Jay-Z is in talks to join the project to collaborate on the music! Does this mean that the regular Broadway music will be replaced? Will it be a rapping Annie? No one is saying a word.

Whew, that was like a game of “What’s grosser than gross?” Remember those? But back to our story.

I don’t have anything against any of them, but I am wondering if it wouldn’t be better for them to create a new vehicle rather than a rehash of an old dated musical. There aren’t any great original musicals on Broadway or film regarding African American children and they could be a dream team to pull this off.

The sad trend in Hollywood seems to be to remake as many things as possible as quickly as possible. And should a remake not get the green light, then a sequel is the next best option. I mean do we really need another Beverly Hills Chihuahua? I think not. However, with big studios being the greedy entities they are, if there’s a big name attached to something, ANYTHING, then they are willing to put crap on the screen. What gets me is that people GO and WATCH it!

I say leave the movie alone and do something original and powerful. For the love of whatever god you believe in, Smith!

Then again, how many samples did Will Smith use in his music? I guess he needs to sample scripts too.

Parents just don’t understand.

Barbra WHY?

Wow!!

Big news coming from the mouth of Barbra Streisand that she would love to play the role of Mama Rose in a feature film.

She has been in talks with several people and there are backers like Warner Bros. and Joel Silver for the idea so I think it may actually happen.

While I do love me some Babs, I have to wonder: What the hell are you thinking, gurl? Yes, you have performed some amazing roles, but does the world really need another remake of Gypsy? It’s just been on Broadway for the umpteenth time in recent years, and it already has two versions, one starring Roslyn Russell and the other while it was a TV movie was still a well produced piece starring the Divine Miss M, Bette Midler. There have been many incredible women who have played this iconic role, what would you bring to it that hasn’t already been done?

I love you to death Babs, but please don’t do it. Although I would still go and watch it. There are rumors that Tom Hanks may be asked to play Herbie, which has Barbra even more stoked for this project. So I will ask for not another remake, but won’t deny that I won’t have my behind in a darkened theatre on opening day!

Just for kicks, check out the current diva who played Mama Rose.

No wonder she won the Tony!! Work it, Patti.

Speaking of just for kicks. Every diva has her moments, but I totally agree!!

It’s time for Episode 5!!

Episode 5

(Click to listen)

Special thanks to Samantha Stidham, Lisa Milanes, Kyle Dunnigan, Podsafe Music Network, and Danny Ippolito for their contributions to Episode 5. Check out the shownotes for this episode by clicking HERE.

Hope you enjoy it.