Given the way the awards came down last night you can be excused for thinking there were only three shows on Broadway last year. Coast of Utopia dominated things on the side of the plays, with Spring Awakening dominating the musical awards, though on that side Grey Gardens picked up a few prizes too (notably the two prizes for lead and featured actress). StinkyLulu made what I think is the most interesting observation about the show itself - how the the producers were able to make art out of CBS's ridiculous censorship of the medley performed from Spring Awakening.
But the niftiest aspect of the curiously frankensteined number? The way they "adapted" the profanities to CBS standards and practices -- with some lyrics adapted, with other deleted lyrics created some of the night's most interesting theatre. The startling but evocative "gaps" in "Totally F*****" were amplified by additional choreography -- arms crossing in an "x" before the performer's mouth, index finger raised and shushing the lips, hands clasped across mouths -- gestures that both acknowledged the censorious nature of the adjustments while also elaborating upon them in ways totally in tune with the musical's style, tone and message. 'Twas one of those rare occasions in which a performance adapted cruelly for television adeptly communicated the original spirit of the piece, adding surprising elements rather than merely removing the offensive bits...
Anyway, speaking of Spring Awakening, if you are curious to see what Duncan Sheik has done to the American musical, you might be interested in this video for "Bitch of Living".
Posted by armand at June 11, 2007 07:43 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Culture