As everyone has seemingly learned from the poorly received film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, not all musicals (and plays) are meant to be adapted to film. The medium of theater truly requires a suspension of disbelief and full cerebral participation. That makes it is hard to translate that experience to another medium.
So, there is a lot to learn from Cats’ terrible performance in the box office and its response from audiences. Most notably, it serves as a cautionary tale for Hollywood to reconsider when they think about adapting Broadway musicals to film. Here are some examples we believe should never be adapted to film:
10 Starlight Express
While on the subject of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, a few of his works have been a subject of scrutiny in the theater community. So, adapting one of his projects to film is a mitigated risk.
One of his musicals that should not be adapted to the big screen is his own version of Xanadu. The musical is a rock-based 80’s throwback to metallic costumes and roller derby sets. The musical is so over-the-top that it will hardly resonate with contemporary audiences, even if the 80s are popular again.
9 Sunday In The Park With George
The concept of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George is that a fictionalized version of painter Georges Seurat recounted how he was able to intricately craft every detail of his painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”.
The entire musical is almost like a three-hour special of Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting, only with less hummable music and calm symphonies. Only art buffs would be joyous over a film adaptation of this.
8 Urinetown
With a title like Urinetown, one would immediately assume a gross image will be displayed in this musical. However, this is surprisingly more of a satire and self-aware commentary on Broadway musicals, under the pretense of a hero’s journey musical of a young man leading a rebellion to overthrow a government over an absurd law about urinating. That is how wacky and ridiculous it is.
Regardless, it is a musical worth watching onstage. Though, a movie adaptation would sound like a huge creative risk.
7 Next To Normal
This rock musical is a sendup of American Beauty and Requiem for a Dream in that its raw intensity can only work on the theater lights or the cast recording. Its songs are primarily set on confined spaces like a house, a doctor’s clinic and a room. So, staging it to film would not magnify the same performance that it can attain on the stage.
Yet, of all the musicals in this list, Next to Normal can probably work as a movie the most.
6 Company
Back to Sondheim, even though his works were adapted to film from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Into the Woods, not all of the others are translatable to film. Take for instance the comedy musical Company.
The premise is that five couples gathered for the 35th birthday of their bachelor friend, who contemplated his life choices and the complicated lives of his friends. it is a showcase of their musical talents and intellectual songs. So, a movie adaptation would not do it justice.
5 The Who's Tommy
British band The Who basically crafted a concept album about a boy who found solace in playing a pinball machine expertly. It is tailor-made for the stage, so when it was adapted into a gratifying rock opera, every song meshed well with the narrative.
A film adapting this musical could work since Pink Floyd – The Wall was also based on a concept album. However, the artistic paradox of a simple story with a grandiose display should only stick onstage.
4 Spamalot
Who would ever adapt a Monty Python musical onscreen even if there is an existing Monty Python film with the same story? Apparently, there were reports for a Spamalot film adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Dinklage, and Tiffany Haddish.
While that may be neat, it would be redundant to have another King Arthur spoof from all the barrages of King Arthur stories recently. Plus, while it is a Pythonesque story, Spamalot did not involve most of the Monty Python comedians.
3 The Book Of Mormon
Ever since 2010, the Trey Parker-Matt Stone musical The Book of Mormon has been a staple on Broadway and in the theater world. The musical is really a real-life version of a Mormon-focused episode from South Park, plus an orchestra, a theater set, and hummable songs from Robert Lopez of Avenue Q.
With a spectacle and a subject matter that heavy, the story of two Mormon missionaries aiming to preach to an African tribe can only be told through theatrics.
2 Follies
To just show the distinction of theater audiences and movie audiences when it comes to their preference, look no further than Stephen Sondheim’s Follies. This well-known musical is about two couples who are former Broadway performers reuniting before their home theater is subjected to demolition.
The entire piece is filled with vignettes that recall the performers’ past lives in Ziegfeld Follies-inspired performances. Clearly, this is a story that may make it hard to resonate with the mainstream movie audience.
1 Hamilton
Everyone loves Lin-Manuel Miranda’s opus Hamilton. No doubt about it. So, in due respect, it is best that the now-iconic Broadway piece should stay on the stage.
With rousing sung-through musical performances like that, it can be hard to translate the same impact on a film reel. And the mix of historical context and contemporary themes might be hard to mesh together onscreen. How would one filmmaker be able to adapt the musical’s rap battle Congress sessions on film?
It would really take a united vision to achieve that feat. Anyone can give their shot.
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