Lord Of The Rings Musical Spring 2005

[Araréiel]

Tu ché. If it's a darker sort, like Le Mis, it could work. I am guilty of the immediate thinking of something happy-go-spunky. But, Gorwingel, I think we would have a good number of people here who would sit through 9 hours! We've all sat through more than that for the films and asked for more!! But LotR is so wonderfully involved and elaborately created that, even with 10 and a half hours (counting the extended editions), a lot was left out. It will be interesting to see what they do in two or three hours, just how painful it will be....

No matter, I still want to go!!

[Gorwingel]

The most unfortunate thing about producer/fandom relationship is the sure knowledge of the former that, given decent amount of PR, the members of the latter are going to buy any rubbish produced, provided that it is effectively tied up with the original.

So absolutely true!
So then I guess it will be a success, but will it still reallly be a success with the "other people" (normal public, critics, etc.).

This is a question for our British Barrow-downs members: How are the British musical/play reviewers? Are they tough?
I know a little about the New York ones, but even though the only musical I have ever seen I saw in London, I know little of what the critics are like.

But, yes, this will attract a lot of interest. But the main question is how will it last over the long run? And that question will only be answered by viewing of the final product

as you've all said.... could be good, could be horrendously bad.

I really can't get the image of a singing, tap-dancing balrog out of my head
*shudders*

[Pippin Pondlily]

Now, if the great world of entertainment wanted to do something right for a change, haha, they'd make Lord of the Rings an opera.

I'm actually quite serious, I know that there are a couple "serious" Musicals (my sister's in Broadway so I'm not exactly knowledge-less) but I really don't think that Lord of the Rings should have musical-style dancing, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Oklahoma coming to mind. I mean if they've really got to do some sort of musical/play/theater production, I think an opera would be much more appropriate. That way they can really bring out the songs and music Tolkien used or implied in his novel without making it goofy.

I really don't know what to expect but frankly, I'm a little worried.

- P. Pondlily

[ninlaith]

I'm not so sure about a musical. In my opinion I think it might struggle trying not to look like The Wizard of Oz. I get a very unnerving visualization....

We represent the Fellowship
The Fellowship
The Fellowship
And in the name of the Fellowship.....
We shall see that the ring gets into Mordor

I don't know. It might turn out ok....

[Dûrbelethwen]

I was just thinking about the musical and I think it will probably be like Les Mesirable. They are both on serious subjects and Les Mesirable was a very long book. Something like 1, 400 pages. Of course part of that was background information that I found extremly boring, such as several chapters on the battle of Waterloo which tied into the book but I was still boring.

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

I think this show could easily be a disasterous joke, but I hope that isn't the case. I'm just curious as to how they are going to get through all three books in one stage show. Is this going to be like one of those musicals from the late 1800's where you'd go and make a day out it... a six hour musical. I'm just wondering how they will do it justice while still keeping it a length that will suit the attention span of today's audiences.
The good news is, though, that if it does take off in London, then it probably won't be long until it hits NY, and then it would probably tour... as that's how these things usually work. So, more of us may be able to see it later on.
Me, I'd love to be able to audition. Musical theatre is my major, and everyone always tells me I look like Eowyn. *sigh* If only I had an agent overseas.