Lord of the Rings musical closing this July - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sauron the White · 03-14-2008, 06:04 AM

I am not surprised in the least. I saw the production in Toronto and thought it was a disaster trying to put a 1200 page novel in a three hour play. Or, if you prefer, an eleven hour film digested to a three hour play. At its best moments it was mediocre. It advertised itself as a musical and the music was totally forgettable unless it was bad then you tried to forget it. There was that one musical number in Bree which was clearly inspired by Master of the House from LES MIZ. However, it was a pale imitation and the costumes in that portion of the play looked like a combination of DELIVERANCE and DAVY CROCKETT. I could almost hear the banjo picking in the background. When they were not doing number like that we got the Cirque Soliel wailing that passes for singing.

Everyones lines were rushed to get it all in so badly that it seemed like an old 33 rpm record album being played at 45 speed. Nobody under 35 will understand that reference.

This play had to be a huge investment to stage given its complexity and cast size. In the end, it was simply a bad idea.

03-14-2008, 06:04 AM	#2
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	I am not surprised in the least. I saw the production in Toronto and thought it was a disaster trying to put a 1200 page novel in a three hour play. Or, if you prefer, an eleven hour film digested to a three hour play. At its best moments it was mediocre. It advertised itself as a musical and the music was totally forgettable unless it was bad then you tried to forget it. There was that one musical number in Bree which was clearly inspired by Master of the House from LES MIZ. However, it was a pale imitation and the costumes in that portion of the play looked like a combination of DELIVERANCE and DAVY CROCKETT. I could almost hear the banjo picking in the background. When they were not doing number like that we got the Cirque Soliel wailing that passes for singing. Everyones lines were rushed to get it all in so badly that it seemed like an old 33 rpm record album being played at 45 speed. Nobody under 35 will understand that reference. This play had to be a huge investment to stage given its complexity and cast size. In the end, it was simply a bad idea.