Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Greatest Musicals NEVER Made

I'm sure everyone has noticed that the current Broadway trend involves wacking a score onto a preexisting film and calling it a musical, with varying degrees of success (Legally Blonde- fantastic. Young Frankenstein- less so).

Years ago, I made the comment that First Wives Club would lend itself towards this treatment really well, and could make an amazing musical. Much to my delight, thats EXACTLY what has happened, and it opens later this year, with Ana Gasteyer (The woman from Reefer Madness that blew my socks off) playing Brenda (The Bette role). So far, the information is full of win, and I'm crazily excited.

So because I was SO right about that, I've decided to have a think and see what else is just screaming to be adapted into a musical. Maybe I should copyright these ideas???

Absolutely Fabulous
Ok, I'm not sure just how well this one would work- I mean, a lot of Ab Fabs greatness comes from Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley (Hear that, America? Abort the remake NOW! It will never work!) but it's already camp as tits, and I think a musical would be hysterical! A storyline would need to be established, because you'd need some sort of emotional investment, but the over-the-top nature of the series would translate really well, I think, and be a lot of fun.

Zach and Miri Make a Porno

Sounds a bit rude, I know, but for some reason (And Simon and Sarah can attest to this) the second I walked out of the cinema, I felt that this movie needed to be a musical. It's crass, it's gross, it's AWESOME. AND, on stage, the oversentimentality that almost killed the movie for me wouldn't seem half as jarring, it could actually work in the musicals favour. And just IMAGINE the song titles. Oh my.

Beaches
Yeah, I know, it practically is anyway, but still. Someone needs to get off their ass and make this happen. Isn't CC Bloom just DESTINED to be a broadway character? And you could stick all the Bette hits in there people know and love, but pad it out by giving Hillary a bunch of numbers. (ooh- she could die in a musical number! How fabulous! Thats how I want to go!)

Romy & Michelles Highschool Reunion
Whoever wrote the amazing Legally Blonde: The Musical needs to follow it up with an adaptation of this. 'twould be HEAVEN, and I'm sure they'd be perfect for the job. It can work as a thematic sister to the other show, and it would be utter magic.

I know thats only four, and believe me, I have more, but I figure thats probably all your poor mind can handle at this stage, reader. Some of my other possibilities include Steel Magnolias, Mystery Men and Death to Smoochy, but I'll save the explanations for another time!

Oh, and lets all cry a single tear for the death of the Princess Bride musical that I was so looking forward to. Le sigh.

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