re: Whence Tevye's red coat...
Posted by: Vectorbabe 01:45 pm EST 12/19/15
In reply to: Whence Tevye's red coat... - theaterluvr 06:20 am EST 12/19/15

Pushing the boundaries of revivals is a great tradition. (See my other posts.)

I was lucky enough to see Anne Bogart's production of South Pacific that took place in a hospital facility to help shell-shocked war veterans re-enter society.

Not a single word was changed, but the setting was an explosion of power.

Unfortunately the R&H executors shut the product down shortly after it opened.

Why try to infuse new relevance into South Pacific? Doesn't it have enough relevance of anti-racism and the way indigenous people are taken advantage of. (Think Bloody Mary)

For the same reason Sam Mendes pushed the boundaries of Cabaret.

I admit there are parts of the original Broadway production that I miss in the current revivals. But Mendes did the theatre a benefit in changing the scope of the production.

And the last scene is one of the most powerful I've ever seen. First time I saw it I sat in my seat for 5 minutes crying my eyes out.

But the red parka is such an insignificant framing device. And yet it says so much and gets people talking and thinking.
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