Playgoers, Beware the ‘Ishtar’ Invasion

New York Times: "BROADWAY has recently been diligent, even tireless, in the pursuit of refitting successful movie musicals from the 1980s (and the 1970s) for the stage. Almost without exception the results have been dire. The synthetic stage version of “Saturday Night Fever” took itself way too seriously; “Footloose” was bland and witless; “Urban Cowboy” had all the down-home grit of a barbecued marshmallow. The odious stage version of “Fame” never made it to Broadway — a small mercy — but it was an inexplicable hit in the West End of London. Next up: a stage “Flashdance,” being developed by the company that brought us the dud Earth, Wind and Fire jukebox musical “Hot Feet.” Prognosis: scary.