Thursday, August 31, 2023
The success of Love Never Dies highlights something missing from UK theatre
www.whatsonstage.com: Theatre Royal Drury Lane hosted something of a resurrection act last week – with a special, three-show staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater, Ben Elton and Frederick Forsyth’s Love Never Dies, seen for the first time this week after amends made to the piece during its Australian run.
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2 comments:
Contemplating the commercial aspects of theatrical productions leaves me with a sense of unease. To put it plainly, this happens to be the aspect of my major that doesn't sit well with me. I'm not oblivious to its necessity; I genuinely acknowledge that a production can and should find a harmonious blend between artistic authenticity and commercial success. Yet, the reality is that many Broadway shows today seem to miss that mark. Let's take the rather controversial example of "Into the Woods," a production that has managed to keep its run alive by heavily depending on well-known Broadway stars for its performances. This situation strikes a chord with me, as it reflects a bigger trend in the industry. It's disheartening, really. While I grasp the need for productions to thrive economically, it often feels like artistic purity is compromised in the process. There's a yearning for more instances where the delicate balance between the two realms is maintained, resulting in a more satisfying theatrical experience for both the creators and the audience.
The article proposes that the UK theatre industry should bring in something similar to the Encores! programme so that ‘older’ productions have a chance of revival. As an audience, I know that it’s saddening when my favourite show closes abruptly or if a script I like isn’t staged anymore. But sometimes, I think it’s best to close the show, rather than keep changing it and hanging on the last thread, which often ruins the show's reputation. And I think Alexander’s comment also makes an interesting point that the success of a production shouldn’t rely on how big the star of the show is. But the disheartening truth is that audiences wouldn’t even go see the production in the first place if there wasn’t a superstar in the cast. And I agree that finding the balance between “artistic authenticity and commercial success” is tricky; it is even harder when so many producers and investors are involved behind the scenes.
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