nypost.com: “Stranger Things” Season 5 is a long way off (perhaps even as distant as 2026) due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
But to soften the blow, Netflix has dropped a video preview of the upcoming stage play “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” which begins performances this month in London.
6 comments:
The idea of adapting popular "classics" like "Stranger Things" into theatrical productions seems to be an ongoing trend, and it's one that I find somewhat disheartening. While nostalgia has its place, I can't help but yearn for more original and innovative storytelling in the world of theater. It's not the first time I've come across news about a "Stranger Things" theatrical adaptation. In fact, I received a newsletter that announced "The Hinger Games (the Musical)" alongside it, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. The incessant recycling of familiar intellectual properties into new forms feels like a missed opportunity to explore new narratives and offer fresh experiences to audiences. The creative potential of the theater is vast, and it's a space where innovative, thought-provoking stories can come to life. While adaptations can be enjoyable, there's a danger in becoming overly reliant on nostalgia-driven works, as it can stifle the development of new and original narratives. I hope that the theater industry continues to embrace and champion fresh, imaginative storytelling that pushes boundaries and takes risks, rather than solely relying on established franchises to draw in audiences.
When I read this headline my first thought was oh lord this is going to suck why on earth would they make this it is just a money grab. However, as a stranger things fan I got very excited as I started reading about the plot and I will probably try and get my hands on the script if it is ever published or try to see it if it ever comes to the US. I still think it’s a money grab and I have my doubts about its quality however I am still excited. 001 is my favorite stranger things character and I think his story, at least how it was explained in the show, is super interesting and fun, so I am excited to see what they do with him on stage. I live by the belief that any creative work has its “ideal” medium and trying to switch out of that medium will only harm the work. I think that is true of stranger things. It was originally made and intended for the screen and will be very hard to translate to any other medium. It is of course possible, I just can’t imagine the result being very good. However, I am more than happy to be surprised.
I dislike this idea. I hate that the majority of the shows being produced right now are popular pop culture shows put onto stage. I understand that it draws a larger audience in and interests people who are not typical theater goers. However, I think that when we pull material from known and popular mediums we lose the capacity for full creativity. While I do think they are entertaining it is nothing new. It is not forcing audiences to think in new ways, or showcasing stories that have never been seen or heard. I want to take a step back from my tangent thought, and I want to acknowledge again that I do believe there is value in these types of productions. I just get flustered at the increasing number we are seeing produced. I hope to see more original works that push boundaries and bring new levels of creativity to the table.
If I’m being honest, I’m really quite tired with this fascination of taking IPs that aren’t really theatre related (i.e. Stranger Things and Harry Potter) and making them stage plays for a few reasons. 1) These productions seem more like a cash grab rather than something that, for lack of a better word, should exist. I feel like while these kinds of IPs will bring in money, in the long run, I think they are more harmful. The whole magic of theatre is that the emotional connection to the characters is so much higher, and you feel more like you’re in the story. To that end, I don’t really like the idea of a “spectacle” play. To me, plays should be more of an emotional story, if you want adaptations and spectacle, make a musical. Now I know not every play is going to be like Shakespeare and shows like “Our Town”, however, in my mind plays are best when they reveal something about ourselves.
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I find it intriguing that there is a Stranger Things play, but on the other hand, I find it upsetting that producers are doing whatever they can to make a little money and appeal to audiences instead of putting up original work. They also did this with Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, but honestly, without all the problems the series has, especially with JK Rowling, Harry Potter is genuinely SUCH a good work. And again, before I knew what happened with the author of the work, I found out that they were putting a up Cursed Child, and I was OVER THE MOON. As a kid, this series was my favorite and to some degree, putting the work aside from its author, is one of the best works to exist. They did it again with PUFFs it mid (ish) 2010s, and I closed PUFFs last November, and I absolutely loved that play so much. What I liked more about PUFFs than Cursed Child was that PUFFs was a heavy nod to Harry Potter, but because of copyright, they never ACTUALLY mentioned the name of full show. It was original, and I hope to see works like PUFFs arise in the future. It is a nod to a larger nostalgic work, while being original.
My very first reaction to reading this headline was, oh no. There have been more and more film and television shows that have been turned into stage plays, much to my dismay. I understand that just like there is beauty in live theatre, I believe there is also beauty in film and television. Having so many people working to create an everlasting piece of theatre to its fullest extent for generations to come to watch it is something so cool. However, I do believe that these two forms of the same art are each catered to specific things. This reminded me of the Mean Girls saga. The same story that was originally a movie got translated into a musical. Now that the musical has been as successful as it has been, they are turning the musical into a movie. This really trips me up. I somewhat understand it as it will bring in a lot of money; however, I am not sure if it was necessary at all.
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