Why Do Screen-To-Stage Adaptations Work So Well?
Published on Monday 17th May, 11.41am, Written by Amy Whiting
Lately I have noticed a steady increase of screen-to-stage shows appearing in the West End. But what is so attractive about them and what is the secret to their success?
Movie adaptations have always been popular with audiences and at times, receive positive reviews from the critics too. Take Legally Blonde the Musical for example; it has enjoyed success on both sides of the pond since transferring to the stage and seems to suggest that films with a quotable script, fun soundtrack and a dedicated fanbase seem to be all the ingredients needed for a successful West End show these days. And I for one am a sucker for them.
Doggy appeal
My only fear is that we may one day find ourselves in a culture where we’ve reached a point where the majority of modern audiences need familiarity when going to see a show because they are afraid of the unknown: be it the plot, songs or leading lady. It makes me wonder, where does this leave the future of original plays? My worry is that they may never be able to compete with the ever-increasing amount of blockbuster film adaptations springing up across central London.
One thing’s for sure, after watching a screen-to-stage hit, you’re almost certain to hear the line “I enjoyed it, but it’s very different to the film” on the way out of the theatre. Of course it is! You haven’t just been to the cinema! You can’t go into the show expecting everything to be the same as the film. Certain parts will need to be changed for the stage production, that’s a given. It’s an interpretation, not a copycat.
The Tories are back
Another apparent trend in these stage-to-screen musicals is the revival of the 80s. The decade is cropping everywhere: shoulder pads are in fashion, Bananarama are in the charts and the Tories are in power – so maybe this explains the reason why there has been an influx of 80s films remade for the stage. Flashdance and Fatal Attraction are on their way and Dirty Dancing London is still doing well.
But will watching these films again and again, then seeing the show ever grate on audiences? How many times will people go to see The Wizard of Oz before they realise Dorothy definitely DOES find her way back to Kansas? I’m guessing in some instances, the hype created from reality shows and celebrity castings are the only way to keep the momentum up for a musical. It’s certainly working.
Of course it’s not always like this. Take Chicago – it enjoyed a fantastic run on Broadway when it first opened in 1975 and received numerous prestigious awards. The film version starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere was not released until 2002, and although the musical was successful in its
own right, the film must have opened the musical up to an even wider market. The same can even be said for Mamma Mia, which was turned into a big-screen chick-flick blockbuster in 2008.
So, whether you’re a fan or not, more and more film adaptations are going to grace our theatres. They’ll pull in the crowds too, because the majority of the time, they’ll work.
All I’m waiting for now is an announcement that Twilight The Musical is on its way. I’m just hoping that Jedward don’t try and battle it out for the parts of Edward and Jacob.
