With the recent premiere of Wicked skyrocketing the West End world levels beyond London, the gravity defying movie isn’t the first to turn classical musicals into cinema. At the turn of the decade, Hamilton became an on-screen hit. Newer and undoubtedly granted a bigger budget, Matilda also became a movie masterpiece in 2022. This evolution of theatre is not only comparative to cinema. Broadway is being reinvented, and the stage is not how it used to be. Silence in the auditorium: are classical musicals disappearing?
Dating back to the 16th century, when Shakespeare’s performances stunned the Globe, sets were minimal yet costumes were eccentric. Medieval entertainment established a foundation for theatre to flourish, yet it seems that modern performances have taken it back to basics. In many cases, the bells and whistles attached to the world of Broadway have been largely reduced. Sets are skeletal, costumes lack colour and props aren’t extensive. The recent West-End sell out show of Romeo and Juliet, starring Tom Holland (Broadway’s Billy Eliot), presents this minimalism to an extreme. The elaborate beauty of the Capulet’s home is nowhere to be seen on the jet black stage. Charcoal toned costumes are also colour-matched with the backdrop, not to mention being casual in style. For this particular performance, sweatshirts and joggers made the cut. The romantic and rustic portrayal of fair Verona is also disregarded. However, the untraditional and innovative stance taken by director, Jamie Loyd, received high praise in the theatrical realm. It poses the question: is this modern transformation dishonouring the plays we know and love or keeping them alive?
Having studied Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire and watched a modern performance in turn, I was stunned by the National Theatre’s take on the drama. Blanche Dubois was magnificently portrayed by actress, Gillian Anderson, who perfectly captured her descent to madness. Her costumes consisted of sensuous pieces, heightening her flirtatious side while unveiling her deep insecurities. Props, such as the bathtub, were also placed on stage. Blanche would cleanse in this to escape reality, avoid harsh light, and speak in a whimsical New Orleans accent – every aspect of Anderson’s performance exceeded expectations in this West End remake of this classic Broadway production.
Holland, Anderson, and most recently Paul Mescal as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire. These on-screen actors serve as talented promoters for upcoming West End shows. Classic shows are getting the traction they need as a result!
The world of musical theatre is also evolving at a rapid rate. Research shows that, in the past 30 years, 82% of the new musicals on Broadway were adaptations. In the upcoming coming-of-age jukebox musical & Juliet, Juliet’s story is reimagined, taking her far beyond the tragic ending of her suicide. ‘Wherefore art thou, Romeo?’ indeed. The show diverges into the hip-hop realm of dance choreography; however, it retains bright and eye-catching costumes, which make classic theatre so visually captivating. Having watched the show in London, I was stunned by the energy and unexpected plot. Deriving from a medieval classic, I am hopeful that these new takes on timeless scripts will carry Romeo and Juliet into the next generation.
Undoubtedly, iconic musicals have been altered in the past few decades. & Juliet sees amendments for the better, such as the presentation of female independence and queer identity – two underrepresented topics in many older musicals. West-End and National Theatre productions alter the production (stage, lighting, props, costume) of classic scripts. This modernisation is intriguing and, I believe, connects us more with the performance side. Sometimes, theatrical flair is unneeded if the foundation performance is exceptionally good.
This transformation of classic musicals reflects a natural evolution that resonates with modern sensibilities and diverse audiences. By embracing minimalism and reimagining iconic stories, these productions keep timeless works alive while making them relevant to today’s cultural landscape. Not to mention, these shows are being brought to the screen for us to indulge in, anytime, anywhere.
Words by Bo Burt
Featured image courtesy of Kenny Filiaert via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence found here.