This week ends the From Page to Stage series. We’ve been looking at books that have made the transition to the stage. Several have been a surprise, such as Legally Blonde. Here are several more books that have made the transition. Those reading this, at 3:48 of the Mary Poppins video, my old dance teacher, Nicolas Dromard, can be seen on the viewer’s right, next to Mary.
Yes, Mary Poppins was a book series long before the film ever rolled around. PL Travers wrote the series over the span of 50 plus years, starting in 1934 and ending in 1988. The battle between Travers and Walt Disney over the rights of the books is well documented and was made in a feature film last year, called Saving Mr. Banks. Travers earned a reputation as being extremely tough, unloving and quite rude. After much discussion and arguments, Travers eventually gave her permission to producing legend Cameron Macintosh that the story be turned into the musical, on the condition that the Sherman Brothers had nothing to do with the show. The show followed the books more closely than the movie, but retained many of the songs from the film. Mary, like in the books, was far more stern and frankly, quite bitchy and vain. The show uses plots from several of the books, including the return of the nasty Miss Andrews (Mr. Banks’ former nanny) and a visit to Mrs. Corry.
The show was an absolute spectacle, with numerous special effects, outstanding choreography by genius Matthew Bourne and more. The Tony Committee received heavy criticism when the Tony for Best Choreography was award to Spring Awakening, instead of Mary Poppins. Many still talk about the controversy today. Starting in London’s West End in 2004, the show also opened on Broadway in 2006. Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in London, originated the role on Broadway as well. Several changes were made for the Broadway show, but overall it still maintained the magic that the London version had. There were numerous tours and regional productions as well. The show received numerous awards, both in the UK and on Broadway.
It’s like Marmite. You either love or hate Cats. Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, the show tells of a group of cats (the Jellicles), and one particular night, in which they choose a care that will go to the Heaviside Layer (heaven in cat world) and will come back to start a new life. The book was published in 1939 and contains a series of poems, each one telling about a cat. Starting in the West End in 1981, the same creative team opened the show on Broadway the following year. The creative team included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gillian Lynne, Trevor Nunn and more. The show has since been translated into over 20 different languages, has seen numerous tours and international productions and an upcoming revival in the West End. Both the Broadway and West End versions received numerous awards. Valerie Eliot, T.S. Eliot’s wife, who adored the songs and story, personally approved the show.
The show gave several stars a bit of a start in the theatre world, one in particular. These include Elaine Paige, Richard Armitage, Brian Blessed and more. However, it is Sarah Brightman, who starred in the original cast as Jemima, who got her real start. While Sarah had started to make a name for herself with the group Hot Gossip, it was in Cats that Sarah was noticed by Andrew Lloyd Webber (her future (ex) husband). He cast her in the role, several years later, of Christine Daae in the original London cast of The Phantom of the Opera. She would then go on to originate the same role on Broadway as well. Memory became a sensation. Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella, had her version peak at number six on the UK singles chart. Numerous other artists, including Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, and Barry Manilow, have covered it.
Based upon the Charles Dickens novel of the same name (1838), the story tells of the orphan Oliver, who must endure a miserable time in a workhouse. He is then placed to work with an undertaker. After escaping, Oliver travels to London, where he meets the Artful Dodger and his group of pickpockets. Oliver, unaware of the illegal activities that are going on, he is then led to the lair of the gang’s criminal trainer, Fagin. The musical premiered in the West End in 1960, where it had a long run. A successful Broadway version opened three years later. There have been numerous revivals (mainly in London) and tours. The original London production included Ron Moody and Georgia Brown. Danny Sewell was cast as Bill Sikes. His biggest competition was a little well-known star named Michael Caine. Michael has stated he was so upset about losing the part, he cried for a week. Both the London and Broadway versions won numerous awards. In 1968, a hit film was made of the musical, winning numerous Oscars. The show turned out such hits as Where is Love, Consider Yourself, and As Long as He Needs Me. Oliver! is a popular choice for school musical productions, as it is considered an easier musical to do.
Many well known actors and actresses have starred in revivals, including Patti LuPone, Rowan Atkinson, Julian Glover, and Samantha Barks. It was during Samantha’s run as Nancy during the 2011 UK tour that she learned, during a curtain call of one show, that she had been cast as Eponine in Tom Hooper’s film version of Les Miserables. Samantha returned to the role after filming, but the role was once again cut short, due to her having to perform at the 2013 Academy Awards with the rest of the cast of the film.