|
|
|||
|
News
from New York
|
|||
|
News |
News from New York is an occasional page with items of interest from the Big Apple brought by our two NYC correspondents Catherine Lamm and Julie-Ann Marshall.Dateline: 17th May, 2004 Johnny Packs up his GunsThe Award-winning musical Johnny Guitar sadly closed its doors on Sunday 16th May. Nominated for 7 Awards and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, the show which opened in March is holstering its guns…….for now! Based on the 1954 Hollywood cult classic, the musical Johnny Guitar takes place in a New Mexico boomtown circa 1885. The tale centers on sultry saloon keeper Vienna (Judy McLane) - the ultimate "bad-girl gone good" - and her nemesis, the pent-up and repressed Emma (Ann Crumb) who controls the town. Mix in Vienna's toy boy, The Dancin' Kid (Robert Evan), and the arrival of mysterious Johnny (Christopher Carl), and the stage is set for what, justifiably, should have been the fastest draw, on or Off-Broadway. Christopher Carl joined the exceptional cast when he took over the role of Johnny in April. There's no denying that Blanchard's shoes were hard to fill - as the character Eddie remarks to Johnny, "that's a lot of man you're carrying in them there boots", but fill them Carl does. His is a leaner, rangier Johnny who brings added swagger and heat to the role, with just a trace of vulnerability. Off-Broadway will not be the same without Johnny Guitar. Perhaps it wasn't quite ready for it. The show didn't take itself too seriously and was just good old fashioned fun, with heroes and villains, a posse, wonderful "tunes" and a truly hilarious catfight between Vienna and Emma…..all this and a scene-stealing rolling tumbleweed . Thanks to the magnificent supporting cast of Ed Sala, David Sinkus, Robb Sapp, and Jason Edwards, we were all too briefly transported to the wild, wild west - 50's style! A cast recording is in the cards which will feature the entire score with a few excerpts of dialogue. There is the possibility of a summer release and fans of JG should check the website JohnnyGuitarTheMusical.com for updates. With music by Marty Silvestri and Joel Higgins and book by Nicholas van Hoogstraten this show is far too good to ride off into the sunset. Perhaps in time Johnny Guitar, The Musical will transport the old west to the West End…….we can only hope. Watch this space! Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
|
||
|
|
