The Life revival?

[jamiekennywicked]

Does anybody think we'll see this revived anytime soon? I've been listening to the cast recording all week and am reminded how good the score is.

[Kad]

I could see it being done at Encores, but I doubt we'll see a full revival anytime soon.

[latitudex1]

You're probably right, Kad, not without star interest ala Sweet Charity (like Jennifer Hudson as Sonja, Raven as Queen) and a strong director. Moya Angelo would probably be a good Sonja though.

[jamiekennywicked]

I too thought Moya Angela could be a great Sonja. Audra as Queen?

[Kad]

The show wasn't a hit the first time, and is not a known quantity, like Sweet Charity is.

It would need a lot of star power and directorial support.

[AEA AGMA SM]

I agree with Kad. I don't think either Raven or Jennifer Hudson (using the two examples given) are enough. You would need Beyonce-level star power to get this one off the ground and back on Broadway.

[Gothampc]

The score is so-so (Hooker's Ball?? Really, really??) and the script is not good. The show captures the seedy Times Square but not in an interesting way. Audiences like their hookers and pimps happily singing and dancing.

Additionally, the fantastic talent of the OBC helped raise the level of mediocre material: Pamela Isaacs, Chuck Cooper and of course Lillias White were all powerhouse voices.

The show is quite flawed. For example, the character Queen sings "He's no good, but I'm no good without him" then the very next song she's singing "I'm Leaving You". So you sit through "I'm Leaving You" thinking "Five minutes ago you were just singing how you needed him so badly".

Then you have the Lillias White character singing about she's tired of the Oldest Profession, but when she gets the chance to leave, she's begs off with some dumb excuse "I'm staying in this life, I know all the rules."

I think it's a show headed for Encores, but not really worth a Broadway production.

[castlestreet]

The Life is a prime example of a show that lives on in our minds based on as mentioned above a pretty terrific OBC, and an amazing performance by Lilias. If our memories really served us well, we would realize that it was a deeply flawed show.

Encores- yes... but probably not for some time.

Full scale revival- many many years from now maybe, but there will be major tinkering involved, and whoever the hot commodities are at that time, they will surely be courted to star.

It had some great moments- but thats not enough!