The Lord of the Rings (theatre)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the theatrical productions. For other uses, see The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation).

The Lord of the Rings, an epic high fantasy novel by the British author J. R. R. Tolkien, set in his world of Middle-earth (a fictional past version of our Earth), has been adapted several times for the musical theatre. The musicals tell the tale of a humble hobbit who is asked to play the hero and undertake a treacherous mission to destroy an evil, magic gold ring without being seduced by its power. Though sometimes described as "musicals", no adaptor(s) of either production (Bowden/Goers in Cincinnati or Warchus/Rahman/Värttinä in Toronto/London) characterized their productions as musical theatre. Indeed, both productions were specifically noted to be theatrical adaptations with vital musical elements, but not with the structure of a musical, per se.

Contents

[edit] Cincinnati productions

2003 Cincinnati production of The Return of the King
2003 Cincinnati production of The Return of the King

Full-length stage musical adaptations of each of The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003) were produced in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first production suffered from poor funding and was not successful. The sequels, however, were well received by audiences and critics alike. All three adaptations were written by Blake Bowden, with music by Grammy Award nominee Steve Goers. Aretta Baumgartner directed the puppetry work and was awarded a Cincinnati Entertainment Award for her portrayal of Gollum. Huge puppets were created by Carus Waggoner, currently of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. Bowden portrayed Sam Gamgee and Joe Sofranko played Frodo Baggins. The latter two productions were directed by actor, director, and fight choreographer Gina Cerimele-Mechley. The Return of the King was produced as the inaugural production of Clear Stage Cincinnati and was presented at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. All three productions were endorsed by The American Hobbit Association and approved by Tolkien Enterprises. The French documentary, Le Seigneur des Anneaux: De l’Ecrit a l’Ecran (2003), featured clips from backstage, the audience, and several scenes from The Return of the King. Produced by La Jolla Productions, it aired in Europe on Canal+ in the fall of 2003.

[edit] Toronto production

London-based theatre producer Kevin Wallace and his partner, Saul Zaentz — stage and film rights-holder and producer of the animated film version of 1978 — in association with Toronto theatre-owner David Mirvish and concert promoter Michael Cohl, produced a stage musical adaptation with a book and lyrics written by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, and music by A. R. Rahman and Värttinä, collaborating with Christopher Nightingale.

The three-and-a-half hour long three-act production, with a cast of 65 actors, was mounted in Toronto, Canada, at the Princess of Wales Theatre, at a cost of approximately C$30 million (US$26.9 million). It was promoted as a spectacle of unusual scale. It starred Brent Carver as Gandalf and Michael Therriault as Gollum, and was directed by Warchus and choreographed by Peter Darling, with set and costume design by Rob Howell. The production began performances on February 4, 2006 and had its press opening on March 23, 2006, the day before its gala premiere. It received mixed to poor notices from the press.[1][2] The production closed on Sept. 3, 2006, at a loss.

The musical adaptation became somewhat of a joke among Torontonians after it closed after just five months of production, and inspired the Toronto Fringe Festival production The Lord of the Rings: The Musical: The Musical!, by Ben King and Nicholas Hune-Brown, which poked fun at Kevin Wallace, theater mogul David Mirvish and Toronto mayor David Miller for giving the show the green light.[3] Despite this, the show was nominated for 15 Dora Awards, winning 7, including "Outstanding New Musical" and awards for direction, design and choreography.

[edit] London production

The slightly shortened (still three-hour) and significantly re-written show began previews at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 9, 2007, with its official premiere June 19, 2007, one of the longest previewing periods ever. The same creative team as the Toronto production is involved in the London production. This production features a cast of 50 actors and reportedly cost £12 million (approximately US$25 million)[4], making it one of the most expensive ventures ever produced in the West End, or indeed, anywhere outside Las Vegas.

On May 31, 2007, it was reported that preview performances had been suspended after a cast member (Adam Salter) caught his leg in the moving stage and was taken to hospital during the performance of the evening of May 30.[5] Performances resumed on June 2.

The London production opened in May 2007, starring London's original Mary Poppins, Laura Michelle Kelly, as Galadriel, Michael Therriault as Gollum, and Jérôme Pradon as Aragorn to mixed reviews. The Times called it "a brave, stirring, epic piece of popular theatre", but while the Toronto version was dubbed "Bored of The Rings", the London production was labelled by The Sun as "Flawed of The Rings" on its opening night.[6] However, it proved popular with audiences, being nominated for 7 Whatsonstage Theatregoer's Choice Awards in 2007 and 5 Olivier Awards in 2008. [7] [8]

The Daily Telegraph predicted the run of the London production to be "nasty, brutish and short"[9]. The production will close on July 19, 2008, after 492 performances and 14 months playing to more than 446,000 people. The producers now plan to open a German-language production in November 2009 and to tour New Zealand, Australia and the Far-East.[10]

[edit] Current London Cast

The following table shows all the cast, including understudies, in order of speaking:

Character Actor/Actress Understudy No. 1 Understudy No.2
Bilbo Baggins Terence Frisch Shaun Henson Nick Searle
Samwise "Sam" Gamgee Peter Howe Ben Evans Gavin Wilkinson
Rose "Rosie" Cotton Kirsty Malpass Jennie Dale Stevie Tate-Bauer
Frodo Baggins James Loye James Byng Stuart Neal
Gandalf the Grey/White Malcom Storry Andrew Jarvis Tim Parker
Peregrin "Pippin" Took Owen Sharpe Stephen Emery Stuart Neal
Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck Richard Henders Stephen Emery Ben Evans
Elránien Alexandra Bonnet Alma Ferovic Stevie Tate-Bauer
Saruman the White Brian Protheroe Michael Hobbs Tim Morgan
Barliman Butterbur Tim Parker Terence Frisch Tim Morgan
Bill Ferny Michael Hobbs Luke Johnson Robbie Scothcher
Strider/Aragorn Jérôme Pradon Christopher D. Hunt Robbie Scotcher
Glorfindel Alma Ferovic Jennie Dale n/a
Arwen Undómiel Rosalie Craig Alexandra Bonnet Kristy Malpass
Elrond Halfelven Andrew Jarvis Michael Hobbs Tim Morgan
Boromir Steven Miller Christopher D. Hunt Robbie Scotcher
Gimli Sévan Stephan Shaun Henson Gavin Wilkinson
Legolas Michael Rouse Gregory Bradley Wayne Fitzsimmons
Gollum/Sméagol Michael Therriault Darren Carnall Nick Searle
Haldir Wayne Fitzsimmons Luke Johnson Jon Tsouras
Galadriel Abbie Osmon Alma Ferovic Stevie Tate-Bauer
Treebeard Michael Hobbs Christopher D. Hunt Robbie Scotcher
Steward of the Lands of Men Tim Morgan Michael Hobbs Tim Parker

Abbie Osmon took over the role of Galadriel on February 4, 2008[11] from Laura Michelle Kelly, the same day on which the original cast recording for the London production was released.[12]

[edit] Musical numbers

[edit] Act 1

  1. Prologue
  2. The Road Goes On
  3. Saruman
  4. The Cat And The Moon
  5. Flight To The Ford
  6. The Song of Hope
  7. Star of Earendil
  8. Lament For Moria
  9. The Golden Wood
  10. Lothlorien

[edit] Act 2

  1. Now And For Always
  2. Gollum/Sméagol
  3. The Song of Hope (Duet)
  4. Wonder
  5. The Final Battle
  6. Epilogue
  7. Finale

[edit] Petition

On May 31st 2008, a petition was created asking the producers to release the show on DVD for those who wanted to enjoy the show again or for those who could not afford to see it.[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Brantly, Ben (March 24, 2006). Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings,' Staged by Matthew Warchus in Toronto. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
  2. ^ Mixed reviews for 'Lord of the Rings' musical (in Toronto). CBC (March 25, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
  3. '^ Lord of the Rings: The Musical: The Musical!s official website: http://www.lotrtmtm.com/
  4. ^ Different sources have put the cost of the production as anywhere between £7 million and £25 million. The confusion seems to come from conversions to and from US dollars.
  5. ^ "Rings musical halted by accident. BBC News (2007-05-31).
  6. ^ Flawed of the Rings | london culture | the londonpaper
  7. ^ Guardian article, "Olivier awards 2008: nominations in full", Feb. 7, 2008
  8. ^ whatsonstage.com article, "SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED IN THE EIGHTH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE.COM THEATREGOERS’ CHOICE AWARDS", Dec. 7, 2007
  9. ^ http://www.pr-inside.com/lavish-lord-of-the-rings-stage-r484446.htm
  10. ^ Smith, Alistair. "Lord of the Rings to close in July", The Stage, 2008-03-14. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 
  11. ^ Bamigboye, Baz. "Look who's Tolkien", Daily Mail, 2006-12-15. Retrieved on 2007-05-24. 
  12. ^ "The Lord of the Rings Original London Production on Amazon.co.uk.
  13. ^ Petition: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/19670.html

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Volumes
Production / reception
Related works
Characters
Frodo · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Bilbo · Gandalf · Aragorn · Legolas · Gimli · Boromir · Sauron · Saruman · Arwen · Elrond · Glorfindel · Galadriel · Théoden · Éomer · Éowyn · Wormtongue · Faramir · Denethor · Beregond · Gollum · Witch-king · Treebeard · Tom Bombadil
Derivative works
Adaptations  · Film trilogy  · Theatre  · Video games
Radio
Film