But if the original 1966 version of Cabaret was revived on Broadway instead of the revised version it might not have been as successful. At least the authors were alive to approve of the changes (unlike the current South Pacific)but when discussing how musicals get "dated" the fact that the people who own the rights frequently give permission for the work to be changed is an important factor to consider.
Chicago is an interesting matter. Cynicism was definitely not in style in the mid-70's, with A Chorus Line & Annie being the huge hits of the day. Chicago was doing decently at the box office, but when Gwen Verdon was injured, Liza Minnelli was rushed in to take her place until she recovered. Minnelli wasn't given time to work with Fosse on acting choices and establishing the dark subtext, so when she played Roxie is was a surface performance of entertainment and warmth. 70s audiences liked the show more that way and even after Minnelli left that positive word of mouth helped it run.
Yes, the post-OJ thinking has certainly helped the Chicago revival run, but also this revival replaces Fosse's Brectian vulgarity with lean, mean sex appeal. It's a less complicated interpretation of the material that lures you in with its attractiveness instead of flaunting its social commentary in your face. Chita Rivera and Gewn Verdon were playing two women who spent their lives using their sex appeal to get what they wanted, but now face the reality that they're becoming too old for that game to work. That is way more interesting than casting the roles with sexy young stars, but I don't know if you'd get a ten-year run out of it.
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Chicago is an interesting matter. Cynicism was definitely not in style in the mid-70's, with A Chorus Line & Annie being the huge hits of the day. Chicago was doing decently at the box office, but when Gwen Verdon was injured, Liza Minnelli was rushed in to take her place until she recovered. Minnelli wasn't given time to work with Fosse on acting choices and establishing the dark subtext, so when she played Roxie is was a surface performance of entertainment and warmth. 70s audiences liked the show more that way and even after Minnelli left that positive word of mouth helped it run.
Yes, the post-OJ thinking has certainly helped the Chicago revival run, but also this revival replaces Fosse's Brectian vulgarity with lean, mean sex appeal. It's a less complicated interpretation of the material that lures you in with its attractiveness instead of flaunting its social commentary in your face. Chita Rivera and Gewn Verdon were playing two women who spent their lives using their sex appeal to get what they wanted, but now face the reality that they're becoming too old for that game to work. That is way more interesting than casting the roles with sexy young stars, but I don't know if you'd get a ten-year run out of it.