Posted by andyb on December 08, 2010 at 23:59:14 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Re: Speaking as a Bowdleriser (was Re: SA Theatre Production)... posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on December 07, 2010 at 09:05:24:
I think ACB is barking up the wrong tree. As far as I can tell S&ATM was aimed neither at deprived inner city kids, nor middle class sailing addicts of any colour but at theatre going audiences. When interviewed, Neil Hannon said that he was looking for a project for a musical and hit upon S&A when he read it to one of his children. One of his main collaborators claimed to have bought S&A as a child but to have been put off by all the 'nautical jargon' (I'm paraphrasing from memory). Given this, I was surprised how much of the original text and characterisation survived.
Titty's colour, although attention grabbing in the preview, was entirely incidental on stage, given the non-realistic stage-craft methods deployed. In fact, Titty was the only Swallow who could have been credible in a realist production, as the bearded Roger, lanky John and curvey Susan all had to depict rather than display themselves as children. Surprisingly enough this method worked and one of the high points of the evening was the diving for pearls scenes involving a ribbon to mark the water level, some grimacing from Roger and Titty diving off the piano.
Anyway enough already, I've got to go to work