Author Topic: BBM as a stage play (Read 26549 times)

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **on:** Oct 14, 2006, 05:21 PM »

Hello Brokeies

I have had one of my ideas. I would love to see BBM adapted and performed as a stage production.

Think about it. We have the story, the film screen play and the film - far more of a basis than most stage plays ever have. Getting that great outdoor feeling into a stage play would be a real challenge - the charged indoor scenes would be great fun. The implied sex would be electric. This would of course mean working with many of the leading lights who have given us this wonderful work of art in its existing form.

Who wants to help run with this?

Thanks Saul

ethan · « **Reply #1 on:** Oct 14, 2006, 05:25 PM »

What a great idea! Thanks!

We have many talented writers here!!

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #2 on:** Oct 15, 2006, 02:11 PM »

Hello Ethan!

This is what came to my mind.

Ennis would by now be in his 60's as he was 18 ish in the early 60's. He could meet a new friend and after years of scilence pour it all out. The new love would stand or fall on his ability to resolve his berievement from the past. Younger actors could play flashbacks.

We can throw it out of course if it does not work out and try many other ways.

BBM has affected me in many ways. One of these was that I read a screenplay for the first time in my life. Another was that after 46 years of media watching a work of art really got through to me. I expected yet another film. What I got was an experience that must have happened to the audience of Shakespeare in his time. Profoundly changed.

Over to you again!

Other creative Brokies, please join in!

Saul

Oregondoggie · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 02, 2006, 03:16 AM »

Glad to see this idea posted here. I've brought the idea up several times on the Dave Cullen BBM site. Earlier this year, at a seminar in Missouri, Diana Ossana responded ENTHUSIASTICALLY to the question of Brokeback Mountain being made into a stage play. She did allow as to how she and Larry were busy now with other projects.

It would seem to me that the Ossana-McMurtry team would be the best equipped to take Brokeback to the stage, drawing from both the short story and the movie.

--Think of new unknown actors sinking their teeth (and hearts) into the roles of Jack and Ennis.
--Think of the multiple fresh nuances that live actors will give the play.
--Think of the excitement of having Heath and Jake and Annie and all the others in the audience.

Larry (Oregondoggie)

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 02, 2006, 02:13 PM »

Hello Larry,

Thank you for picking up on this thead after so long.

All the points you mention are true. It ould be great if there could be a stage adaptation.

Of course the material is copyright - so the owners whould have to give permission. How to go about promoting this idea - that is the question.What do you think would be the best way forward?

Oregondoggie · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 03, 2006, 01:22 AM »

Quote from: Jack F. Twist (Saul) on Dec 02, 2006, 02:13 PM

Hello Larry,

Thank you for picking up on this thead after so long.

All the points you mention are true. It ould be great if there could be a stage adaptation.

Of course the material is copyright - so the owners whould have to give permission. How to go about promoting this idea - that is the question.What do you think would be the best way forward?

Well...first, I think getting Annie Proulx to speak favorably about the idea. But it also occurs to me that some time is needed for things to settle down a bit. If Ossana and McMurtry control the rights, then they are the ones we should hope would go on ahead with it. They can deliver. They are producers and writers. Presumably they have the right connections with the Broadway world. As to talented outsiders getting involved, I would imagine that the rights to the play would cost a substantial amount of money.

This next spring, at the gathering that several Brokeback websites are co-hosting in Denver, the fire for this project might really get lit.

But I shudder to think of a mediocre production. The play has to be on a par with the short story and the movie. And, God forbid, it gets out as a musical or a modern dance beforehand, though I suspect that will happen down the years.

The story of Brokeback Mountain rests securely among the greatest love stories/tragedies ever written. It deserves the best possible treatment.

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 05, 2006, 11:50 AM »

Denver might indeed be the place.

A musical would be awful.

The whole thing of getting that great-oudoors all weather feeling onto the stage would be a challenge.

greenfrog · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 05, 2006, 07:08 PM »

Quote from: Jack F. Twist (Saul) on Dec 05, 2006, 11:50 AM

A musical would be awful.

Agreed !!!!

A stage play maybe, but I sure hope nobody trys to make a musical out of it.

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 06, 2006, 12:57 PM »

The only music needed would be on a badly played harmonica!

Oregondoggie · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 06, 2006, 01:15 PM »

Shakespeare's plays have survived every interpretation. Witness Romeo and Juliet. But an opera might be harder to do than a musical! In times to come, there will be attempts to do a ballet. Western themes have successfully appeared before: Rodeo, Billy the Kid, Square dance.

As to fears about bringing the outdoors, the mountains, onto a stage, a good screenwriter should not have much trouble suggesting the locales off stage. The short story of Brokeback Mountain is rich in dialogue, as well as several scenes, that were left out of the movie.

Every time the play is produced, the ambiguity of Jack's fate, for example, an end that troubles so many fans, can be presented with differing nuances. Fresh, unknown young actors will breath new life again and again into the roles of Ennis and Jack. I look forward to seeing them.

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 06:53 PM »

Thanks Oregondoggie,

You have given me hope that this will happen in the future, BBM as a stage play I mean.

Just got back form London. It was really super! There was some re-enacting going on there too!

J.F.T.

greenfrog · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 07:54 PM »

Quote from: Jack F. Twist on Dec 06, 2006, 12:57 PM

The only music needed would be on a badly played harmonica!

Definately

And maybe "The Wings."

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 12, 2006, 07:13 AM »

Quote

Definately
And maybe "The Wings."

Yes. More of the film score would be fine too - as long at the production was not a musical in the scence of people bursting into song. I would hate that so much.

Oregondoggie · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 15, 2006, 03:18 AM »

Got nagging (PM) Wayman Wong over on the davecullen.com site about turning Brokeback Mountain into a play. He writes a column called The Leading Men in Playbill.com. Months back he posted on Playbill a call for hypothetical pairings of singers, should (God Forbid) Brokeback go that route. Anyhow, since the story is really a tragedy borne out of fear, it seems to me that a play ought to be the first step. And a bad musical would engender unlimited derision.

Hope to keep the idea of a play stirred up at the gathering this coming Memorial Day Weekend in Colorado. Looking forward to meeting as many of you folk from ennisjack.com as possible there!

"Ain't no reins on this one." --Except lack of immagination and gumption.

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 15, 2006, 12:40 PM »

Thanks Oregondoggie,

To get and keep this idea on the agenda is the thing.

JFT

horo04 · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 22, 2007, 07:01 PM »

Come on! BBM turned into a big musical stage production? What a great idea! We could have Jack & Ennis doin a jig in a big tent, other cast members doin dances with a mountain backdrop and even have dancing sheep! It will be just like Oklahomah! ....I'm just kiddin guys!

City Slickin' Cowboy · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 22, 2007, 10:32 PM »

A BBM musical? I don't know about that. Can you imagine some of the musical numbers?

ACT 1
"A Pair of Dueces"
"Let's Drink Together"
"Grazin Up the Mountain"
"Aguirre Ain't Got No Right"
"No More Beans"

ACT II (Who want's to take it from here?)

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 23, 2007, 11:28 AM »

Quote from: City Slickin' Cowboy on Jan 22, 2007, 10:32 PM

A BBM musical? I don't know about that. Can you imagine some of the musical numbers?

ACT 1
"A Pair of Dueces"
"Let's Drink Together"
"Grazin Up the Mountain"
"Aguirre Ain't Got No Right"
"No More Beans"

ACT II (Who want's to take it from here?)

Groan. I think BBM as a musical would be a camp mess.

City Slickin' Cowboy · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 23, 2007, 05:26 PM »

Quote from: Jack F. Twist (JFT) on Jan 23, 2007, 11:28 AM

Groan. I think BBM as a musical would be a camp mess.

No doubt. How does one end a musical on such a solem note? Camp and tragedy aren't a good mix.

jacks_key · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 23, 2007, 05:37 PM »

Lordy, anything but a musical, PLEASE!!!!

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 23, 2007, 05:49 PM »

Quote from: jacks_key on Jan 23, 2007, 05:37 PM

Lordy, anything but a musical, PLEASE!!!!

Actually there are musicals which are not musicals if you know what I mean; Music and song in realistic context - not the Rogers & Hamerstein type of production with characters bursing into song accompanied by invisable orchestras, then going back to acting as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "Cabaret" was a good example of realistic context as a musical (the stage play was not).

Jack singing "tonight, tonight" before the FNIT- and "Oh what a beautiful morning" the next day - no way!

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 23, 2007, 05:54 PM »

Did I just write that last line?

City Slickin' Cowboy · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 25, 2007, 08:24 PM »

Quote from: Jack F. Twist (JFT) on Jan 23, 2007, 05:54 PM

Did I just write that last line?

Yes you did! Of course it could get worse...Jack could sing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" after his final meeting with Ennis! ***EEEEWW!!! BLECH!!!**

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 26, 2007, 06:48 AM »

Quote from: City Slickin' Cowboy on Jan 25, 2007, 08:24 PM

Yes you did! Of course it could get worse...Jack could sing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" after his final meeting with Ennis! ***EEEEWW!!! BLECH!!!**

I don't think he ever did tough did he - judging by the shirts (As Ennis sings "Time to say goodby" :\'()

A musical would be dreadfull. I hope it never happens. A stage play would keep the BBM thing alive and give other actors the chance to give life to Ennis and Jack.

City Slickin' Cowboy · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 27, 2007, 09:29 PM »

A dramatic stage play would be much more acceptable.

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 28, 2007, 06:22 AM »

Its the only way to go.

Idea. How about amateur productions as part of international get-togethers. Permission should be gettable if we needed it for an audience, or just privatly, no permission needed.

After what happened in London, doing the whole thing is just the next step!

Del_Marvelous · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 07, 2007, 11:37 PM »

Wow, this is a really great thread. A BBM play would be so awesome. I, too, think a great script (but NO singing...ugh!) and the right actors would truly make the experience live on.

An amateur production is a good idea, too.

Del_Marvelous

sfericsf · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 08, 2007, 11:47 AM »

I've had thoughts of BBM being done as a stage play for a year now. I'd fly anywhere to see it, and I'd be first in line to buy a ticket, and I'd be in the front row!

Edmund-Paul, The Baron of Ree · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 08, 2007, 04:19 PM »

Quote from: sfericsf on Feb 08, 2007, 11:47 AM

I've had thoughts of BBM being done as a stage play for a year now. I'd fly anywhere to see it, and I'd be first in line to buy a ticket, and I'd be in the front row!

The thing is - how do we get this off the ground? I think permission from the studio to use the script.

Oregondoggie · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 10, 2007, 12:54 AM »

Quote from: sfericsf on Feb 08, 2007, 11:47 AM

I've had thoughts of BBM being done as a stage play for a year now. I'd fly anywhere to see it, and I'd be first in line to buy a ticket, and I'd be in the front row!

Get your tickets to the Netherlands!

Brokeback Mountain is now a play! It was announced Feb 9th over on Bettermost.net that a two man Dutch version of Brokeback Mountain would be premiering that same night. See: Bettermost.net: Brokeback Mountain Forums: Bettermost User Community: Chez Tremblay: BBM Now A Play --Premier Tonight.

Director is quoted as saying he used only the short story. That he went for the essence of the story. There are some songs.

Will have to rely on our Dutch friends to see it and to translate any reviews.. How long until a great English version appears?

.

Author Topic: BBM as a stage play (Read 26549 times)

greenfrog

greenfrog

horo04