Read other letters about this article

• Friday, July 18, 2008 04:51 AM

  to return to actual criticism

  Stephanie,

  Is "Mama Mia" really "bad" directing, or simply directing in the wrong media?

  The film director also directed the stage musical version of "Mama Mia," which plays in 2000 seat theatres. Live theatre, particularly live musical theatre in cavernous venues, requires big gestures and broad acting, so that the gestures and emotions can be communicated to the back row. What requires "jazz hands" in a musical might be communicated with a lifted eyebrow in a close-up movie frame.

  While there have been successful musical- to-movie adaptations, it's a trickier feat than one would expect. (Stephen Sondheim, for example thinks "West Side Story" doesn't work on film, because guys dancing in the "real" NY streets on film looks foofy, while guys dancing on stage before a live audience looks menacing).

  "Mama Mia" as a stage musical is campier than to begin with, and relies on the audience reaction to keep the whole thing energized and fun. Maybe part of "Mama Mia's" problem is that the director didn't know how to finesse the translation from stage to screen. (To see how *that's* done well, watch Tim Burton's incredible film adaptation of "Sweeney Todd").

  Still, I'm gonna go see it. (As I told my husband; "I've sen enough car chases, explosions, knock-out battles, and movies with "Man" in the title for the summer. Bring on the dancing gay chorus!)

  —Juliebird Read Juliebird's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel