So, KING KONG is going to be showcased on Broadway for a leering audience. Yeah, that never went bad for anybody…
Well, at least hopefully this time the ape isn't real. Though it might be painful to sit through for other reasons. But it's true, KING KONG: THE MUSICAL will indeed be premiering on Broadway in New York. It's based on a successful Australian production, that had apparently gotten favorable reviews.
The play is written by Jack Thorne, writer of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, as well as a play adaptation of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN that apparently exists. The music in this musical, meanwhile, is composed by four-time Grammy nominee Marius de Vries (MOULIN ROGUE, LA LA LAND) with songs by Eddie Perfect, composer and lyricist of the Broadway-bound BEETLEJUICE (which is also a thing that exists). It will be directed by Drew McOnie, recent nominee for an Olivier Award this year for his work on JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.
King Kong himself will be a mixture of animatronics and puppetry, that while state-of-the-art, doesn't seem to hold a candle to the KING KONG ride during the Universal studio tour from the '80s and '90s. Unless it's getting revamped for Broadway.
Now, I like to keep an open mind. I think anything is possible if you put your mind to it, and take the effort to adapt something properly – no matter how implausible. This is how we get things like THE LEGO MOVIE. But if you fuck it up, you get shit like SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK. And no one wants that. So we'll see how it turns out when the musical hits stateside.
Meanwhile, Man will reap the folly of its hubris as KING KONG: THE MUSICAL opens on Broadway Fall 2018.
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