My opinion? Well, I’ll write a full review when the stage version comes to Los Angeles. The music is quite good, and grows on you over time. I also enjoyed the casting. The plot, as with the original movie, is very empowering for women… which is why this is another show (like “Wicked”) that is popular with the teen girl crowd that attends Broadway shows.
But I’d like to comment more on the question of whether the broadcast would help or hurt the stage production. My opinion? It can only help. First, the broadcast will introduce loads of people to the show and how the staged version works, and familiarity breeds popularity. Second, it is the equivalent of a pan-and-scan showing of a movie: you still want to see the original widescreen to see all the action you miss. The cinematography of the broadcast version focused on individuals, and you lost the overall scope. Lastly, there is still something incomparable in a live production and seeing the people on stage that a little box just cannot provide.
All in all, a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
