What Ever Happened To Lush, Girls???????????????

                                   Let me start by saying that Maria Von Trapp was not Rodgers and Hammerstein's only famous Musical Theater Governess. There was also Anna Leonowens of "The King and I."

                                    Back when I was in seventh grade, and this movie had its premiere showing on ABC TV, even on the small screen I was impressed with its visual sumptuousness, and this is one film I would love to see on the big screen.  But, then, with Leon Shamroy (who screen tested Jennifer Jones for "The Song Of Bernadette") as cinematographer, John De Cuir and Lyle R. Wheeler (who--Lyle, that is--worked on a little something called "Gone With The Wind") as art directors, Paul S. Fox as set decorator, and that veteran gal, Irene Sharaff, doing the costumes, how could it be anything but lush?  These were not only superb craftspeople, they were men and women who understand the importance of the story, and what would be needed to pull it off visually.  If  "The King and I" were done on a bare stage, in, say, a church basement, with a single piano, with good singers, the brilliance of the Rodgers and Hammerstein score would still come through.  No question about that.  But, imagine the classic moment "Shall We Dance" without Anna's swirling dress????????  I mean, darlings, you can't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      So, I am forced to ask, what happened to lush????????  I don't mean the intoxicated; there is no short supply of them.  I mean the kind of sweeping visuals that blew your eyes out with their beauty and detail, and were as integral to the story being told as anything else???????  More and more, vehicles like "The King And I" are being downsized and downscaled, much to the detriment of the show.
Is it a case of economics?????????  Possibly.  But more, I think, the answer lies in a lyric from "A Little Night Music," sung by Madmae Armfeldt, originated by the great Hermione Gingold--

                                            "Where is time? Where is skill? Where is forethought?
                                               Where's discretion of the heart, Where's passion in the art?
                                                Where's craft?"

                                          Indeed, Madame A!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It certainly was missing from the last Broadway revival of "A Little Night Music," which had nothing on the Boris Aronson lushness--did not even ATTEMPT it!!!!!!!!--and, when it comes to City Opera doing it, despite the wonderful orchestra, and those strings, it looked more, visually, as though done in a church basement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           What is artistry being sacrificed for?????????  Scarlett Johanson's salary?????????   Without lushness and sweep, certain stories lose their dramatic value, so that if everything is pared down to an "Our Town" scale, that gimmick loses its freshness (even in "Our Town!") and other properties suffer not getting their just desserts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Certain shows, and "The King And I" is one, you don't skimp on the creative side!  Not that more can't be done with less--look what Tommy Tune did with the original "Nine"--but when a sense of awareness of what the story needs is lacking, creativity is not being served at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Every show need not be a sumptuous feast!!!!!!!!!!!  Those that do should get the due the property merits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Bring back lushness, darlings!!!!!!!!!!  Before Julie Taymor or Diane Paulus reduce theater to sticks and stones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!