Theatrical Adaptation

Factual events in entertainment

The movie “Cradle Will Rock” is a true story. The events that happen are true, the dates of the events are true, even what was said during the court with Hallie Flanagan and the House Committee on Un-American Activities are directly taken from the stenographers notes during the actual trial. The scene at the end when the actors performed the show in front of the stage at the theatre was a true event.
The performers were forbidden to perform at the venue they had originally scheduled to perform at. They decided to change theaters, and instead of performing the entire show on the stage and losing their jobs, they chose the writer, Marc Blitzstein, to perform the show. He was to perform the show entirely by himself, reading all parts, explaining the stage directions, and singing all the songs. After the first line of the first song, however, Olive Stanton rose from her seat and slowly started singing the song. Quietly at first, and then eventually going full voice. As the show progressed, each of the actors stood and did their parts, improving the moves in front of the stage and using the aisles.
Another part that was true was the “death” of the Federal Theatre Project. In the movie we see the two students carrying the ventriloquist dummy down the street in a coffin with a sign behind it saying how long it had “lived” for. In this sense, they are carrying the memories of the FTP to it’s grave, and all the baggage that came with it. Once they turn the corner, they leave the past setting, and enter into the modern day Times Square.
From this I got that they were showing that no matter what they’ve had to go through to get there, theatre is still alive, and will forever be alive because of the people who will risk everything to perform. I also got from this ending that theatre may not have been the biggest thing during the setting of the movie, but now, on Broadway, theatre is booming. Everyone knows about theatre, about Broadway, and about the famous actors and actresses that have performed in various shows. Because of the FTP, I believe theatre is going stronger than it ever could.

posted by LilmissKS @ 1:24 AM