I particularly like to look at story movements between stage
and screen. There’s more of a contest for me as to which I’ll prefer
(between book and anything else, I almost always choose the book).
Over the years there has been a lot of back and forth
between the two mediums and I’ve seen a number of them. But seeing as I just
saw Newsies on Broadway a week ago and am a big fan of both versions, I thought
I’d compare some of my favorite characters and relationships from each story to
see which one truly is (in my eyes) The King of New York.
Characters:
Jack Kelly
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Our young hero. Both the movie and the play show Jack
as both a fighter and a dreamer. He’s a little desperate to get away from a
lifestyle that’s weighing on him. In the play they go a little bit more into
his different escapes. It’s not just dreams of Santa Fe . He also is an artist. This
storyline showcases Jack’s wistfulness much like the storyline involving
Davey’s family did in the movie. He takes failures to heart. He’s torn between
wanting to do what he believes is right and wanting to ensure a better life for
himself. There are small changes here and there from screen to stage, but
overall, he’s still the character everyone wants to win. Point: Tied
Katherine Plummer
-
Katherine is a character unique to the play. She takes
the place of the movie’s Sarah Jacobs and Bryan Denton. Sarah doesn’t exist in
the play, which is okay with me. Not because there was anything wrong with the
idea of her, but because she was never really given anything to do. She was
primarily there for Jack to love. No idea what she wanted out of life or if she
had any goals for herself. Katherine, on the other hand, has a life going on before she meets Jack. She's a young
reporter who is trying to get the paper to allow her to cover something more
than fluff pieces. Sure, Bryan Denton, the former war correspondent, had
greater credibility as the character who was covering the strike, but what personal
stake did he really have in it? Mostly he just appeared to want to help the
boys out of interest and altruism. Katherine is interested in helping the boys,
but she also wants to help herself. If she and Jack fall in love, that’s great.
But it’s not the sole reason for her existence. Point: Stage
Spot Conlon
-
Spot Conlon may have been one of my absolute favorite
characters of the movie. He was just so damn cool. (Plus, he's kind of what
my sister and I picture my dad to be like as a child.) The play focuses on
slightly different subplots within the overall story than the movie does. As a
result, some subplots from the movie are cut. Spot is discussed more in the
play than he appears. Point: Screen
Joseph Pulitzer
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Like Spot, Pulitzer’s scenes are trimmed down in the
play. He still looms large as the antagonist, but the audience just doesn’t
spend as much time with him. And while he certainly seems like a jerk, I was
always partial to Robert DuVall’s slightly manic portrayal. Of course, that
might just be because Roomie and I like to yell, “Go home! Go home to your
mothers and your fathers! Go home!” when we’re stuck in traffic. Point: Screen
Relationships:
Jack/Davey/Les
-
Davey and Les’s family doesn’t have a great deal of
bearing on the play's storyline, other than their father's injury being the reason they've become newsies. No scenes of Jack wistfully watching their relationships.
Because of this Jack in the play has less off the clock time with the other two. They
come across more as coworkers who like each other and have a common goal,
than the brother-like figures they became in the movie. Point: Screen
Jack/Crutchie
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Here’s where the play gives Jack his “brother.” He and Crutchie are much closer here. Sure,
Jack and Crutchie got along in the film. Jack defended him and tried to get him out of the
Refuge, but I always felt that Jack would have done as much for any of
the Newsies. In the play, Jack and Crutchie have a special bond, with Jack even
going so far as to try to talk the other boy into going to Santa Fe with him. It makes Crutchie's eventual stint in the Refuge even sadder. And makes me want to yell "Soak 'em for Crutchie" even more. Point: Stage
Jack/Katherine vs.
Jack/Sarah
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In the movie, Jack was immediately attracted to Sarah
and she to him, and it was very sweet. But that’s it. Jack and Katherine’s
relationship develops. The audience sees how they challenge and help
each other. Ultimately, there’s more to root for. Point: Stage
Choreography:
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I loved watching all the dancing in the movie, but
there’s something kind of incomparable to watching a group of people fly across
the stage in unison and knowing that’s it. There are no second take if someone
screws up. The show just keeps on going. And again, I must ask, HOW do people
go from what looks like a fairly stationary position into a midair flip? As
someone who can not even do a cartwheel, it's pure magic to me. Point: Stage
Okay, I could go on like this forever and this is already an
obscenely long post. So, I’m calling it.
As of right now, I’m deeming the stage
production of Newsies the current
King of New York, by a thin margin of four to three.
But, I may have to go see it again. You know….just to make
sure.
And maybe to do a little seat dancing.
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