In 2010, a Mississippi school called off its prom because a student decided to wear a tuxedo bring her girlfriend to prom. This real-life incident eventually became the inspiration for Broadway musical The Prom, and the subsequent Netflix screen adaptation, also titled The Prom.
The story for both Broadway and the Netflix follows the same beats. A group of four Broadway actors attempt to revive their flagging careers with a publicity stunt when they hear about a school in a small town who cancelled its prom after a student wanted to bring her girlfriend along as a date, and they head down to the small town to bludgeon their way into helping said student. Their misguided and egotistical attempt results in hijinks and assorted mishaps. However, they soon find love and acceptance in the most unlikely places — and a little humility as well.
The Broadway production ran from October 2018 to August 2019, with impressive song-and-dance numbers befitting a musical with such a premise. The Netflix film adaptation dropped in December, giving life to the story on screen and bringing over most of the songs unchanged from the original. While watching the Broadway production is no longer an option (while the Netflix version of The Prom is clearly available on demand), which format wore The Prom better?
There’s no denying the colourful magic and sparkly glory of the show in both formats. Both Broadway and Netflix versions weave a tale in which a harassed underdog, whose only crime is wanting to be herself, finds love amidst song and dance — and through her journey, brings joy and acceptance to all those around her. Both versions feature narcissistic actors who can barely clamber over their own ego to see what’s happening and help. Both versions feature an incredibly high level of self-awareness and intertextual references, resulting in comedy on multiple levels.
But there’s an infectious energy that the Netflix version just can’t replicate (by dint of the fact that it isn’t a live show) on screen. It’s not for lack of trying and the film certainly tries its best to bring that enthusiasm and love into the show. However, without the feedback of a live audience (vital to the performance of any stage actor, as they will tell you) there’s nothing to bounce off on. It’s a matter of the medium, though, rather than the production quality.
And that’s where the Netflix version shines. With more control over the sets (again, due to the nature of a feature film production), there’s more time to jazz everything up and give it more “zazz”. It’s bigger, sparklier, and of course, more polished. It has to be. It’s easier on the eyes, with near-perfect takes and editing to cover over any flaws. Some metaphorical scenes have to be given more concrete form (and hence, a fixed location is set), but overall the sets in the Netflix version are fun and fabulous to look at.
The adaptation keeps most of the songs intact — those that it changes are to enhance the plot. However, musical number The Acceptance Song is notably truncated (possibly for censorship reasons), even though it’s probably the most hilarious of the songs. Then again, it does make light of topics that would be palatable in a transient theatre context, but not in a more persistent format (like on-demand streaming). The musical numbers are accompanied by dance sequences on a far larger scale than would be possible on a theatre stage, so that is a consolation.
In terms of casting, the Netflix version is mostly spot-on, with Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman bringing star power to an already star-studded cast (James Corden, Kerry Washington, Keegan Michael-Key). In particular, Kerry Washington’s Mrs Greene is much less grating than the Broadway version (performed by the slightly nasal Courtenay Collins), but this could also be the result of direction — the Broadway version painted her more as a villain, while the Netflix one makes her a bit more sympathetic.
So which is better? It’s a moot point, since only the Netflix version is available and catching a Broadway musical is not entirely feasible, even if there weren’t a pandemic going on. The Netflix one definitely looks more fabulous. But if you love the thrill of a live show (not everyone does), then The Prom will begin a national tour in America starting in Rhode Island on February 2021.
The Prom (Netflix)
Rating: R21
Length: 131 minutes
Director: Ryan Murphy
Writers: Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin
Cast: Meryl Streep (Dee Dee Allen), James Corden (Barry Glickman), Jo Ellen Pellman (Emma Nolan), Nicole Kidman (Angie Dickinson), Keegan-Michael Key (Principal Hawkins), Andrew Rannells (Trent Oliver), Ariana DeBose (Alyssa Greene), Kerry Washington (Mrs Greene)
The Prom (Broadway 2018-2019)
Music and lyrics: Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin
Cast: Brooks Ashmanskas (Barry Glickman), Beth Leavel (Dee Dee Allen), Christopher Sieber (Trent Oliver), Caitlin Kinnunen (Emma Nolan), Isabelle McCalla (Alyssa Greene), Michael Potts (Principal Hawkins), Angie Schworer (Angie Dickinson), Courtenay Collins (Mrs Greene)
The Prom is now out on Netflix.
This article was first published on and written for Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore.
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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