What’s the Greatest TV Adaptation of a Play?

[Dan Backslide Joined: Apr 24th, 2016 Topics: 45 Posts: 3258 View Predictions]

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We’ve seen quite a few televised productions of works originally based in theatre, so what do you think are the best ones, whether they were movies, miniseries, or live shows?

I got this idea because I was thinking of HBO’s Angels in America. It’s what introduced me to that masterful work, and it really did get the scope of that brilliant piece, with Tony Kushner and Mike Nichols getting masterful performance out of Pacino, Streep, Kirk, Wright (I struggle to think of anyone ever beating him for the title or best Belize), Louise Parker, Wilson, Shenkman (what a shame he didn’t get big), and Thompson.

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[Jeffrey Kare Joined: Jan 23rd, 2013 Topics: 80 Posts: 2847 View Predictions]

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If we’re talking straight plays, The Normal Heart.

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[Royco Joined: Apr 6th, 2015 Topics: 0 Posts: 16 View Predictions]

#1203579699

Angels in America and Wit

FYC:
Tobias Menzies, The Crown | J. Smith-Cameron, Succession
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight | Matthew Macfadyen, Succession

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[Snow Joined: Jan 22nd, 2017 Topics: 0 Posts: 28 View Predictions]

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Angels in America.

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[Dan Backslide Joined: Apr 24th, 2016 Topics: 45 Posts: 3258 View Predictions]

#1203579950

Well so far all but one of these responses has included Angels in America, so since I mentioned that I’ll add another.

I personally adore the official video of Into the Woods’ original broadway cast. Sondheim’s music and lyrics combined with Lapine’s direction and book is an absolute treat, especially when it has such talented performers like Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, Tom Aldredge, Kim Crosby, and a hilarious Robert Westenberg. And that’s not even mentioning Joanna Gleeson, who gave one of my favorite performances of all time in any medium ever.

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[DylanMcPhee Joined: Mar 13th, 2020 Topics: 4 Posts: 208 View Predictions]

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I’ve tried on 3 occasions to watch it for the sake of actors involved, but I find Angels in America to be so boring and uninteresting.

I wish there had been serialized adaptations of Neil Simon plays, I think they’d translate so well to screen.

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[24fanatic Joined: Nov 6th, 2010 Topics: 0 Posts: 588 View Predictions]

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I mean, probably Angels in America, but I really loved Lackawanna Blues and felt it should have won more than just Lead Actress.

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[TVLUVAH Joined: Feb 1st, 2018 Topics: 0 Posts: 233 View Predictions]

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Angels in America
The Normal Heart
Wit

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[Joined: Jan 1st, 1970 Topics: 9 Posts: 954 View Predictions]

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This post was found to be inappropriate by the moderators and has been removed.

[methaddiction Joined: Aug 1st, 2017 Topics: 3 Posts: 2025 View Predictions]

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I watched Angels in America a couple of months ago and it was a masterpiece with astonishing performances.

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[sofan Joined: Oct 1st, 2016 Topics: 0 Posts: 190 View Predictions]

#1203635184

Angels in America >>>>

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[wolfali Joined: Sep 4th, 2018 Topics: 182 Posts: 19303 View Predictions]

#1203635199

I should see the Angels in America miniseries adaptation now shouldn’t I?

FYC Emmys: "The Crown" in all categories, "I May Destroy You" in all categories, "It's a Sin" in all categories, "Small Axe" in all categories, Billie Piper ("I Hate Suzie"), Yvonne Strahovski ("Stateless") and Ruth Wilson ("His Dark Materials")

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[vinny Joined: May 20th, 2011 Topics: 11 Posts: 15731 View Predictions]

#1203635583

I gotta go with one that people haven’t probably seen: A Streetcar Named Desire (1984 film).
Trust me it’s that good

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[MisterScones Joined: May 15th, 2018 Topics: 1 Posts: 50 View Predictions]

#1203636271

I still haven’t seen Angels in America, so the first film that came to mind for me is William Friedkin’s 1997 adaptation of 12 Angry Men. It doesn’t hold a candle to Sidney Lumet’s 1957 version (most films don’t), but considering the colossal shadow of its predecessor, it manages to be quite good on its own.

Ryan Murphy’s The Normal Heart is also very good.

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