Nida Faraz describes some
outstanding adaptations
Movies based on award winning plays is the beginning of performing arts and it is still considered to be the first step towards acquiring expertise in this field. Cine world is quite adept at adapting effective stage plays into movies and some of them have become outstandingly successful.
Children of a Lesser God was written by Mark Medoff and on Broadway it premiered in 1980. Major awards won by the play were Tony Award for Best Play, Tony Award for Best Actor for John Rubinstein and Best Actress for Phyllis Frelich, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play.
The movie premiered in 1986 and the film adaptation was directed by Randa Haines. It starred Marlee Matlin and William Hurt in the lead roles. The film received five Academy Award nominations, with Matlin winning the Best Actress award. At 21 years, she holds the record for being the youngest actress to win in this category.
The Sound of Music was based on a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and premiered in 1959. Major awards won by the play were Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Actress for Mary Martin. The movie premiered in 1965 and became one of Hollywood’s most celebrated musicals, the heart-warming drama starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The Robert Wise-directed movie won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director as well as Best Sound.
Amadeus was written by Peter Shaffer and premiered in 1980. Original Broadway won major awards including Tony Award for Best Play, Tony Award for Best Actor for Ian McKellen, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play. The film premiered in 1984 and it was directed by Milos Forman, won eight Academy Awards, including Best Actor for F. Murray Abraham, Best Director and Best Picture. It also won four Golden Globe Awards and four BAFTA Awards. Composer John Strauss won a Grammy Award for the soundtrack.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was written by Edward Albee and premiered in 1962. Major awards won by the play were Tony Award for Best Play, Tony Award for Best Actor for Arthur Hill and for Best Actress for Uta Hagen, Tony Award for Best Direction for Alan Schneider. The movie premiered in 1966 and was directed by Mike Nichols, the film adaptation starred Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton, Sandy Dennis and George Segal. It earned 13 Oscar nominations and won five. It was also one of the first films to have the entire leading cast receive Oscar nominations – Taylor won the Best Actress award while Dennis the Best Supporting Actress.
Mamma Mia! is based on the book by Catherine Johnson and it premiered as a play on Broadway in 2001. The play won Tony Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress for Louise Pitre. It premiered as a movie in 2008 with Meryl Streep in the lead and ABBA hits in the background, the Phyllida Lloyd-directed movie earned two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Actress for Streep.
The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller and was premiered on Broadway in 1953. Major awards won by the play were Tony Award for Best Play, Tony Award for Best Featured Actress for Beatrice Straight. The movie premiered in 1996 directed by Nicholas Hytner and the adaptation starred Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Bruce Davison and Joan Allen. It snagged two Academy Award nominations – Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. TW
