Legitimate Theater: Doctor Dolittle (1998)

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

Opening

Over the past week, Robert Downey Jr. became the latest actor to tackle the "Doctor Dolittle" mythology. Like those before him, it hasn't been received too well. However, there's something to be said about the story's longevity. It's even been made into a stage adaptation, taken largely from the 1967 film version. With composer and writer Leslie Bricusse doing a lot of the heavy lifting once again, there's plenty to be curious about in this mulligan at a musical that has gotten a bad rap for over 30 years. Consider this a chance to try again and make something more interesting of it. Will it work? It depends on how much you're willing to believe that a man can talk to animals. 

A Quick Background

Tony Nominations: N/A

Based on: Doctor Dolittle (1967)

Music: Leslie Bricusse

Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse

Book: Leslie Bricusse

Prominent Actors: Phillip Schofield, Sarah Jane Hassell, Bryan Smith, James Paul Bradley

Soundtrack

1. "Overture"
2. "My Friend the Doctor"
3. "The Vegetarian"
4. "Talk to the Animals"
5. "Doctor Dolittle"
6. "You're Impossible"
7. "I've Never Seen Anything Like It"
8. "Beautiful Things"
9. "When I Look in Your Eyes"
10. "Like Animals"
11. "After Today"
12. "Fabulous Places"
13. "Where Are the Words?"
14. "The Storm"
15. "I Think I Like You"
16. "Save the Animals"
17. "Entrance of Jean-Claude"
18. "Something in Your Smile"
19. "My Friend the Doctor"
20. "The Voice of Protest"
21. "Finale"
22. "Talk to the Animals (Reprise)"

Note: Listen to the music here

Song Exploration

Opening Song:
"My Friend the Doctor"

With plenty of pomp and circumstance, the world of Doctor Dolittle is introduced with the lively affair that started the movie. The instruments are maybe a bit too whimsy. Dolittle himself may be a bit too eccentric. Even then, the discussion of this Irish man with a dream of talking to animals is brought to life in such a splendid way that captures the personality of this show within a few minutes. It helps that this is a carryover from the original film, which also uses familiar upbeat energy to present a world that's friendly to family audiences looking for fun escapism.

Carryovers

It is easier to argue what songs were not carried over from the film. Even with Leslie Bricusse providing every aspect of this story, the entire soundtrack is lifted from the 1967 film that it's based on. There is, of course, the Oscar-winning "Talk to the Animals," which features an exotic mix of sounds as Dolittle sings about his lot in life. The love songs have that upbeat joy, and there's so much wonder scattered throughout the tracks. It's so much fun to hear them in an updated version, and they work oddly better in a theatrical environment. No offense to Rex Harrison's style, but he had an old fashioned style that makes his experiences feel more collegiate than fun. Here there is a sense that the audience is in for an adventure. 

High Point:

"I've Never Seen Anything Like It"

It could just be that Leslie Bricusse loved throwing words together to find the most exciting combination possible, but here he manages to make a spectacle of discovering new creatures. It's a bit of a nonsensical song on some level, but the joy in the discovery as details unfold is something that is transfixing with the melody, managing to capture an enthusiasm that is undeniable. It's fun, catchy, and captures what this show's potential has at its core. How could one not resist the charm of discovering a new creature with so many capabilities to offer?

Low Point:

"Entrance of Jean-Claude"

In some ways, the newer additions can't really compare in part because they feel like they work better with the stage accompaniment. This is one of a few orchestral tracks that don't really have much connection to the other songs. They are simple and capture a mood that is definitely immersive but doesn't leave much to be desired as a standalone track. It comes and goes without drawing attention to itself, and that may be the biggest issue in a show that demands to be full of spectacle from beginning to end.

What Does It Bring to the Story?

It's really hard to say because, in reality, it's only one or two songs. Maybe there's a reprise here or there, but the show is largely lifted from the film. Then again, why mess with a pretty strong songbook that's finally been realized as something with a stronger dynamic. Bricusse's biggest achievement, according to interviews, was deciding to cast Dolittle as more age-appropriate to his love interest. That alone makes a difference, as the performers sound more in tune with each other's acting choices. The results are fun and the singing is sharper.

Was This Necessary?

Yes

For starters, the film version gets a bad rap and is considered one of the worst studio musicals of the 1960s. While that is largely fair given the results, there's something to hearing Bricusse's songbook through a different medium. Provided that there's not a reliance on live animals for nightly shows, it could actually be better and a lot more fun, embracing the upbeat family adventure vibe that the story desperately requires. While there's nothing revolutionary here in terms of new material, the choice to shift it to Broadway actually works very well in its favor. It's goofy and maybe too whimsical for some. But for those who can get on board with its ridiculous tone, it's halfway decent.