One of the landmark seven minutes of animation is Chuck Jones' WHAT'S OPERA, DOC? (1957), starring Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny and Wagner. We have, I hope, all seen and enjoyed this classic Warner Brothers short (if not, click on the linky above). Only someone who's a genius (Mr. Jones) could wring laughs and maybe even a tear towards the end, out of a heavy Wagnerian opera (with some help from writer Michael Maltese).
Now, it's been brought to the stage, live and in person -- not only once, but twice. And it's a lot of fun. Surely, an episode of SCOOBY DOO or HECKLE AND JECKLE would not -- nay, could not -- be adapted for the stage. Not the case with Bugs & Elmer.
Here's a great, live in-person cabaret version of WHAT'S OPERA DOC that was posted in the fall:
And here is The Springfield Academy of Arts and Academics' version of the classic cartoon, posted last month:
Oh, that's great! On one of our first dates, my eventual wife sang the whole thing, though I don't remember why. But it kinda clinched the deal.
ReplyDeleteArt is art.
ReplyDeleteAnd Richard is an unusually lucky man.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line has got to be,
ReplyDeleteElmer: Oh Brunhilda, you're so lovely
Bugs: Yes I know it, I can't help it.
Cracks me up every time.
Not much of a turnout in Springfield...this could turn up in a Simpsons episode, and the circle would be complete. I see Comic Book Guy as Elmer, and Bart as Bugs.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm impressed how well that works!
ReplyDelete