Thursday, April 01, 2010

WHAT"S OPERA, DOC? Live Concert Version


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:


6 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. And Richard is an unusually lucky man.

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  3. Anonymous1:16 PM

    My favorite line has got to be,
    Elmer: Oh Brunhilda, you're so lovely
    Bugs: Yes I know it, I can't help it.
    Cracks me up every time.

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  4. 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.

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  5. Wow! I'm impressed how well that works!

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