Passions and Loathings

(Random scattered and significant spoilers for both the movie and musical (stage) versions, I'm assuming anyone reading has watched at least one.)

I think everyone in the TPM fandom loved Moulin Rouge! when it came out. Ewan was so young and gorgeous, the music so fun, the costumes and dancing dazzling, the heartbreaking loss of love so tragic. If anyone didn't adore the movie, they kept that quiet.

(I remain surprised that there wasn't a whole slew of AUs where Quinn found Christian's book and then sought him out. Fandom, you let me down!)

I finally got to see Moulin Rouge! The Musical last weekend. I've been wanting to see it since I saw it announced, and a touring company finally came to town.

It's often interesting to see different versions of a show you love. I've managed to accept it's not going to be the same, and to enjoy it for what it is. (Unless it's totally messed up and violates the heart of the original, of course.)

The stage version keeps what I'd consider the main songs, such as Lady Marmalade, Come What May, and Your Song. Many of the others are replaced by newer songs that fill the same basic plot points. I liked the original songs, but I found the replacements all very appropriate (and good songs).

There are a variety of other changes. Christian is American, with more of an 'aw shucks' vibe than Ewan's portrayal, the show within a show is now about a gangster, jettisoning the Indian setting, the Argentinian no longer has narcolepsy, etc. It feels less Christian's story, as it introduces the Moulin Rouge, Zidler, and the Duke before him, and it wasn't clear to me from Christian's comments about love if the audience would realize that Satine's death was inevitable. It's made very clear that Satine and the Duke have a sexual relationship, which now seems rather puritanical that she manages to avoid one in the movie.

The thing that really struck me though was that Satine in the musical never mentions wanting to be an actress. Even knowing that she's dying, she wants to save the Moulin Rouge for the benefit of the others, the people who are her 'family.' And then it wasn't really clear to me that she succeeded in that goal. I found that a little jarring. I mean, yes, in the movie, we know she's not going to be 'an actress' for very long, because we know she's going to die. But she does get her opening night! She achieves her dream for herself! And in the musical, she doesn't have her own goal for herself, it's all about taking care of others. *sigh*

I was relieved in later years that the movie had come out in 2001, before I was aware of the fannish discussions about the role of women in so many shows, and how often women die for man pain. Because yes, Satine does essentially die for Christian's man pain, that's the main plot point. But the movie was so tragic and heartbreaking and sometimes we just need that kind of story. The angst of losing love, *swoon.*

These days I'm much more likely to have an instinctive 'ugh' recoil at yet another show featuring woman death/man pain. Fannish discussion has made me aware of that theme and also female agency (or more often, lack thereof).

Anyway, if you loved the movie, I do recommend seeing the musical if you get a chance. I don't know that I could love any new version of Moulin Rouge as much as I love the original, but the musical was enjoyable and fabulous to watch.