#260 - Bye Bye Birdie

Episode • Aug 31, 2023 • 54m

Join us, Jesse and Andrew, on a fascinating tour of the iconic musical, Bye Bye Birdie. We guarantee you an enlightening journey as we trace the musical's journey from stage to screen, highlighting the original concept and its transformation to include the Elvis Presley draft plot. We'll discuss the Broadway production that ran for over 600 shows and the subsequent changes made to accommodate the movie's star, Anne Margaret. Penetrating the surface, we'll uncover the more subtle aspects including the whitewashing of characters and the shift in focus on the musical's storyline.

As we dissect the film adaptation, you'll gain an understanding of the various alterations that occurred, such as the introduction of the now iconic song 'Bye Bye Birdie'. We'll evaluate the restructuring of the narrative to focus more on Ed Sullivan and critique the 1960s reviews and critical response. Together, we'll lay bare the impact of these changes on the overall structure and reception of the musical.

Moving to the musical numbers, we'll dissect the lyrics of songs like "How Lovely to Be a Woman", examining the questionable message it sends across in the movie. We'll ponder over the darker implications behind the musical number 'Kids' and question the decision to omit certain plot lines from the film. Finally, we'll wrap up with our personal rating of the movie, and what we think about it. So sit back, relax, and let's explore Bye Bye Birdie together.