THE PROM
US, 2020, 130 minutes, Colour.
Meryl Streep, James Gordon, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Keegan- Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana De Bose, Jo Ellen Pellman, Tracy Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Logan Riley.
Directed by Ryan Murphy.
The Prom is an exuberantly lively show. Plenty of song and dance. Plenty of comedy. And plenty of social issues. It is based on a Broadway musical.
It is the theme of The Prom that catches audience attention. It is sexual orientation, issues of equality, tolerance moving to respect. The central issue is that at a school in a small Indiana town, preparations for the Prom are in process but one of the students wants to attend with her girlfriend as partner. The principal of the school has given the go-ahead. However, the President of the PTA and some of the other mothers are in high dudgeon (highest dudgeon) in disapproval, demanding that the prom not go on.
The girl at the centre, Emma, is played by Jo Ellen Pellman, a vivacious screen presence, strong-minded, and a talent for both singing and dancing. She has been kicked out of her home by her parents and lives with her sympathetic grandmother, Mary Kay Place. The principal of the school, Tom (Keegan- Michael Key) is sympathetic. Kerry Washington plays the outspoken mother, Mrs Greene, unaware that it is her daughter, Alyssa (Ariana de Bose) who is the object of Emma’s affection.
The action switches to Broadway, the opening night of a play, Eleanor, about President Roosevelt and his wife. The stars on the red carpet are in full swing, preening, avid for publicity, egos in action, narcissistic self-awareness. And this is enhanced because the stars are played by Meryl Streep, Dede, the musical comedy star for decades, and James Corden, Barry, also ambitious.
After the small town conflict, the drama will be far more spectacular. The stars make demands on a harassed agent, Kevin Chamberlin, available to their every whim. The show goes on. The entourage gathers to read the reviews – disaster. The inconsolable duo meet with a chorus girl who has been stuck in the chorus for decades, Angie, Nicole Kidman. And there is the friendly barman, successful on television, hoping for is Broadway breakthrough, Trent, Andrew Rannells). What can they do for rehabilitation? They look for a worthy cause – and Angie discovers the situation in Indiana.
There have already been songs and dances and this continues throughout the film, attractive songs and lyrics which illustrate character and situation, recitative, enthusiastic, with flashbacks to the showbiz lives, and enthusiastic comedy. It is extraordinary to see Meryl Streep, at 70, still so vigorous, always so different from other performances, singing, dancing, indulging her character’s egotism. James Corden provides a balance, gay man, alienated from his family, wanting affection, ambitious for his career. Nicole Kidman gets her singing and dancing and empathy opportunities in the middle of the film.
The group gatecrash the school and PTA meeting, have all kinds of plans to help Emma, prepare for the prom – only for some administrative swindle leaving Emma high and dry. Even more help from the showbiz group. But Emma makes strong moves to help herself.
Interestingly, one of the highlights of the show is a song and dance episode in a shopping mall, involving the students from the school who have been condemnatory of Emma. It is Trent who sings a lively song, Love Thy Neighbour, which could have been at home in any religious revival meeting, emphasising that the main command of the gospel, that Jesus said, above all, Love Thy Neighbour. Of course, this gives the moral point of the story a Christian and religious imperative.
The film has been directed by Ryan Murphy who has had a highlight career, especially with television series, Glee, Pose, Hollywood (and explicit advocacy of sexual orientation understanding).
Not a spoiler, but needless to say, a happy ending for all concerned.
1. The original as a Broadway theatrical peace? Successful transferred to cinema? Plot, characters, song and dance? Social issues?
2. The film and its social conference, issues of personal equality, sexual orientation and equality, tolerance and intolerance, the role of law, respect?
3. Locations from Broadway to Indiana? The New York atmosphere, the theatre atmosphere, the tour bus, the countryside, the Indiana town, school, homes, hotels, diners?
4. The musical score, the style of the music composition, popular, audiences able to join in? The lyrics, clear, recitative? The characters, the feelings, experiences, social situations, relationships? The key song and dance routine, Love Thy Neighbour?
5. The Broadway setting, the musical comedy, Eleanor, the background of the cast? The opening night? Dede and Barry, the interviews, their vanity, ego, narcissistic, reporters and adulation, the crowds? Shelton as the harassed manager? The performance, the audience, the stars happy, gathering for the reviews, negative, hyper- negative, the entourage vanishing, despair and dismay, concern about careers and reputations?
6. Meryl Streep as Dede, her look, hairstyle, singing and dancing, expressions and speech, ego and narcissism, her description of a celebrity and being a celebrity? A kind of Norma Desmond? Her past, early property, the opportunities, marrying her husband, 15 years and his using her money, the divorce, his becoming a radio celebrity? Her creation of herself and living it out?
7. James Corden as Barry, middle-aged, his hopes, his past, gay, walking out on his parents, their condemnatory attitudes, the boy at the Prom, building up his career?
8. The introduction of Angie Dickinson, the chorus girl, Nicole Kidman and her presence and style, stuck in the chorus, wanting to be chosen as Roxie Hart, resigned?
9. Trent Oliver, his success on TV, audiences knowing him, work in the theatre, working with Dede, her not knowing him, working in the bar, joining in the conversation, his contribution?
10. The dilemma, failure, finding a cause to make them notable and noticeable, Angie finding the situation in Indiana? Trent organising the bus, the Godspell tour? Singing the songs on the bus? Across the country, their intentions, publicity?
11. The school, the principal, his presence, personality, the issue of the Prom? The meetings? The PTA, Mrs Greene and her dominance, harsh attitudes, the supporting mothers, the gay student, banning the Prom? Emma, her presence, the students blaming her, the corridor incidents? Alyssa, her secret love? Not revealing herself?
12. The troupe crashing the meeting, the performance, taking over, the reactions, the principal, the mothers, the anti-gay audience?
13. Tom, present, a fan of Dede, his memories, their coming alive with his songs, visits to Broadway, admiring Dede as an ideal? The discussions with her, her flirtation, going out, the visit to Applebee’s, their sharing their stories, both single, Tom prepared to back the group?
14. Alysssa, her mother, at home, the father walking out, the mother’s strict stances? The daughter unable to reveal herself?
15. Emma’s story, coming out, her parents ousting her, her grandmother taking her in, the understanding grandmother, Barry and his visit to the house, the discussion? Emma’s reaction to the visit, her personality, strong voice, dancing talent, understanding herself, her hopes, love, fending off reactions?
16. Preparation for the prom, Barry and the shopping, the dresses, the preparation for the venue? The shock of the alternate venue, the Prom in full swing? Emma going home, the reaction of the others, Emma phoning Alyssa and her staying at the prom?
17. The group and the plan, Dede being touched, want to get time on her husband’s show, prepared to sacrifice her mansion? Her learning some self-sacrifice? Tom and his reaction to the publicity news? Dede visiting in in his office, the yellow dress, talking him round?
18. Barry, his parents, phone call, hanging up, Dede phoning the mother, the mother arriving, her emotion, love, apology?
19. Emma deciding to make an appeal for the prom by herself? Social media, singing, the range of youngsters listening, their orientations and response? The alternative promotion? Raising the money, the group all contributing?
20. The significance of Trent, the song and dance in the mall, his confronting the students, their anti-gay attitudes? Challenging them? The significance of the song, Love Thy Neighbour, a kind of religious revival him, the focus on Jesus and the Gospels, the main command, Christian way of life, tolerance and decency? The conversion experience?
21. The Prom, Emma in her suit, Alyssa having revealed herself to a mother, her mother’s shock, wanting to ban the alternate Prom? Alyssa and her dress, the money for the decorations, the Hall, the group arriving, the range of visitors, the students from social media, Elisa and Emma and the declaration? The kiss? Mrs Greene turning up and participating?
22. Happy endings?
23. This kind of entertainment contributing to the shaping of consciousness and attitudes?
