Comedian-turned-filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait has revealed that his follow up to Sundance’s dark comedy “World’s Greatest Dad” starring Robin Williams, will hopefully be a musical adaptation of The Kinks’ 1976 album Schoolboys In Disgrace. Talk about ambitious…
‘Disgrace’ is a concept album that follows the coming-of-age story of a young, trouble-making schoolboy who, after being severely punished, turns into a hard and bitter character realizing he would forever be pushed down by the Establishment. That young boy grows up to become Mr. Flash — an antagonistic, capitalist overlord featured in the band’s rock opera, Preservation: Act 1 and Preservation: Act 2.
Goldthwait even procured permission from Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies to adapt the project, but that’s really no surprise as no one is really banging down the doors to tackle the Kink’s theatrical mid-’70s period, generally regarded as subpar to their melodic ’60s and early ’70s material (though, like all overlooked Kinks material, there are some gems to be found throughout).
Goldthwait’s musical will reportedly center on the album’s narrative exploring the notion of “someone who becomes a villain because he keeps having his legs kicked out from under him by authority.” Sounds like an amazing project, but is anyone going to finance this considering the timid and cautious climate these days? On the upshot, the project could yield the new Max Fischer and some teenage actor for the ages, a la Schwartzman. [CHUD]
The Kinks – “I’m In Disgrace”
The Kinks – “Jack The Idiot Dunce”