FEATURE:
For the Love of Glove: An Unauthorised Musical Fable About the Life of Michael Jackson, as Told by His Glove
IN THIS PHOTO: Michael Jackson in New York City in 1984/PHOTO CREDIT: David McGough/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The Strangest Musical Ever?
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THE status of Michael Jackson’s legacy…
PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
seems to change each year. I shall not rake over the documentaries and accusations levied at him, but Jackson has been dogged by rumours and controversy through most of his career. A decade after his death, it seems like there is no getting away from the scandalous side of Jackson. Although one can see Jacko’s music performed in the West End, there seems to be a lot more bad associated with his name than good. One cannot overlook the allegations aimed at Jackson, but it does seem like there is this need to cash-in and exploit the controversy. Whilst we have seen documentaries and news reports over the years, there has been very little as odd and inexplicable as a new musical that will open in the U.S. next year. The Independent explains more:
“Johnny Depp is producing a Michael Jackson musical told from the perspective of Jackson’s famous glove.
For the Love of Glove: An Unauthorised Musical Fable About the Life of Michael Jackson, as Told by His Glove has been written by playwright Julien Nitzberg and debuts in Los Angeles in January.
The musical is described as “a fresh, revisionist look at the strange forces that shaped Jackson and the scandals that bedeviled him”. Jackson’s glove is the musical’s hero, as well as being a musically-inclined alien eager to take over humanity.
Real actors will work alongside life-size puppets modelled after figures including Corey Feldman and Bubbles the Chimp.
IN THIS PHOTO: Johnny Depp/PHOTO CREDIT: Bruce Weber
Depp and Nitzberg have been associates for many years, with Depp’s production company Infinitum Nihil previously developing a Nitzberg-scripted biopic of the Sixties one-hit wonder singer Tiny Tim. That project would have starred Big Lebowski actor John Turturro.
“It ended up never getting made, but I developed a very good relationship with them,” Nitzberg told Page Six.
Of his Jackson play, Nitzberg said: “A major TV network wanted me to write a [Jackson] movie... but the question came up [about] how to deal with the child-abuse allegations.
For the Love of Glove runs will open 25 January, 2020 at LA’s Carl Sagan-Ann Druyan Theater”.
One should not be shocked to discover that something associated with Jackson is a little strange, but I wonder what the motivation is here. I am someone who casts a lot of doubt over allegations of abuse aimed at Jackson but, even if the claims were proven, I do question the motivation for bringing For the Love of Glove: An Unauthorised Musical Fable About the Life of Michael Jackson, as Told by His Glove to the stage. Not only does this have the potential to be the most bizarre musical ever. I am not sure what stance the producers are taking with the musical. On paper, it might be perceived as an attack on Jackson or a musical that casts him in the darkest light. Whether new evidence and the passing of time means something more evenly-balanced comes to the stage, I am not so sure.
Although it is quite a minor production, the fact Johnny Depp is attached means that people will come and see the musical because of him. One of the problems with Depp’s being involved is the allegations of domestic abuse filed against by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Although Depp has not got the same chequered history as Michael Jackson, it is a professional risk, I think. Michael Jackson, in spite of a tarnished name, has legions of fans and is generating a lot of revenue so long after his death. Let’s see what the critical reaction is, but the fact remains that For the Love of Glove: An Unauthorised Musical Fable About the Life of Michael Jackson, as Told by His Glove is one of the most bizarre concepts I have heard. There is this clash between those who are representing Jackson through this mirror of tragedy, darkness and scandal, and those who are keeping him pure by focusing on the music rather than his personal life. I know the two are connected, yet one cannot help but feel that the more disturbing side of Jackson is erasing the good: decades of brilliant music that has reshaped Pop and inspired countless artists. I wonder whether there will be more Jackson-related projects in 2020 as those who feel his name has been unfairly blackened look to correct that. There are rumours a biopic is being planned that, whilst it does not intend to paint Jackson as a saint, will look at his entire career and give a balanced account. Although he died in 2009, there seems to be more Michael Jackson in the world in the years before his death. Over the past year, there has been a lot said about Jackson and accusations of sexual abuse. From documentaries and West End musicals through to news reports, Jackson has been cast in a variety of lights and guises. With For the Love of Glove: An Unauthorised Musical Fable About the Life of Michael Jackson, as Told by His Glove coming along early next year, when it comes to the strange and unexpected, this musical definitely…
PHOTO CREDIT: (AP Photo/MJJ)/(MJJ via AP/AP)
TAKES the prize.