I know the reason the Abba & Joel shows work is unlike Gordon,these acts are,by the mess media and music buyers,very well known for their songs and their on stage personas.
Also,ABBA's music is considered to be sort of campy and or kitsch (whatever that word means!) he songs are easy to send up on stage.
Billy Joel,appeals to mass audiences,simply put.
A lightfoot show could work,it just has to have all the right elements,not just the songs but a good reason for them to be sung. I know nothing of the previous attempt but that could be the case.
Or it could just be that gord's songs aren't meant for glitzy broadway typre stage productions.
Ben me,later!
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Borderstone,gonna post some lines tonight!:D