Replies: 56 Unseemly Comments
Overtures:
Carousel - However, I do know that some people consider this an actual piece, and not an overture. But in my book, it functions as an Overture for me.
Brigadoon - This was the first show I was in in high school, and I still remember it vividly and fondly. We even had bagpipes!
Gypsy - I remember being at a party one time shortly after the Bette Midler version had come out. They started playing the CD, and people started discussing the trumpet lines in the overture... This lead to the host pulling out all the various versions she had in her library - she had at least five - and we listened to the overture - and the trumpet player - on each recording. Fun, huh?!?!? -Actually, it was.
Flower Drum Song
Merrily We Roll Along - Ah, to be able to hear that overture again with a full, live orchestra! -I know, I know, it was supplemented on the OCR.
...That's all I can think of right now... However...
I do like the Entr'acte for South Pacific. I love how the melody of "Wonderful Guy" becomes an accompaniment in the next section. Too bad we didn't use it at Arena Stage.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/18/2003 09:24 AM PST
Well, of course everyone will vote for GYPSY as the all-time greatest overture, and who am I to disagree? I wonder if anyone else has heard a rumour that Sam Mendes plans to eliminate the overture from the upcoming revival?
Posted by Dave @ 02/18/2003 09:26 AM PST
I'm going to have to run home and listen to the start of all my CDs now, but the overture which immediately comes to mind is 'Goodtime Charley' with the little girl singing her rhyme before - wham - the orchestra comes in.
Then, of course, there are the classics - Gypsy, Candide, Carousel.
Posted by Allan @ 02/18/2003 09:27 AM PST
I like all the Styne overtures, the Rodgers and Hammerstein overtures (in their original forms) and several others, some mentioned by BK and some not: SHOW BOAT, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and others. When the Metropolitan Opera came out with their series of "100 Years of Musicals" (1896-1995) they included a bonus disc of Overtures that has all the usual suspects and a few surprises. It is a great disc. Jay Records has two discs of all the Styne Overtures, although there is some duplication between the two.
The snow has stopped falling and now it's time for the cleanup. If it gets as warm as it is supposed to later in the week (the 50s by Saturday) I'm afraid there will be much flooding. I made it to work with no problems because the subway I take is totally underground, but the subways that go outside for part of the route aren't running as regularly. I did not go to "Broadway by the Year" last night which the last I heard was not cancelled although I don't know how anyone got there.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/18/2003 09:29 AM PST
I would call the "Carousel Waltz" a prologue, not an overture. Perhaps that can be our discussion for tomorrow? The best prologues of all time. We will need to establish rules for distinguishing between an overture, a prologue and an opening number.
I have to agree about the overture for MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and I like the overture for 110 IN THE SHADE, too.
Posted by Dave @ 02/18/2003 09:30 AM PST
Well, we had another great Career Exploration session today. Our 350-pound psycho-therapist told us that he had helped to found a couple communes. Then the middle-aged hippie who's been out of work for twenty years said that he sees himself living in Ireland near the sea with "a mistress of some kind." And the guy who missed the first few classes because he got arrested said that he would like to be a pro football player and a fashion designer.
Posted by Sandra @ 02/18/2003 09:31 AM PST
P.S. I LOVE the Scarlet Pimpernel overture.
Posted by Sandra @ 02/18/2003 09:33 AM PST
Allan - How could I have forgotten about Candide!?!?!? Fun, fun, fun! (ah, a Beach Boys reference). -And let me tell you, it's a bitch to play on the piano - however, there is a nice two piano version out there.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/18/2003 09:45 AM PST
It's funny that the East Coast has gotten so much snow this weekend, yet here in Montreal we've gotten none. It's been too cold (like -20C, which is I think around -1F or less).
Posted by Jennifer @ 02/18/2003 10:00 AM PST
Dear Reader Sandra--
Each time you provide us a glimpse into your life, I can't help but wonder if you don't lead some kind of TRUMAN SHOW existence. You know, where you are not aware that you are at the center of an elaborate reality TV program, in which all the situations you face have been designed to entertain an audience.
Posted by Jay @ 02/18/2003 10:06 AM PST
I thought of a few others:
WONDERFUL TOWN
CALL ME MADAME
UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN
TENDERLOIN
ALL AMERICAN
HOW TO SUCCEED...
There are so many more, but I'll see what others come up with.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/18/2003 11:01 AM PST
Without a doubt, my all-time favorite overture is "Hey, baby...what's your sign?"
Posted by Lulu @ 02/18/2003 11:18 AM PST
My sign is STOP!
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/18/2003 11:26 AM PST
WEL: I have two signs: "Cross on Green Light Only" and "Stop Here on Red."
Posted by Lulu @ 02/18/2003 12:07 PM PST
I also confess to an affinity for "Keep Off Median."
Posted by Lulu @ 02/18/2003 12:08 PM PST
LOL Lulu.
Such great overtures...and I made a cassette tape of overtures...remember cassettes...that I played until it broke! hehehe
GYPSY of course - and the movie soundtrack overture is also very well played. I also like the overture to NEW GIRL IN TOWN the Bob Merrill show and of course CANDIDE.
DESTRY is fun....and ANYTHING GOES and the 7 Brides for 7 Brothers cast album I think from London, has a fun overture as well.
Yes, I also heard that Mr Mendes will not use the GYPSY overture which is sad because the American Fable should open with that which we know - leading into the unknown...Miss Bernadette Peters as Ethel Merman....er...Roz Russell....er I mean Rose Hovick.
Good trivia question. Congrats, TD and Macchus!
We are expecting more snow on Saturday! With the warming trend here...the storm of last week will just be clearing off then. Damn groundhog!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/18/2003 12:10 PM PST
Jrand: Be careful who thou dost damn, young man ;-) Remember just two weeks (more or less) ago, that dear friend of mine, Punxsutawney Phil helped me to celebrate my birthday. I needs must rise to the defense of the poor disparaged groundhog. He's practically blind, people are invading his home with klieg lights and you think he's going to stay outside with that kind of treatment? We're lucky he pokes his head out at all on Candlemas Day. Instead of cursing Phil why don't you dress up in your best clothes, burn lots of candles and sing songs of praise. Maybe for good measure, you could throw in a feast and invite
friends over! You could also have a candle making party (all good activities to do on Candlemas Day)! How Martha Stewart. All this because you dissed the Groundhog (how completely off topic can I be?).
Posted by Ben @ 02/18/2003 12:23 PM PST
Can't the Styne estate do anything about the elimination of the GYPSY Overture in the revisal? And does anyone know if Mendes still plans on having Tulsa gay?
I wonder if these changes are to take the focus off the miscast leading lady so that people will be so busy bitching about the changes they won't notice her being so wrong as much as they would in a more traditional production.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/18/2003 12:31 PM PST
May I just be contrarian for a moment and say that methinks Bernadette may actually surprise people (in a positive way) in this role. The real Rose was evidently a short, sexy dynamo, and I think that Ms. Peters may just bring something new and remarkable to the role. Of course, I also thought Matthew Broderick was an inspired choice for Music Man--NOT. :)
Posted by JMK @ 02/18/2003 12:35 PM PST
For my favourite three check Allan's list. As usual I am late off the mark but it pre breakfast when I log on. I can recommend the Styne Overtures (2 cds)on TER - 1. Everything's Coming Up Roses. 2. I'm The Greatest Star. They may still be available.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/18/2003 12:36 PM PST
I wonder why so many people have such an issue with Tulsa being gay? Is there something in the script that dictates that he must be straight?
Posted by Dave @ 02/18/2003 12:44 PM PST
Oh very well, Ben.
Hmmmm....as to Tulsa...in the movie June and Jerry get married....but in the stage play June and Tulsa get married....so I don't know.
JMK, I have to say the Bernadette is one performer I just don't get. Don't like her singing, don't like the way she looks, don't like her acting. A bit personal, I know, but some I like and some I don't.
8-P
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/18/2003 12:54 PM PST
No one has mentioned the Overture Delle Donne from Nine yet, methinks.
And I know 'A Doll's Life' had some bad press on this here site many moons, but I love it - and its overture (actually quite similar in style to Goodtime Charley - natch, as they're both by Larry Gossman - this time starting with a solo violin before the orchestra comes in).
Posted by Allan @ 02/18/2003 01:02 PM PST
... that should have been 'many moons ago' ...
Posted by Allan @ 02/18/2003 01:03 PM PST
There's nothing in the script that dictates any kind of sexuality for Tulsa, but since he runs off and marries June one would assume he is either straight or using her as a cover. If the latter is the case, this would add a whole new layer to the script that it doesn't need.
Most people feel that GYPSY has the perfect musical book that doesn't need "fixing". I'm sure Arthur Laurents will not permit any tampering with this script and I expect that there could be some sort of litigation before the show opens. He has personally directed or supervised all major GYPSY productions after the original and he, more than anyone, knows what this show should and should not be. Just because in his autobiography he outted himself and several others doesn't mean he will allow his fictional characters to be outted.
Speaking of Arthur Laurents, isn't it interesting that he wrote two of the best musical books ever (GYPSY and WEST SIDE STORY) and one of the worst (ANYONE CAN WHISTLE).
--------------------------------
By the way, for you B movie fans who did not read it in today's papers, Vera Hubra Ralston, ice skating queen of Republic Studios (who happened to be married to the studio head) died last week.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/18/2003 01:07 PM PST
Just to be the voice of reason here, all the Gypsy suppositions are merely that - it's all based on rumor, and most specifically rumors that started on another chat board which is not nearly as civil as this one. No one knows what Mr. Mendes will or won't do at this time. I suggest we all wait and see. If he wanted to make a major change in a character's sexuality, yes, he'd have to get permission, unless it was done without changing the text and in a subtle way. Only time will tell, but for now there's no reason to even discuss it because the nincompoop who started both these rumors doesn't know from whence he/she speaks.
Posted by bk @ 02/18/2003 01:20 PM PST
Jr: Not a Bernadette fan, eh? Did you ever see Andrea Martin impersonate her on SCTV? "Bernadette" made an appearance on Farm Film Celebrity Blow up and sang "Broadway Baby" (while crying, natch) before being "blowed up. Blowed up real good."
I like BP, but can also see how she could work your nerves if you're not partial to the whole kewpie doll thing.
Posted by Lulu @ 02/18/2003 01:23 PM PST
The fact that Tulsa and June get married could mean any number of things. Either Tulsa is using June as a cover, as you say, or he could be living in denial. Or maybe both he and June know that he is gay, but June doesn't care. She is so desparate to get out of the clutches of her mother, that she takes the first opportunity. (After all, June Havoc was first married at age 13!) In "If Momma was Married", we hear how desparate June is for Mama to get married. Eventually, this is inverted into her own desparation to get married. I think this is a nice twist on the material. It certainly doesn't undermine the original script; in fact, it underscores it.
Posted by Dave @ 02/18/2003 01:29 PM PST
Hey everyone. Just to let everyone know, Our Dear Alison Fraser's husband, Mr. Rusty Magee passed away this past Sunday. Rusty wrote some beautiful music while he was here on earth and touched the lives of many many people. My heart goes out to Alison and their son, Nathaniel. If anyone here would like to express their sympathies, you can go to Rusty's website at
http://www.sweetappreciation.com
More later,
Posted by Craig @ 02/18/2003 01:49 PM PST
Overtures:
GYPSY, of course
CANDIDE, of course
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG,
CAROUSEL,
CHICAGO (the music before All That Jazz)
IRMA LA DOUCE (So funny and fizzy. This is a wonderful. Why isn't this show produced?)
and the overture which I always mention: THE THREEPENNY OPERA!! Am I the only one who loves this show? This overture always gives me chills. As does the rest of the score.
If Mendes removes the overture from GYPSY, there will just need to be a boycott declared on his productions. This will not be tolerated.
Posted by Hapgood @ 02/18/2003 01:49 PM PST
Miss Vera Hruba...a Chzech ice skating champion...who won an Olympic silver medal...losing gold twice to Sonja Henie. After the invasion, Hitler demanded that Vera skate for the Third Reich. Vera told him "I would rather skate on it than for it." And just a few days later she and her mother escaped on the last plane out of the country.
She became an American citizen and did charm Herbert J Yates, head of Republic Pictures, who starred her in several different kinds of films. She played opposite John Wayne in DAKOTA. A reviewer at the time wrote that after Vera gave an impassioned speech that went on for a quite some time - each person turned to the person in the next seat and asked, "What did she say?"
She added Ralston to her name Vera Hruba after she got tired of hearing it pronounced wrongly. She declared that when she was once introduced as Vera RumBum - something had to change.
Watch for JUBILEE TRAIL.... Vera Hruba Ralston, the Madonna of her time - movie wise.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/18/2003 02:02 PM PST
OVERTURES!!!! Wow... I LOVE Overtures!!!
Faves:
Annie
Oklahoma
Tommy (does that count?)
Music Man (which has never been recorded in its entirety :(
Gypsy
The King and I
Jesus Christ Superstar
Hello Dolly
Mame
Mack and Mabel
and many MANY others (including The Phantom of the Opera). Where have the overture's gone? To 45 second prelude's, no doubt. The last show with an Overture was "The Producers" and even that had been cut after the recording. I'm surprised "Oklahoma" kept theirs. There really hasn't been anything new in a while, it's rather sad.
Posted by Matthew @ 02/18/2003 02:50 PM PST
I'll be back later to make brazen overtures, but first I gotta say "YIPPEE!!!" The only other thing i've ever won online was a dvd of the unrated cut of ORIGINAL SIN! So, I do have to thank Mr. Billy Wilder for making such a memorable movie to begin with!
Posted by td @ 02/18/2003 03:11 PM PST
Thanks for letting us know, Craig. 8-(
No, Lulu, didn't see Andrea Martin's BP impersonation. But I can imagine.
Anyone know when GYPSY the movie soundtrack from Warner Bros records will be released on CD? If ever?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/18/2003 03:45 PM PST
You CAN find anything on Ebay. Click my name for the Judy 8-track collection photo.
Posted by Ebayer @ 02/18/2003 04:29 PM PST
I'll open with these overtures:
Mame
Hello Dolly
Follies
Gypsy (of course)
La Cage Aux Folles
Babes in Arms
Finian's Rainbow
Dear World
No, No, Nanette
Mack and Mabel
South Pacific (an all time favorite)
My Fair Lady
Flower Drum Song
Funny Girl
Subways are for Sleeping
Posted by Kerry @ 02/18/2003 06:14 PM PST
Does the overture to "Judy at Carnegie Hall" count?
Posted by Kerry @ 02/18/2003 06:23 PM PST
Apart from "Gypsy", I think the movie version of "Bells Are Ringing" has one of the most stunning overtures ever recorded.
I'm fond of the overtures from "Dear World," "Bye, Bye Birdie" and "The Fantasticks," too!
Did you guys know that in its year of "eligibility," the score to "She Loves Me" was NOT nominated for a Tony, but that "High Spirits," "Funny Girl" and "110 in the Shade" were, along with the winner, "Hello, Dolly!"?
And what made Carol Channing an "Actress (Musical)" nominee for "Hello, Dolly!" (Which she won, of course) but Tammy Grimes could only qualify as "Actress, Supporting or Featured" three years earlier in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (which she, too, won)?
Who decides these things and on what criteria are/were they based????
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/18/2003 06:24 PM PST
JR, how could you have missed the Gypsy soundtrack CD that made the rounds on eBay last year? Straight from the soundtrack masters, with bonus tracks of Roz, Karl & Natalie in the studio (with Roz bitchin' about this and that). Don't know how the guy got it, but he was also offering CDs of the Finian's Rainbow soundtrack (another Warner item).
Posted by JMK @ 02/18/2003 07:01 PM PST
Ron ---
In those days Leading/Supporting were determined by billing. Over-the-title was leading, under the title was supporting. That's why Tom Bosley for FIORELLO (another great overture) and Yul Brynner for KING AND I won for supporting.
I just got an ad for a "CHICAGO singalong". It took SOUND OF MUSIC thirty-five years and it took CHICAGO only about thirty-five days. I wonder if they will have a costume contest like the SOM one did. I can imagine an audience singing along with "We Both Reached For the Gun" or "Mr. Cellophane".
And speaking of CHICAGO, Fran and Barry's latest stunt casting has paid off. Clive Barnes said that the Backstreet Boy (I don't remember his name) now playing Billy Flynn is the best Billy he's ever seen going back as far as Jerry Orbach! Since I've not seen him I can't judge, but I find it a bit hard to believe.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/18/2003 07:03 PM PST
I totally agree about the Bells Are Ringing film overture (or Main Title) - it's brilliant, thanks to Conrad Salinger and Andre Previn.
I have the Gypsy CD and it's a lot of fun - I also have a little CD I made from a reel-to-reel tape of the soundtrack which sounds scrumptious. The same guy (yes, Virginia, I know from whence it came) who supplied the Gypsy tapes, also did one for Li'l Abner, but it's not nearly as good.
Posted by bk @ 02/18/2003 07:37 PM PST
Yippee! We are talking F-I-L-M overtures as well!
I think in chat that I stated that my tops in B'way overtures were:
CANDIDE and GYPSY
My additions would be:
110 IN THE SHADE
THE FANTASTICKS (so much from so few instruments)
FINIAN'S RAINBOW
KISMET
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
MY FAIR LADY
FUNNY GIRL
SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING
PRETTYBELLE
(Styne Overtures are the greatest, aren't they?)
Film-wise, I love the 1960's work of Saul Chaplin so durned much!
WEST SIDE STORY
SOUND OF MUSIC
STAR!
and then, once again, film-wise:
PAINT YOUR WAGON
THE LITTLE PRINCE
CAMELOT
. . .and here is where I'll take an icredible risk and say,
MAME
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
Non-Musically Speaking:
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
RYAN'S DAUGHTER
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Posted by td @ 02/18/2003 07:57 PM PST
I agree with Bruce about "Take Me Along" having a great overture.
Some of my favorite overtures:
Gypsy, of course
On the Twentieth Century
Applause
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman
Roar of the Greasepain Smell of the Crowd
Mack and Mabel
The Grass Harp
Posted by Dennis Clancy @ 02/18/2003 08:24 PM PST
Hey, everyone! I'm so glad we're talking overtures today, as they are truly one of my favorite things about musical theatre. Jay Records produced a 3-disc collection of overtures, all with the original orchestrations, that I think is a blast.
Here are my favorites--overture, prologue, prelude or any other kind of introductory music:
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. It's fun to play really, really loud.
GYPSY. A given.
RAGS. I think it's great.
CAROUSEL. Call it what you will, its still fabulous.
DAMN YANKEES.
THE PAJAMA GAME.
DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES. OK...I had to throw that one in there, just to see if you were paying attention. Actually, I liked the score (well, most of it.)
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.
THE KING & I.
OKLAHOMA!
CHICAGO (the lead-in music to "All That Jazz")
THE MUSIC MAN.
CANDIDE.
MY FAIR LADY.
There, I think that's a pretty good start. Can we do opening numbers tomorrow??
Posted by Jason @ 02/18/2003 09:26 PM PST
td Of course! The overture to "Star!" One of the best!
Posted by Kerry @ 02/18/2003 09:43 PM PST
Once again, very late in joining the posts. It's the strange hours I've been keeping.
Oompityfratz years ago (which is too many manies to be written down), I found myself saddled with the task of putting together a tape to be played as dinnertime background music, for a club der Brucer belonged to at the time. Since after the dinner there was to be a show featuring the members of the club, they decided the wanted Musical Comedy Overtures.
I really don't remember what we put on that tape. It was lost more manies ago, sad to say. But there was one historical note of note that I found while compiling the tape.
I essentially arranged the overtures in chronological order, pulling from my own record collection and der Brucers, plus a few loaned to us by other clubmembers. (Obviously, it was that kind of club. Nudge nudge, wink wink (a Monty Python ref).) What I found was that there would be a really spectacular overture, then a few moderately good ones, then things would get in a real rut, and then someone would write another spectacular overture that would get the species re-energized. And then everyone would copy the style of THAT overture until things got boring again.
That said, I'm somewhat disappointed that Sondheim isn't really known for overtures. I realize that the form doesn't fit his shows very well most of the time, but with so much great music, I'd have expected more, somehow.
And I'm not sure the current crop of writers is using the Overture much.
On the other hand, the Overture to CATS, although it is based heavily on the "Jellicle Ball" sequence, stands out as a good example of the form. I'm surprised no one mentioned it earlier (and if someone did, I appologize for missing the mention).
Posted by S. Woody White @ 02/18/2003 11:08 PM PST
S. Woody--I was going to mention it, but didn't for fear of a wholloping. I'm glad you did.
Posted by Jason @ 02/18/2003 11:53 PM PST
Some of my favorite overtures:
Ballroom (it's short, but I like it)
Brigadoon
Cats (the original London recording has a big giant "bwang" that I miss from the Broadway orchestration / arrangement)
Follies
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
A Little Night Music
Mack and Mabel
Merrily We Roll Along
On the Twentieth Century
Rags
Posted by George @ 02/19/2003 12:44 AM PST
WEL: Isn't this the same Clive Barnes who, upon seeing Hair, insisted for YEARS afterwards that all B'way musicals must be scored entirely and exclusively with rock music in order to be "relevant?"
I think we can take anything he says about Backstreet Billy Flynn with a big ol' grain of salt. Clive strikes me as a bit of a bandwagon jumper.
Posted by Lulu @ 02/19/2003 05:06 AM PST
Oh, Jason, we would never whollop you, even if you do like the Cats overture. You're too young to be wholloped. It might scar you for life :-)
Posted by Ben @ 02/19/2003 05:44 AM PST
I would enjoy the CATS overture more if it didn't sound like it was played on a Casio keyboard. How many millions of dollars has this show made, and they couldn't afford to hire some real brass players?
Posted by Dave @ 02/19/2003 06:27 AM PST
Why is it so difficult to believe that Kevin Richardson (of the Backstreet Boys) would be well-suited to the role of Billy Flynn? To start with, though it is all-too-easy to assume that because he is in a boy band he cannot sing, this is actually not the case. (Certainly he is a better singer than Richard Gere.) Cynics should also be advised that although his band is called Backstreet *Boys*, he is actually a grown man in his thirties.
And let's not forget - he has spent half of his life surrounded by adoring young women, so he should be right at home singing "All I Care About". He has learned over the past decade to handle the press, so we can expect him to more than hold his own for "We Both Reached for the Gun". And if anybody can understand the "Razzle Dazzle" of the media circus, it is a member of the Backstreet Boys. I have not seen Mr. Richardson perform the role, but if the man has any acting talent at all, this could be inspired casting!
Posted by Dave @ 02/19/2003 06:36 AM PST
Dave: I don't think it matters how many millions of dollars CATS made--the show was orchestrated with keyboards from the beginning, not with the real deal. I don't think that was done out of financial concern. I think it was done that way because it was the early 80's and synthesizers were the 'hot' novelty item in music at the time.
DISCLAIMER: This is my own tangent and has very little to do with anything that anyone has said today: I know a lot of people really hate CATS. I happen to be very indifferent to it--I saw a bad tour [though Natalie Toro was fabulous as Grizabella], but I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more if I'd seen it on that huge set at the Winter Garden. The show is dated and yes, it is safe to say it overstayed its welcome on Broadway, but for all its faults, let's not lose sight of the fact that the show has employed COUNTLESS performers for a long, long time, and continues to do so through tours and now regional and (God help us) community productions.
I know its not popular to be a Lloyd Webber fan anymore, but God love him, he's written a lot of great stuff for people to sing, and when he hasn't actually written it himself, at least he's stolen from some of the best composers out there...hehe. :-) I'm not ashamed to admit that I love most of Lloyd Webber's shows. I will not be a closeted Lloyd Webber fan any longer! (Not that I think it was any secret to begin with...)
And now my personal tangent is over. Thank you. :-D
Posted by Jason @ 02/19/2003 07:21 AM PST
Oh, and BK--just in case you were wondering, I was doing some archive searches last night, so it was me, not a merry searcher. Well...that's not entirely true. I was searching, and I was relatively merry, so I guess I WAS a merry searcher, but not the merry searcher we are accustomed to. What the HELL am I talking about?
Posted by Jason @ 02/19/2003 07:31 AM PST
Well I missed out on that....Roz bitching? Must have been a rare off day for her.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/19/2003 08:10 AM PST
I am not an ALW-basher, but I cannot claim to be a fan of CATS, either. I tried to get interested recently, after a friend suggested that I should consider directing the show once the rights are available. I listened to the CD, and found a few things to enjoy, and even convinced myself that there is some thematic continuity to the show, even if there isn't really a "story", per se. Then, I went to see the show on the tour last week, and it was a painful experience.
But it gets worse. Yesterday, I put on the CD of STARLIGHT EXPRESS. This dreck makes CATS sound like Sondheim!
That said, there are a number of things that ALW has written that I quite enjoy. Certainly, JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT is a fun show, both to perform and to watch (and I've done both). JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA both have their strengths. There are some lovely -albeit overplayed - melodies in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and I have a fondness for SUNSET BOULEVARD. (Now, there's a show I'd like to direct!) If his more recent work shows signs of slipping, he can still turn out a popular melody when he wants to, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Word that ALW has finally teamed up with a decent lyricist again - David Zippel - is truly encouraging.
Posted by Dave @ 02/19/2003 08:36 AM PST
