Hey, Jose-
I just want to say hi-I love it when other people on the East Coast are up as late as I am. Tell Gerry McIntyre that he is the best dance instructor that PSA has ever had.
Noel
Re:THE WHIRLING DERVISH
« Reply #159 on: Today at 01:36:38am »
DR Danise said something that piqued my interest, and, in asking this question, I hope I don't sound like I'm criticizing. But I'm truly puzzled. You just saw Phantom of the Opera and say that, on your next trip to New York, you plan to see Phantom of the Opera. On a typical day here, you've literally dozens of musicals to choose from, all of which have opened more recently than Phantom of the Opera. Why would you choose something you've already seen over something you haven't seen?
If this could be answered for me, it would be valuable knowledge, and help me understand the theatre biz a little better.
That said, I won't deny that Schwartz's recent scores have disappointed me.Which other scores have disappointed you? The list seems incomplete, considering the use of the plural noun.
I've no doubt that the show has yet to play New York because it is of insufficient quality.
Guess who's coming to dinner:No, der B has the word wrong: We're not anti-growth. We love the growth on both sides of our lot. We're anti-building, and would love to see both lots stay growth-positive the way they are!
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/5911570/76415679.jpg)
Look carefully for the White-tail deer right in the center of the picture. Picture was taken from my side yard looking into the not yet developed lot next door.
der Brucer (who, now that he's got his, is anti-growth!)
Back from shipping packages at my mail place (they're open on Sundays now, through xmas).
Dixie Belle made it through the night in her new home as well as in her own cage, which we call a home. She yapped and bayed for a while, but when I took Minx on her final walk, and put the shirt that I was wearing into Dixie's home, Dixie settled down and went to sleep.
She's eating well and playing lots - just as a puppy should.
Anyone who wants to come and play and cuddle is welcome to.
(Now where is TCB when a line like that comes along?)
I must do some on-line shopping soon as I am looking for DVDs of a few movies which I need to watch in order to conduct a couple of proposed interviews..more of those colorful 1960s made-in-Florida films...in no particular order:
SCUM OF THE EARTH (1963)
PAGAN ISLAND (1961)
GENTLEMEN PREFER NATURE GIRLS (1962)
ADAM LOST HIS APPLE (1965)
(I know I have just scared the heck out of DR Elmore3003! LOL!)
Ahh, td, I am happy to see Martin Mull posing with the puppy. What a cutie (and I like the dog, too)!
It's another great day of not writing term papers. My brother and I are watching a curling championship on TV.Chocolate curls? Sounds delish!
Chocolate curls? Sounds delish!
;D
Schwartz did such wonderful work in the 70's: Godpsell, Pippin, The Baker's Wife, The Magic Show, Working (a score by many writers - I'm just commenting on the SS numbers here)
Comparing his recent work: Wicked, Jepetto, The Prince of Egypt. Children of Eden
I see a distinct drop in quality. I've played through many, but not all, of the songs from Children of Eden. I've no doubt that the show has yet to play New York because it is of insufficient quality.
Noel, dissing Children of Eden because it hasn't played NY (by which I assume you mean Broadway) due to poor quality doesn't work, not when you praise The Baker's Wife, a show that didn't come in to New York City because of it's poor quality.
We are now watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. This is quality programming.
Let's not twist my words, OK? I didn't diss Children of Eden because it hasn't played New York. I dissed Children of Eden because it's bad.Interesting comment from someone who has not only not seen the show but has, by his own admission earlier, not finished playing through the score.
Those Powers-That-Be that decide what musicals get produced in New York apparently agree with me; the show has never played here. I'm well aware the show is pretty popular in regional and community theatres.Which fairly well explains the problem here. The show is not "bad," it simply isn't suited for New York City (aka Broadway). If it was actually "bad," it would not be popular in regional or community theaters. Those outside of NYC no longer need the "Powers-That-Be" to tell them what is and isn't good.
I saw The Baker's Wife many years ago at the York when it was on Fifth Avenue. A lot of the songs are of very high quality, and I'll cite one example. The baker's wife has been gone a while, and the town is worried he's going to be too upset to bake well. As an audience, we expect the baker to express his misery. Instead, we're surprised by a jaunty drinking song, Any Day Now Day, in which he expresses complete confidence that she'll return. It's a marvelous moment.A marvelous moment does not a good show make. And no, I would not at that moment expect him to express his misery; I would expect him to lie to himself and everyone around him about her immenent return. That's simply good storytelling, and obvious. His misery (and the truth) comes later, when he simply cannot bake.
In stark contrast, we have lovers who are due to be torn asunder by what the insurance companies refer to as "an act of God." We expect them to declare that they'll make the best of the remaining time by loving each other in an antemic noble ballad. And that's exactly what we get. There's no surprise. There's actually nothing much to listen to - "In whatever time we have, for as long as we are living" - and we might as well tune the thing out, because every line is exactly what we expect.And in writing this "expectable" song, Schwartz has pulled out of his writing hat a song that has become popular at weddings. As SMS himself notes in the liner notes of BK's The Stephen Schwartz Album.
Perhaps it's the need to surprise an audience, to go beyond their expectations, that Schwartz lost sight of in the many years between his works composed for the stage.But there IS unexpectedness in Children of Eden. The entire premise, that God himself learns from his children, is unexpected. The duet, "The Hardest Part of Love," is both the logical conclusion to this conflict and unexpected, as one father's experiences mirror another's. CoE is a very gratifying theater experience.
Ya know, I wasn't frightened so much last night by the huge tubs of sour cream on BK's partay host's table as I was curious about why there was a pump bottle of Vaseline hand cream present. Is there some Hanukkah tradition that I'm not aware of?Hand Cream is NOT a dairy product!
I don't normally say this, but WHERE IS EVERYONE? We had record breaking days and now we haven't reached 100 postings by 7:00pm! on the east coast of the US of AEveryone is out shopping. For doggie treats. :D
I'm not as sure about Hairspray. It's not fantasy or magic. In fact, I'm not sure what it is about. I just remember hearing how it was a big hit on Broadway. Well, we'll see.Hairspray is about dancing, winning the heart of the dreamiest guy around, and bringing about integration in Philadelphia in 1962. (That, in the real world, Philly is still having problems is another story. :-\) It's got music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and his partner, Scott Wittman. Yes, partner. THAT kind of partner. Shaiman also wrote the songs to South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut. Remember "Blame Canada"? Hairspray is just as irreverent, but without the dirty words. You'll love it.
Yes, partner. THAT kind of partner.
Tom, I think you may have to explain that one to SWW. You know why I couldn't resist that reply.Mothers are delicate beings with so much charm!
I figure I ought to wish Tomofoz a Happy Birthday now since it is tomorrow for him.Thank you Kerry. In fact is today (Monday) still for another 12 hours! I shall nevertheless keep your wishes safely until then.
MBarnum, what does Mr. Friedman say about my little ol' film? And I don't think his film is a musical in the way that my film is a musical, but that's just my opinion.
Jose-- definitely time for you to move. Your situation is beginning to sound like a Neil Simon play (only without the laughs).Something from his most recent work?
DR Laura. I am hoping that you are using it in your computer!! It is not music.
I'm getting very confused. Not difficult at my age. The birthday wishes are indeed welcome but my birthday is December 14th. It is not December 14 anywhere on the planet yet. Not even in middle earth for another 10 hours.We are going to celebrate another year for you every day until the actual birthday arrives!
We are going to celebrate another year for you every day until the actual birthday arrives!Entering my 60th year is so exciting!! Not.
Consider yourself doomed
::) ;)
That's a horrible story, DR Elmore. Your poor friend! Poor you! How is she feeling now? What did they say at the ER?
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Quote from: Kerry on Today at 08:13:36pm
Jose-- definitely time for you to move. Your situation is beginning to sound like a Neil Simon play (only without the laughs).
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Something from his most recent work?
Tomovoz how many time zones does Australia have?Officially 3. Some of us think Queensland is at least a decade behind.
Goodnight.
Here is Anthony's thumb to give you an idea of the scale
Oy! Such a night.
Hairspray is about dancing, winning the heart of the dreamiest guy around, and bringing about integration in Philadelphia in 1962. (That, in the real world, Philly is still having problems is another story.
Dare you suggest that Simon's recent work, such as Proposals, 45 Seconds From Broadway, and The Dinner Party isn't as good as his hits from the 60's, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and Plaza Suite? Have you actually seen these plays, or merely taken the time to play through several of their more famous songs? Why, I have it on good authority that Proposals is done by regional and communtiy theatres all the time. The fact that it failed on Broadway means nothing, I tell you, nothing!Proposals and The Dinner Party both played in Los Angeles before moving to Broadway, and der Brucer and I saw them both, Proposals on his birthday as it happens. Proposals debuted at the Ahmanson (where Caroline, or Change is currently playing), The Dinner Party at the Mark Taper Forum (where such Pulitzer winners as Angels in America and The Shadow Box were first staged). And Ron Rifkin, who starred in Proposals in Los Angeles but knew better than to go further with it, later that year sat behind us on one of our flights to NYC, and we got to tell him how we enjoyed his work in the play, even though it was far from Simon's best. (At the time, Rifkin was prepping instead for the Roundabout revival of Cabaret.)
Which other scores have disappointed you?
Hairspray takes place in Baltimore. Not being nitpickerish here. Believe me, I would love for the opening song in the show to be "Good Morning, Philadelphia!"I stand corrected. Maybe if it had taken place in Philadelphia, they wouldn't have some of the tensions they do now. :-\ (Dick Clark can't solve everything, I guess.)
It well may be that some shows are good enough for New York, but not good enough for regional and community theatre. I don't know much about regional and community, as I've seen very little of it. Most people seem to believe that some shows (Proposals seems to be an example) are good enough for regional and community, but not New York. You want to believe differently, that's fine.Huh? Somehow, you've twisted around what I wrote. I was stating how some shows, Children of Eden in particular, play well in regional and community theater, without having a NYC run, not that they aren't good enough for NYC.
some of your own shows might get an audience "out there." They don't seem to be getting much play where you are now.