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Post by apubleed on Feb 1, 2019 20:33:56 GMT
How strange, your post has made me realise I’ve never listened to this cast recording! I just hopped over to SondheimGuide.com and was surprised to read this production had 43 preview performances before a run of 60 - that’s quite unusual, isn’t it? Also surprised to read the choreography was by Rob Marshall. I’ll listen to the Veanne Cox version later tonight - would you recommend the rest of the album?
It was presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company, which means it played a scheduled limited run, after which it didn't transfer. It was quite common even then for productions in New York's nonprofits to play a few weeks of previews before they let the critics in, so what to British eyes looks like a bit of an imbalance between the number of previews and the number of regular performances actually isn't all that unusual. It didn't transfer mostly because Boyd Gaines, the leading man, had terrible vocal problems during the run (although he doesn't sound bad on the album) and missed a lot of performances on doctor's orders; there was talk of recasting, but the reviews for the production as a whole weren't wonderful, and there wasn't much momentum for a transfer without Mr. Gaines.
The album is OK, with a few very nice performances on it - the highlights are Veanne Cox's Getting Married Today and LaChanze's Another Hundred People. It was revelatory at the time because you could hear the counterpoint in the opening number far more clearly than you can on the 1970 recording, but it's probably not going to be anybody's definitive recording of this material.
Transfer to what? |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 1, 2019 21:42:44 GMT
No. 1  |
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Post by sf on Feb 1, 2019 21:51:50 GMT
It was presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company, which means it played a scheduled limited run, after which it didn't transfer. It was quite common even then for productions in New York's nonprofits to play a few weeks of previews before they let the critics in, so what to British eyes looks like a bit of an imbalance between the number of previews and the number of regular performances actually isn't all that unusual. It didn't transfer mostly because Boyd Gaines, the leading man, had terrible vocal problems during the run (although he doesn't sound bad on the album) and missed a lot of performances on doctor's orders; there was talk of recasting, but the reviews for the production as a whole weren't wonderful, and there wasn't much momentum for a transfer without Mr. Gaines.
The album is OK, with a few very nice performances on it - the highlights are Veanne Cox's Getting Married Today and LaChanze's Another Hundred People. It was revelatory at the time because you could hear the counterpoint in the opening number far more clearly than you can on the 1970 recording, but it's probably not going to be anybody's definitive recording of this material.
Transfer to what?
Another theatre for an extended run.
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Feb 1, 2019 23:45:32 GMT
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Post by Marcus on Feb 1, 2019 23:45:32 GMT
Third visit this evening, I still marvel at how talented the cast is. Which makes me realise how starved so many west end shows are of solid theatrical talent.
Patti just gives me everything I need in my life. Rosaline is a real star in this, I adore her voice.
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Feb 2, 2019 0:04:42 GMT
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Post by princeton on Feb 2, 2019 0:04:42 GMT
Boyd Gaines, the leading man, had terrible vocal problems during the run (although he doesn't sound bad on the album) and missed a lot of performances on doctor's orders Boyd Gaines was out when I saw it - and his cover was fine but bland - which was pretty much the same for the whole production. It felt safe and generic - the set was stairs and platforms - and the whole thing felt neither contemporary nor period. On stage the standouts were Veanne Cox, Jane Krakowski as April and Kate Burton as Sarah. La Chanze, who does sound great on the recording, felt slightly adrift in the actual performance - though Another Hundred People is rarely as good on stage as on a recording because it's so stop/start. I think, though not 100%, that it was the first time that Marry Me A Little had been included as the Act 1 close. |
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Post by sf on Feb 2, 2019 0:47:19 GMT
I think, though not 100%, that it was the first time that Marry Me A Little had been included as the Act 1 close. Yes, the Roundabout production was the first time 'Marry Me a Little' was included at the end of the first act. The Donmar revival, which also used it, was a few months later. |
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Feb 2, 2019 1:10:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 1:10:09 GMT
I think, though not 100%, that it was the first time that Marry Me A Little had been included as the Act 1 close. Yes, the Roundabout production was the first time 'Marry Me a Little' was included at the end of the first act. The Donmar revival, which also used it, was a few months later. What was the act one close before that? Where did marry me a little come in show before then? |
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Post by sf on Feb 2, 2019 2:01:05 GMT
Yes, the Roundabout production was the first time 'Marry Me a Little' was included at the end of the first act. The Donmar revival, which also used it, was a few months later. What was the act one close before that? Where did marry me a little come in show before then?
The act one close before that was a short reprise of the Bobby-baby opening theme at the end of the scene following Getting Married Today.
Marry Me a Little was not in the show. It was written for the original Broadway production for the spot that is now occupied by Being Alive, and replaced before rehearsals began by a song called Happily Ever After, which in turn was replaced by Being Alive during the pre-Broadway tryout run in Boston.
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Post by tonylony on Feb 2, 2019 8:53:34 GMT
Regarding Furth and a broadcast of this, the script will soon be published I'm guessing the rights will become available for this version to be performed. Although I guess Broadway will be given the option before it is released to Goole Rep and the Pie Crust players. Perhaps no NT live as the Beeb are interested in filming it So I heard about NTlive probably not taking it, but is that real 'news' about the BBC? hm Hopefully SOMEONE films it |
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Feb 2, 2019 9:04:13 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 2, 2019 9:04:13 GMT
No just hoepful.
Beeb filmed in at the Donmar and have recently filmed Gypsy, American in Paris and Sixpence so Im praying to the gods of theatre and chanting Bobbie Bubbie on the hour
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Post by liv22 on Feb 2, 2019 11:36:04 GMT
I saw this last night for the first time and I really enjoyed it. I loved the simple staging but it worked so well. Fantastic cast - Rosalie Craig was outstanding and the whole Not Getting Married Today scene was hilarious. My friend turned to me at the end and simply said 'It's nice to see something different' and I think that sums my feelings up nicely. I'm glad I got around to seeing it before it closes.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 19:13:20 GMT
Love this soundtrack. Getting a lot of plays form me currently. Almost perfect but something strange happens to Rosalie's vocal that I keep noticing. Towards the start of 'Marry Me a Little', the word 'just' (first time round only) crunches. It's like it's been overly processed (de-essed) and artefacts have been generated as a result. That's my only complaint though.
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Feb 3, 2019 0:36:16 GMT
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Post by n2n on Feb 3, 2019 0:36:16 GMT
So, with Amy being changed to the gay Jamie, how do they handle Marry Me A Little? I’m confused on the cast album why Bobbie still proposes—is it supposed to be a marriage pact type thing? Is he bi? That’s the one thing I’m really not getting from the album.
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Feb 3, 2019 0:48:40 GMT
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Feb 3, 2019 0:48:40 GMT
So, with Amy being changed to the gay Jamie, how do they handle Marry Me A Little? I’m confused on the cast album why Bobbie still proposes—is it supposed to be a marriage pact type thing? Is he bi? That’s the one thing I’m really not getting from the album. It's not really clear if Jamie is bi or if this is sort of a platonic marriage suggestion to just get people off both their backs about marriage. It's up to interpretation but I think the second is the better one. It adds a bit more comedy to Jamie's response to the suggestion and it feels a bit more poignant when you consider Jamie's struggles with feeling like he has to get married under greater pressure as a gay man whose community fought for his right to. |
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Feb 3, 2019 1:47:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 1:47:16 GMT
So, with Amy being changed to the gay Jamie, how do they handle Marry Me A Little? I’m confused on the cast album why Bobbie still proposes—is it supposed to be a marriage pact type thing? Is he bi? That’s the one thing I’m really not getting from the album. I don't think he is bisexual in any way, I think that the proposal comes across more as a moment of heightened emotion and reaction on Bobbie's part where she is not thinking clearly based on what has gone on around the same time in her life and what she has just witnessed and having to deal with a hysterical friend. Having seen it live, I've taken it as the initial question being a moment of trying to make him feel better, but then really meaning it, to which Jamie of course tells her they obviously can't get married. I think his response, whilst for comedic value, also confirms that he is gay rather than bisexual by the over the top response to her proposal. I don't know if he'd react like that if he was bisexual, whereas being gay, of course he would find it totally absurd for her to even ask that question. Does that make sense? I'm half asleep. 😂 |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 2:15:04 GMT
I think it also possibly is a case of thinking "I am 35 and alone and all my friends are married. I love Jamie as a friend and it would be nice to have someone to share my life with even if sex is not a part of it."
As someone who is single and living alone right now, I can tell you I most certainly miss someone to share a quiet evening at home with and snuggle next to in front of a fire.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 4:31:53 GMT
In fairness, I get that with Bobbie though. I have a deal with a female friend and a straight male friend that if neither of us are married that if we get to 40 and neither of us are married, we will get married for the companionship aspect of it, but we would happily not include the sexual aspect of it. I'm not attracted to women for the most part and my male friend is straight anyway, and I'd totally marry them for them and then we would find sexual gratification somewhere else with the permission of the other. We've genuinely talked all this through, we are sad like that.  |
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Feb 3, 2019 10:32:19 GMT
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Post by mrbluesky on Feb 3, 2019 10:32:19 GMT
In fairness, I get that with Bobbie though. have a deal with a female friend and a straight male friend that if neither of us are married that if we get to 40 and neither of us are married, we will get married for the companionship aspect of it, but we would happily not include the sexual aspect of it. I'm not attracted to women for the most part and my male friend is straight anyway, and I'd totally marry them for them and then we would find sexual gratification somewhere else with the permission of the other. We've genuinely talked all this through, we are sad like that. I have a similar thing with a friend of mine, whereby if we reach thirty-five and are both unmarried we’ll tie the knot, purely for the companionship. I actually love the fact that Bobbie asks Jamie, I think it’s one of the first moments that she drops the bravado and the constant ‘I’m fine, I don’t want to marry’ mantra and we see just how lonely she really is. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 11:04:27 GMT
Blimey a few of us better get to the convent/monastery if the cut off it 35?!
Anyway, yes, with Jamie replacing Amy in this version Bobbie in a moment of I guess quiet/sad reflection just says 'let's get married' basically to 'get out of this' all the expectation etc of getting married the pressure to make it perfect that Jamie feels, the pressure to find some-body Bobbie feels etc.
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Post by lonlad on Feb 3, 2019 11:12:52 GMT
Agree exactly with what emicardiff says above -- the moment is surprising yet feels entirely right, which typifies this gorgeous production as a whole
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Feb 3, 2019 11:14:43 GMT
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Post by ruby on Feb 3, 2019 11:14:43 GMT
Was the cinema screening a valid rumour, or do I have to get my act together to see this before it closes?
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Feb 3, 2019 11:21:36 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 3, 2019 11:21:36 GMT
Was the cinema screening a valid rumour, or do I have to get my act together to see this before it closes? Just a rumour (hope, desire and wish). If you can I would see it live. This production is safely on its journey to Legendary Status and we'll be yacking on about it for years to come and you don't want to be excluded from the chit-chat! |
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 3, 2019 11:23:16 GMT
Anyway, yes, with Jamie replacing Amy in this version Bobbie in a moment of I guess quiet/sad reflection just says 'let's get married' basically to 'get out of this' all the expectation etc of getting married the pressure to make it perfect that Jamie feels, the pressure to find some-body Bobbie feels etc. This is why it works so well in this version. In the old version it is taken that the marriage would be conventional as a last resort, but here with Jamie being gay it is about a "deal" just for friendship and companionship to get everyone off their backs. As a singleton many years ago I had this exact discussion with a friend (doesn't everyone??) although it never actually happened! |
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Feb 3, 2019 12:32:19 GMT
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Post by ruby on Feb 3, 2019 12:32:19 GMT
Was the cinema screening a valid rumour, or do I have to get my act together to see this before it closes? Just a rumour (hope, desire and wish). If you can I would see it live. This production is safely on its journey to Legendary Status and we'll be yacking on about it for years to come and you don't want to be excluded from the chit-chat! True, thank you! |
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Post by theatrelover123 on Feb 3, 2019 12:44:11 GMT
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