Trivial Pursuit #71

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:22pm

When Jerome Robbins took the Direction of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM out of town, the first thing he did was have Stephen Sondheim replace the song that originaly opened FORUM with "Comedy Tonight."

Please tell us the name of the song that ORIGINALY opened A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY ON THE FORUM.


GOOD LUCK, Everybody!!!

[ckeaton]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:26pm

"Invocation to the Gods and Instructions to the Audience"

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:27pm

"Love Is The Air"

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:32pm

Mr. cketon, you are ONE STEP ahead of me!!!

Yes, it is true, the song you named WAS the first song Sonheim wrote for the opening number for FORUM, but it is my understanding that original FORUM Director George Abbott never used that number--instead, he had Sondheim write ANOTHER number to open the show--which was the song that Robbins had Sondheim replace with "Comedy Tonight."

THAT's the number I'm thinking of, ckeaton. You're SO VERY CLOSE--would you care to try again?

[magruder]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:32pm

WOSQ is correct. "Invocation" never made it to the stage. "Love Is In the Air" was the Washington opening number.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:35pm

DAMN.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:35pm

WOSQ--YOU GOT IT!!!

While cketon was on the right track with "Invocations", it was actually "Love Is In The Air" that opened FORUM until Robbins asked Sondheim write something more upbeat to open the show--and the end result was "Comedy Tonight."

CONGRATULATIONS, WOSQ--is this your introduction to the Winner's Circle?


Now for your bonus points: When WAS the deleted "Love Is In The Air" first heard on Broadway?

[magruder]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:36pm

In Side by Side by Sondheim!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:37pm

Damned if I know. Probably one of the revues.

Side by Side by Sondheim?

[magruder]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:38pm

Sorry, I'm wrong...it was heard in the Sondheim: A Musical Tribute concert onstage at the Shubert Theatre (aka, the "Scrabble Album").

Updated On: 3/1/05 at 03:38 PM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:47pm

Magruder and WOSQ--I think BOTH your answers are worthy of merit. "Love Is In The Air" was first heard on Broadway in SONDHEIM: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE in a one night concert on March 11, 1973.

However, the first musical with a regular run to feature "Love Is In The Air" was SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (1977-1978 ).

Well, looks like I have THREE winners today--WOSQ, Magruder, and an honorary nod to Ckeaton (for giving such a creative and informative answer.)


And the prize for all three of you?

We'll, you've just been sold into slavery in Ancient Rome, but don't worry, if you play your cards right (including impersonating The Master of a House of Courteseans and convincing a fellow slave to dress up in drag)--you may just have your freedom in only a few hours!!!


THANKS for playing, everyone!!!

Updated On: 3/1/05 at 03:47 PM

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:49pm

Does this mean I won't win a picture of Joseph Fiennes in his tighty whities?

Dang.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:50pm

"Love Is In The Air":

Love is in the air, quite clearly.
People everywhere act queerly.

Some are hasty, some are halting,
Some are simply somersaulting;
Love is going around.

Anyone exposed can catch it.
Keep your window closed and latch it.

Leave the house and lose your reason;
This is the contagious season.
Love is going around!

It's spreading each minute,
Throughout the whole vicinity.
Step out and you're in it.
With all the fun involved,
Who could stay uninvolved?

Love is in the air this morning.
Bachelors beware, fair warning.

If you start to feel a tingle,
And you like remaining single,

Stay home - don't take a breath;
You could catch your death.

'Cause love is around...
Love is around!

Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim


Copyright © ASCAP. All rights reserved.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:53pm

"Comedy Tonight":

Something familiar,
Something peculiar,
Something for everyone:
A comedy tonight!

Something appealing,
Something appalling,
Something for everyone:
A comedy tonight!

Nothing with kings,
Nothing with crowns;
Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns!

Old situations,
New complications,
Nothing portentous
Or polite;

Tragedy tomorrow,
Comedy tonight!

Something aesthetic,
Something frenetic,
Something for everyone:
A comedy tonight!

Something erratic,
Something dramatic,
Something for everyone:
A comedy tonight!

Nothing with gods,
Nothing with Fate.
Weighty affairs will just have to wait!

Nothing that's formal,
Nothing that's normal,
No recitations to recite!

Open up the curtain:


Something that's gaudy,
Something that's bawdy--
Something for everybawdy!

Frenzy and frolic,
Strictly symbolic,
Something for everyone:
A comedy tonight!

Nothing that's grim.
Nothing that's Greek!
She plays Medea later this week.

Stunning surprises!
Cunning disguises!
Hundreds of actors out of sight!

Pantaloons and tunics!
Courtesans and eunuchs!
Funerals and chases!
Baritones and basses!

Panderers!
Philanderers!
Cupidity!
Timidity!

Mistakes!
Fakes!
Rhymes!
Mimes!

Tumblers!
Grumblers!
Bumblers!
Fumblers!

No royal curse,
No Trojan horse,
And a happy ending, of course!

Goodness and badness,
Man in his madness:
This time it all turns out all right!
Tragedy tomorrow,
Comedy tonight!


Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim


Copyright © ASCAP. All rights reserved.

[magruder]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:57pm

How about Joseph Fiennes in a tight t-shirt?

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:59pm

MAN, magruder, maybe I should put YOU in charge of the Trivial Pursuit prizes...