1980 - Charlie and Algernon

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 10:36pm

I'm curious about this flop based on "Flowers for Algernon" that ran less than 20 performances.

Did anyone see it when it was on Broadway? If so, what went wrong with it?

[alterego]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:45am

I don't know much about the Broadway production, but it was called FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON in the West End and starred Michael Crawford. It was a mild success there prior to the Broadway production (Crawford didn't do the Broadway version).

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:08am

I believe PJ Benjamin starred in it on Broadway and it ran a meager 2 weeks at the Hellen Hayes

[jv92]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:11am

Sad it was such a lousy show, because the novella was excellent, as was the film with Cliff Gordon.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:49am

Love the novel. Hated the original film "Charly", liked the TV Remake better (Mildly more faithful). The musical was...interesting. I have the Michael Crawford CD somewhere.

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:04am

We actually did the show here in St. Louis with a community theatre group. It is an interesting show. THe music isn't the greatest there are a few songs I loved, but they just aren't rememberable, and the script wasn't great from what I remember about it. ANd having to train the damn mouse....

[yankee_fan907]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:06am

"We actually did the show"

If there are so many problems with the show, then why was it chosen?

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:11am

My friend who ran this theatre company loved to do all the obscur plays that no one ever did, like Flowers for Algernon, Utter Glory of Morrisey Hall, Yours, Anne, Half a Sixpence. At the time we did Flowers, we were trying to promote a readers series, and found high schools or middle schools that were reading that book for class and did productions during the school day so they could come see the show, and maybe understand the book that they were reading better, if it was presented in a different way

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:37pm

I'm surprised this was musicalized. I'm reading it again for school, but it just seems so impossible to musicalize. I'd be very interested in hearing the music from it.

[Cyndy]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:52pm

The OLCR is available at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Algernon-1979-Original-London/dp/B000004CO3

[Jon]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:49am

It's a terrible score. Strouse tried for a modern "scientific" sound, with lots of synthesizers making "beep-bop-boop" noises.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:29pm

Which is weird because for half the show the protagonist mentally retarded. If he wanted to make Charlie look smart, he could have written character numbers without the synth.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:34pm

I've read the story and saw the TV movie. I remember liking the story, but I don't think I would want to see this as a musical.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 11:12pm

It's a really great short story. Avoid the musical by all means.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 7:02am

I vaguely remember the critics pointing out, in derision, a dance number for charley and the mouse. Yikes.

In a weird kind of way, it could work, much like Kopit's "Wings" (I've heard there's a musical version of this either in the works or attempted and discarded?), but it wouldnt be Broadway fare by any stretch. Itd have to be small-scaled and very character-focused, and your typical Broadway patron isnt about to sit still long enough for that.

[mallardo]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 9:46am

The movie, "Charlie" starred Cliff Robertson - he won an Oscar for it.

[elmore3003]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 10:26am

I saw the show. PJ Benjamin worked his ass off, but the material was poor. He had this number with the rat (mouse?) which the audience couldn't see, and the number was essentially about a man waving his arms. My memory is that the score and casting could have been a lot better. I couldn't wait to leave the theatre.