Anyone know why "Marty" (with John C. Reilly) never made it to B'way?

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 10:13am

The Witches of Eastwick thread reminded me of this fun show (based on the movie with Ernest Borgnine) that played for 5 weeks at the Huntington, back in 2002. It did well, and was "headed to Broadway", but never made it.

Anyone know why it never made it to NYC or if it was ever staged again?

[newintown]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 12:29pm

I remember it had one of those "we're definitely coming to Broadway next season" releases that we've seen from every show that's ever received a good review (eg. Yank!).

The tale I heard from an actor who was in several workshops, tryouts, and at least one out of town production was that the show is, like the film, a quiet little melancholy piece. These characters are all rather inhibited and beaten down by life - why would they sing?

But clearly, the reason it didn't come in was (like Witches) simply because the producers (one of whom was the guy who got fired from playing Frank in the original Merrily We Roll Along during previews) didn't know how to schmooze the angels.
Marty is coming to Broadway! (Or is it?)

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 1:50pm

"The tale I heard from an actor who was in several workshops, tryouts, and at least one out of town production was that the show is, like the film, a quiet little melancholy piece. These characters are all rather inhibited and beaten down by life - why would they sing?

But clearly, the reason it didn't come in was (like Witches) simply because the producers (one of whom was the guy who got fired from playing Frank in the original Merrily We Roll Along during previews) didn't know how to schmooze the angels."

Good answer, especially the second part, as we all recall beaten down characters in many musicals.

Too bad, it was a very sweet piece. Not earthshaking or important, but a good night out. Surprised it hasn't hit schools or regionals.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 2:20pm

It's a very tough question and one on which few people will agree - what makes a character sing? (or dance?)

Some writers think any character or situation is apt for musicalizing, and so we get odd little shows like The Adding Machine or Dessa Rose, which may have a few hundred rabidly vocal supporters, but which leave most audiences bored or confused, or a combination of the two.

"Marty," as a narrative, is essentially (I believe) a story about people who repress their songs. There may be an effective way to bring those songs out of them, perhaps, but I think that the characters are more interesting and touching when they don't sing - just like that beautiful wordless seduction scene in the movie "Summer of 42," which, in the utterly inert musical by Hunter Foster and David Kirshenbaum, was diminished to the nth degree by the addition of banal and unnecessary words and music.

[Overkill]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 4:02pm

This is the first I've ever heard of this show, let alone production! Seems very interesting. If anyone knows of any recordings, PM me!

Off topic, but I loved the quote from John in the article stating that he learned to be an actor by doing musicals. I've always loved him and wished he would do more stage work. With Amy Adams as The Baker's Wife, he'd be a great Baker.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 6:10pm

Great topic of discussion--the whole "does it sing?" question. As much as I love musicals, some stories, when acted out, simply work better without music. I mean can you imagine Angela's Ashes: The Musical?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/3/12 at 6:50pm

That's how I feel about a lot of new musicals or maybe more apt: Would they sing that song?

Like Wednesday Adams having that uptempo pop song in "The Adams Family." She, like the rest of them, is obsessed with death and the morbid, so why would she sing some Selena Gomez rip-off song? It just isn't true to the character.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 10:11am

"This is the first I've ever heard of this show, let alone production! Seems very interesting. If anyone knows of any recordings, PM me!"

We saw it twice, including closing night. Was waay before I had a phone capable of recording anything, not that I would have done something like that. "Saturday Night Girl" was probably the best song of the show. Good luck finding any recordings!

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 10:27am

It's not like Spring Awakening had big bold brassy numbers - and those characters were all repressed.
I haven't seen the Marty musical but there are moments for songs. For example, I would posit these

- the initial opening of "Whadaya wanna do tonite, Marty - I don't know, whatday wanna do tonite?" could be a refrain with the inner thought song of "what am I going to do? With today, with my life?" It's a perfect "I Want" song. It's sort of like "Scrap" in "Full Monty"

The dance they go to can have a production number with the guys being wallflowers - and a contrasting song about having fun and life full of possibilities and joy - where the boys are not singing.

There must be a place for Marty's mom to sing about him getting out and on with life.

And there could be a fun humorous number at the butcher shop that has nothing to do with the plot.

I forget the "dog's" name - but she can have a ballad/I Want song about wanting to be "pretty".

The ending is set up for a "Being Alive" song with Marty declaiming how he's going to call up that "dog".

[newintown]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 10:37am

You may have a point, but you cite two shows that I think are musicalized extremely poorly. They have their fans, but what doesn't? Fans alone can't be taken as proof of quality.

And, to be honest, all those proposed songs sound as awkward and clichéd as the entire score of the above referenced simply awful Summer of 42.

Updated On: 4/4/12 at 10:37 AM

[johnpressman]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 3:04pm

"Marty" is my favorite film and I wish I could have attended one of the workshops of the musical. I DID see "A Catered Affair" at the Globe in San Diego prior to its Broadway run and wonder if this Paddy Chayefsky written vehicle was some sort of a substitute for "Marty".

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/4/12 at 6:17pm

The FULL MONTY is a favorite film, but I really dislike the musical.