B-way PUTTING IT TOGETHER

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 12:32am

Am I the only one who liked the Broadway production of PUTTING IT TOGETHER? I must say, that I liked it better than the Manhattan Theatre Club version and all the little bits and pieces ad-libbed by the performers were just great. The revisions are perfect. The inclusion of "More", "The Ladies Who Lunch", "There's Always A Woman" and "Unworthy of Your Love" are top notch. It's definitely a sophisticated evening of theatre. Granted because it really is a revuesical it's only for hard-core Sondheim fans, but I liked it! Anybody else like it? Why did they not record a CD? It would have been the quintessential Sondheim collection. It makes me mad. The DVD is great and all, but sometimes I'm in the car and I want to listen to it, and I can't! It's a travesty.... Updated On: 4/5/04 at 12:32 AM

[jcr279]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 1:49am

I have 2 things to say here.....First of all I love that production. I agree about wishing they had done a cast recording so I just fixed up one for myself:) I have the DVD so I just "ripped" the soundtrack from it and I now have a wonderful sounding cast recording on 2 compact discs!!

I also have great news:) I just got cast in this show!! I am playing the Younger Man and I'm soooo excited. For those who have seen the DVD I am playing the role that John Barrowman played in the Broadway production. I can't wait to start rehearsals.....I get to sing some wonderful songs. I have always wanted to sing "Marry Me A Little" and "Unworthy Of Your Love" as well as all the others. Anyone that wants to come to Florida and see me is welcome!! Sorry for rambling but I wanted to share my good news.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:45am

jcr, unless your director adds it, you won't get to sing "Unworthy of Your Love" (with the darling, darling revisions, instead of Jodi, Jodi...) because it wasn't in the MTC version which is the version currently being licensed by MTI.

Meanwhile, back at the cocktail party, this brings up another question that I have. Is MTI gonna release the rights for the Broadway version or are directors gonna have to get the sheet music and put the others songs in the show, and make the changes themselves? Yes, I know it's illegal, but c'mon people it still happens.... Updated On: 4/5/04 at 02:45 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 3:35am

By the way for anyone who is not familiar, this is the song list for the MTC version...

ACT ONE
Invocation And Instructions To The Audience
Putting It Together
Rich And Happy
Merrily We Roll Along
Lovely
Everybody Ought To Have A Maid
Sooner Or Later/I'm Calm/Impossible/Ah, But Underneath
Hello, Little Girl
My Husband The Pig
Every Day A Little Death
Have I Got A Girl For You
Pretty Women
Now/Bang!
Country House
Could I Leave You?

ACT TWO
Back In Business
Rich And Happy (reprise)
Love Takes Time/Remember?/In Praise Of Women/Perpetual Anticipation/The Sun Won't Set
What Would We Do Without You?
Gun Song
The Miller's Son
Live Alone And Like It
Sorry-Grateful
Sweet Polly Plunkett
I Could Drive A Person Crazy
Marry Me A Little
Getting Married Today
Being Alive
Like It Was
Old Friends

The Broadway version was vastly different. The following numbers were not included: Sooner Or Later/I'm Calm/Impossible/Ah, But Underneath, Now, Rich And Happy (reprise), Love Takes Time/Remember?/In Praise Of Women/Perpetual Anticipation/The Sun Won't Set, What Would We Do Without You?, Gun Song, The Miller's Son, Sorry-Grateful, Sweet Polly Plunkett & I Could Drive A Person Crazy

It did, however, include Do I Hear a Waltz, an extended version of Lovely for Carol, a gender bent Everybody Ought to Have A Maid, a solo Sooner or Later, Unworthy of Your Love, a reprised act one finale of Rich and Happy, an Entr'acte (You Could Drive A Person Crazy), It's Hot in Here, The Ladies Who Lunch, The Road You Didn't Take, More, There's Always A Woman, Buddy's Blues, We Had A Good Thing Going and Bow music (Back in Business) Phew! I think that's everything. Both versions should definitely be offered!!! Updated On: 4/5/04 at 03:35 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 9:22am

I didn't see the B'way production because I didn't want to spoil my memories of the Manhattan Theatre club version - I just didnt' want to see Carol Burnett (who I dearly love) in the role that Julie Andrews was so good in. I'm sure it was a great production though.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 12:39pm

Well, now that the DVD is available I think you should take a look at it. I don't think the Broadway version can really spoil any memories of the MTC version because they are so different it's almost like watching two completely different shows. Plus, Ruthie Henshall, John Barrowman, George Hearn, Bronson Pinchotand and Carol Burnett! They're all just amazing and it comes across on film. Of course, the real star of the show is Stephen Sondheim. Plus the DVD has the "on-stage" blooper with Carol that is just HILARIOUS! Worth the price alone. And the sets, lighting, projections...it all just gels together very interestingly. It's a class evening. Provided that you can keep your clothes ON.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 12:41pm

Message from MTI...


Greetings:



Thank you for your email.



The absence of a particular song, lyric, arrangement, etc. or placement/order of such material in the work is often different from recording to recording and from London to Broadway to National Touring Company production. Simply put, the author(s) provide MTI with the materials the way they wish the title to be performed in the professional/stock/amateur realm. It is not left up to the whim of the creative-types here at MTI.



If there is a major revival with changes from the original production – for example the recent revival of DAMN YANKEES with Jerry Lewis or the touring company of JOSEPH... with the famous ‘megamix,’ which you remember from attending a performance or hear reflected in a ‘new’ cast recording -- and those changes are not reflected in the MTI materials, it is because the author (for whatever reason) has chosen NOT to make those materials available to subsequent productions. The same is true for cast recordings which may have strings or brass (not synthesized) on the recording yet no MTI orchestrations for those instruments exist. MTI does not have separate materials sitting around in our library which we keep from organizations unless they ask for them!



The author’s wishes are paramount. It is the author’s work to make (or not make) available. Such is the case of your example PUTTING IT TOGETHER. No, it the revival version has not been made available by the authors nor or there currents plans (to our knowledge) to do so.



You are reminded that the Production Contract/License specifically prohibits any and all changes, additions, deletions, etc. to the material. The title must be performed as the author intended, or you risk termination of the License.



Should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.



Regards,

Michael McDonough

Music Theatre International

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 1:57pm

Cats - I THINK I can keep my clothes on - unless I am watching it with my boyfriend and he gets randy...LOL...I will have to get it on your recommendation (when I have some cash to spare) and see for myself!...thanks!

[tpdc]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:05pm

I saw both the MTC and Broadway versions of PUTTING IT TOGETHER. I also preferred the Broadway version though I think Julie Andrews fit the material better than Burnett. The DVD version is very enjoyable. Here in DC, Signature did the show and did the Broadway script but perhaps that was because Eric Schaeffer directed both productions.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:19pm

did they use the same awesome sets and all? Was it before or after the actual Broadway mounting?

[tpdc]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 2:25pm

This was after the Broadway production. Sadly, they did not use the Broadway set or even a suggestion of it. The set was very uninspired at Signature.

Posted: 9/21/04 at 10:13pm

I absolutely ADORE this production! I haven't seen Julie Andrew's P.I.T. but I really like what this Bway cast did with it. I had never been a fan of Ruthie Henshall before but found her quite good and really fun to watch. I watched it 4ish times in the past 2 days. i'm now addicted and will soon be buying it on DVD. :)

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/21/04 at 10:26pm

Only saw P.I.T. on Broadway and saw it the night after Minnelli on Minnelli so I thought it was brilliant.
DVD is good.
Do wish I had seen Andrews though.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 9/21/04 at 10:30pm

The best thing about this production for me, was the ability to have heard all those great Sondheim songs. But I found the chemistry between the cast members to be a bit lacking. Which I only overlooked, to have been able to hear John Barrowman, Ruthie Henshall, George Hearn and Carol Burnett sing Sondheim...

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/21/04 at 10:34pm

Chemistry was incredible the night I saw it.

While they were all standing facing upstage singing solos, Barrowman sneezed (and tried to keep it together.) When it was Ruthie's turn to face him and sing, she started with a sneeze which cracked the rest of the cast up. They never really got it back together after that. Carol almost fell to the floor laughing. FUN!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 9/21/04 at 10:40pm

Broadway Mounting is such a twisted phrase...

[bythesword84]

Posted: 9/21/04 at 10:43pm

I saw it on Broadway twice and loved every minute of it both times.

[jmnpublications]

Posted: 9/21/04 at 11:47pm

I have seen the DVD of the Broadway version, and I own the CD of the MTC version. I like them both, even though they are very different. I prefer Julie Andrews' singing to Carol Burnett's (that sort of goes without saying!), but Carol's comedy is terrific. Julie's patently dry wit is very entertaining, but Carol is outrageous. I much prefer John Barrowman on the DVD to Michael Rupert on the CD, and it's a toss up between Bronson Pinchot on the DVD and Christopher Durang on the CD. They are both really good - I was pleasantly surprised that each of them sings quite well. I find George Hearn too over-the-top for my tastes on the DVD. He sings as though his life depends on it. I much prefer Stephen Collins' more reserved approach to the material, even though his voice is the least solid of the performers on the CD. I think his chemistry with Julie is better than George's with Carol, too. The real difference that shifts the balance in favor of the CD for me, though, is Rachel York's presence. I just couldn't warm up to Ruthie Henshall on the DVD. In addition, Rachel's "The Miller's Son" is amazing. I don't understand why that song was not included in the Broadway production. There is also a wonderful duet between Rachel and Julie on the CD of "Every Day a Little Death," and I prefer Rachel's comedic version of "Lovely" to Ruthie's.

Bottom line, get both. And that DVD out-take (which I won't divulge) certainly is a classic!

lc

[rayoflight104]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:12pm

I just recently got to view the MTC production with Julie Andrews from the Lincoln Center Archives, and it was amazing... The songs fit Julie's voice way better than Carols... ( I love Carol, and i'm not bashing her) Carol put her own spin on the role and I each enjoyed watching both of their performances... I only wish they had videotaped Julie's version to be released on DVD...

[jmnpublications]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:56pm

Oh, I totally agree with you, rayoflight. I would love to be able to see the Julie Andrews version on DVD. Maybe on my next trip to NYC I'll check in with the Lincoln Center Archives. I'm not familiar with the process. Does it work like a public libray, or do you have to be a subscriber to enjoy the benefits?

lc