Colette/Colette Collage

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/29/12 at 12:18am

Caught this at MUFTI this afternoon and found the score very beautiful, but the book was crummy. There was no conflict! It reminded me a lot of A Doll's Life. Christine Andreas was strong, and certainly better in the second act than when she was playing a 17 year old in act one.

Did anyone see the Rigg version in the 80s? I would love to hear stories/thoughts about the production.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/29/12 at 1:45am

^

There was conflict, eg. between Colette and Willy.

Andreas was wonderful and wholly convincing as a 17 year old. Indeed, she was wonderful throughout.

The book contained some nicely-written scenes.

The score had some good songs. The main problem was they didn't either reflect or evoke the time or place.



Updated On: 4/29/12 at 01:45 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/29/12 at 8:41am

Andreas is in lovely voice, as always. Nearly forty years into her career, there's almost no wear and tear, and it's wonderful to be able to hear her in such a small space with minimal amplification.

I agree with the aforementioned comments about the book and the songs. I'm very glad it was presented, though. I've come to prefer Mufti to similar programs (like Encores), because they actually do keep to a mission of presenting work that isn't widely known or produced, thus affording audiences rare opportunities to see a piece like COLETTE COLLAGE--which will likely never receive a full production. I'll take that over a subpar revival of Merrily We Roll Along.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/29/12 at 9:51am

After Eight- Yes some minimal conflict between her and Willy, but the instant it started you knew she was going to break free of him and gain recognition as an author. Plus that plot is cleared up halfway through act one and Willy never reappears.

The conflict with the Nazis in act two was glossed over so quickly it was hard to even figure out how she got him released. In one scene she denies giving up her pearls because she doesn't want he to inform on others. I assumed that meant it was the end for him and the next time he appeared the lighting made it look like he was a ghost/vision in her mind.

A friend told me in the original Colette with Rigg the second husband, who was cut altogether in Collage, and Missy had large roles. I guess it's not interesting to bounce from affair to affair, but her life wasn't much more than that it seems.

The inherent problem is musicalizing a story about a writer. There's no way to show us what she wrote, which is presumably one of the most interesting things about her. If you write a musical about a painter or singer or composer at least you can incorporate their work into the show and show the audience why they're worthy of a show.

At first I was irritated that Colette spoke to the audience so much and was telling us what happened, rather than showing through action. A friend explained at intermission that in the original it was presented like Colette writing her memoirs and as she described the scene the set and characters sprung to life on stage. That is actually kind of cool, and understandly MUFTI could not do that, but the book doesn't function half as well without a big budget production to back this concept up.

AC- I have been a champion for a MUFTI, but lately the York has been going through a horrible slump. Colette Collage is the best thing they've done in a while and I hope they get back on track. There was a time when MUFTIs sold out every performance at full price. The quality has deteriorated and the audience has responded in kind. The blame must be placed at Jim Morgan's feet. Putting those painful speeches aside, he needs to select better choices, and there are still plenty of shows they haven't tackled, and the main stage programming needs an immediate overhaul. Falling For Eve, Tomorrow Morning and The Road to Qatar should be reason enough to scare anyone from purchasing another ticket to the York.

I'll continue to go and support them because I do love seeing stuff like Minnie's Boys, Grind, Colette, etc and I hope they return to their former glory soon.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 4/29/12 at 11:41am

I'm looking forward to Closer Than Ever. And I appreciated I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/29/12 at 1:01pm

Wow I actually agree with After8. Judging from the live recordings, there actually are a couple of well written scenes, and as you say, lovely music. But the scenes exist unto themselves, there's no overall compelling plot. It may be an issue with the subject in general--Colette's life is compelling as a series of episodes. I think the concept to have her talk to the audience while her work springs to life around her is appealing and I wonder why it was dropped from later versions.