Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help 'Drowsy'- Page 2
Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help 'Drowsy'
#26re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:19pm
Capn. You're so sweet. I just want to make sure you aren't saying that there really was a musical in the 20's called "The Drowsy Chaperone". You know it's an invention of the authors--right?
xx
And Cole Porter is probably turning over in his grave... :)
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
#27re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:19pmAtleast the score wasn't some throw away pop **** like other shows this season.
#28re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:21pmTomMonster, hahaha thanks. I know. I was giving a "what if" situation. The "what if" being "what if today's The Drowsy Chaperone was yesterday's Anything Goes and yesterday's Anything Goes was today's The Drowsy Chaperone"?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#29re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:28pm
Capn, you should become a lawyer or worse a politician. It sounds good, but I still have no idea what you are saying! :)
Just kidding, I think I have a clue...
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
#30re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:28pm
But "The Drowsy Chaperone" isn't supposed to be a show on the caliber of "Anything Goes." The latter is a classic American musical, and is still revived and produced on an ongoing basis. Even your most average theatre goer KNOWS this show.
The fictional "Drowsy" show is a forgotten musical. A guilty pleasure for Man In Chair. It "didn't do all that well" (his words) in its day. But he loves it just the same. He celebrates its mediocrity, and that's why the score SUCCEEDS so well. It does EXACTLY what it set out to do. It entertains. It's just FUN, as he puts it. Nothing more. A show and a score that would have likely been forgotten.
And I think it's probably the best musical written and produced in the past 10-15 years.
Bar none.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 7/9/06 at 11:28 PM
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#31re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:32pm
best12bars,
I TOTALLY forgot about that.
Well then...nevermind my two pennies. The score functions perfectly.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#32re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:36pm
It's a way of life! It's a way of life! It's a way of life!
It's the way I'm gunna.. diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!
#33re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:42pm
You're not alone, Capn.
So many people (yourself included) want and wish that the score and the show-within-a-show were a brilliant piece of musical theatre. A true American classic. Genius pouring out over us like vintage 1920s champagne.
But who needs Man In Chair to "introduce" us to a classic like Oklahoma! or Kiss Me Kate? That would be unnecessary and condescending. Even to your average audience.
The point of this musical is not how wonderful his show-within-a-show is. The point is to celebrate along with Man In Chair, just how wonderful the American Musical Theatre is.
Even a so-so musical like Drowsy can be celebrated and lift us up when we're "blue." We can thrill at his passion of falling in love with the art form. Faults and all.
I'm sorry that a small but continuously vocal group of people want a better score, and a better show-within-a-show. I feel badly that they are missing the point of this brilliant musical. I wish that someday they could see it for what it is, and celebrate that.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#34re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:42pm
I agree with you BestBar12. The score works perfectly. The fact that all of the songs fit so beautifully together in the finale, shows the skill of the writers. It's silly, yet profound. Best show in years...
Long live the Man in the Chair in all of us!
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#35re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:44pm
I just can't take someone who loved Bombay Dreams and hated Drowsy Chaperone seriously.
Same goes for the person who has a Brooklyn avatar and signature and then talks about how a fresh, clever, touching show was a waste of money.
Am I supposed to take it seriously? I just can't.
#36re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:47pm
respeck, you are WAY off key..
And yes, I still hate Drowsy :)
#37re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:48pmPerhaps then, best12bars, the fault of the show is its book. If everyone seems to be missing the point...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#38re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:48pmWell I've been told I have near perfect pitch.
#39re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:53pm
Well respeck.. Hate to bust your bubble but it sounds like your mother lied 
#40re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:58pmDon't make me start belting the Unfinished Lullaby!!
#41re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:01am
I don't know, Capn. How many times do you want Man In Chair to tell you that this show "didn't do all that well in its day?" He says it's been "forgotten," and that it's "just fun, nothing more." I can't see him saying it with any more volume or repetition than that. It's all there, quite clearly in the book. But it isn't going to matter, if that's not what you came to the theatre to see that night. You didn't come in with an open mind. You came in expecting the "vintage like" songs and musical numbers to be experienced in a preconceived way. You weren't expecting to sit back and watch someone on stage lead you through a mediocre musical.
I think there are certain members of any audience who "turn a deaf ear" to the book of a musical. The dialogue in any show is nothing more than extended "blah, blah, blah" before we get to the next musical number. Because the moment a conductor's baton is raised, THAT's when we'll wake up and focus on what's going on in front of us.
I understand that. I was raised on a very wise phrase, when talking about musicals and art in general. It was this: "Always know that half your audience is deaf, and half your audience is blind." This isn't to be taken literally, by any means, but there is a lot of truth to it. People come in with personal "filters" on to certain aspects of art. Some can only hear, others can only see. You will never please all audiences if you know this. They aren't processing all of the information. They latch onto what is important to them, and what stirs emotional responses in them, and that is what they experience.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 7/10/06 at 12:01 AM
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#42re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:08amall i can add is that my GRANDparents went to this show a couple weeks ago and loved it, but it isn't my cup of tea. my grandpa felt it was more reminiscent of shows that he likes, "not like the shreech owls at wicked", lol, he couldn't get out of the gershwin fast enough.
#43re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:11am
Actually, quite the opposite. I didn't know what DROWSY was about nor have I heard any of its music.
Right now, what I remember the most from the show was all the musical numbers and that my favorite part was Bob Martin's final monologue in the end with the montage of songs and he flies away on the plane. That's it.
The show within the show overpowers any "love for an imperfect show" message.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#44re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:26am
remember how The Man In The Chair repeatedly apologizes for the spit-take scene...which he says was played out even when the show originally ran!
& during THE BRIDES LAMENT: "try not to listen to the words!"
he presents THE DROWSY CHAPERONE as an underdog, his whole set up is to justify his love for it, even tho he's well aware its not "the best".
i know i have many things like that in my own life...secret nerdy pleasures that i would love to share. i think part of the triumph of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is that by the end, we the audience have some kind of understanding (& respect) for his secret nerdy pleasure...& maybe it makes us feel less ashamed of our own!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#45re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 1:46am
It's no secret that I am a crazy-huge fan of DROWSY, ever since the first preview on L.A. And I really don't need much of an excuse to heap my praise on Bob Martin & Company. HOWEVER, I shall refrain from all that and state this:
Why on earth would one post reviews from last April, May and November '05 as a new topic? Go figure!
Updated On: 7/10/06 at 01:46 AM
#46re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 1:58am
Singingbackup,
How has the show changed since its first preview in LA?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#47re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 3:03amMy thoughts exactly! Those reviews are old news! Why are we starting a new discussion more than two months after they were published?
#48re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 3:57am
Did you see who posted the first message in this thread?
That should pretty much explain it.
#49re: Even a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help
Posted: 7/10/06 at 8:27am
damn right kung,
Attend the tale of Bovine Boy
His party threads we all enjoy
But does he have Mad Cow Disease?
He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!!
With cocoa!?!
And lemonade!?!
The heifer-mad poster of Broadway
(World)
Videos