Falsettos Revival in 2016! — Page 3

The first part (March of the Falsettos) was about relationships. Finn was pushed to create an "ending" to that show and he wrote Falsettoland. However, Falsettoland became less about relationships and more about social issues.

Personally, I felt it continued the theme of relationships, redefining the dated concept of "family", and expanded on this with how social issues affected these relationships. To me, Falsettoland was never "about AIDS" (which is probably why I liked it for the reasons Namo didn't). There was a lot of material from the LGBT community covering that and though AIDS played a part in the show, I don't think it was intended to be THE centerpiece or a source of education on the subject. It was a catalyst to the plot and it played a major part in the lives of these people and their relationships to one another.

I think relationships are still very much the center of Falsettoland- there's actually very little critique about how the early days of HIV/AIDS were handled.

I agree. The stuff Goth mentioned is actually a small section in the show. Yes, the doctor is there to introduce the subject and convey the confusion and frustration in its early days, but it's not the only reason she exists. Otherwise, her girlfriend would not be in the show. It's another relationship linked to the central character of Marvin also affected by these events. I think Unlikely Lovers was a beautiful and poignant number that highlights the true intended theme of the show, further underlined by What Would I Do.

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Isn't the last image in the show literally Marvin surrounded by his friends and family?

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I would say Trina suffers a great deal in March of the Falsettos, even if she ends up marrying Mendel.

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Days Like This is quite literally showing the entire family coping with in their various ways. Holding to the Ground is Trina, "trying not to care about this man that Marvin loves. But that's my life...he shared my life." This is indeed affecting all of the characters. And I found a great deal to relate to in their plight, despite not having any gay family members or knowing anyone with AIDS.

Which out of all the great songs they could have pulled from In Trousers, they chose to have her sing the insipid "I'm Breaking Down" while holding a banana to represent a limp penis.

From the 1985 revision of In Trousers, but yes. It worked brilliantly. I can't think of another number from In Trousers for Trina that would have better defined her character without being redundant or bogging down the first act.

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