Far From Heaven musical at Playwright Horizons

thoughts on this show? It looks like Far From Heaven is now available for amateur licensing through the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalog. http://www.rnh.com/show/343/Far-From-Heaven . If you click on "Upcoming" the University of Nebraska is performing it for their Spring 2017 Musical.

I was really excited for this 2 years ago but it seems like Kelli O'Hara did Bridges instead and this show died. Would love to see it on Broadway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLGGrQmUQ1c

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I didn't see it, but the OC recording has become one of my favorites. I actually like it even better than GREY GARDENS (which I love).

In another thread, some posters felt the score was too "jazz", but anyone who knows Bernstein's TROUBLE IN TAHITI and/or A QUIET PLACE will understand what the creators of FAR FROM HEAVEN were doing.

By the same token, if you don't like those Bernstein operas, FAR FROM HEAVEN may not be for you.

But it makes me a little sick to know I may never see a first-class production of the show.

The score has some beautiful music, but the show didn't work on stage. It didn't come close to achieving any of the visual or emotional depths of the film, and a lot of the music just seemed like filler. The costumes were great though -- although by the time I saw the production, O'Hara was noticeably pregnant, which added perhaps an unintended subtext.

I find the music to be good , but lacking. I find it too be too jazzy and overly stylized, problems I had with Grey Gardens before it(Although that show's music and story grew on me immensely and I like it quite a lot, much more then this show's score). The score has way too many filler numbers and even some of the bigger numbers could have been better. I would have preferred more of a legit sound to a lot of the score, especially in regards to Kelli's songs which didn't showcase her enough in my opinion although it was cool to hear more of a mix belt sound from her in some parts of the shows(Secrets, Tuesdays And Thursdays). In fact, an opera of this might have worked better. I also feel I would have preferred an older actor to play Raymond, Isaiah Johnson reads too young to me. I find the treatment of the material too predictable, but that's because of the nature of Musical Theatre: It's all about telling a story with music to audiences and that requirement makes the stunning, hypnotic power of the film impossible to recreate. The film is largely about what's beneath the surface which doesn't lend itself to the Musical Theatre format. And although Kelli does good work with what she has, it's nothing we haven't seen from her before, although that is more because of the nature of the material then her acting/vocal ability.

Slightly off-topic, but do you think someone will give the musical treatment to Carol (another Haynes period film) in the future? Would it work better than FFH?

I too liked this musical. My biggest disappointment with it was that it didn't capture the lushness of the movie. The sets were just too bare and dark.

I didn't love this show but agree that the songs were the best part and Kelli was amazing. There was a disconnect that I've never been able to define but it just didn't work for me. However, seeing Bridges made me realize how wonderful Pasquale is and I've become a huge fan of his as well.

I thought Anderson was wonderful in this and remember wanting to see more of her in it.

Add me to the list of liking the movie more. Stylistically it didn't work for me at all Playwrites. I remember Pasquale's drab raincoat. Maybe subconsciously I was looking for Sirk visuals. I also agree that I would have preferred an older actor to portray Raymond. Isaiah Johnson seemed too young to me as well.

I enjoy the cast recording especially on longer trips in the car.

Drove out to Harrisburg, Pa to see a production of this unloved beauty just a few weeks ago. Thank you Theatre Harrisburg.