Flowers for Algernon

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:16am

We're doing this play in the fall. Know much about it? I know the basic story line, but thats pretty much it.

[charliebrownkid]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:18am

i did the play... email me w/ any questions...

[dietcherryemma]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:22am

Flowers is a great show- as long as you have a good Charlie. A wrong choice for Charlie could ruin the whole show, in my opinion, since the subject matter is so tense and fragile to begin with. If the actor who plays Charlie is bad, he may seem like he's making fun of people with mental illnesses, which is awkward for everyone. Other than that it's great. I think the best female role is the mother- there's a great scene with the Mother, the sister, and Charlie when she pulls a bread-knife on him- anyways, I like it.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:23am

There is a movie version called "Charly", for which Cliff Robertson won a Best Actor oscar.

Good play if I remember correctly. You'll need a very mature leading male actor to pull off Charly-- a retarded man, on whom some kind of experiments are performed. He gradually changes, or matures (I don't know if that would be the PC way of saying it, but "retarded" isn't PC either so whatever) and then ends up as he started.

EDIT: Yes, "mentally ill" was the term I was looking for. Updated On: 6/30/05 at 01:23 AM

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:25am

yeah...we have one person who could play him...unless we get amazing freshmen. But the guy we have now would definitely be good.

[alterego]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 7:42am

Flowers for Algernon was also turned into a musical in the late 1970's in London and the star was Michael Crawford. There was a short lived Broadway version as well which, I think had a different name.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 8:18am

The flop Broadway version was called Charlie and Algernon. It starred P.J. Benjamin. Music was by Charles Strouse (BYE BYE BIRDIE, ANNIE).

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 8:35am

My advice: first, and foremost, read the book.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 10:12am

Do the musical! I have the cast recording with Crawford. It's pretty bad, but there are a few nice songs.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:05pm

The best advice I could give you is to read the original work, it is an amzing story and very touching as well.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:22pm

The book is great, very touching. I'm sure the play is great as well.

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:24pm

thanks everyone. I'll try and read the book

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:43pm

That's right, in eight grade I read the book not the play. Yes I agree, read the book, it's well worth it.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:48pm

The book is one of my all-time favorites! But I agree with mentioned posters, if you don't have a good Charlie, the show could easily go down the toilet. I think it's like Fiddler without a good Tevye.