Floyd Collins the "daring musical of our day"?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 1:22pm

I never had the opportunity to see the original run, as I was still living in Cali at the time, and I did not discover this show until about 2003. Did have the opportunity to eventually catch a regional production. The cast recording was this morning's wake-up album for me, and it had me thinking about the show. I see it only ran for 25 performances and, yet, the reviews are very positive with John Simon drooling over it. "the original and daring musical of our day."

Can anyone shed light on what happened? Did it just completely bomb with audiences or what? I thought it was a bit obscure but, overall, beautifully written.


Updated On: 7/8/13 at 01:22 PM

[indytallguy]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 1:26pm

I can't speak to the NYC production, but I saw it at the Goodman in Chicago and subsequently in regional theatre. I love the show and think it has some gorgeous songs. The closing image of Floyd walking off into the distance with his voice echoing around him brought chills.

That said, it's a plotline that many might not find at all interesting. I'd love to see it revived Off-Broadway though.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 1:44pm

Floyd Collins was a limited run at Playwrights Horizon, hence the abbreviated run.

It has had quite a life post-New York and could well get a subsequent production in town. It is a tough sell however. The subject is downbeat.

I saw a lovely production at the Shaw Festival about 6 years ago. It was done so well that I had the chance to see it again 3 days later and did so. I rarely if ever do that.

When the house manager heard Friday night that I had also seen the show on the prior Tuesday, she re-sat me in a much better seat. They were that impressed that someone would willingly do this. Nice people at the Shaw.

Posted: 7/8/13 at 2:42pm

I saw the Goodman production too. He was eaten by crickets. You cannot have a musical where the ending is the hero getting eaten by cricket.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 3:27pm

"How Glory Goes" is such a good song. They're doing a production in La Mirada in the spring, and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 7:48pm

I also saw the production at the Vault. I'd seen the original Playwrights Horizons version as well. I did not like it. Either age, the production or the venue let me enjoy it more on the London fringe.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 9:22pm

I remember Sondheim really loving it.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 11:18pm

Saw the original production and remember the first act especially was engrossing. I agree that the score and the original performers were glorious. But, man, did they set themselves a tough nut to crack by keeping Floyd in that spot for most of the show. To make a musical about claustrophobia (and other things) has got to be one of the steepest challenges ever put on the musical stage.

Did they succeed? Only partially for me. Like Floyd, I was waiting for those few moments when the character could figuratively run free to truly relax and enjoy the evening. If that was the point, is that worth watching a show for?

(Curious why Headband started this new thread when he/she posted a bunch on a similar thread back in May '13.)

[jdrye222]

Posted: 7/9/13 at 12:46am

I loved FLOYD COLLINS, and I think it is one of the great crimes of the musical theater that Christopher Innvar never became a star because of it. To see him do that tiny role in PORGY AND BESS (brilliant though he was, and I'm sure he loved the paycheck) was a little depressing. He's a great performer.

This thread has reminded me that it has already been almost 8 years since LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (one of my favorite shows of all time)!!! I can't believe it. Time goes very very quickly.