Not at all, q. I think we were just using different meanings of the word and I was curious. I'm not really a fan of broad comedy but FORUM wins me over with the brilliant timing of its libretto. I'm glad to hear that was intact.
"P.S. to wonkit: since you don't like FORUM, you probably haven't seen a good production. It's pretty irresistible, even to those of us who don't generally like low comedy."
I know at least one person on here who disagrees (hint: his name is a type of chocolate).
But I completely agree. I admit, I never apreciated it, until I played Miles in a high school production (a role I ended up playing twice more--both times replacement for sick cast members, and someone involved knew I knew the role--and while I don't have a huge stage history, I've never had as much fun). But I had also never seen it (except for the bloated film--which does have a few funny bits). For what it is, I really think it's pretty flawless (yes the book steals the show, so to speak, but the songs are great, as well).
I would sayit's a hard show to **** up, but I used to feel that way about Guys and Dolls too, until I saw a row of bad productions... Of the two pro productions I saw, one was very good (the weak link was Miles--but maybe I was biased as I had just played the role), and the other, at Regent's Park 12 or so years back in London, was brilliant, filled with classic, older London actors (their Pseudoles must have been in his 60s as well).
And I'm not a fan of broad, or physical, or vaudeville style comedy, in general, either.
Oh, I do disike Tunick's orchestrations for the revival. They're by no means bad, but I sorta just loved the low comedy sound that the original violin-less orchestrations had.
I definitely agree that the book steals the show. A big deal is made that Sondheim's contribution to the show was kind of ignored at the time, and I think I can see why. Although a few of the songs are funny (e.g. "Impossible" - which seems a bit like a precursor to "It would have been Wonderful" in NIGHT MUSIC), I don't find many of the lyrics in the other songs particularly funny (e.g. "Lovely"), at least in comparison to how humour is dong in songs today (E.g. THE BOOK OF MORMON, AVENUE Q). I don't know, I kind of felt the score felt disconnected from the hilarity of the book......
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
Q, as Sondheim always says, his songs actually serve as a break, or respite, from the action in Forum--the opposite of the R&H integrated musical form. And I think that's largely really true. There are some really clever lyrics, like Free (please tell me they kept Pretty little Picture, unlike the last Broadway revival), but unlike the libretto, none of them are really laugh out loud.
Most of the best songs are funny, due to the situation more than the song itself, IMHO. I loved playing Miles, particularly in one production, because it always got a great reaction but that was due at least as much to how it was staged (one thing that's annoying about the role is you have to be there for Comedy Tonight, and then have nothing to do for over an hour...)
The justly famous opening; "Love, I Hear" "Lovely" ("Lovely is the one thing I can do.") "Bring Me My Bride" ("I am a parade.") "Impossible", and "Dirty Old Man of Mine"
And "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" ends with me laughing out loud despite my better judgment.
It's true the lyrics aren't brilliantly clever like those in FOLLIES or NIGHT MUSIC, but if they were, the style of humor would clash with the book. I think Sondheim's work is very underrated; it's true that FORUM isn't a score I listen to on its own like I do with his later shows, but in the show, I think it's actually rather brilliant.
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And of course people are entitled to dislike the show, just as they have every right to dislike any show. What I really meant is that *I* find FORUM has a way of sneaking up on one, even someone like me who isn't a fan of antique comedy.
Is someone who has seen the show able to post of photo of the title page? I'm curious to see who all the producers are and the designers, etc. Thanks!!
"It's true the lyrics aren't brilliantly clever like those in FOLLIES or NIGHT MUSIC, but if they were, the style of humor would clash with the book. I think Sondheim's work is very underrated; it's true that FORUM isn't a score I listen to on its own like I do with his later shows, but in the show, I think it's actually rather brilliant. "
Well said, and I absolutely agree. Actually, being Miles I never really appreciated the Funeral Song till I performed it--that one kinda surprised me. Of course it's very very abbreviated on the OBCR (from what I remember).
The audience absolutely loves her, so it doesn't matter. But she is easily the least professional performer on stage. In both performances I saw she would not be able to help herself from laughing on stage, and she would go over the top ad libbing when she'd make mistakes - which the audience adored. She also couldn't sing her song very well.
I don't know, I suppose I enjoyed those parts too, and it is 'low comedy' not DEATH OF A SALESMAN so it doesn't really matter.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
qolbinau, oh, I think it matters. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.
What I meant to say was that not even Milton Berle's antics could destroy the show because the book and score are so strong. I didn't mean to imply that everything Berle did was justified, not by any means. (The jokes about Joe's Crab Shack did nothing for me.)
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