Grey Gardens a Musical or a Play with music?- Page 2

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 1:11am

Well, of course, some adjustments would have to be made for the book songs, but as a whole, the book of GREY GARDENS plus a few alterations would make an equally amazing show. IMHO.

Goodnight!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 1:14am

If the songs in the show propel the plot forward, it is a musical, not a play with music.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 1:15am

American boy, I understand where you're coming from but Grey Gardens has always been about the music and performing arts starting from its beginnings as a documentary and workshops into a fully stage musical. I don't think the show would be as powerful and emotionally moving for its audiences if it hadn't been for the music.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 2:38am

I can only assume, but I assume that MLW was merely addressing the musical in the same tone that many have--it feels like a play with music. I think this is because the book is so strong and richly written unlike too many musicals these days. The piece feels so grounded as drama.

You don't have to agree with what I just said, but understand that there is possibly where the pov comes.

[LilBwayLady]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 2:44am

okay a play with music is a play that includes music that does relate to the play...has nothing to do with the story but adds a little something and is in the same era

like the show im in right now
Spoon River Anthology, is considered a play with music
because it has a bunch of folk music that does not relate to the play but comes from the same era.....
Grey Gardens and Spring Awakening music, if taken away, the story would be completly lost and make no sense at all.
there for classifying them as musicals

Updated On: 7/31/07 at 02:44 AM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 8:48am

I think Wilson called it a play with music (if she did at all) because it isn't the typical musical. It seems people refer to musicals as a "play with music" when there is much more character development and less flashy numbers.

CORAM BOY is another play with music.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 8:52am

Again, a play with music uses music to punctuate and comment on the action. A musical uses music in place of dialogue to further the action.

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:01am

A musical with strong dramatic content is still a musical, it just means its good. The idea all musicals are flashy and deviod of dramatic intent is a misconception. The two terms are technical, not comments on merit.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:54am

It's a musical.

I think americanboy was born in '99.

~Jacob.

[sondhead]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 11:29am

"A musical with strong dramatic content is still a musical, it just means its good. The idea all musicals are flashy and deviod of dramatic intent is a misconception. The two terms are technical, not comments on merit."

Finally the voice of reason.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 1:31pm

It's a musical. People are just confused because it's actually good.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 1:46pm

I think that's the point, Julian.

It's always surprising when a musical is good nowadays.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 2:58pm

BSoBW2- I think that Coram Boy is the perfect example of a Play with music.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:13pm

Musical.
And a sorely missed one at that.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:33pm

I think I know what they're driving at when they say, "It's a play with music."

I actually made a similar comment to my friends, the night I saw it on Broadway. I said, "This feels like a play with music, rather than a musical."

It was a compliment, actually, and I was even asked at the time what I meant by that.

The show focuses on the acting, and makes it the Number One priority above all else... and the "dialogue" whether sung in verse or spoken. It's not a "singer's show" (and certainly not a dancer's show). It's an ACTOR's show. It's clearly approached that way too, from the set design (that looks more like a play's design than a musical's), right down to the blocking and direction. It wasn't an accident, either, if everyone involved seemed to be creatively approaching it that way.

But I put in a few extra words in my comment, when I said it "feels like" a play with music, rather than a musical.

They said it WAS a play with music, rather than a musical, and that's not true technically.

By definition of genre and format, it's a musical.

But none of them envisioned it that way... and I think they were successful in their goal, since I clearly got what they were doing.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:37pm

Thank you, best12bars. My point exactly.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:56pm

Actually you said it was by definition a play with music because the focus was around the book.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:58pm

I explained myself. And that was not what I was meaning to say. It's a misconstrude subject, and finding the right words is hard.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 4:02pm

To me, GG is a musical.

How would you classify Jersey Boys?

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 4:06pm

Jersey Boys is a musical.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 4:09pm

Well, the music in JERSEY BOYS is a crucial part of the storytelling, and the story would not be able to be told without it.

So, JERSEY BOYS is, undoubtedly, a musical.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 7:14pm

It's a musical. People are just confused because the music is so forgettable.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 7:43pm

"Actually you said it was by definition a play with music because the focus was around the book."

No, I didn't. Re-read my post.

I said it FELT LIKE a play with music, when I was sitting in the audience. It left me with that impression, because they "approached" it that way creatively.

I didn't say it WAS a play with music.

It's not. It's a musical.

I can't be more clear than that.

...and Jersey Boys is a big, fat musical. It doesn't "feel" like a play with music at all.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 7:50pm

best, I think Tap was talking to americanboy

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 10:05pm

Ya, I was talking to Americanboy.