Is Caroline, or Change sung-through?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 6:53pm

I was listening to the recording today (which, by the way, is as amazing each time I listen to it) and I got to wondering if there is any dialogue in the show. Tony Kushner is credited with lyrics and book, but the recording doesn't seem to have any breaks in it. For those lucky people who have seen the show, can you clear this up for me?

[fade2black2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 7:04pm

There is dialog in the show. If it EVER is revived again, it is a MUST see!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 7:51pm

99% of the show is on the CD. The show pretty much is completely sung through.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 8:06pm

That's what it sounded like to me, but I always wondered. Larson is also credited with a book for RENT, and there clearly isn't a book for that, either.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 8:26pm

Well, there's more spoken passages and narration in Rent than there is in Caroline, or Change.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 8:40pm

A musical's book is not just spoken dialogue. Sung-through shows have books as do operas and ballets.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 8:47pm

^

That's just something people say now to justify Cats winning a best book Tony award.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 8:50pm

What more to a book is there than dialogue or monologue? I suppose if there's two lines of dialogue, there's dialogue, but not really enough to justify calling it a "book".

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 9:17pm

It's not A book, it's THE book. Its the story line -- regardless of how it is told. When someone says the book is weak, that does not necessarily mean the dialogue is bad, but the story itself is.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 9:22pm

The book is the show's structural narrative. Les Miserables, Falsettos and Evita also have books. A bookless show would be a show completely devoid of a narrative thread, usually revues.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 9:36pm

Wow, I never thought of it that way. (And I feel stupid...ha).

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 9:50pm

A bookless show would be a show completely devoid of a narrative thread

Like Cats?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:02pm

Cats will always be the subject of endless debate. Apparently, the Tony voters that year thought it not only had a book, but the best book of the season. I think there is something of a narrative thread, but it's very slight. A Doll's Life, Merlin and My One and Only were the other nominees that season.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:03pm

^

Apparently not according to the Tony voters.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:06pm

I love answering questions about this show. Caroline never got the love, acknowledgement, or attention it deserved.

Any minimal dialogue is used basically as a pause between songs. The music tells the entire story and tells it well.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:16pm

I am one of those that missed the boat on seeing this show. In fact, I'm ashamed to say, that I was barely cognizant of its existance.

But based on the comments here, I'm currently downloading it to my iPhone. Can't wait to hear it!