Is Cyrano musical-izable?

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:59am

I have THREE versions of Cyrano on CD. I saw a fourth one years back on Broadway with Bill van Djick - it was Swedish or something. There's another one coming up from Frank Wildhorn (re: talkinbroadway.com). I understand why people keep trying - the story almost cries out for musicalization. My question is why does everyone FAIL?? The Christopher Plummer one at least is a pretty decent score, but why is this story so hard to do? If one of the greats attacked it - Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Loesser, Lerner and Lowe, Rodgers and Hammerstein -- would THEY have been able to do it correctly? Discuss...

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 12:34pm

I could probably do it correctly.


What's it about?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 12:52pm

CYRANO is the ultimate trap: its a play that quite deceptively seems like it should be musicalized but can't ever be done successfully. Because CYRANO is, in effect, about the power of the beauty of the spoken word. Language.

It is my theory, that adding music - no matter how beautiful, simply trivializes that initial concept. When you add a completely sung format - it simply eradicates it.

My guess is that Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, etc. are smart enough to realize this and never would have attempted to musicalize the play.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 12:54pm

The same was said of PYGMALION (most notably by Rodgers & Hammerstein) and yet Lerner & Loewe prevailed, so never say never.

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:08pm

What is the definition of idiocy? Musicalizing Cyrano expecting a different result.

But seriously, I don't know. I think it might be possible, I'm very optimistic about the possibility of musicalization. But due to all the failed attempts, and the points made by MB, it would be a very special thing if it ever did happen.

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:19pm

That's a good point, MB...I hadn't thought of it like that. However, think about Light in the Piazza - if we had THAT type of music, and simply brilliant (they would HAVE to be brilliant) lyrics to match, it SHOULD be possible. If Guettel, or Ricky Ian Gordon took a stab at it, I don't see why it COULDN'T work. The versions that have come along have been too traditionally "showtune" to work. Has there ever been a successful opera of the story?

[pandajen14]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 4:08pm

The second I saw this thread title, the first thing that popped into my head was "Sounds like a Wildhorn conquest to me". I have a feeling that would be the sort of direction a musicalized version of Cyrano would go on Broadway.

I'd love to see the original play taken back to Broadway, though. The language is beautiful.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:09pm

Jason - thats not really true. The Christopher Plummer CYRANO, which I guess was the *most succesful* of the flop musical versions gave most of the actual "singing" to Roxanne - keeping the majority of Cyrano's speeches (wisely) as spoken dialogue.

StageManager makes an excellent point regarding PYGMALION - though you could just as well argue that the conceit of Shaw's piece is the power in the way language is spoken as opposed to the power in the way spoken sentences are put together (CYRANO) which would make it even more difficult to pull off. I guess my feeling is that Cyrano's gift, as a character, is the rare gift he has with poetry. Since songs in musicals are generally rooted in a rhyme (and thus a form of poetry) - musicalizing the play (assuming other characters sing) robs Cyrano of the power of his language.

I'm sure there is a way for CYRANO to be musicalized successfully. I think probably there is a "way" anything *could* find a voice through music, but clearly its going to take a talent greater than a Frank Wildhorn to pull it off.

I for one find the basic flaws to adapting Rostand's play to be so daunting, I would certainly never attempt it.

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 05:09 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:28pm

If musicals can be made of Evil Dead, A Clockwork Orange, Metropolis & Mutiny on the Bounty anything can be musicalized

I saw both the Plummer & Dutch Cyranos & enjoyed them both

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:31pm

Who musicalized A CLOCKWORK ORANGE? I know its been done on stage but a musical? That's news to me, though I suppose if the characters sing in "nadsat" there'd be some interesting lyrics and rhyme schemes...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:32pm

It had been done years ago in London (where else). Never heard anything more of it

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:42pm

Wow, talk about properties I'd never thing of for musicalization! Clockwork Orange? How did they do the rape scene?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:43pm

Not only has it been musicalized (Now there's a work the OED needs!), but there's also been a better-than-decent stab at an opera (playing this season at the Met, I believe).

It might work if approached with Cyrano never singing at all. Everyone else, but not him -- and the famous balcony scene could have him feeding lyrics to the Pretty Boy, who then turns around and sings them to Roxanne.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:50pm

It will be funny if Wildhorn pulls it off

He has a few things going against him

1. The critics rabid hatred of him
2. The fact that many critics apparently feel Musical Cyranos
are one step above Jukebox musicals

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:52pm

3. He can't write lyrics or music.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:57pm

"If musicals can be made of Evil Dead, A Clockwork Orange, Metropolis & Mutiny on the Bounty anything can be musicalized "

But I do think the question was really whether it can be musicalized successfully. Although I guess you think the answer is yes, MrRoxy, since you liked the Plummer and the Dutch versions.

And, theoretically at least, just about anything can be musicalized successfully if the right approach is taken with sufficient skill.

There has been an opera, by Franco Alfano (who completed Puccini's Turandot). It never found a strong place in the repertory, but was brought back at the Met a couple of years ago for Placido Domingo because he wanted to do it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have come back.

I'd like to hear the Maltby-Shire version. I do like "Autumn."
Updated On: 1/13/07 at 05:57 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 6:27pm

To Mr Bennett

# 1 He does not write lyrics
# 2 Many,including Mr & Mrs R,do not agree with you .

Whether you like it or not he can at least do it. Have you ever written or tried to write a tune ? I mean no disrespect but I am just curious. Those naysayers on the board who criticize apparently think it is like snapping your fingers to write a song. No matter how bad a song is or is perceived to be it is not easy

Many of the best known operas in the world were initially trashed by local critics of the day. Does that mean that Puccini or Verdi could not write music because some people did not like it ?

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 06:27 PM

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 8:48pm

It's funny! Frank Wildhorn IS writing a version. Here's what his website says:

Cyrano is Frank's next collaboration with Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde), based on the classic work by Edmond Rostand.
Frank provided an update on this show in his August 2006 interview with BroadwayWorld.com. Bob Tomson (Blood Brothers) is now attached to the project as director. The show will be produced by Bill Kenwright. Specific plans have not been finalized, but possibilities are being explored for both London's West End and the United States. Keep an eye on this website for updates.
A concept recording is currently in development for this show, by GlobalVision Records

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 08:48 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 10:10pm

Wildhorn announced this years ago. I agree with Bennett with his hypothesis on why this particular property has never worked in musicalization. I think it's the same reason why a musicalization of The Importance of Being Ernest has never really worked. Even with a solid score, I doubt it would elevate or enhance the language of the source material in any significant way, though it's not entirely impossible.

Many many many years ago, Wildhorn announced he was working on musicalizing Zorro, to which I think he is far more suited and the material has far more potential for musicalization.

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 12:29am

I think it should be left as a play. I agree with MB that Cyrano is, in effect, about the beauty of the spoken word. The songs would probably either get in the way of the play, or be overly dramatic/cheesy. Or both. But you never know, I guess. Never say never.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 12:56am

If Cyrano is all about poetry..

Why not just make him all about music?


"Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christen Anderson.

Updated On: 1/14/07 at 12:56 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 2:13am

I'm not quite sure what you mean BTA - are you saying he should be the only character to sing?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 2:16am

I don't know what I mean either.


I'll read the book then post again.


T.T.Y.L.

[TT]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 2:51am

I must say that I love most of the Wildhorn music sung by Linda Eder, and I thought Jekyll and Hyde was wonderful, but his CYRANO is total and complete bomb!!!!!! It's terrible!!!!...With a capital T!!!!! I've heard the entire score and it needs so much work, it's not even worth a concept recording...Truly awful...

Just my opinion...

[Dover]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 3:37am

I have just one thing to say about this:
"Cyrano is lots of fun, tremendous fun for every nun"

That's the only thing I have retained about Cyrano. Less lyrics like that could help to make future versions more successful.

And Wildhorn getting involved in this sounds like $15 million waiting to be lost. I actually like his music a lot of the time (like ALW, he works with bad lyricists), and I have a great big soft spot for Pimpernel. But it seems like "Don't try to musicalize Cyrano" is one of those rules of theatre right up there with "Don't write a musical about vampires," and we can see he didn't listen to that either.