Is Cyrano musical-izable?- Page 2

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 3:49am

Wasn't there a production just a little while ago of a musical version?

1993 or '94 maybe? I believe my parents saw it. I remember the artwork for it being stunning, and the two of them saying it was one of the most beautiful musicals they had ever seen. They loved the score and waited for a recording. Don't know if one ever came of it...

I BELIEVE it came from the Netherlands? Anne Runolfsson was in it, I think?

A lot of people I know said it was stunning and the score was exquisite - one of the only artistically successful musicaliziations. And yet, no recording or lasting memory exists.

Updated On: 1/14/07 at 03:49 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 4:00am

On the Wildhorn note, I just want to mention, Bennett, that he's very capable of writing songs. Though I totally get your jest and snicker at it, objectively, hundreds of people sing his music. I must admit, I've always been a very closeted lover of his music. It's schmaltzy and all, but hey - those tunes sure are catchy.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:19am

Like leprosy.

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 10:44am

iluvtheatertrash -- that's the production I saw. It WAS a long time ago and I was maybe 15 or 16 when it came out, so I don't remember the score since there is no recording. I remember really enjoying it when I saw it, but the show flopped so badly that they never recorded. Maybe some day it will resurface...

[WOSQ]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 4:27pm

Cyrano is a trap for musical theatre folk, a beautiful spider web.

What do these characters have to 'sing' about? Well, nothing. Of all the people onstage Cyrano is the only one who can be expressed with any music whatsoever and that includes underscoring and dance as well as song. Cyrano is the poet. Christian cannot sing. He can't even talk. Roxanne cannot hear the singer of the words she loves. None of the other roles are musical in the slightest.

Just because songs can be written in spots for other characters does not mean the role ought to be musical.

Cyrano is the sole person in Cyrano de Bergerac that 'sings' metaphysically and should sing at all. That's a pretty dull show even with the best singer in the world.

There is the beautiful trap. All that poetry, all the romance, but it comes from one character and the others are tone-deaf.

Other posters have written here what I have said. I am not alone. Cyrano needs to remain Cyrano de Bergerac.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:22pm

Regarding the Wildhorn version, especially not with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse...

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 2:32am

1993 or '94 maybe? I believe my parents saw it. I remember the artwork for it being stunning, and the two of them saying it was one of the most beautiful musicals they had ever seen. They loved the score and waited for a recording. Don't know if one ever came of it...

A lot of people I know said it was stunning and the score was exquisite - one of the only artistically successful musicaliziations.

I don't know who "a lot of people" are, but I had to sit through that pretentious pseudo-musical and still want my money back and with interest.

I think composers should get the hint and leave this alone, or it will join the vampires in the "don't you get it?" Broadway category.
I would think that Wildhorn would also get the hint after all his musicals have flopped on Broadway too, but, oh well, some people enjoy the pain.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 10:41am

To Sondheimboy:

AMEN!

Bricusse is the WORST person possible to write lyrics for CYRANO. Based on his work on SHERLOCK HOLMES, SAY HELLO TO HARVEY, JEKYLL & HYDE and TOM AND JERRY: THE MOVIE, he shouldn't be allowed to write checks!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 11:22am

I guess this is why he is in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame