Learning about A Little Night Music- Page 3

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 1:42pm

Follies is my next show on my Sondheim list. Right after I actually LISTEN to my recording of Passion

Right now, I have to go with Sweeney and Sunday as my favorites with Night Music hovering at number 3. However, choosing a favorite Sondheim show is kind of like having to choose your favorite child.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 2:37pm

I have a feeling that even though there's so much Sondheim I'm not familiar with, Into the Woods will always be my fav, with Sweeney at #2. I'm not close-minded enough that I woudln't let any surpass those, but I dunno...just have a feeling.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 2:57pm

I have a feeling that even though there's so much Sondheim I'm not familiar with, Into the Woods will always be my fav, with Sweeney at #2. I'm not close-minded enough that I woudln't let any surpass those, but I dunno...just have a feeling.

I used to think that too. "Sunday in the Park With George" was the first Sondheim show I ever saw on Broadway. I did NOT like it at the time. I was like 10. "Into the Woods" was second. Hated it the first time, loved it the second. "Sweeney" was my favorite for a very long time. That is until I heard "Follies". Especially after reading "Everything Was Possible". If you have not read that yet wickedrentq than you must!! Even if it is not for the class. It is the greatest book about the making of a musical.

I don't think I would be wrong to state that one of the biggest mistakes in ALL of musical theater was the OBC recording of "Follies". The butchering of the material is so sad. Fortunately the soundboard recording of that cast exists!! Once that is listened to it is very clear why this show is held in such high regard. There is not a weak link in that entire cast.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 3:15pm

I'm pretty sure I will actually never concretely know what my favorite Sondheim show is; they've all had their place in the sun. I definitely used to be like, "I love all Sondheim, but I will never love any score the way I love COMPANY." And then Sunday in the Park with George was all, "Oh sweetheart, that's what you think." I totally settled on that, fine, I like Sunday best, and recently Follies has been like, "Yeah, but what about me?"

Follies and ALNM, actually, are the two shows that I thought were a touch overrated when I was first getting into Sondheim, and now I rank them as being two of the best. I mean, I wasn't even close-minded, either -- I saw the appeal of Passion, years later I even saw the appeal of BOUNCE. But I actually only became a Follies fan recently and although I liked ALNM in the past, my respect and admiration (and understanding, I guess?) of it is sort of recent. And I got a friend into Sondheim a few years ago, and checking back in with him, I found that he's not such a big fan of these scores either. I don't get it, but somehow they both manage to be incredibly amazing and legendary for some people and incredibly boring and flat for others.

Into the Woods is the gateway into Sondheim for a lot of people I know; they did it in high school or something. And it seems like ITW fans (in my experience) will more readily flock to Assassins, Sweeney, Sunday and maybe Company, but Follies and ALNM are, for whatever reason, not as accessible. At least in my experience.

So I agree that Follies is catchy NOW, but you would've had a tough time convincing me of that three years ago.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 3:20pm

WickedRentQ, I mean it on a personal level for me that Follies was the hardest to get into. I do believe though that had I not seen Pacific Ovetures, that would be difficult to like. I mean, I saw it and I still was enamored but could understand one not liking it.

To me though, I had either seen a lot of Sondheim's work live or on dvd, aside from Company, A Little Night Music, Follies, and Merrily We Roll Along. However, I fell in love with Company, thought Night Music had great music and was accessible.
Merrily took a little while, but Follies never appealed to me. Quite honestly I had to actually read in depth about the story and characters and their dilemmas. I grew a liking to it slowly, song by song, until I now listen straight through the show for the most part.
The songs are so rich with such a variety of feelings and some of them are now included in my favorites of Sondheim's music. I listen daily to the score and read pieces of "Everything Was Possible" and loved what I saw.

I still however consider Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George my 2 favorites out of any of his works.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 3:24pm

Passion was actually the first Sondheim show I ever loved; I wasn't hooked on it though (found it rather boring, actually) until I heard the Finale. And when I saw the video, it all came together for me.

Sweeney's definitely second for me; it's come close to being first, but Passion just has something about it for me. I dunno.. Anyway, I disliked Assassins but now it's growing on me, and I found Sunday in the Park with George boring until I actually saw a clip of the video with Bernadette Peters, so maybe now I'll have to give it another chance. I do like Into the Woods, but it's not something I listen to fully on a regular basis.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:27pm

Well, do you guys think watching the Follies in concert DVD would be a sufficient way to experience it? Is it good quality, easy to follow? That would be my plan. And more importantly, will I stay awake. Or is it available and non-restricted at Lincoln Center library? Would that be a better choice?

I see all your points re: favorites, but...like, take Sunday. Now that I will HAVE to watch it, from what I hear, I'm sure I'll love it and maybe I'll write a post that takes 2-hours analyzing that show. But it wouldn't come close to touching the first 2 because I've fallen asleep trying to watch that 3 times. And I don't care if it's the most amazing, emotional quality show ever...to me, I can't consider a show flawless if I fall asleep *3* times. Because, if I can't get through it to see its brilliance...that's where you gotta start. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. And I certainly can't consider it a favorite if even a part of it strikes me as that boring, even if...after seeing it I don't see any part as boring. A good show should get my attention.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:42pm

The Follies DVD is not of the concert. It is a documentary about the making of the concert. It has the numbers but its preally more about that one night. It's very interesting (except for the horrible Barbra Cook).

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 5:13pm

Barbara Cook was bad? That's surprising to hear; usually she's good.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 5:18pm

I cant stand her!! So overrated. Poor Lee Remick. She died like 5 years after the concert.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 5:43pm

I have tried to get into Follies about a dozen times. I just can't do it. The rest of the Sondheim canon gets listened to with reasonable regularity, even Pacific Overtures, but I don't know -- I just can't love Follies the way I feel I ought to.

Go ahead and let the stoning begin.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 5:49pm

I say the best way to get familiar with FOLLIES is.

Get the complete recording from the Papermill production, and read EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE. It was an incredible read.

I find the score to be totally irresistible. I find it hard to believe anybody could NOT find it catchy. But to each their own. It definitely takes a few listens

But definitely buy the Papermill recording (OBCR should be bought also for the cast. That cast will never be touched) - and read EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE. Then you can watch the documentary DVD on the legendary concert. It only shows you a few numbers, and tells you absolutely nothing about the plot

OURTIME, Which Follies recording are you listening to? You need another recording besides the OBCR to get into Follies. The OBCR like I said, should just be listened to for the original cast. Updated On: 10/26/06 at 05:49 PM

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 6:52pm

"Get the complete recording from the Papermill production, and read EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE. It was an incredible read."

That is the last recording he should get. He doesn't need to hear the entire score to get into the show. I would strongly suggest starting with the OBC Recording (if you even want to call it that).

It is the easiest to get into. It also has the 4 original leads and Yvonne de Carlo!!

Next would be the London recording, just to see all the changes that were made and for the incredible Julia McKenzie.

I would then get the Papermill recording to hear all the elements of the erlier productions put into a whole. I would watch out for the cast though. Ann Miller is the only standout in my book.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:03pm

How would you rank Follies in Concert up with the rest of the recordings? As I've stated, I have only heard the OBC and loved what was included, but heard other bits of the score and the recurring melodies, like before "In Buddy's Eyes" they play that section of "The Road You Didn't Take". I really would enjoy hearing more and the concert cast sounds like fantastic casting, I am big fans of many of those in it.

Also, random tidbit, on the OBC the "TaTa, goodbye, you'll find us at Tony's" always makes me think Donna McKechnie is singing it although I know it isn't. Am I crazy?

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:09pm

The orchestrations, which a lot of people worried about at the time, are very good on the concert recording. The performers are "eh" in my opinion. I am not a fan of George Hearn or Barbra Cook so it's not something I listen to often. I think the best performer, for me anyway, was Phyllis Newman. Her "Who's That Woman" is very fun!!

Mandy Patinkin, who was in Sunday in the Park at the time, is actually not that bad as Buddy. If you are a Mandy fan you won't be disapointed. Lee Remick is a fine Phyllis. I always thought Lee a good actress and she certainly shined in the book songs.

Carol Burnett, who i regard as one of the GODS, was a big bore to me. She was too young to sing the song and she didn't put enough soul into it. Stritch is Stritch. Love her or hate her. I adore her so I always enjoy her "Broadway Baby".

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:11pm

Getting abit back to the original point of the thread, I just deleted Judy Collins' "Send in the Clowns" from my computer. Now that I have the OBC version, just can't bare to listen to the pop version.

On another note, I have no desire to get into Merrily We Roll Along.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:14pm

I always loved the Judi Collins version. Do you have Judi Dench's version? Hers is the best.

Merrily has INCREDIBLE music!! The book sucks though!

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:22pm

Ciaron, I actually adore Mandy, he is my favorite male broadway voice. I really like Hearn too, but don't like Cook's "In Buddy's Eyes", especially compared to Collins.

WRQ, Merrily has some really good music. Certainly not my favorite, but I love the Opening of it.

Ciaron, where can Judi Dench's Send in the Clowns be found?

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:26pm

"
Ciaron, where can Judi Dench's Send in the Clowns be found?"

I'll send it to you

[jewishboy]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:31pm

ALM is amazing. It is completely different from any other Sondheim show and the music is so interesting. As a lot of Sondheim shows the lyrics are so truthful and the characters are well developed.

About Pacific Overtures, it may be hard to get into but it contains Sondheim's most beautiful melodies. If you understand and are interested in one fact and one fact alone (a meeting took place in Japan, who did not let any foreigners onto their land, with all of the world powers and nobody knows what happened except for the people who were inside) it will completely change your outlook on life. And you have to get so you can listen to Someone in a Tree.

About Follies: I took a Sondheim class just like you and the minute the overture started I started to imagine the ghosts of the Weissman Follies wandering around a deserted theater. I was drawn in. It remains my favorite Sondheim show and my favorite musical of all time. The OBC's cast is perfect, the recording is not. But, for a first recording I would go with the OBC, it is just the best.

Please, Please, Please keep an open mind about Merrily. At first I hated it. Then I got the York Company's revival CD and was hooked, my second favorite Sondheim show. Don't dismiss it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 10:46pm

I definitely agree, don't dismiss MERRILY.

Not A Day Goes By is an incredible song, and the score has some equally as great songs.

For FOLLIES I started with the OBCR, but I couldn't fully appreciate the score until I got the complete recording. The quality is absolute sh*t on the OBC, and the cuts are absolute sh*t. The cast is absolute magic though.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 2:46am

I'm not "dismissing" Merrily. It's just...actually the idea of getting into/learning a musical without actually seeing a production or seeing something visual is a new thing for me. I've always even refused to get a recording of a show before I saw it in some capacity.

I'm just saying...I feel like after my class ends, I'm gonna wanna do Follies to enhance the complete Sondheim experience, but there are other shows I'd rather learn about than Merrily. Not to say I'm never gonna listen to it or see it, it's just not on my immediate list.

I know Not A Day Goes By, and I do enjoy it, but yeah. I'm not saying I'm purposely gonna avoid the show, just saying I'm not gonna go out of my way right away to make sure I learn all about it now. There's just lots of others I would, and I'm only gonna do Follies b/c of what everyone is saying about how important that show is in learning about Sondheim.

We'll see about Pacific Overtures. I'll have an open mind. My teacher said she wanted to do that one to highlight Sondheim's music in terms of Western vs. Eastern.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 10:51am

What about the arguments that Sondheim used too much of a French influence musically in the score of a "Swedish" musical?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:02am

Ciaron-
I like you.
wickedrentq-
That is a really dumb idea (You aren't dumb, the idea is dumb), to not pick up the recording if you haven't seen a show. For one thing, "Merrily" is a CD that when you listen to, you think the show is better than it is. The two major incarnations (York and OBC) are both well worth the money (Although, OBC is OOP, so you may have to find someone to send it).

My thought of Follies- The Papermill is great, because of how complete it is, and Donna McKechnie (Who should be a god), is divine. However, what I reccomend, is you pick up paper copies of the script to Follies, and Sunday and pretty much every Sondheim (Merrily aside, since it's not published), and read along with the cast recording. That is by far the easiest way to really get into a score, because, unfortunately, several of his most amazing scores in the 70s are mangled on the OBC, and if they have a revival, the revival is crap. (Debra Monk and LaChanze in "Company" anyone?)

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:10am

Husk I have to disagree with you about Donna. I LOVE HER!! Do not get me wrong but I was not thrilled with her in the paper mill production. Maybe its because I was brought up on the OBC of Follies and nobody can top Dorothy (I hate when that happens!). My father will not even let any other company of Follies be discussed in front of him haha. There was something about that cast. The chemistry was just amazing!! I do think any Sondheim lover should own the complete recording (for the overture alone). I just don't think they should start their research there.

Merrily is a great score. It is also Sondheims most melodic. It's too bad the book is such crap.