Learning about A Little Night Music- Page 4

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:16am

I'm beginning to wonder if "Follies" is a subjective show in regards to recording. I was not initially exposed to the OBC, I got the complete recording as a graduation present from my parents, and I have a tendency to like whichever recording I hear first better than others. I do admit, I prefer Yvonne's "I'm Still Here" and I enjoy Dorothy's "Losing My Mind," but Donna steals the cake for me, and then devours it, and smiles nicely at the end.
Does anyone have the 2-Disc of the London Production? I KNOW one was released that isn't as condenced, and I would loooove to hear it.

[Julian2]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:25am

And it seems like ITW fans (in my experience) will more readily flock to Assassins, Sweeney, Sunday and maybe Company, . . .

That was my experience, I saw the DVD with my sister and mother (she cried, no one died) and loved it. I've never really had any trouble "getting into" any Sondheim score. I haven't heard any Follies yet, so that is yet to be seen. If any score, I found Forum to be a little bland upon early listening (working on that, only got it recently). I found Sunday to be profound and moving (being an artist, and having a best friend introvert artist, and being an extrovert, I can really relate) I love ALNM, I haven't given it a full listen, but I love the 5 or 6 numbers I really know. Company is just delightful. I loved the press realease videos of the recent revival of Overtures, and watched it obsessivly. Love Assassins and Sweeney, and The Frogs is so much fun. Passions I need to watch again, I had to take a nap in the middle the first time, (to be fair, I was going on probably 3-3 1/2 hours of sleep), but I liked what I saw.

[Kringas]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:43pm

Does anyone have the 2-Disc of the London Production?

I do, and it's probably my least favorite Follies recording. Most of the (rather extensive) changes are superfluous, in my opinion. "Country House" is an unnecessary song, as is the revised "Loveland." The Folly of Youth is split, with "Love Will See Us Through" preceding "Buddy's Blues" and "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow" coming before "Ah But Underneath." Ben's "Make the Most of Your Music" is no substitute for "Live, Laugh, Love."

I'd be curious to read the script for that production, though.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:01pm

Husk, I understand your point...and very much appreciate the reiterating that I'm not dumb (though that may not necessarily be true , but it's hard to explain. It's not like I'm never gonna allow myself to be exposed to it my whole life, but it's accepting that I'm young and I have many years ahead of me, and I know my preference is to experience a show live before experiencing it any other way.

There are so many shows I still haven't gotten to see a production of that I know I eventually wanna see/hear, but I'm content to wait. Like Man of La Mancha was definitely one. It's one of my aunt's favorite shows and she kept telling me to listen and I was like noo I wanna wait. Well, this year I get to see the tour in Connecticut. So I'm glad I didn't listen to the music first--I love the feeling of hearing most of the music for the first time in the context of the show. Even if the production isn't great, then I can go get the OBC and appreciate it more than if I knew nothing about it.

Listening and reading is what I did with Night Music, Husk. I only like to do that though if there's no way to actually see it. Like as I read through Night Music, all I could think is how great it would be to SEE. When I watched Company at the library, I was so appreciative of what a greater understanding I had of it seeing rather than hearing it.

Obviously, everyone has their ways they prefer to get into shows, but that's my preference, and to the degree I can, I'm sticking to it.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:05pm

wickedrentq-
YOu do have a point, seeing is by far better than reading or just listening, but in a lot of cases, that isn't possible. I really love the score to "Goldilocks" however, the chances of a revival or a regional production of that are BEYOND slim, so don't just rule it out if you want to wait and see it, because you could miss out on a truly amazing show that way.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:11pm

You also don't need to see a show to like the score. Which is the case with Merrily. Those of us lcuky enough to see the show will tell you the show was bad! Why? Because of the book? "Follies" had a lot of book problems but the score is incredible. I get what you are saying Wickedrentq but Sondheims scores can be analyzed outside the show.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:30pm

I was thinking about that...heh.

I'll see.

Maybe one day.

[ShoshanaFan92]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:46pm

I did A little Night Music at The Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack back in November. I was Fredrika (Desire's daughter). I loved it so much. It was one of the best experiences of my life. The show did really well, but some people said the first act ran a little long. That was really the only problem we had, it was lengthy. The story line is amazing and the music obviously.. i mean Sondheim ! It was a pretty different work for him, but yet you could still tell it was him. I loved it and really grew from it as an actress.