Mack & Mabel- Page 2

[joeybiltmore1]

re: Mack & Mabel#25

Posted: 6/19/05 at 5:53pm

NANCY ANDERSON would make a great Mabel.

Maybe CRAIG BIERKO could do his Robert Preston impression again for Mack.

GREAT score - one of the best. But oy, the script.

Joey
(who has sat hopefully through many productions of M&M only to sadly realize that the show just doesn't work in spite of it's many joys.)

[MusicMan]

re: Mack & Mabel#26

Posted: 6/19/05 at 6:51pm

"Interesting. I used to perform that song, and it never occurred to me that 'pile of flesh' couldn't refer to absolutely anyone. Aren't we all a pile of flesh, whether 90 lbs. or 200?"

Absolutely. In his biography KING OF COMEDY, Mack Sennett describes Mabel Normand as "barely five feet tall and never...more than ninety-nine pounds." Which rules out inappropriate choices like Sara Ramirez (!) and Emily Skinner (!!).

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

re: Mack & Mabel#27

Posted: 6/19/05 at 7:14pm

Marc Kudish or yes, Craig Bierko (where the hell has he been) would both be great in the role...I think whoevers idea Emily Skinner is - should be a casting agent!

[frontrowcentre2]

re: Mack & Mabel#28

Posted: 6/19/05 at 7:31pm

It has a wonderful score (and the OCR is pure delight) but ....
It is the wrong score to tell that dark, tragic story.

When you listen to it it conjures images of fun, frivolity and lavish production numbers. But that is not what the story is about. She wants him to love her...and he can't. (Interestingly, B.Peters did the same basic story 10 years later in SUNDAY IN THE PARK. In that case the score and story fit together.)

Though the lighter numbers can be used as ironic counterpoint (most effective in "Tap Your Troubles Away") but most of the time the songs don't advance the plot or develop characters. I would suggest keeping: "Movies Were Movies", "I Won't Send Roses", "Wherever He Ain't", "Time Heals Everything", "Tap Your Troubles Away" and "I Promise You a Happy Ending." The other songs - as wonderful as they are as songs - don't work and need to be replaced. And the book needs to develop the story so that we care more about Mack and Mabel.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

[grizzabella]

re: Mack & Mabel#29

Posted: 6/19/05 at 8:01pm

Aside from the OBCR, are there other CD's of the Mack & Mabel score? Can somebody advise me which are the best in your opinion? Many thanks, folks!

"And the postman sighed as he scratched his head, you really rather thought she ought to be dead..."

[nmartin]

re: Mack & Mabel#30

Posted: 6/19/05 at 8:24pm

Unfortunately, this show will never work. Gower Champion publicly
expressed frustration over trying to recreate silent movies. The love story in the book never worked either. However, as you all know, the score is great. Even the Overture is unforgettable.

[melissa errico fan]

re: Mack & Mabel#31

Posted: 6/19/05 at 8:44pm

Grizzabella---

Aside from the OBCR, there are two other existing recordings of "Mack & Mabel": The 1988 London Concert Cast, which features George Hearn, Debbie Shapiro-Gravitte, and Tommy Tune, among others. There is also the 1995 London Cast Recording, with Howard McGillin as Mack and Caroline O'Connor as Mabel. Of the three, I would venture to say that the 1995 recording (the only "complete recording" of the score) is my favorite. Both London recordings are out-of-print, but they are easy to come across. You should be able to locate a reasonably priced copy through Amazon Marketplace or Ebay.

[Thenardier]

re: Mack & Mabel#32

Posted: 6/19/05 at 8:51pm

My mom saw it opening night - said a set piece fell down.

Mama Korey

The Beauty Is: Kelli O'Hara Online

[jmnpublications]

re: Mack & Mabel#33

Posted: 6/19/05 at 11:12pm

I could see Nancy Anderson as Mabel. How about Chuck Wagner as Mack?

lc

[melissa errico fan]

re: Mack & Mabel#34

Posted: 6/20/05 at 6:25am

bump

Nancy Anderson would be a terrific Mabel.

[grizzabella]

re: Mack & Mabel#35

Posted: 6/20/05 at 9:59am

Thanks, mellisa errico fan, I appreciate your help! Hugs!

"And the postman sighed as he scratched his head, you really rather thought she ought to be dead..."

[melissa errico fan]

re: Mack & Mabel#36

Posted: 6/20/05 at 11:02am

I'm starting to have reservations about Nancy Anderson as Mabel. In my opinion, she would probably be too similar to Bernadette Peters than I would like to see. One of the main reasons I chose Emily Skinner as my dream Mabel is because she is so different from Bernadette.