Marvin Hamlisch

i second this post because i sang some stuff from sweet smell and it's really great... and how can the man who wrote the music to a chorus line be considered so irreverently? i mean i know it's the dancing and blah blah blah... but there are some f*cking great tunes in that show too...

I thoroughly agree with you in every respect.

Except that I think "Paula" is kind of a cute number.

Why doesn't ANYONE know "They're Playing Our Song"? (I mean, hardly anyone.)

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Infinite,

I suspect that the reason THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG isn't performed that often is due to the one very difficult set requirement it has: A moving car. While that is an easy effect for a Broadway production to achieve, it's not so easy for community theatres. Which is sad, because the small cast, funny script, and accessible score would seem to guarantee it more productions than it garners. (And it can't be cut, it's central to the plot of most of the first act of the show.)

It would seem to be a case of Neil Simon screwing himself out of a lot of royalties. Which is too bad. It's a really fun show.

(Slightly OT -- I must confess that Stockard Channing's drunk driving charge today got me thinking about the car scenes in THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, as she was the first actress I ever saw play that role. Shame on me.)

Updated On: 1/27/05 at 02:33 AM

Infinite, regarding GOODBYE GIRL, I hear what you're saying. Unfortunately, I sat through the original Broadway production of that show three times, and it was always terrible.

Bernadette was completely wrong for the Marsha Mason role. She had NO chemistry with Martin Short. The set was cumbersome, and it looked like the actors were simply trying to keep up with that obstacle-course turntable, instead of thinking about their performances. The daughter was ghastly. And Rick Crom's role was cut out of town. (Note to future producers: When you have Rick Crom in a show, don't cut him out of town.)

I do like the cast album, however. I agree with you on all of the songs you mentioned. I'm a big fan of David Zippel, I think he's a very clever lyricist ("A Beat Behind" always makes me laugh. It's a funny, funny lyric.)

I don't have the London cast recording, in which the score was apparently modified substantially from the Broadway tunestack. I need to seek it out.

Crom originally played the mugger who assaulted Bernadette in the Central Park scene, which was cut in Chicago. He remained in the show, and does appear on the cast album, albeit without a song to show his talent. (Can you tell that I'm a fan? I thought so.)

Go see NEWSICAL if you haven't yet. It's a terrific example of Rick Crom doing what he does best.

I enjoyed GOODBYE GIRL, because I love both Peters and Short. That said, I will now agree with the fact that it was tragically flawed. No one has mentioned my favorite song from that score - "No More."

I LOVE the score to THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG.

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Updated On: 5/28/05 at 02:19 PM

I always liked "Dreamers" from Jean Seberg musical & what I have heard of Smile

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Updated On: 1/28/05 at 06:44 PM

Veuve - I would think it's more his personality - his work is hard to argue with.

It's interesting watching him work as Barbra's conductor - he definitely defers to her. Can you imagine the rehearsals?

I know Chorsu Line is regarded as a total Micheal Bennenet musical, but mabye with the rivival coming out, he'll step out into the spotlight considering so many of the orinigal creative is gone.

I think A Chorus Line was the first OBC recording I ever bought other than The Sound of Music. I ADORE that show and am waiting eagerly for a revival.
On the other hand, I can't stand Sweet Smell of Success.

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Leo,

I disagree with the Susan character being underwritten -- she actually makes much more sense in the musical than she does in the film.

I do agree that the music is occasionally "inappropriately bright"... or if not really "inappropriately bright," at least unsettling. I find the whole "gotta get in the column" refrain a little, well, contrived. (Perhaps it was that choreography).

On the other hand, I think that 'At the Fountain' sums up Sidney's character better in three and a half minutes than anything in the film.

It's certainly not the best musical ever written. But I think that the positives far outweigh the negatives.