Merrily CD Question

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 9:22pm

I just finished it, thought it was a meh, but I have a question about Our TIme. In the recorded dialogue, it sounds like Frank and Charlie live together and are already friends. On stage, though, they met for the first time on the roof. Anyone know the reason for the change?

[jv92]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 9:23pm

I could be mistaken, but in the non-concert version, Charley and Frank are high school friends and start collaborating in high school, and then meet Mary on the rooftop in the last scene. I believe the whole "all three leads meet for the first time" finale was only devised for Encores!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 9:28pm

jv2 is correct. The reasons are anyone's guess, but until the Encores concert, Charlie and Frank always knew each other before they met.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 9:32pm

I actually think "Our Time" is far more moving the non-Encores! way. It was still touching at Encores!, but it didn't get me in the gut the way it usually does. And if I'm not mistaken, wasn't Charley's line "What a time to be alive!" before the Sputnik zoomed past cut at Encores! ? That line always gets me too.

I have yet to listen to the new CD, but I'm looking forward to it, as Tommy and all the folks at PS Classics always do a great job!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 9:32pm

And that change seemed to be one that (from all I heard) nobody liked, so maybe the creators decided to go back for the recording?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 9:50pm

They recorded it the way it is in the licensed script that MTI sends out. The Encores! ending where they meet on the roof is James Lapine's ending that, I believe, was originally written for the La Jolla production.

Updated On: 7/11/12 at 09:50 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 11:18pm

I'm nearly positive it's not in my recording of the LaJolla production--I also know a lot of fans on the Sondheim forum seemed certain this was a new change for this production (wasn't that even mentioned in an interview?). I think it makes more sense that they're already friends, and is more touching--we don't really need to see where they all first met each other, though I suppose maybe they felt it brought everything full circle.