My Favorite Year

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 10:40am

In searching, I found that MY FAVORITE YEAR ran for a very very short time (only 36 performances). What was the reasoning behind this? Were the reviews deadly? I've heard the book was terrible, but was it really that bad of a show? It did win a Tony Award for Andrea Martin which I'm surprised, because usually people say if a show closes too far in advance of the Tony's that the voters don't remember you when it comes time to vote.

I've only recently discovered this show and enjoy most of the score. Could anyone who saw it please enlighten me to some of its strengths/weaknesses?

Thanks in advance.

[Craig]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 10:41am

The book was indeed horrible.

[Ronnik]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:07pm

The book wasn't THAT bad, especially compared to some of today's shows. ( MAMMA MIA, anyone?) But, many people felt that the show lacked the humor that was a hallmark of the movie. Most people missed the gangster subplot of the movie. Also, I know that Ahrens & Flaherty felt that they never quite got the character of Swann exactly right. However, the score is still really fun, and also still has its poignant moments. The "Musicals Tonight" production that was mounted a few years ago got some very positive reviews. And, I know that they are in the process of reworking parts of the show, so stay tuned!

Ronni
The Ahrens & Flaherty website

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:15pm

It was a bit of a messy show altogether. CD comes over pretty good, better than what you could see.
Great poster art!

Updated On: 8/1/07 at 02:15 PM

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 2:31pm

Top-notch score...awful book. And if F&A weren't happy with how they musicalized Swann, it was because they shot their creative wad writing OUTSTANDING material for Lainie Kazan and Evan Pappas.

The scenes with the TV folk were perhaps the worst, barely holding together with the music, and the King Kaiser character was virtually unmusicalized. Both his featured numbers were the worst in the score.

"Rookie in the Ring" was classic F&A, as were "Shut Up & Dance," "Twenty Million People" and Benjy's "At the Movies" song (Don't recall if that's the correct title).

The inherent problem in musicalizing Swann is that, in order to successfully navigate his dramatic lows (cleverly done in "If the World Was Like the Movies"), one has to experience better highs than "Manhattan."

But I love the score...I can't deny its effectiveness.

[Ronnik]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 4:36pm

I actually love the song "The Gospel According to King"... which isn't really King's song, but... Part of the reason that character wasn't musicalized all that much was b/c Tom Mardirosian was more of a comedian than a singer, so they opted for the humor in terms of casting that role.

Also, Benjy's song is called "Larger Than Life", and I would say that that and "Shut Up and Dance" are the most "Classic F&A" songs in that score. However, I will say that I think their greatest strength as a songwriting team comes from the fact that they don't necessarily have an identifiable "sound". Some people might see this as a bad thing, but I LOVE it that their scores always serve the stories and the characters, and that each score sounds so different from the last.

I will admit that "Manhattan" is the weakest song in the MFY score.

Ronni
The Ahrens & Flaherty website

[Craig]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 5:17pm

You can't compare MM's book and MFY. Apples and Oranges (and for obvious reasons I won't get into)

I found the book to be a mess and an example of how NOT to adapt a movie to the stage. As you mentioned (I'm one of them) - removing the gangster subplot (why oh why do that?) removed ANY tension from the show. Especially the climax, which fell completely flat.

I do enjoy the score (minus Manhattan). My only wish for the score was that they refrained from the overuse of phrases like "bigger than life" over and over. But it's still quite enjoyable to listen to.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 5:45pm

Enjoyable shows that did not get the reviews.

The lyric porceline angels is wrong.They were always made out of plaster . One of my favorite songs from the score despite this

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 6:33pm

The opening number is one of the best of any musical of the 1990s and "Larger Than Life" is an excellent follow-up.

What kills the show, dead in it's tracks is the "Musketeer Sketch" song. A desperately unfunny comedy number about a comedy sketch.

The score does not regain it's momentum after that, despite the pleasures of "Shut Up and Dance" and the title song (which I captures the spirit of the story better than the song written for the movie version that got recorded by Michael Feinstein and Cleo Laine). It ends act one with a serious song sung by Alan Swann and start the second act with a serious song sung by Alan Swann.

As for Andrea Martin winning the Tony Award, she was up against a girl for "Blood Brothers", a girl for "Tommy" and Laine Kazan for "My Favorite Year". I never saw the show, so I can't tell you why they picked Andrea over Laine.

[Ronnik]

Posted: 8/2/07 at 2:55pm

I understand, of course, why you're saying you can't compare the books of MM and MFY. But, the reality is, that what Awards committees do all the time. If MFY and MM were opened in the same year, Joseph Dougherty and Catherine Johnson ( I think that's her name) would have been in the same category. And, even if it's not a great book, the MFY book is better than the MM book.

And, to answer the other question, Andrea Martin won the Tony b/c she stopped the show with PROFESSIONAL SHOWBIZNESS COMEDY.

Ronni
The Ahrens & Flaherty website

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 7:35pm

I have recently fallen back in love with much of the score of My Favorite Year. I very much enjoyed reading the discussion in this thread, and hoped more people might have memories to share of the show or thoughts about it?

[Rypm25]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 7:42pm

I was 14 when my mother took me into the city to see My Favorite Year, and it was my first broadway musical. I remembering loving it, and do enjoy popping in the cd and listening to the score, however, I imagine, as an adult now, I may have looked at it through different eyes. I just remember it being so big and colorful, and big sets that slid on and off. I also remember Andrea Martin fondly with a funny scene in the bathroom in which the set slid on and you could see her feet under the stall.:)

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 7:51pm

I agree with the comments on the book, but the score is absolutely wonderful...actually, I saw this thread and switched gears on my iPod.

I remember going to one of the final performances and it was amazing. Randomly one night, a friend and I were talking about the show (after too many cocktails), decided we wanted to see it, and I went online and booked tickets. It was our 24-hour road trip to NYC. Got up, drove up, saw the show, had a few drinks at Hell, slept a few hours at a friends apartment, and then drove back to VA. It was a great experience and the show was great. Plus, it was Tim Curry, Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin! Exits is one of my favorites. And Evan Pappas was so adorable!

[The Insider]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 7:40pm

Welcome To Brooklyn is amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[The Insider]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 7:41pm

Welcome To Brooklyn is amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 7:46pm

I don't know, Evan Pappas sort of annoys me on that CD.

He reminds me of a four year old.

I will admit he has talent, but wasn't into the way he played that role.

He got in a serious car crash recently. Any news on how he is?

(Sorry to threadjack.)

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 12:01am

This was a limited run at Lincoln Center (a non-profit theatre) that didn't get extended.

I adore this score. What a wonderful opening number.

Despite its short run, Andrea Martin still took the Tony for her memorable performance.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 12:14am

I don't think the book is the only problem with My Favorite Year - although A&H ave wrote several gorgeous melodies with wonderful lyrics, the show's score is very very ballad-heavy and the subpar book doesn't help it drag any less.

[misto625]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 1:08am

I'm actually trying to convince a theatre group at my college to perform this show because I love it a lot, this stemming from a regional production I saw on Thanksgiving five years ago, and of course listening the CD multiple times. Tim Curry and Andrea Martin are two of my favorite actors to begin with. As part of the process of proposing, I actually read the libretto for the first time since I saw the show, and found myself laughing out loud-- I don't have any problems with the book, and find Alan Swann's songs very moving. "Shut Up and Dance" is my favorite song in the score, and "Professional Showbusiness Comedy" is my least, it doesn't make a lot of sense. The Musketeer Sketch is funny because it's being created by Benjy via proxy. The stage directions are actually really funny and detailed, but sadly stage directions are not read by the audience. I'm surprised by the limited Broadway run as well.