"Parade: What a ghastly idea for a musical! Furthermore, the young lady on whose murder the show turns, is dead and gone ten minutes into the show, and the rest of the show focuses on the trial. We never understand who Mary Phagen was and why she may have died, nor are the Franks likeable people, so we don't care about them. There's a really uncharacteristic song at the end of the first act where Leo sings about seducing young girls which is all wrong. I left at the interval."
Piercemn, have to agree with everything Mister Matt said. And as to the Franks not being likeable people, I am going to have to disagree with you there, as well. I think you might have also agreed had you stayed for the second act. "This Is Not Over Yet" and the picnic and "All the Wasted Time" are wonderful, very sweet scenes. And the bit at the end with the wedding ring is very touching.
"I believe that art does not exist only to entertain, but also to challenge one to think, to provoke, even to disturb, to engage in a constant search for the truth."
- Barbra Streisand
