Next for Frankel and Korie

Grey Gardens was almost perfection. But that Strohman piece about death and subways they wrote for the Mitzi Newhouse? HORRID. Far From Heaven? One of the worst scores I've ever heard. Their Finding Neverland? I heard it was awful as well (obviously, they were fired). So I was pleasantly surprised by War Paint. It's far from the quality of Grey Gardens. But it's a good solid score that makes me think they are not one hit wonders. But I do fear I'll have to sit through another one of their lesser, horrible scores again before my theatre-going days are through.

I can't say I connect well with Far From Heaven either, but I enjoy both Grey Gardens and War Paint. However, as to the question about why they were fired from Finding Neverland - I think it's clear from the outcome of that musical that they (the producer and/or director) probably wanted to take that in a completely different direction (i.e., mass-market pop appeal) than might sit comfortable with the skills/talents of Frankel and Korie. I actually think in theory they'd do a great Finding Neverland, but clearly weren't suited to the vision of the musical we got.

Updated On: 6/9/17 at 10:52 PM

When you say pick up again do you mean a major production or extensive revisions? (Or both).

It is curious that the show never made it to Broadway. With the cast, creative team and off-Broadway venue it's hard not to believe it was being pruned for a Broadway run. I guess in the end no one put up the money but why? Was it well received by audiences and critics? I didn't follow it closely at the time.

icecreambenjamin said: "I think that Grey Gardens, Far From Heaven, and War Paint are all spectacular. I love to see them do Carol as a musical (with Kelli O'Hara and Laura Benanti please) and maybe It's A Wonderful Life. I look forward to whatever they produce in the future.



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That casting makes no sense. Those two, 40ish actors are virtually the same age and the story is explicitly about an older woman and a younger one.

That was hardly rude.

I really admire Doug Wright as both a person and a playwright, but I hope whatever this team does next has a stronger narrative hand. Frankel and Korie are capable of astonishing craft, but that craft hasn't been applied to a real sense of coherent over-arching purpose most of the time. Grey Gardens was quite satisfying in its original production, but even that was pretty loose in terms of dramatic thrust. Imagine what this team could do if their incisive character-based work was in service of a really thrilling and clearly-defined story. I'm a defender of War Paint, but even after all the rewrites, it ain't that/

icecreambenjamin said: "Yes it was. There's no reason to enter a thread and start "correcting" people without actually contributing anything to the conversation. It's just kind of rude.



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But you are the one who made the mistake. Your mistake was pointed out. I'm going to guess that you're between the ages of 15 and 25, Benjamin?

gleek4114 said: "I've loved their three "major" projects so far (Grey Gardens, Far From Heaven, and War Paint). It's irrational, but I really hope they pick up Far From Heaven again one day. The score is probably my favorite of theirs (I'm in the minority I know), and I wish It'd had a better shot...



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It's not irrational at all. I'm told that people who don't like jazz don't like FFH, but I like the way it references 1950s jazz and even TROUBLE IN TAHITI. It's become my favorite of theirs as well, though I am still warming up to WAR PAINT.