Once On This Island - Was 1991 A Slow Year?- Page 3

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 10:49am

When OOTI first made its presence known, I distinctly recall that the ads called it "Broadway's non-saccharine answer to (the then immensely popular) 'Little Mermaid'." Perhaps that's how it got produced in the first place: crass commercialism.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 10:53am

I'd definitely add 1999 to the list of slow years. Not only did Fosse win, but it's competition was The Civil War, It Ain't Nothing but the Blues, and the long-closed Parade.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 10:54am

"At least Judy Kuhn got to perform twice at the Tonys that year."

Agreed! Yet, she and Dick Latessa did flub the lines. It had already closed, she had moved on...similar to the Side Show flub at the Tonys.

[Ronnik]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 4:45pm

I obviously am a little biased, since I run their website, but I wanted to chime in here and say that ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is my absolute favorite show of all time.

I will NEVER forget the day I saw the tour. I got a free ticket, as a Kennedy Center volunteer. I had no expectation s whatsoever. 90 minutes later, it was like my world had transformed. The show was such a perfect blend of song and story--- no huge sets, no garrish costumes, no grandstanding, no ridiculously loud amplification. Just a great story with a lovely score and a magical lesson about the power of storytelling and the sacrifices people make for love.

It was the first time (I thought) that I had ever heard of Ahrens & Flaherty,and the first time I really understood that the writers are the backbone of musical theater. When I read the Playbill, I realized that Lynn had written for SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, which was a cornerstone of my childhood. I knew that day that somehow I was supposed to know this person, or at least know her work.

And, 10 years later, lots has happened. But, I still remember that day as if it were yesterday. ONCE ON THIS ISLAND will always be a magical show to me. If it doesn't speak to you, perhaps you saw a bad production, b/c it is one that is hard to do well. And, as for the lyrics, I believe they are absolutely perfect for the characters who speak and sing them. Perhaps one day there will be a revival and those who aren't familiar with the show can discover it. And maybe, hopefully, those who don't appreciate it now can have a second look.

Ronni
The Ahrens & Flaherty website

[WordedGrace]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 4:56pm

I have to agree that if you don't see a production with a cast capable of telling the story, good direction, and musical direction than you will be lost watching this amazing piece of work. I remember my first experience with this show and the tears I shed when I heard The Human Heart for the first time. Oh the memories.. I'll try to upload to that naughty site of vids clips from a production that I directed a few years ago. We were good enough to have awesome reviews from the local paper.

Posted: 4/5/07 at 8:00pm

I forgot Secret Garden was that year! Ugh that makes my fave choice much harder as I love love love that show.

I'm so curious about Shogun--Ican't even find one picture from it

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 12:16pm

BTW, someone posted earlier about how OOTI should have won for score, not WRF...but I'm pretty sure while WRF won best musical that season, that Secret Garden won for score, no?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 12:48pm

No, WRF won best score. Comdon and Green did a weird acceptance speech where they alternated words. Very cheesy.

Secret Garden did win for Best Book, however.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:20pm

Ah, okay. My mistake.

Interesting...I think the score is Secret Garden's greatest aspect.

And as strange as it is for WRF to win over the 3 for best musical, it's even more unbelievable IMO that it would win best score over Miss Saigon (though politically they prob felt B&S were already awarded for Miss Saigon), Secret Garden and Once On This Island. I biasly adore the OOTI score, but I actually think politics involved (since IMO MS has one of the most beautiful scores to ever exist) that SG should have won best score.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:50pm

If you don't have the ethnicities to do OOTI, then DONT DO IT.

The whole point of the show is lost then.

I can't believe people who think its ok to recast OOTI with crackers and call it colorblind casting, but then say things like "Oh no, Queen Latifah can't play Mame or Dolly, it just doesn't make sense"

*smelling double standard in the air"