Parade closed too soon

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Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:08am

Did anyone see this.....I would LOVED to have seen it!!!!
Why the heck did it close so early??? Were people just unresponsive or was badly received because of the issues in the plot??? Confusified!!! I want it to come back with the same cast...well...maybe me as Frankie or opening soldier....never mind...thoughts???

And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before... After the Sky. -Into the Woods (Jack)

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 8:05am

I like the score and own the cd.

The production at Lincoln Center wasn't well executed. For example, in the court room scenes, the jury was made out of cardboard cutouts. I think everyone expected better from the great Hal Prince.

Brent Carver left the show early and I remember there was some negative publicity over that.

In my opinion, Carolee Carmello never got Mrs. Frank right. She chose to play "a proper lady" but she came across as cold and unfeeling. When she sang "You Don't Know This Man", I felt like saying, "Neither do you." All through her performance I kept thinking of Miss Jane Hathaway from The Beverly Hillbillies.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 9:39am

It was one of the best shows to hit NY in years. I'll never understand why it didn't make it. I was deeply moved by it and found it to be extremely well written, acted and sung. Carolee Carmello was extraodinary in it.

"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!" Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 9:47am

I saw the national tour which retained Hal Prince's staging as well as many of the original cast. The carboard cutouts for the jury was quite perfect, actually. It was a perfect allegory for the "brick wall" mindset of the Deep South that stick together no matter how wrong and narrow-minded they are. Actually, the cutout represented all the jurors from a photograph from the period with the exception of the jury foreman, who was one of the cast members. I thought the device worked brilliantly. Hal Prince has always loved cutouts and clever minimalist gadgets and devices. Look at his designs for Candide, Sweeney, Bounce, Grind, etc. I think Parade was pretty much on par for the majority of his work.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 10:13am

It did close too soon. Parade as many people know here, or could probably figure out, is my favorite musical. I can differentiate between "best" and "favorite", so I certainly don't think it's the "best" - but it strikes such a deep chord within me, as well as many other people I know. JRB's score is beautiful, southern/country pastiche which, is as always pretty complex and well-organized. I did have a few minor issues with Prince's staging (not interpretation, but actual blocking assignments), but IMHO it was almost perfect visually. I also thought Carolee was a bit cold, but I didn't know if some of that was Prince's direction (or his assistant's) for her. In response to them not knowing each other well, I think one of the major problems of Leo and Lucille's relationship is that they really DIDN'T know each other too well - especailly not for being married a few years. Leo had been working very hard at the pencil factory and both clearly mention their insecurities in the relationship. She was a southern belle, albeit a Jewish one. and he was a semi-stuffy, meek, Jewish boy from New York. They certainly loved each other, but I think both of their insecurities about relationships made it hard for them to communicate well. The tragedy brought them much much closer - It's all in Alfred Uhry's well-crafted book.

The cardboard was a great idea/allegory for the cold Southern judges...look at what Lapine did with Sunday.

But I won't live alone in a house of regret.

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 11:25am

I agree. I think Parade is one of the most interesting and challenging musicals to come along in a great while. Parade and Ragtime are fascinating to listen to, and I wish both had run longer.

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:36pm

Fill me in here, when did Brent Carver leave Parade? The show only ran for like 3 1/2 months...he must have only been there a tiny time.

I also agree that if left Broadway too soon. Fantastic musical.

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:41pm

I saw the last performance of Parade (and CRIED MY EYES OUT as I did the first time I saw it).

Brent Carver was in it. And was wonderful.

And Carolee was robbed of the Tony that year.

Perfect staging? No (did they really need to break out the old Evita torches for SOMEONE'S GONNA PAY WHEN THE FLOOD COMES?).

But it was easily the most thrilling theatrical event that year. FOSSE??? F*cking please!

"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:53pm

The best and most important musicals of the last couple of years have all been unsuccessful financially:
FLOYD COLLINS
THE WILD PARTY
CAROLINE OR CHANGE
and yes, PARADE...These shows will live much longer than the WICKED's and the LION KING's.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#10

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 3:30pm

I think it closed because of the limited scope of the story. that and timing.

The performances were all top-notch. Some of the best I've seen from and entire cast -- no weak performances.

But even thought I liked it, I hated that it was a musical court room drama. Especially because at the time every single movie and tv show had to have a court room sceen.

#11

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/14/04 at 9:56pm

"Brent Carver left the show early and I remember there was some negative publicity over that."

Ok a friend reminded me what this was. Carver took a week off from the show, but the box office wasn't very good about informing people that he wouldn't be appearing that week. A lot of people were mad because they came expecting to see him and Lincoln Center knew that he was not in the show.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#12

re: Parade closed too soon

Posted: 10/15/04 at 7:53am

I still get weak when I listen to the score...
If the cast weren't so large I bet it would be done more regionally.

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