Remembering FALSETTOS (and FALSETTOLAND and MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS) on Opening Night of the Revival

I missed seeing the original March, but bought the album (yes, album) immediately after it closed, and listened to it pretty continuously for years. I thought it was to the 80s what Company was to the 70s - a new language in musical theatre.

I did, however, get to see the original Falsettoland in the itty bitty Playwrights Horizons space, and it was just as powerful an experience as first listening to March; in the interim, I had seen Finn's amazing huge opus Romance In Hard Times at the Public, which I also adored.

Seeing the mash-up version in a large Broadway house was very much a let down for me; the emotional impact was heavily diluted by the longer duration of the evening and by being hundreds of feet further away from the intimate performances.

I'm kind of embarrassed by this, but since you asked...

Back in 1981 I was dating a young man from my office. He used to read Stereo Review (this was pre Internet, of course) and was impressed by the writeup for March of the Falsettos. He bought us tickets. To make a long story short (mainly because I can't really remember the production), we both hated it. We were inexperienced theatergoers, just beginning to tip our toes in. That's my excuse, anyway. But we both thought it was ridiculous and a waste of time, and it put both of us off serious theatergoing for a couple of decades. Sad, I know!

I haven't seen the Broadway production, but I hope to soon, and I look forward to reevaluating it! I bet I have a different take on the material this time around. (My date still won't go, however!)

Updated On: 10/27/16 at 09:17 PM