'Romance Romance' revival?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 11:51am

i've been listening to the cast recording for Romance Romance and am a bit surprised this show has not been revived. the score is WONDERFUL and it seems fairly cheap to do. even Off-Broadway or SOMETHING.

was this show not well received?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 11:59am

I'm surprised that it hasn't had an off-Broadway mounting.

[stagescreen]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 12:23pm

folkyboy,

I've been listening to ROMANCE/ROMANCE a lot lately too, and it should definitely be re-explored. Some of the second act could be re-orchestrated..."Words He Doesn't Say" is a bit problematic in that it sounds even more like an 80's power ballad now than it did back then (though I secretly love the song), but it's such a strong score overall (and a first rate cast recording.) Personally I can't get enough of Alison Fraser. I'm so happy she's in GYPSY.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 12:30pm

I have always wanted to see this show. I love the score. I only hope a revival would last long enough that I could get up there to see it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 12:31pm

"Personally I can't get enough of Alison Fraser."

Do you have either one of her solo albums? On the first one she does a great version of "The Blonde Song"

[RoseStopnikCooks]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 12:57pm

Alison was so excited to see that I had brought a ROMANCE ROMANCE poster to Gypsy the other night for her to sign. She's a wonderfully kind person.

Posted: 3/10/08 at 12:59pm

I think the second act is terribly dated. It would have to be reworked but it is a truly charming little show!

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 1:04pm

Eeek! The show smells of bad 80's. Even the book seems out of a dated sitcom.

[stagescreen]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:18pm

Gothampc: No, I don't have either of her solo albums. I searched and can find "Men in My Life" -- what's the other one?

Her voice is so silky...and Blaxx is right - the show is terribly dated (at least Act Two). Has anyone done it regionally lately? What do they do about the 1980's second act? I'm not sure about the book (I only have the P/C score) - but it can't be any more problematic than Baby (also hopelessly set in the 1980's)...but maybe like everything else, it all comes back around. In ten years, it may be chic to do 1980's shows.

And now that I think about it, the second act's orchestrations aren't any less cheesy than some contemporary shows (I Love You, Because comes to mind, instantly). But then again, unless we're talking about shows that really rock hard (Hedwig, Passing Strange) -- contemporary Broadway sounds aren't ever really vanguard, just pop(py).

I wonder if people would do this show just for it's first act (like is commonly done with THE APPLE TREE)? Though it loses the cute subtitle "Two New Musicals" if you did...well, and it ain't so new these days, either.

Fascinating thread, folkyboy, you do this board proud.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:20pm

"Gothampc: No, I don't have either of her solo albums. I searched and can find "Men in My Life" -- what's the other one?"

"Men in My Life" is the second one. It has a track with her singing with William Finn. The first album is "New York Romance". Both are good, but I prefer the first one.

Updated On: 3/10/08 at 03:20 PM

[stagescreen]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:40pm

I just read Andrew Gans' interview with her...really interesting. Glad she's back on Broadway!
Playbill.com Interview with Alison Fraser

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:43pm

I choreographed this show last summer. We did our Act II set in modern day. Changed some of the synth patches to help get the 80's sound out however, the book needs an drastic update. I mean it REALLY got cheesy. It often times reminded me of a sitcom that I would have loved back in the day and re-watched now wondering why I loved it so much when I was younger. The first act holds up beautifully!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:46pm

i thought a majority of the book is SUPPOSED to be cheesy. it seemed all very cheeky and kitsch. i don't see it being played out like anything else, really. when it was at the Helen Hayes, it was being taken as SERIOUS?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 6:21pm

I think the first act is very tongue in cheek but approaching the material as something fresh, the second act book is pretty bad but then again what does one expect from the writer of MY LITTLE PONY TV movies and whatnot?

[alterego]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:23am

I saw this back in 88. While the first act was fine it kind of wore out it welcome and you were glad for the bright opening of the second musical but it went downhill from there. The only thing I could say about it as a criticism is that as a show it was unfullfilling.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:49am

ive never even heard of it? adding it to amazon wish list now...

[stagescreen]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:22pm

Thanks for the insight, WonderBoy. Even the problem-children shows need attention too. I'm glad to hear that somebody's trying to do this little show. (And let me know how Robber Bridegroom plays out...that's another one people don't do too often)