Smile the musical- Page 2

[newintown]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 1:28pm

He did die only 4 and 1/2 years after Smile opened; given how long it takes a project from inception to production, I doubt that he would have had more than 1 other Broadway show in that period.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 1:51pm

In that time, he was able to work on three scores for Disney films, which are now considered classic. So I have to think that was the more productive career route.

[sondhead]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 1:55pm

"I remember sitting there aghast, watching this corporate-sponsored show (I forget now - was it Nike or Reebok?); the movie was a dark satire about the ridiculousness of all beauty pageants. The musical toothlessly and timidly mocked pageants a bit, but spent most of its time on endless pounding and repetitious inspirational group numbers, which appeared actually to glorify pageants."

The corporate sponsorship and, as I suspect at least, the producers in general were definitely part of the problem. I'm not sure about Nike or Reebok, but I know Coca Cola was a sponsor of the Broadway production, hence the change of all "Pepsi" references to "Coke" for the Broadway production only. The set also featured Coke machines if I'm not mistaken.

However, I'd disagree that the group numbers are "endlessly pounding and repetitious inspirational group numbers which [appear] to glorify pageants." The repetition and endless pounding are subjective, obviously, but I don't really believe there's any glorification of pageants happening in Smile. All of the underbelly is there and the upbeat and inspirational pageant numbers are all juxtaposed directly with scenes that use them ironically. "In Our Hands," a song about how parents teach their children to be upstanding citizens and then send them out into the world, and which is sung on top of Big Bob discovering that it was his own son who took naked photos of the contestants in a bathroom, comes to mind.

I'd also argue that Disneyland actually has a lot to say. It tells us a lot about Doria's character and why she is the way she is. It is also a pretty big thematic statement that aligns with much of what Smile is about. Doria puts stock in a fake dream world so that she can look escape her unhappy upbringing and home life, much as.. well lots of people do similar things, but one could relate that to pageants that purport to reward upstanding young girls (many of whom are completely nasty and embody none of the traits they are trying to show to the judges) and perhaps more specifically Big Bob's pursuit of a happy American life and willful ignorance of how much of his life does not actually hold up to that standard. Well, until Act 2 anyways :) When you put this in the context of the 80s and the Reagan administration (I'm thinking specifically of Nancy Reagan's ridiculous Just Say No campaign) it becomes even more of a statement. The other thing about "Disneyland" is that it sets up the heartbreaking final moment of the show, a moment that is in now way Big-Broadway happy or crowd pleasing.

What someone said above about Ashman's sincere irony was so well said, and the "Somewhere That's Green" example well put. He was a genius storyteller and was unbelievable when it came to structuring a book well (you just try to show me an OUNCE of fat in the Little Shop of Horrors book), but I think perhaps what makes his work truly as wonderful and entertaining as it is is the multi layered and real characters he creates. "Somewhere That's Green" is almost 100% jokes and yet it doesn't really ever get many laughs, does it? That's because Audrey is written so sincerely (and Menken deserves a lot of credit here too) that you absolutely just want it for her. The way that show can make you laugh at the ridiculousness of it all and in the same breath legitimately care for its characters never ceases to amaze me.

But I digress...

I, for one, think a major reason Smile didn't catch on that hasn't been discussed much here is Hamlisch and Ashman's use of montage song scenes more than take away songs. There are many sections of Smile that almost play like pop-theatre-influenced opera scenes. This was also a common complaint for "Sweet Smell of Success." Obviously he used the technique in "Chorus Line" as well, but not as completely. I, for one, love that he writes that way. I think it's exciting and makes for a fast-paced evening of good storytelling, but I can understand why it can be difficult to swallow for your typical commercial Broadway audience.

Updated On: 4/23/13 at 01:55 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 2:17pm

I, for one, think a major reason Smile didn't catch on that hasn't been discussed much here is Hamlisch and Ashman's use of montage song scenes more than take away songs. There are many sections of Smile that almost play like pop-theatre-influenced opera scenes.

I absolutely agree with that! I remember when I looked at the song list in the Playbill, I mentioned to my friend that it seemed like an unusual structure. Many montages, groupings of songs (Letter #1, Letter #2), transitions, etc. Very few stand-alone songs ("Disneyland" was one of the few exceptions).

I loved Ashman's staging, and how it all flowed together, in and out of musical moments, scenes, time changes, etc. It was very cinematic. But you're right, it didn't let audiences sink their teeth into a traditional song structure with an ending that allowed people to clap and catch their breaths.

I loved the show when I saw it.

Updated On: 4/23/13 at 02:17 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 2:20pm

"In that time, he was able to work on three scores for Disney films, which are now considered classic. So I have to think that was the more productive career route."

Not to diminish his achievements, but those three movie scores contain significantly fewer songs than any stage musical - an average of about 6 songs each. And he did lyrics alone, not script.

If he had continued developing stage musicals as lyricist and librettist, I imagine it would have taken much more time to complete even one project.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 3:55pm

He also didn't finish Aladdin, Tim Rice was brought on after he passed away and is the one who received final credit for three of the six songs used in the movie, including "A Whole New World."

[jv92]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 4:46pm

Howard and Alan DID write a whole score for ALADDIN, but it was thrown out save for the three songs that are now in the film-- "Arabian Nights", "A Friend Like Me", and "Prince Ali." Had the original ALADDIN been made, it would have made for 3 complete animated movie scores.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 6:00pm

And Ashman had HUGE story input in all of those movies (though most of his story input for Aladdin was dropped, it did set the tone.) The excellent Waking Sleping Beauty docu about that, perhaps brief, Disney animation renaissance goes into detail after detail about just how much of the story ideas for Mermaid and for Beauty (when it was changed from a darker, non musical) were Ashman's. He was at the studios constantly--story meetings, etc, and not just writing lyrics for a few songs.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 6:01pm

Here is a clip from the docu about Howard (who apparently Roy Disney Jr called "Another Walt") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PggMaREbs0

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/23/13 at 6:06pm

As they point out he was first hired by Disney to help with story structure--including non musicals (at least not with original music) including a Tina Turner bio and a Thief of Baghdad remake--but he was interested in what was going on in animation and heard about Mermaid. (Baghdad obviously became Aladdin--the film owes as much to the earlier Baghdad as it does to any Aladdin story.)

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 12:37am

Ashman served as executive producer on both Mermaid and Beauty! I can only imagine what the lyrics could've been like for the other films that Menken composed following Aladdin had Ashman not passed during that dark time, for many.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 10:15am

I've seen the Broadway production in the library. I love Hamlisch and Ashman, but this show is just so uneven. The book really sucks. The music is great and Howard has some really great lyrics, it just doesn't deliver.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 10:46am

"Not to diminish his achievements, but those three movie scores contain significantly fewer songs than any stage musical - an average of about 6 songs each. And he did lyrics alone, not script."

Howard's work at Disney as has been mentioned was not strictly lyrics. As Eric points out Howard was deeply involved and invested in the the pre-production and production of these films. This was everything from story and character development to dialogue. He was also instrumental in casting.

Interestingly another very respected "story guy," Joe Ranft worked on the same films and went on to success with the Pixar films.

[andi1235]

Posted: 4/28/13 at 3:55pm

I haven't seen Smile, but I'm a HUGE Ashman fan so I've heard as many of the demos (and, yes, bootlegs) as I can get my hands on.

Personally, I love the show. I would love to see a really "80s-fied" version done, with big hair and 80s pageant dresses and everything. Play up the pageant artificiality and the "keep smiling" mentality to play it against the would-be sincerity of Bob and Robin (the RV-salesman and the "main" character pageant contestant.) But IMO, keep the 80s jokes and tone. :)

Also, IMO, the book doesn't suck. I think the satire is spot-on and clever, and...just works. I WISH I could have seen it when it originally ran (although I don't think 8-year-old me would have been as impressed...)

[ForPoland]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 12:52pm

There's a wonderful out of print box set titled "The Music Behind the Magic" which complies an incredible amount of the behind the scenes materials for the three Menken/Ashman movies. It includes many unused songs for Aladdin, and I believe more and/or all have been re-instated for the stage version creeping its way to Broadway. Such as: Call Me A Princess, Humiliate the Boy, Why Me, High Adventure, Babkak/Omar/Aladdin/Kassim, How Quick They Forget, & Proud of Your Boy.

IMO, A Whole New World is a vastly inferior song lyrically to anything else in the Aladdin trunk.

I have really enjoyed listening to the demo of SMILE, and I own the published script. I think it would be great to see someone take another crack at it. I also own the script of GOD BLESS YOU MR. ROSEWATER, which is a wonderful show that more people need to rediscover. I think it could be very popular with the disaffected tone of so much media today.

While we're discussing Ashman, does anyone know anything about Dreamstuff?

[andi1235]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 6:13pm

I LOVE Rosewater; wish I could see a production of it!

The lyrics in Dreamstuff were actually not by Ashman, just the book. However, he sings on the demo. I have a copy that was given to me by the lyricist, Dennis Green. He contacted me after finding a question I wrote on a forum several years ago.

Here's the text of the email he sent me:

"Howard Ashman wrote the book to the musical Dreamstuff. I wrote all the lyrics, though Howard came up with the idea for a couple of the songs. Marsha Malamet was the composer. The conceit that of a contemporary group of characters (husband & wife in a bad marriage, their son, and the wife's "secret" lover) accidentally sail their yacht into the Bermuda triangle and end up in the middle of Shakespeare's play. Very funny script -l As far as I know no one recorded any of the actual performances. However there is a demo recording in so-so very good sound with most of the songs performed by Howard, Marsha M. and an actor/singer named Albert Insinnia who played Caliban in the original production. If you will provide an address I will send you a copy on condition that you promise not to make further copies without permission.

The show was recently given a staged reading by the Hayworth Theater in LA with Eden Espinoza as Miranda in a cast that included Fred Willard, Vicki Lewis, Luke McFarlane and others.

I also am credited with "additional lyrics" for the Ashman/Menken debut musical "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater."

Best,

Dennis Green"

I enjoy the CD for Dreamstuff. The music kind of reminds me of Godspell -- that sort of vibe. Sorry I can't give a copy out, but he specifically asked me not to share without permission and I haven't been able to get a reply back the few times I've emailed him since. I don't really know Mr. Green; he contacted me more or less out of the blue. Happy surprise for me, though. This was in 2008. It's very possible he's got a different email address now.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 6:44pm

There's an interesting version posted on the web of Lilla Crawford singing Disneyland at a recent Lincoln Center tribute to Marvin Hamlisch. As much as Jodi was simply amazing singing the song in the 80's, to me it almost works better with a kid singing it.

I am not comparing the two voices - you can't really compare a mature voice with one of an 11 year old. But I am saying the words come off better with a very young person saying them. A kid could find hope in something fake like Disneyland more than an adult and so it makes a little more sense as far as lyrics co.

Some of the lyrics are interesting in Disneyland. I always notice the line about a "magic carpet ride". This was quite a few years before Aladdin, so I wonder how much Ashman was thinking of Aladdin already.

[ForPoland]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:14am

Does anyone know if the oral history presentation referenced in the Waking Sleeping Beauty clip is available anywhere?

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:18am

I believe the clip in it's fullness is on the web somewhere. It's on the bonus features, though.

[ForPoland]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:23am

Ashman's entire lecture is on the DVD?

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:25am

Yes. As a bonus feature.

[ForPoland]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:31am

Wow, that's enough to make me want to buy the DVD irregardless of the movie! (Which is why I wanted to clarify, this may end in me spending money.)

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:39am

Also on the DVD is Howard's coaching session with Jodi on Part Of Your World. Don Hahn the films director did an awesome job at showcasing Howard's contributions to disney in the film.

[andi1235]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 9:27am

Does anyone know if it's actually the WHOLE lecture, or just a portion of it? I rented the DVD of "Waking Sleeping Beauty" at one point, and it's on my "to buy" list. It's a fantastic documentary; for me it was worth seeing for the Ashman material alone.

However, I got the impression that in the case of both the Jodi Benson coaching clip and the Ashman Disney lecture, that they were just excerpts. Totally worth watching anyway -- and please correct me if anyone knows I'm wrong!