THE STORY OF MY LIFE - Final Performance - 02.22.09- Page 2

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 2:14pm

frontrowcentre2, thank you very much for posting this. What a wonderfully written piece about a sadly short-lived show. I am just glad that it made it to Broadway and will live on in the minds and hearts of those who saw it. And quite selfishly (since I don't live here in New York and rarely make trips to the city) I am so very grateful that I got to see it once before it closed. So thank you for posting this and thanks to all those who suggested I see this intimate, heartfelt piece of art.

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 4:20pm

Many thanks to FRONTROWCENTRE2 for posting Peter Filichia's Diary on THE STORY OF MY LIFE. It was one of the most insightful and detailed looks at this remarkable new musical that I have read. For those of us who were enthusiastic about the prospects of seeing this show, based on word of mouth from our friends who saw it or from the few pieces of music we heard on the show's website, or the great video Broadway WORLD.COM provided as a sneak peak, it was wonderful to hear this beautiful score will be recorded. Many of us who were accused of being "shills" for this show for merely expressing our enthusiasm can now take some joy in knowing that we will at least get to hear the complete score. I do hope we see regional productions of this show but I regret we will not get to see Will Chase and Malcolm Gets in these roles as well as a first rate orchestra playing Tunick's beautiful orchestrations. Maybe, but I doubt we will see anything quite like this original Broadway cast and production. It is too bad that this initial New York production was not done off-Broadway at a venue like Vineyard or Atlantic Theatre Company, where it may have had a chance to run longer. It was disconcerting to be called a shill for this show when all I was doing was expressing enthusiasm for it based on opinions of friends whom I respect who saw it either in Toronto in 2006 or at Goodspeed in 2008. I soon learned that some people who post here on this message board try to tear others down, merely because they do not like certain opinions expressed. To me, that is counterproductive to creating dialogue between people who share a love for all things "theatre". Fortunately, there are many more wonderful insights given by people who post here, than there are the negative posters. I can already see there are a specific group of posters who pretty much do nothing but post degrading comments meant to devalue others, but I see many more posts from people of good will. The Story of My Life did not hold a high value to some who saw it but the overwhelming number of positive opinions about this little musical outweighed those and I enjoyed reading WHY people liked or did not like this new work.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 4:30pm

You will learn very quickly there are people who post here who are full of helpful advice and information, and the "seagulls" who just like to crap all over everything. As soon as anyone posts a positive comment on any show they are there to counter it with something negative. Some of them haven't even seen the shows they are slamming. (See Nick's comment eralier on this thread. I suspect Nick Plasia is a reincarnation of TheEnchantedHunter, another seagull.) Just ignore them.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 5:00pm

I really home the cast recording comes to fruition. First of all for purely selfish reasons, because I really adored the score and I want a recording of it. But, secondly, I do feel this show has regional potential but it's going to be a hard sell since most out-of-town producers probably didn't get to see the show during it's extremely brief run. I personally know two theaters off-hand that would likely jump at this show if exposed to it. A cast recording is going to get the show out there to a wider audience.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 5:13pm

Does anyone know if the sheet music for the show will be released? I think the music is BEAUTIFUL, and would love to use it for auditions and such.

I'm so sad that this is gone! I was supposed to see it this past weekend, but other plans prevented this. I regret not forcing myself to go so much!

[BenKaye]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 6:04pm

I was also at the performance last night. One of the most amazing performances by two amazing actors. I also talked to Neil Batram, Brian Hill, and Richard Maltby Jr., who are all extremely nice people.

[suzycat]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 9:40pm

Wow, I can't believe this closed so fast. I had tickets to yesterday's matinee, and had no idea it was the last show until reading about it tonight. That said, the audience was incredibly supportive, with long bouts of applause and an instant standing ovation. As an independent bookseller myself, the show was incredibly moving to me. What performances. I'm so glad I got to see it.

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 9:56pm

Not exactly a cast album, but on the website there is now a recording of Malcolm singing "Mrs. Remington" and Will singing "The Butterfly". http://www.thestoryofmylife.com/

[Sheila2]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 5:08am

"Malcolm broke my heart everytime as he cried while miming his father's eulogy."
Could anyone who has seen the show on B'way say more about Alvin's miming his father's eulogy? This is the part I'm most curious about. I'm addicted to the cast album and find Will and Malcolm amazing just like most of you here. I didn't see it on B'way (so jealous of those who did), but saw a Houston production last month. It was only accompanied by a piano and not so nicely staged, and I already listened to the cast album a few times before going to that performance, I was quite disappointed. During "I didn't see Alvin", I saw Alvin miming his father's eulogy, but I found it a little wired to watch. So how did you feel about this part with Malcolm Gets in this role?

[once a month]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 8:35am

I was at the same matinee performance, and although I thought it a nice little entry into the theatrical season and was very happy to have seen it...I walked away with the same feelings that I did walking away from A Class Act...melancholy. It touched a bit too close to home in terms of bringing up past loneliness for me. That's probably why I've only listened to the CD once-it saddened me.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 9:46am

I was also at the final performance. I went in expecting it to be bad and ended up giving a standing ovation with tears in my eyes. The cast recording is always on my Ipod, though I do have to skip "People Carry On" if I am driving or in public, because the tears start flowing by the second verse.

This show was beautiful, and the actors were incredible, but there was no way it was going to survive on Broadway without a major star or a more inventive marketing campaign. I believe it would still be running if it had opened off Broadway but that having the lure of "the Broadway musical" after the title was strong (and will make the show more popular in the future).

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 10:18am

Could anyone who has seen the show on B'way say more about Alvin's miming his father's eulogy? This is the part I'm most curious about.

I didn't see the show, but I just finished playing Alvin at my local theater a couple weeks ago. I can just tell you that I personally "mimed" telling stories about my actual father (who died 15 years ago) adn froze JUST as Thomas began to sing the song. I, however, didn't cry. I instead "found" Alvin's joy in his father and in his story telling, so by the time I froze it was with an air of sadness, yet subdued joy at the same time.

This show meant SO much to me. It is truly the greatest theatrical experience of my entire life (and I've been doing this crap since I'm 10 years old!)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 1:14pm

I really think Will Chase was giving the best male performance of the season. Sucks it closed so quickly.

[RoslynReynolds]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 1:41pm

It didn't survive on Broadway cuz it
was a teeny tiny show with teeny tiny
thoughts and a teeny tiny show that
didn't belong in a Broadway house!

[Elke]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 2:00pm

It may not have belonged in a Broadway house (then again, who decides that?), but this "teeny tiny show" obviously moved a lot of people. It sure moved me and it's still one of my personal theatre highlights of 2009.

[D2]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 2:07pm

And it played in a "teeny tiny" theatre. Evidently a lot of people enjoyed this show, so why don't you fly away and crap on some other beachhead, Roz?

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 2:32pm

I absolutely love the music. This is one show I am so sorry I didn't get to see.

Posted: 12/22/09 at 3:29pm

I had tickets to see the first preview of Guys and Dolls. That got canceled and I decided to see this little gem of a show. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have seen it! Beautiful music, great book, stellar cast...I had tears in my eyes by the end. I'll never forget it!

(And it was a major plus that I didn't have to sit through the awful revival that was G&D)

[Sheila2]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 8:12pm

Thanks, Broadway Bob. In the production I saw, Alvin's miming lasted the whole number until Thomas finishes his song. Maybe it was a bit too long. I haven't experience the death of anyone I care much about. Maybe I'm too young to understand Alvin's subdued joy you felt.

BTW, the link to the Peter Filichia's Diary is: http://www.theatermania.com/peterfilichia/index.cfm?date=20090223
I read it last month and felt the same way.

P.S How to make the quotes in italics? I didn't find any font option.
Updated On: 12/22/09 at 08:12 PM

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 8:48pm

sadly my memories of this show are fading, as i've said in this thread i saw it numerous times during its out of town run in CT and several times on Broadway including opening night and the final performance. it may have been a teeny tiny show to some people but it had a profound effect on me. I *believe* that Malcolm mimed throughout the entire song, although I can't say for sure any longer.

[Sheila2]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 8:54pm

From what I know I think it's until "I didn't see the end of the road" begins, which is also mentioned in the script (http://bartramandhill.com/SOML%20Website%20Script.pdf):
"As THOMAS's thoughts become more personal ALVIN steps out of the past and observes him."

Actually I know something about what Alvin is doing during the song. I just wonder how the audience feels about the miming. From their perspective, does it feel appropriate, moving, or something?
Updated On: 12/22/09 at 08:54 PM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/22/09 at 11:38pm

Sheila: It's HTML coding. To make something italic, put < i > (without the spaces) before the text you want italicized, and < /i > after.

[Sheila2]

Posted: 12/23/09 at 12:21am

Sheila: It's HTML coding. To make something italic, put < i > (without the spaces) before the text you want italicized, and < /i > after.
Thanks! I learned this in computer class but forgot it.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/23/09 at 1:46am

It didn't survive on Broadway cuz it
was a teeny tiny show ...

Behold! Another seagull!

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 12/23/09 at 8:56am

Our audiences were very moved by the miming, BUT I think to have Alvin mime the whole song is bad. First of all it is QUITE awkward for the actor, also it is distracting and I think takes away from Thomas' moment, and finally the longer it goes on the more it lessens the effect.

Again, I say this show is gorgeous! The most amazing thing that happened though was getting an opening night message from Neil Bartram wishing us luck! And then a closing night message from Brian Hill congratulating us! These guys are amazing!