The 16 Greatest American Musicals in the Golden Age, according to the Library of America- Page 2

Posted: 11/3/14 at 1:20pm

I think it is a smear of the basest sort to call 1776 "highly fictionalized." They did indeed make some adjustments for reasons of cast size, for dramatic feasibility and to simplify the timeline but anyone who wants to can seek out the excellent essay written by the authors (Included in the published script) that details every change and why it was made. While certain things has to be guessed at, they took every chance they ad to pull actual dialogue from written notes, diaries, papers and letters written by the participants. The essential "truthiness" (to use George Bush's word) is remarkable.

To complain that showing the "non-event" of the delegates signing the document all at once to provide a satisfying finale (My 12th grade history teacher's complaint) misses the point of all the research and documentation provided.

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 11/4/14 at 11:08pm

This thread brings up the interesting issue of whether musicals can or should be considered as literature -- outside the context of performance. Is this like eating the condensed soup without adding the water?

Updated On: 11/4/14 at 11:08 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 11/4/14 at 11:39pm

Good analogy, NYT, but what can we do? Some of us very much enjoy reading librettos, despite their limitations.

Goth, I think you need to seriously revisit OKLAHOMA! Perhaps try to imagine you are a U.S. serviceman who is shipping off to fight a global war the next day (because such men were a big part of the show's original audience).

Yes, it has a comic subplot, but the main plot deals with murder, justice and the meaning of community and democracy--themes every bit as serious as those in CAROUSEL.

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/5/14 at 7:13am

JoeKV, "truthiness" is Stephen Colbert, not George Bush.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 11/6/14 at 12:59am

Perhaps after Laurents died, Masslon was then able to get the publishing rights for WSS and Gypsy. But he makes clear that he doesn't consider WSS a "good read" thus insinuating he didn't plan to include it anyway. It's been well over three years since Laurents' death and the book was just published.

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 11/7/14 at 8:10pm

Wilmington, you are correct on all counts. Professor Maslon never planned to include West Side Story for the reasons he stated in the essay he wrote; he did want Gypsy. Laurents was refusing to allow ANY of his shows to be published in a volume that included Pal Joey. But then Arthur Laurents died, and the roadblock died with him.

[Fan123]

Posted: 11/7/14 at 10:19pm

The aforementioned old Stanley Richards compilations are pretty great, and are available cheaply secondhand on Amazon etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Musicals-American-Theatre-Volume/dp/0801957311
(Of Thee I Sing, Porgy and Bess, One Touch of Venus, Brigadoon, Kiss Me Kate, West Side Story, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, 1776, Company)

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Musicals-American-Theatre-2/dp/B000OELFH4/
(Lady in the Dark, Leave It To Me, Lost in the Stars, Wonderful Town, Fiorello, Camelot, Man of La Mancha, Cabaret, Applause, A Little Night Music)

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Rock-Musicals-Stanley-Richards/dp/0812825098/
(The Wiz, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, Your Own Thing, Hair, Tommy, Promenade)

Updated On: 11/7/14 at 10:19 PM

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 6:49pm

Fan,
Richards' compilations are the librettos and the lyrics, but not the scores, correct?

[chanel]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 7:07pm

What did Arthur Laurents have against Pal Joey?

[jiff]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 9:47pm

Carousel is well written. A decidedly underrated play.