"The Glorious Ones" is Terrific

So glad to hear such positive thoughts! Since you don't accept PMs, what is your AIM? I have something I wished to ask personally about specific parts of the show.

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 10:50 PM

In today's "Post-Gazette," Stephen Flaherty answered that question. It's not, it's a stand alone production, but if this doesn't transfer at some point or another, I'll be shocked.

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Just because this is a stand alone production doesn't mean it won't transfer. It also said in the paper that "industry professionals" will be attending the opening and other performance.

From the article: "Now they're adding something new: "The Glorious Ones," a musical chronicling the adventures of a troupe of 17th-century Italian actors, which has its world premiere at Pittsburgh Public Theater, now in previews and opening Thursday for critics and inquisitive industry powers.

"It's a real stand-alone production," Flaherty is quick to insist -- not just a tryout for New York."

But, go read it yourself.

And, "I Was Here" is amazing, but trust me, it's only the tip of the iceberg. The song after it is also beautiful, as is "Opposite You," "My Body Wasn't Why," and "The World She Writes."

Quick edit: I'm emailing the producer sometime soon (i.e. when the Public's website isn't down) to find out if they're making a cast recording. They can record it in my basement, but this NEEDS to be recorded)

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Updated On: 4/22/07 at 11:03 PM

I'm probably going back when they've frozen it.

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DANIELE doesn't have too much dance in this. It's more the comedia scenes that require heavy stylized staging and some other little moments.

Oh, and by the way Emily, in the actual production, "I Was Here" begins with, "Why does a boy carve his name on a tree?" I don't know if you care that much, but I thought I'd throw that in there.

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Patti LuPone sings it in her one-woman show, but it's on youtube too

Tags: I was here Patti LuPone

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I didn't think it was terrific.

I think it's Ok. It's a good starting place, and the music is really nice, but I wasn't really sure what I was watching until perhaps an hour in. I didn't know what story was being told. It just seems like there's something missing, especially in the end, as it is quite abrupt.

My other complaint is that it's not terrible funny. Granted, I saw the dress rehearsal, and things are still being tweeked, but the humor is a little lame, and for a show about Commedia del'Arte... I wasn't laughing much.

I absolutely understand that I was seeing a dress rehearsal of a World Premier show, but I hope they do a lot of work, because I certainly think it can and will be a lovely show.

And meeting Ahrens and Flaherty was a dream come true.

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I just came back from this, and honestly... I was dissapointed.

There's a few great songs, but the plot is confusing, there isn't a book, it isn't very funny, and it's missing something. I don't know what, but something's not there that really needs to be. Maybe it misses heart? Something deeper? I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and the plot turns, particularily the end, came out of nowhere.

The Good: Sturdy score, not A&F's best, but it's good. I really enjoyed Daniele's direction, and I think the show has a lot of potential but it needs to come together.

I guess with my love of Ahrens and Flaherty and my obsession with the song "I Was Here" I expected to love this. And I didn't.

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I chose not to read reviews until I had seen the piece myself, and they all pretty much said the same thing. Great team so it should've come out better, weak book, awful plot, uninvolving, great direction.

ETA: I lied, most of the reviews have been negative. But a few have been postive. City Paper and Variety's were negative, but the Pittsburgh Tribune and ATC's reviews were more on the postive side.

I don't really understand how anyone could love this show but...

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Updated On: 5/13/07 at 10:42 PM

Thanks Sondheimboy--I'm ashamed to say I *always* forget that their are other boards here for each city--I got to the West End one sometimes but usually just check here...

Why was 90 minutes too short if they were meant to be full characters? (just wondering as that's about the length of one of my fave shows--Passion--and even Chorus Line isn't much longer... two shows I connect with very much--but are also very different kinds of shows)

I have to admit that even from reading all the various info on the show I can't clearly tell whether the characters are meant to be prototypes, whether it's meant to be non literal or literal, etc, etc--so I can see that being a problem. Still I am such an Ahrens/Flaherty fan (and to a much lesser extent of Daniele's) that I wish I could see this.

(It does sound like maybe it suffers from a problem common to some of Daniele's other recent work--like her productions of LaChiusa's Bernarda Alba and Marie Christine which both are flawed but favreotie scores of mine but many thought needed someone else's involvement with the libretto)

(Interesting that linked review seems to think Ahrens/Flahherty have had more popular success on stage than most would--I LOVE Ragtime but considering some of its money probs calling it a *mammoth hit* is a bit hyperbole

Updated On: 5/14/07 at 08:19 AM