The Great Wild Party Debate

[StrictlyShowtunes]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 1:40pm

I'm very interested in comparing/contrasting the merits of different shows, and I want to know what people think of LaChuisa's "Wild Party" as compared to Lippa's "Wild Party." I've also read the poem by Joseph Moncure March on which both shows are based. If other people have read it, bring that into the discussion, too.

Please no bashing (the musicals or each other), just civil discussion and debate. Everyone has his or her favorite musical, and that preference should not be challenged.
Thanks!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 1:46pm

i prefer lippa's wildly extravagant, and insanely erotic Wild Party over Chuisa's.

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 1:47pm

I've read the poem too, as well as having both soundtracks. I have to say, all around I enjoy the Lippa version MUCH more. I think the music for the Lippa version was more accurate with the kind of music for that time period, but the LaChuisa version did a better job of sticking more closely to the original poem. On the other hand, I think Lippa was darker, edgier and had a MUCH better cast (Eartha Kitt's voice is god-awful!)
Mandy was the really only outstanding cast member in LaChuisa, but even then his voice was pretty scary throughout the whole cd LOL but anyway, thats my opinion on both of them...

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 1:48pm

I perfer the score for Lippa's version much better.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 2:02pm

Lippa Lippa Lippa! His score was incredible!

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 2:12pm

OY...this argument.

One's music isn't 'better' than the other's. Both are accomplished scores. It depends on what the listener's taste is.

I've heard the Lippa version and thought it was quite good. But my personal preference is for the deconstructed pastiche score by LaChiusa.

[Elphie]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 2:21pm

I like the jazziness of LaChiusa's music. My favorite song on this CD is "Queenie was a Blonde." I also love the Lippa Version with its sexual feel of the 1920's atmosphere pouring out of the music. I really cannot chose. I saw Lippa's version at a local community theatre and enjoyed it and I thought the music held the piece together. I really cannot say which one I prefer better.

Updated On: 1/28/04 at 02:21 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 2:30pm

I prefer LaChiusa's score. I think it really captured the flavor of the period, while Lippa's score is closer to the more standard musical theatre fare. I also think LaChiusa's Wild Party is much edgier and darker than Lippa's. The opening chord foreshadows the chaos that will ensue and the wide range of musical styles from vaudeville, to Chicago jazz, to New Orleans jazz, to Burlesque, perfectly set the tone for each character and their scene. The erratic cocaine ramblings, the catty jealousy between two women, the exotic vamp - each given a unique and memorable theme. And the first act finale is a cacophony of a party spinning wildly out of control. I think Toni Collette is sumptuous and though Eartha Kitt is probably an acquired taste, she creates the illusion of an exotic desireable creature who knows how to use what she has to her advantage. I'm not a Mandy Patinkin fan, so he's my least favorite in the cast. This score gives me chills every time I listen to it.

Lippa's Wild Party sounds far more sedate and the songs seem a little more stock rather than tightly fitted to the characters. It's ok, and has some clever tunes, but was mostly forgettable for me. Obviously, it had a wonderful cast of strong young talent and its success proves that it stands well on its own, but in comparison to LaChiusa's, I think it comes across much less gritty and intense.

Updated On: 1/28/04 at 02:30 PM

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 3:43pm

I saw both and have to say I enjoyed LaChiusa's much better. Lippa's had some fantastic musical theatre style songs, but didn't capture the characters or integrate with the story as well. "Gin/Wild" is one of the greatest scenes/songs I've ever seen in a theatre. And the cast of the Broadway production was amazing - Toni Collette, Mandy Patinkin, Eartha Kitt, Norm Lewis, Tonya Pinkins.... Just writing this brings back the sense of awe I felt seeing the Broadway production.

[Elphie]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 3:45pm

Dont forget Brooke Sunny Moriber!
Shes the best Nadine ever!

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 3:56pm

And Marc Kudisch's HOT, ambisexual, coked-out Jackie should have been nominated for (and won) the Tony.

Gets me flustered just thinking about it.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 3:59pm

i love lippas! the talent on it is incredible! ugh! IDINAs "the life of the party" is a definite highlight!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:20pm

I only saw the Broadway version & throughly enjoyed it escpecially Eartha Kitt & the mad Mandy P

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 9:25pm

I like both versions but I'm partial to Lippa's. I think his score just accentuates the roaring twenties wonderfully and yet he manages to simultaneously infuse modern music into the show.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 9:49pm

Lippa's music is great but in my opinion LaChuisa's Wild Party is far superior as a whole.

[cbrown828]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 11:30pm

i saw both versions and enjoyed them both very much. but i liked lippa's version alot better. but i loved toni c.and eartha kitt in the lachuisa version.

[tpdc]

Posted: 1/29/04 at 12:23pm

I've read the poem, read LaChuisa's and have seen the MerChant/Ivory film with Raquel Welch and James Coco as well as the original MTC production of Lippa's version. I see why the material has been changed in all the adaptations. The characters in the poem are rather sketchy and all of them are very unlikeable. My problem with all the versions is they sentimentalize Queenie. I think La Chuisa and Wolfe added too much unnecessary stuff and lost the throughline of the main story (the comment I heard most from those who saw the Broadway version). The movie and Lippa kept the focus tighter but were more sentimental and traditional in style. However, when I saw Lippa's version on stage, the actors played it just right. Murney was a terrific and hard Queenie. She was tough and out to teach Brian D'Arcy James's washed up, drunk, self hating, end of his rope Burrs a lesson. Idina Menzel was a funny yet lethal game playing Kate. Taye Diggs played Black as a guy who had to see himself as a nice guy and was just responding to Queenie's neediness. Diggs managed to capture all the neurotic self doubt underneath the hot bod and killer smile. Murney was great when she realized that her game had turned real. Menzel's transformation from funny and boozy to tough was bracing. D'Arcy James was terrific as someone you started out hating and had some feeling for when he hits the bottom. I liked the scores to all three versions. LaChuisa's is the most ambitious, the movie's might be even more period accurate than La Chuisa and Lippa's was the most fun (and the one I listen to the most).