The Wild Party

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 11:15pm

I was just wondering why there are two version of The Wild Party by two different composers.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 11:18pm

Coincidence. Lippa and LaChiusa both just happened to discover the original poem and decide to turn it into a musical roughly around the same time. Weird, yes, but that's what happened.

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 11:20pm

I saw both, but liked the the andrew lippa version better.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 11:21pm

Interesting... I'm only familiar with the Lippa version myself.

[Attendthetale331]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:19am

I would recommed both versions of "The Wild Party" both are very different from each other musically but both are very good.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:20am

While Lippa's version has some great songs, I don't feel like they fit the show. If the songs were in a modern context, they'd work. THey are well crafted songs, with trilling moments. But they don't fit the show or the material. They are too modern, and actually feature the use of electric guitars in a show set in 1928/1929. It just isn't suited to the time period.

LaChiusa's however, while not as mainstream as Lippa's, is pure genius. One of the best scores of the last 20 years. Complex, challenging, deep, diverse, period specific, and jazzy, LaChiusa uses the sounds of the era, and infuses them into his characters. He writes from the character, and uses musical themes to create a wide variety of people, each with their own style, in both music and lyric.

LaChiusa manages to make every person at the party have a story and importance. Lippa chooses to focus on less characters. His characters tend to be 1 dimensional, and their music doesn't always seem directly written for them. Lippa's work is more obvious, especially the funny but generic "Lesbian Love Story". Lippa tends to be afraid of the sexuality of the piece, or at least too surface heavy in his treatment. LaChiusa embraces it. In all of his works, LaChiusa tackles sexuality head on in less obvious ways, in a fierce tone that is erotic, scary, thrilling, and uncomfortable all at once.

Both casts are great, but when you read the poem, and research the period, LaChiusa's piece comes out as a finely crafted masterpiece, while Lippa's comes out as a set of good songs that have little to do with the piece.

[Attendthetale331]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:26am

I would have to agree with you, LaChiusa's version certainly fits the poem with the jazz inspired theme and feel.

Updated On: 1/9/06 at 12:26 AM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:27am

Not sure if it's a typo, but it's LaChiusa.
Updated On: 1/9/06 at 12:27 AM

[Attendthetale331]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:34am

Yup thanks for informing me of that mistake

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:42am

I don't really mind the fact that Lippa's version doesnt sound "of the period." I think what Lippa did was take a time period that's been musicalized to death in countless musicals and updated it just a bit to make it appeal to modern audiences and to a younger demographic. I think he achieved his goal. Its one of my favorite musicals.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:47am

I am only familiar with LaChuisa's version, but it is one of the highlights of my collection. I visted marc at the Chitty stagedoor and we had a discussion on this. He was just so proud it seemed of this and hails LaC. as a marvelous composer. I would certainly agree with him based off this recording

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:02pm

I don't think what LaChiusa does in Wild Party has been "done to death". He uses period sounds, with his own musical sensibilities, and creates a unique scare that is unlike anything else out there.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:04pm

Agreed on everything, Bobby.

[moowithme111105]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:48pm

Both of them are just as good, they both have some really good dance songs on there.

[children&art]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:55pm

i am in agreement here - LaChuisa's version is far surpassing Lippa's no doubt. it is complex and dark and creepy and dischordant and brilliant.

LaChuisa is THE driving force of the new millenium of Broadway. From "Hello Again" - romantic, pretty, funny, slick to "Marie Christine" - a rough, violent blend of opera and musical and myth. He can do no wrong in my book.

Now will someone please release a CD of "Little Fish"?

[littlewow]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 4:11pm

no, it's LaChiusa.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 4:20pm

Well I know what I'm getting next time I get to the CD store...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 4:24pm

I don't feel like discussing this anymore.

I agree 100% with BobbyB.

It's funny, my favorite song from Lippa's version was "stylized" by Alix Korey ("Old Fashioned Love Story").

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 4:39pm

given that he does not have the rights to the source material i am not sure andrew lippa is permitted to call his work THE WILD PARTY any longer. i remember reading something about this not so long ago.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 4:43pm

LaChuisa's work is pure genious.... he is the only composer that i LOVE to listen too!

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 4:46pm

"Lippa chooses to focus on less characters. His characters tend to be 1 dimensional, and their music doesn't always seem directly written for them."

I have to disagree with you strongly on this Bobbybubby. While I enjoy both versions, at least in the productions I saw I thought Lippa's characters to be far better drawn, LaChuisa (as in many of his shows) seemed to be writing concepts rather than characters. Often in LaChuisa's I feel like the characters are comenting on what's going on rather than actually experiencing it.

[thez914]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 6:03pm

Yeah, I agree with Danielm. I think that by focusing on every character, LaChiusa cancels out the chance for the audience to connect to any of them. I think that by focusing on the love triangle between Queenie, Burrs, and Black (I guess its more of a 'diamond' when you through in Kate), Lippa produced a much more affecting and haunting piece. Plus, I could listen to Lippa's score any day, but have yet to make it all the way through LaChiusa's since seeing it.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 7:41pm

Ehhhh all the riffing and screaming got on my nerves a bit. And there is more than the four leads that I would want to hear about.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 7:54pm

i love the fact the LaChiusa utilizes alot of charecters. Frankly at times i find the supporting charecters stories to be more intresting..... Also in Wild Party you feel like you are at a party meeting all these strangers. His work only enhances every aspect of a theatrical evening.

Thank you Mr. LaChiusa for bringing excellent music and amazing stories to the theatre again.

[children&art]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 11:34am

LaChuisa's choice of focusing on ALL the characters in the "Wild Party" mirrors exactly the poem it is based on.

His version makes the claustrophobia of the one-room party extremely palpable while at the same time the characters all reflect well on the specific social/racial situation of the 20s and 30s. It's like a microcosm of that world rather than a Queenie Burrs Black story with some secondary characters in the mix.

And how can anyone dispute the power of "When It Ends"? It reminds me of "I'm Still Here" from Sondheim's "Follies". A gut wrenching powerful classic commentary.

Lippa is fluffy soap opera whereas LaChuisa is powerful musical drama.