The Wild Party - LaChiusa

lachiusa's version is actually being produced at emerson this weekend. a friend of mine is directing.

THE WILD PARTY
November 19th at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM
November 20th at 2:00 PM
The Greene Theatre at Emerson College
10 Boylston Place, Boston

You know how I feel about this show. I do loves it. And it's good to have ya back, Bwaysinger.

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I'd like to direct this production sometime in the future. I can see naked figures hanging from the rafters after the orgy and for sure full frontal male nudity from some of the ensemble members during the orgy. then they just stay all entangled and moving during "People Like Us"... I dunno... just visions...

But thank god for shows like All Shook Up, eh?
God knows I'd much prefer catalog musicals than the Wild Party any day. ;P

I loved THE WILD PARTY on Broadway. I didn't care for Lippa's version so much, although I do understand its charms.

This argument comes around so often, but so many people are basing their reactions on the cast albums, and not the shows. I saw both of them, and trust me, Michael John's WILD PARTY was far, far superior to the Lippa version. They were both misconceived, to an extent, because in the end, the source material proved unadaptable.

The Lippa cast album IS more accessible, on one listen. But Michael John's version stands up to repeated listenings, and his version is not only my personal preference, but the one I think will stand the test of time.

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 01:05 PM

Whenever comparing the two, people always talk about the "first listen" which is important when you're seeing a show live. Seeing LaChiusa's Wild Party and hearing it live for the first time as opposed to buying the album and expecting it to strike a chord without an alarming visual, is a tough task - that I think Wolfe did brilliantly. Wolfe is a unconventional director whom many people feel is sloppy and unaware of typical staging techiniques (blocking according to text). Whatever your opinion on the often avant-garde director is, he staged Wild Party with flair and no inhibitions. LaChiusa's score is not even in the same ballpark as Lippa's (greatly superceding the latter), and rightly deserving of the cult acclaim it gets. After seeing it on the Tonys, I knew it was something that most people wouldn't like - and LaChiusa says it best in an interview:

"I think you'll see more of the same thing you've been seeing on Broadway unless we all start dealing with some truths about our culture, which is in decline right now. I wish there was some way for that to be reversed, but I don't know how. I know that my colleagues speak to me in their songs; I feel like they've got a voice that says, "This is a thing of beauty." But it's a larger, more powerful thing that has to go on here. We need a mayor, we need a President, we need religious people to reverse the trend of where we're going culturally. Broadway is a small part of the culture and it's getting increasingly smaller, unfortunately."

This is all too true as far as the success for the show goes and I just thought it would be interesting to just have some of you read that. I digress. Back to the show itself - In LaChiusa's version you feel the booze and you feel the sex in the music and banter of the lyrics. It's real 20's-jazz nightlife. And like Caroline, or Change, Floyd Collins, Marie Christine, My Life with Albertine, etc. much of the music is too complex and not melodic enough for the pop-trained ear to enjoy on a first few listens. I've likened to think that I have tried to rise above it, but each person can only do so much - to have the want to hear, live, and experience new styles of music. LaChiusa is doing his best - which I find to be quite stellar - to go against the grain, but still make audiences laugh and cry. And that's something we all want out of a show.


nice point TWOGAAB - i was writing my thesis as yours was being posted. good thoughts

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Updated On: 11/19/04 at 02:14 PM

I've gone over this a meeelion times but I love LaChiusa's score here and would love to see a production of this. A recording of LITTLE FISH, sometime please...

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i think you see Lippa's version produced more often out in the provinces simply becuz the rights are cheaper.

Not a value judgement, just a fact.

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"But thank god for shows like All Shook Up, eh?
God knows I'd much prefer catalog musicals than the Wild Party any day. ;P "




Sorry to go back there, but I was annoyed that you thought you were so clever.

My profile doesn't say "YAY ALL SHOOK UP!!!" it says "YAY CHEYENNE!!!"

Don't you remember one of the many reason all the Brooklynites were so annoying? ...because they were raving about the show when they had never even seen it, months before it had even started previews here. So I'm sorry for being excited that someone - who I HAVE seen perform - who is THAT talented is finally getting some of the recognition he's always deserved.

Sorry again for interrupting. Continue your civilized discussion.
(This is where you scoff and go "Civilized??" and quote my first post. )

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Updated On: 11/19/04 at 11:05 PM

I really wish they had made a recording of LITTLE FISH. I bought the libretto and it looks very interesting.

I got back last week from seeing LaChiusa's new work THE HIGHEST YELLOW in DC. I live in Michigan, so it was quite a haul for a show, but I am a devoted fan of Michael John's work. I fell in love with his work after seeing his Broadway production of THE WILD PARTy twice. THE HIGHEST YELLOW solidifies even further Michael John's leading voice in the world of musical theatre. The score soars to heights of beauty and complexity. I'm 24 and I was heartened to see a group of about 5 teenagers in the audience loving every second of this incredibly difficult new piece. They led the standing ovation at the end of the show. It gave me hope that this kind of intricate, moving, and serious work will have a following in this world of rap and hip hop, albeit a small one. THE HIGHEST YELLOW runs through December, if you are in the area, go see it. You won't regret it (it stars Jason Danielly, Judy Kuhn, and Marc Kudisch). It's great to see the Broadway performers on such a small stage and feeling their raw talent unmic-ed and in your face with a 10 piece orchestra (with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick). Their true abilities and gifts are even more appreciated.

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that's not surprising....

Don't forget, Toni was nominated for an Oscar that year, and was robbed of that one, too.

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