Two By Two

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 12:10am

If God would have wanted a rudder, then God would have said, "Build a rudder!"

Yes this show is kind of silly and dumb; there's absolutely no dramatic tension to the plot, but it sure was a lot of fun.

They have restored two cut songs and Charnin and Peter Stone have revised the book. This version clocks in at 2.5 hours, but the production moves along at a nice pace. The second act is actually funnier and more interesting than the first.

Tovah was fantastic and HILARIOUS! I really love her. Jason Alexander, who I think has played the role before, was funny too. Who knew the two of them would have such nice chemistry? Maybe they'll revive Fiddler together next.

This was the best MUFTI in a long time. A great way to spend a few hours at the theater so catch it this weekend while you can.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 1:33am

Looking forward to this one, even from the "overflow" row--all I could get, as I waited too long to order tix. Memo to self: next time a star name is attached to a Mufti production, don't wait for a TDF listing that will never come.

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 7:58am

I'm seeing it tonight and I'm very excited!

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 9:54am

I clicked on this thread thinking it would be about THE BOOK OF MORMON.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 10:07am

All of the overflow seats were sold out last night. I haven't seen The York so packed since I don't know when.

Is anyone familiar with The Flowering Peach? I'm assuming there's much more to the play than a retelling of a Bible story. Whatever Odets may have contributed to the story seems to have been stripped away.

I see that Charnin directed a revival in '94 at the Lyceum. How was it?

[tazber]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 10:40am

I adore this score although I agree it's not much of a show.

What were the two songs they added Whizzer?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 11:47am

The first was "Forty Nights," a song for Ham sung to Goldie before she goes into "The Golden Ram." It detailed his sexual frustrations of being on the ark, as he and his wife Rachel were no longer having relations. Goldie could sympathize because she hadn't ridden the golden ram in 40 days and, you know, a girl has needs! The song wasn't great and I see why it was cut. It did give Ham something to sing though.

The second was "Now and Forever," which was a love duet for Rachel and Japeth. It had a sweet, lilting melody and if The York records this MUFTI it will nice to have it on disc.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 12:07pm

I've always wondered what MUFTI means or is ?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 12:22pm

MUFTI, as we are reminded in a speech given before each and every MUFTI, is an East Indian word meaning out of uniform, or in street clothes.

Basically MUFTIs are like Encores, but they only put on flops from the past that they feel deserve to be seen again. There are no costumes, no sets beyond a few tables and chairs, and usually only a piano for accompaniment.

It's a great way to see these flops and sometimes they are a lot of fun. Over the past year and a half the MUFTIs have gone through a rough patch. They did a few series of off-Broadway flops, including many topical revues that just didn't play well today at all. The Tom Jones themed series was pretty awful too. Returning to their bread and butter with stuff like Two By Two, Happy Hunting and Silk Stockings gives me hope that this grouping will put the program back on track. (No comment about Hollywood Pinafore.)

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 12:23pm

Mr. Alexander has been very busy since When You're In Love, the Whole World is Jewish just opened in LA under his direction.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 12:29pm

Sounds great!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 1:11pm

This was one of the great disillusioning flops of my childhood.

It was the same year as Minnie's Boys, The Rothschilds, Lovely Ladies Kind Gentlemen and Look to the Lilies.

How could something with such wonderful people involved be so unexciting? (That remains one of the great mysteries of art.)

But that year I also saw Applause, The Me Nobody Knows, Paul Sills's Story Theater, and The Boy Friend.

And that was the year everything changed: Company opened.

Updated On: 2/17/13 at 01:11 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 1:19pm

PJ- Sorry, but I have lots of questions for you!

What was the design of the original like? Did you see it early in the run or later after Danny Kaye had broken his foot? If you saw it later was Kaye ad-libbing and acting up?

I really knew nothing about the show except for the OBCR, which is lots of fun. The score is comprised mostly of comedy songs though, and certainly doesn't touch on any theological or social issues that may have been raised in the source material.

[egghumor]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 2:03pm

I'd seen lots of national tours of shows, but TWO BY TWO was my first Broadway show to see ON Broadway (I also saw COMPANY, FOLLIES, and JACQUES BREL... on that trip). I sat on the front row of the Imperial and had a thrilling experience. Danny Kaye was in a wheelchair at that point, and acting up, but I knew that going in, and the rest of the cast were just splendid -- especially Joan Copeland, Harry Goz, Marilyn Cooper, and Madeleine Kahn. I doubt I would love the show so much these days -- and I'd kill to see the current Mufti production -- but we always have a special place for our first show, don't we?

The set was simple and the costumes (as you can see from photos) were very '70s macrame -- but they looked right at the time. In hindsight, I'd probably think the show is too intimate (in cast and production values) to play the Imperial. What I remember were the sound effects of animals underfoot and squawking or quacking or howling when stepped on, bumped, etc. Very funny. As the first act is in preparation for the flood, it rained (audibly) during intermission.

When I heard that Jason Alexander and Tovah Feldshuh were cast, I told my best friend they were perfect for those roles. Thanks Whizzer, for confirming! I can almost hear Miss Feldshuh singing "An Old Man," my favorite song in the show.









Updated On: 2/16/13 at 02:03 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 4:37pm

Re: waht Odets invented in The Flowering Peach:

Well, basically, everything that isn't in the bible: The bit about God making Noah young again so he can finish the ark. Ham and his wife Rachel having a bad marriage. Japheth being unmarried and being secretly in love with Rachel. Shem and his wife Leah being greedy opportunists (Jewish stereotype) who plot to sell preserved animal crap as fuel. The character of Goldie, the "gentile" who is convinced to come along as Japheth's mate. The death of Esther, Noah's wife. The "Gitka" - a magical rodent that sings when there's a miracle.

[dexter3]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 7:39pm

I'm glad someone finally explained what "Mufti" means.

I've always been hugely turned off by the title of the series. I think it's horrible. No one who is interested in theater, unless already familiar with the series, would have any idea what it means or what the series is about. It's actually a great idea, and something that a lot of people would be into...but seriously, get some smart people in a room and think up a snazzy name for a series that revives old flops.

Just like that exchange in Urinetown:


Lockstock
Nothing can kill a show like too much exposition.

Little Sally
How about bad subject matter?

Lockstock
Well -

Little Sally
Or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 9:50pm

Enjoyed the original with Kaye pre wheelchair

If revived Nathan Lane would be great in the Kaye role

[Jon]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 10:36pm

Martin Short would also be great.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/16/13 at 11:11pm

"Shem and his wife Leah being greedy opportunists (Jewish stereotype) who plot to sell preserved animal crap as fuel. The character of Goldie, the "gentile" who is convinced to come along as Japheth's mate. The death of Esther, Noah's wife. The "Gitka" - a magical rodent that sings when there's a miracle."

I'm a little confused about Shem and Leah being Jewish stereotypes and Goldie being the "gentile'. Is that how Odets intended the characters? If so it is most confusing
because none of the characters in the story of Noah are Jewish. The story takes place well before Abraham, the first Jew. Accordingly, at the time of the Noah story, there were no Jews and, consequently, no Gentiles.

I know. I know. Perhaps I'm being way too literal, but still.....


Updated On: 2/16/13 at 11:11 PM

[bobs3]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 12:14am

I read when the show opened in 1970 it got mixed to negative reviews but Danny Kaye got near unanimous raves. He then turned the show into THE DANNY KAYE COMEDY HOUR (or two hours) and did lots of ad lib and improvisation. The audiences ate it up and the show got good word of mouth based on Mr. Kaye's performance. Richard Rodgers loathed what Danny Kaye was doing to his musical and bad mouthed Kaye every chance he got (making a lot of derogatory references to Danny's closeted homosexuality). But the musical ran for ten months on the strength of Danny Kaye's box office appeal.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 1:36am

Saw TWO BY TWO today and truly loved it. Jason Alexander and Tovah Feldshuh were charm itself, well matched and exuded lots of chemistry together. Japheth's big number, "I Do Not Know a Day I Did Not Love You" is still the standout, but I liked the new songs, too. At the talkback, Martin Charnin said one of the melodies was lifted from the stage version of STATE FAIR, to which he created new lyrics. The place was packed, with chairs added in every possible crevice that didn't defy fire laws. Deservedly so--this was one of my favorite Muftis ever.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 4:02am

If so it is most confusing because none of the characters in the story of Noah are Jewish.

A Jewish friend recently told me that the difference between cultural Jews and progressive gentiles is that Jews still keep track of who is Jewish and who is not.

But I had no idea ya'll keep track going back four or five-thousand years!

[Jon]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 8:28am

By "Jewish stereotypes", I mean that traditionally, Noah and his family in Two By Two, are played with somewhat of a "Semitic/Jewish" inflection. It's almost impossible to perform Noah's songs and dialogue without sounding Jewish.

Goldie is an "outsider" - usually blonde and blue-eyed - a "shiksa".

Shem is written as the stereotype as the money-hungry businessman.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 9:15am

Jon, i do get that, which is why I acknowledged being literal.

The Old Testament is, of course, the "Jewish National Epic" and "Jewish mythology" and I understand "Two by Two" is steeped in Yiddishkeit (far more anachronistically than the story being merely pre-Abrahamic; the story is pre-Ashkenazic by biblical reckoning, at least 4500 years, and by any scientific dating of the flood, what? perhaps a thousand years less if one takes the Thera eruption and resulting tsunami as the Deluge, 2500 years earlier if it was the Black Sea Deluge, about the same as by biblical reckoning if it was the Indian crater..... BUT I VERY GEEKILY AND UNABASHEDLY DIGRESS.

I didn't realize Flowering Peach played with the same Yiddish anachronism.

Gaveston, very funny, but of course we keep track in antiquity of who was and was not a Jew. That's one of the main features of the Bible. The first thing we learn is that Abraham was the first person to believe in one God; which, of course, isn't true and dismisses a history of pre-Jewish Monotheism that includes Zoroastrianism, not to mention theories that Jewish monotheism actually began in Egypt or after the Egyptian captivity (assuming the Egyptian captivity, let alone Moses, actually existed), well after Abraham. See Freud, Moses and Monotheism; theories of Akhenatun and Judeo-Christian Monotheism, etc.




Updated On: 2/17/13 at 09:15 AM

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 9:54am

"At the talkback, Martin Charnin said one of the melodies was lifted from the stage version of STATE FAIR, to which he created new lyrics. "

Actually, it was from the 1962 film remake of State Fair, for which Rodgers added new songs for which he wrote both music and lyrics. The music for this song came from "Willing and Eager," sung in the film by Ann Margaret and Pat Boone. Interestingly, apart from "I Do Not Know a Day," this music is better than anything else in the score of Two By Two, which, to me, is far below par for Richard Rodgers.

The original show was middling, at best, given some vitality by Danny Kaye, pre-accident.

It seemed cheesier and hokier this time around.