We need a They're Playing Our Song Revival now!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 2:39am

If anyone saw the performance of the title song tonight honoring Neil Simon you can agree! I think they should get Luci and Richard again. There's no reason they have to be very young. I think it could work!

[Julian2]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 2:49am

Could someone please explain to me what the general consensus on this show is? The very few times I hear of it, its usually making the case for a revival. Was it a good show that didn't quite make into the "canon" of musical theatre? Or is there something else at play here?

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 7:00am

Can't speak for anyone else about the show, however, when I saw it way back in 1979 I thoroughly enjoyed it. The show was fairly successful if you take into account it ran for about 3 years (over 1,000 performances). Had a great creative team - just happened to be listening to it this morning on my ipod.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 8:05am

Do you also think it could be revived with Luci and Richard again? Luci said she wants to do it and if I'm not mistaking so does Richard.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 8:06am

double post

Updated On: 11/21/06 at 08:06 AM

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 8:19am

I see no reason why the two couldn't reprise those roles - to your point, don't think the roles are all that age sensitive (but then again, I've been wrong before)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 8:21am

I've never seen the show, but have always been a big fan of the score.

[EltonJ]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 8:41am

Back in 79, I saw it and found it ADORABLE! The music was catchy and Luci Arnaz and Robert Klein were excellent. I would love to see it again!!!
Updated On: 11/21/06 at 08:41 AM

[folkyboy]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 8:49am

i made a post not that long ago that felt like they should do a revival with an African American cast. the disco music would come across GREAT now

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 9:07am

I'd rather see it with Luci and Richard.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 9:35am

The cast recording is terrific.

The book is unfunny and for the life of me I could not figure out why the show was the hit it was. I did not see the originals, but the immediate replacements, Tony Roberts and Stockard Channing who did not get along at all. Stockard finally left before her contract was up.

Richard Who?

Luci Arnaz is a bit long in the tooth to be wandering around in cast-off costumes from Pippin.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 9:40am

Richard Klein

[singtopher]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 10:53am

I just did a scene from TPOS in a class. I never knew the show well, but I fell in love with it. It would be nice off-Broadway perhaps.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 12:14pm

Klein and Arnaz, while rather long-in-the-tooth to be playing the parts now, were wonderful. The show waswonderful. But I have always felt that it never "entered the canon" of musical theatre greats because it only has, what - seven songs? In the following decades, shows became so dense. SO MUCH goes on in "Crazy for You" or "The Producers" or "Spamalot", there is SO MUCH stage direction and "bits" in shows nowadays that "Playing Our Song" seems antiquated. It's just a guy, a girl and the voices in their heads. It's almost a twohander - and how many of them are considered "classics"?

And a great deal of the show is Simon's book.....

[sondhead]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 12:23pm

Anyone who doesn't know the show, pick up the cast recording. It's super cheap and is just wonderful. The book is less wonderful... could definitely use a different writing. Neil Simon is so varied for me. They're Playing our Song is terrible while Promises, Promises is brilliant. How does that happen?

Regardless, I don't think a revival would be very successful, but I'd go see it

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 12:24pm

Klein is not interested in reviving this according to Arnaz...but she's willing.

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=532218

Here is a great interview w/ Arnaz from broadway.com describing TPOS and the journey...including the outrage of her not getting a Tony nom. (She was beaten out by Alexis Smith in Platinum...remember that show?)

Also some good info on Witches of Eastwick, which I'd have loved to have seen.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 12:41pm

I adore this show, and did it for a year and a half in dinner theater back in the day!

I would love to see a revivial, perhaps with a changing cast or even a rotating cast, would make for great marketing. I love Ms Araz, but let's see someone new in the role. I don't necessarily mean young either, but someone different.

My vote is YES!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 12:41pm

The problem with the show is that it is stuck in the 1970s (and not in a good way).

"but she's willing."

Yeah, because she's tired of being Lorna Luft's understudy. Maybe if Lucie had taken Rizzo in "Grease" movie, she might have had more of a career. Then again, maybe not.

[roquat]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 1:34pm

We have NEVER needed a revival of "They're Playing Our Song."

[morosco]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 1:45pm

Count me in. I'd love to see a revival of this show. A highly entertaining evening with the right chemistry onstage. I love the idea of a rotating cast. Change it out every 4-6 months. Celebs might be more willing to do shorter runs. The Weissler's could have a field day with this one!
Updated On: 11/21/06 at 01:45 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 2:00pm

Yes! Kind of like LOVE LETTERS: THE MUSICAL!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 3:31pm

I know! Starring: Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick!

[morosco]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 3:33pm

"I know! Starring: Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick!"

Lol. Actually...Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker might work.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 3:35pm

Sarah can't sing. Matthew would be good.....Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally! Get her back on broadway!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 3:43pm

I have no desire to see Matthew Broderick in anything else until he learns how to act again.

Mullally is too cartoonish for this show.

I don't know how anyone could think the book is "unfunny." I think it's hysterical and charming, as is the score.

A Broadway revival would most definitely be financially unsuccessful unless it was starring David and Victoria Beckham.