Why don't I get A NEW BRAIN?

Time and time again I return to my A New Brain CD and totally adore the music. But everytime I take a look at the script it strikes me as the one of the least logical musicals ever. I have seen a production of it and it made the show seems even more disjointed and illogical.

For some reason though I am determined to find out why critics have often liked the show and where the theatricality is.

Here are some questions that boggle my mind:

What is the homless lady doing in this show? Why does she have no purpose except to come out and belt a song while everyone else is doing a costume change?

What is the minister doing in the show? Again, this is another role that seems to serve little purpose.

What is with the giant coma section at the end? How do all of those songs fit in?

What is the main focus of this story that should be driving the rest of the action?

I don't know. I just find it a really murky piece, but one that continues to fascinate me.

Can any directors or cast members out there who have done or seen the show enlighten me on how to make this actually work? Is there some greater concept that has been used somewhere that really made the show fly?

I don't know why this drives me so nuts, but any insight would be great!

I want to just say I love this score - so many pretty songs in it. I never got the book either (though I'm going strictly on the music having never seen or read it), but this is one of the few musicals where my not knowing what's happening is superceded by how great the music is.

Anytime I hear anyone say the word "affinity" I have to go listen to it again...

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I've said it before - but I REALLY like the idea of the homeless lady as an omniscient sort of character. I too never quite understood her point, but I like that idea a lot.

I agree that the show is muddy. But the music is amazing. One of my favorite scores.

I absolutely adore this show. My favorite (recorded) Finn score. I absolutely agree with the assertion that the Homeless Lady is an omniscent overseer of the show. Frankly, I think the role was probably shoe-horned in to give one of Bill's best friends, Mary Testa, a great song or two, but the overseer theory works too, .

One must remember that the show was originally conceived as a song cycle with little to no throughline and Graciela Danielle and James Lapine coerced Finn into making some semblence of a show out of it... which is why it is so highly autobiographical (it seems to be easier for Finn to write from personal experience than in some far off place and time, at least when pressed for time). The majority of songs in the song cycle were literally the "so many songs" Finn wrote after his successful brian surgery. At this time, like Gordon, he found that songs were just pouring out him and had workshops of this song cycle. I believe many songs that ended up in ELEGIES were written during this period as well, and he basically made 2 one acts out of a couple shows' worth of material (Finn has stated that he abhors writing two act musicals because writing opening and closing numbers is incredibly taxing and difficult for him and he finds he can keep the flow and concentration of a piece better with only one act). I believe there were many, many other songs that have not yet found a home in either ELEGIES or A NEW BRAIN thus INFINITE JOY and MORE INFINITE JOY.

On that note, I have heard of many productions interpolating "Anytime" into the show. It was a part of the show through the latter workshops, and I believe even into rehearsals and previews. The creators found that it brought the show to a halt, thus making it peak too early and with the wrong character (it just wouldn't work for anyone but Roger to sing it). I find it truly is integral to the piece, and could easily act as an Act I finale with "Change" opening the second act if the show were to be done as a two act piece. I'd kill to see a production that did just that.

A Good Nightmare Comes So Rarely,
P genre

Updated On: 12/16/05 at 11:53 PM

I love this show. The music is GORGEOUS and, the entire show itself really teaches one to be greatful.

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I agree about the "books" thing. I think one of the concepts of the piece lies in the title: "A New Brain" is not merely literal (the surgery being a success) but perhaps a "New Way of Thinking" about things, life, love, art, etc. Something Gordon learns while going through his ordeal.

A fine lesson for all to learn, in our own way.

It's actually Gordon who's "eating him self up alive". Richie - the nice nurse - performs the song as one of Gordon's alter egos. "Whenever I Dream" is also sung by an alter ego of Gordon. Mona is on Gordon's lap like a ventriloquist's dummy - a la "We Both Reached for the Gun".

I also think the show works well in one act and "anytime" was cut for a reason...the show is not about Roger's feelings for Gordon and the song is also written from the prespective of someone who has died (William Finn wrote the song to be sung at the Funeral of his friend). Having played Roger and thinking the song is one of the most beautiful ever written, I would have loved to sing it, but, it really didn't work. And does anyone know for a fact that that is actually where it went in the show? It boggles my mind that some theatrical companies think they can tinker around with a show...it's illegal! I just really think that an intermission and/or the addition of a five minute song in the middle of the show would really ruin the story arc.