Wild Party a question

[mominator]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 4:30pm

Can someone please tell me about both Wild Party productions? I enjoy both mens' work and didn't get the chance to see either. Also are both cast recordings available? Thanks a bunch!

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 4:36pm

i saw the La Chiusa production just to see Toni Collette (and i got to see more than i expected when she flashed the audience during the very first number) but i enjoyed the whole show... both cast recordings are available, and both have their own strengths... i can listen to them both and enjoy them equally...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 5:29pm

I wish the rumors of Toni Collette closing Cabaret had turned out to be true. She needs to get back on the NY stage.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 6:41pm

I was a little shocked when she flashed the audience...then I found out later IT WASN"T HER! Someone connected to the show told me that it was one of the chorus girls in an identical costume. Apparently she was nervous about the nudity. Is this true? I dunno. Anyone?

[jakebloke]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 6:51pm

I think it was her. She has done several nude scenes in movies. Also, she's australian....female breasts aren't really considered nudity there. You see them in Nivea commercials. So I don't think she would be too nervous. But to answer the original question. Both CD's are worth getting. I do favor the Off B'way version....Lippa's version. The music is better in my opinion.
Now bring Toni Collette back to B'way and get Julia Murney in a show soon.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 7:05pm

What exactly are the shows about?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 7:08pm

The Wild Party

Book by: Andrew Lippa
Lyrics by: Andrew Lippa
Music by: Andrew Lippa
Based on a poem by Joseph Moncure March


ACT I
It’s the roaring 1920’s and the beautiful, young Queenie, although she tries, cannot find a lover able to satisfy her desires – until she meets Burrs, a vaudevillian clown with a voracious appetite for women. Both Queen and Burrs have now met their emotional and sexual match and for a while they live together, happily sated. Eventually, the relationship sours. Burrs violent nature, which once thrilled Queenie, now scares her. Still, she longs to generate the same excitement that brought them together. A party, she thinks, will do it! Burrs agrees.

The party begins with a parade of guests: Madeline the lesbian, Eddie the thug, Mae the dimwit, Jackie the dancer, lover-brothers d’Armondo, Dolores the hooker, and Nadine the minor. Although Queenie radiates beauty and confidence, Burrs preys on other women. He makes his move on their youngest guest, Nadine. Despite her casual reprimand of his behavior, Queenie wants to hurt Burrs in return.

The vivacious Kate arrives with her new friend, Mr. Black. Queenie, quite taken by Black, plans to make her move on him. Kate drags him away to meet the other guests. Queenie’s plans are momentarily undermined. The party’s revelry continues: Burrs hits on Kate; Madeline hits on Nadine, Eddie chugs beer and almost fights with Burrs. During the chaos, Black finds himself equally as taken by Queenie as she with him - much to the chagrin of Kate. As revenge, Kate plans on seducing Burrs. Meanwhile, Madeline is on the prowl for a woman.

Although Queenie is fully aware that Burrs will threaten her physically, she makes her move on Mr. Black, easily getting him to dance with her. Burrs watches them, his ire rising. Unsuccessfully, Kate tries to get Burrs to dance – then in order to diffuse the situation, Kate takes Queenie out of Mr. Black’s arms and dances with her instead.

Burrs violent reaction against Mr. Black and Queenie is prohibited by the whole company dancing the Juggernaut. At its end, Mr. Black and Queenie are together again. To get the reaction he wants from Queenie, Burrs grabs Nadine, the minor, and makes out with her. This enrages Kate who throws Nadine to the ground by her hair. Madeline rushes to aid Nadine. Burrs cuts into Mr. Black and Queenie’s dancing. Managing to have her to himself, Burrs tells Queenie to stay away from Mr. Black. Laughing at him, Queenie says she will do whatever she chooses. He twists her arm hard. They are interrupted by Oscar and Phil’s piano duet. Burrs releases Queenie, seeing that too many people are watching them.

Burrs and Queenie join Oscar and Phil’s epic musical number based on the story of Adams and Eve – Burrs plays Adam and Queenie, Eve. Their number is interrupted by a discontented neighbor.

Meanwhile Eddie and Mae cuddle, celebrating their togetherness. In contrast, Burrs and Queenie end up alone and apart from the rest of the party.

Shortly, Mr. Black approaches Queenie and pointedly asks why she stays with an abusive brute like Burrs. She replies, simply, that maybe she likes her life with Burrs. Mr. Black kisses her. Kate tries to kiss Burrs, but he refuses her.

ACT II
The party rages on. Kate is alone and reflecting on her youthful indulgence. Queenie’s alone in the bathroom trying to take stock. Although she’s angry that she confided in Mr. Black, a virtual stranger, she recognizes his goodness. This both stirs and confuses her feelings. Mr. Black enters the bathroom to convey his support and deep admiration when Burrs bursts in, wanting her sole attention.

Black refuses to leave. Burrs apologizes to Queenie in front of them both and begs her forgiveness. Kate arrives before Queenie can reply. Kate unsuccessfully tries to draw Burrs back onto the dance floor. Both men pull for her affections and devotion; Mr. Black asks Queenie to leave the apartment with him. Burrs asks her to stop the party and let them return to their previous isolation. Queenie is unable to reply to either man. Then Burrs threatens her physically and she leaves with Mr. Black.

Burrs wants to drown himself in gin and misery. He hallucinates that he hears Queenie’s voice all around him. He attacks Mae thinking she is Queenie, angering Eddie. A fight ensues. Mr. Black and Queenie return; Queenie is afraid Eddie will kill Burrs if the fight is not stopped. Black rushes in and knocks Eddie unconscious. Mae rushes to Eddie and Kate rushes to the bruised and battered Burrs. Burrs falls asleep in a drug-induced stupor before Kate can kiss him.

Out of kindness and consideration, Mr. Black offers to Queenie that he leaves. But Queenie can’t let him go. They end up in the bedroom making love with the caring that she and Burrs never shared. The other partiers follow suit in the living room.

By five AM the next morning the majority of revelers lie asleep in the living room. Kate wakes Burrs who lies besides her. Queenie is strikingly absent. Burrs finds her in the bedroom with Mr. Black. Burrs locates a gun. Full of rage Burrs vacillates between trying to force Queenie to make a choice between the two men, threatening kill Black, and threatening to kill himself. Mr. Black takes the chance during Burrs’ rampage to lunge at Burrs. The gun goes off. Burrs is shot dead. Fearing that Mr. Black will be executed for Burrs’ death, Queenie urges Mr. Black to flee. Before leaving Mr. Black professes his love her. Queenie, now having lost both men, questions how things managed to reach that point of loss. She exits the apartment - with her coat - all eyes upon her sad, beautiful grace.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 7:14pm

I LOVE YOU SPIDEY!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 7:16pm

Kiss Kiss

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 2:44am

The LaCuisa one is a piece of crap.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 2:45am

What is that one about?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:08am

Same overall plot points, but places more emphasis (and less emphasis) on certain characters within the poem.

And it's not a piece of crap.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:10am

Oh, sorry. It's a BIG piece of crap! lol

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:14am

Yeah, not everything can be as BIG a piece of CRAP as "The Civil War" (which had an even shorter run and lost even more money than "The Wild Party").

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:19am

Are you makin fun of my CIVIL WAR icon? hehe Remember, CIVIL WAR is not a musical, it's a concept concert/album. It doesn't work as a stage show I know but at least it's good music unlike the LaChuisa thing that made me sick.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:36am

Cute rationalization. Lots of shows had concept albums. The poor producers of this fiasco didn't lose $10 million on a concept album -- they lost it on a fully staged MUSICAL. It was billed as, marketed as and staged as a "MUSICAL." Not a revue. Not a concert. A MUSICAL. Directed by Jerry Zaks with musical staging by Luis Perez, with a book, sets, costumes and all of the trappings of a MUSICAL. And guess what? It sucked -- Big time. Most people that saw it fled the theatre by intermission. Panned by every single publication, it may be the most hated musical (that's right -- MUSICAL) of the last decade; incompetent in every department, including the score.

On the other hand, "The Wild Party" was Tony-nominated not only for its score, but also Best Musical, Book, Actor, Actress, Featured Actress and Lighting, for a total of 7 nominations. How many nominations did "Civil War" get? Oh yeah..... ZERO, which is what it deserved.

Updated On: 8/5/04 at 03:36 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:44am

This is the match-up I've longed to witness. Does anyone have any popcorn?

A little later - oh well, I didn't think it would take long.

Thank you, Margo

Updated On: 8/5/04 at 03:44 AM

[etoile]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:49am

Yeah, it sucked. Too bad because that period is really one of the most poignant in our history.

[AnnaB]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 4:18am

Jakebloke said "Also, she's australian....female breasts aren't really considered nudity there. You see them in Nivea commercials."

I'm not sure if you yourself are infact an Australian but I am and I can tell you now, I have not seen a Nivea comercial with a woman showing her breasts, nor have I seen any comercial over here in Australia with womens breasts present. And to show a pair of womans breasts on TV would still be considered nudity as that person is not wearing a top. Just to straighten that out for you.

Also I've only seen a performing arts uni (waapa) do Lippa's Wild Party but absolutely loved it. I have La Chiusa's version and I'd say both are deffinitely worth a listen to.
xAnna

'Rhymes with banker...'

[mominator]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 7:02am

Thanks for the input everyone. The decision has been made I am going to get both.

[jakebloke]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 7:14am

I lived in Austrlaia about 12 years ago for a few years, and saw breasts on commercials. I remember being shocked as an american. Maybe they don't do it anymore...I don't know.

WOW....these threads really do take tangents. :)

[magruder]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 7:57am

To be fair, The Civil War was nominated for two Tony Awards, Best Musical and Best Original Score. I never saw it, but it did have some very fine cast members, and the song they performed on the 1999 Tony Awards, "Freedom's Child" was kinda nice. I can't vouch for the rest of it, however.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:27am

The Civil War lost best musical to Fosse and best score to Parade... Updated On: 8/5/04 at 08:27 AM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:59pm

Wasn't it Sally Murphy who flashed the audience?

And why do Oscar and Phil kiss in the LaChiusa version. I know they're a brother act but are they like gay or incestuous?

[C is for Company]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:25pm

Sally has no top on for "After Midnight Dies".

Yes, the brothers romance each other and always go back in each others arms

Nice bump by the way

And nice bitching out, Margo!