the life vs. titanic

[apdarcey]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 2:50pm

so i was listening to the score to the life yesterday and i remember clips of the show that i've seen over the year and am just bewildered as to how it lost all three tony's to titanic... i just can't comprehend it... so maybe someone can help me... thanks... andrew

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 2:57pm

The score to TITANIC is far superior to that of THE LIFE, hands down. I think it was an overall better musical as well. As far as the book is concerned, neither were very strong.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 2:57pm

TITANIC was a better show.

THE LIFE had some good stuff in the score, but it was bogged down in the theatre by a baffling book, and lead characters who were (despite their professions) dull as dishwater. There were some great performances, and McKneeley's choreography was fun, but in the end, THE LIFE really had nothing to say, except "Gee, it sucks to be a hooker."

[apdarcey]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 2:58pm

really? you think the score's stronger? i don't at all, hence my surprise... oh well... at least lilias and chuck won...

[magruder]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 3:09pm

We covered some of this material in the recent Steel Pier thread, helpfully linked below.
Steel Pier - plus The Life and Titanic

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 3:44pm

i really love the titanic score and i think the show is pretty powerful never seen the life tho so i can't say which is better.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 4:00pm

I love TITANIC. I think the score is fantastic and the book by Peter Stone is one of the best books in recent memory. It managed to be touching and funny. not to mention completely historically accurate which was quite an accomplishment. I mean, obviously we can only guess the kinds of conversations they had, but any time numbers, dates or anything of the sort is mentioned it's all completely accurate and no invented characters either, they were all real people who existed and had lives. Peter Stone is definitely missed...

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 6:15am

i never saw THE LIFE, but i agree that TITANIC was extremely effective, especially considering the huge challenge of the subject matter.

[orion59]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 7:58am

The Life had a score based on 1970's bumper stickers, My Way Or The Highway, It's My Body, etc. There were a few good songs but not enough to make the overall score good. Queen's operatic numbers were very much out of place, much of the music was dark, dreary and uninspired. Many of the numbers between Queen and Fleet sounded exactly the same. The pacing and flow was bad, too many of the dark, depressing songs in a row then suddenly an upbeta number that seems to come out of nowhere and deosn't seem to fit. Watching this show onstage made the score slightly better than just listening. At least you could see some reasonable transition from one number to the next and it made a bit more sense.

There was also nothing challanging or complicated in the score of The Life. Almost every song was specifically written for one voice. There are very few songs with multiple voacle parts and the few that exist don't work as well as they should because of the uncomplicated nature of the music. It was a shame becasue there were some very talented and accomplished singers in the original production. One stand out in that score is the gospel number that Lilias White belts the hell out of. Even with that, teher is some holding back to accommodate the music. I've heard Lilias do so much better when she has a well written piece.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 12:46pm

ah Lilias singing "The Oldest Profession" - what bliss!

I love the score and book to TITANIC, however I thought the stage direction was poorly done. The book was about the people and not the boat sinking. Everyone knows the boat goes down - the technical aspects of the show killed the passion I had for the characters. I have to head out now, so I can't elaborate but can someone else finish this off for me. I remember seeing the show and thinking "What great material!! Which unfortunately the director ruined by making it about the boat instead of keeping the focus on the people." That was the kicker for me. I love Yeston's score immensely!

[fae]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 1:34pm

i saw them both. titanic was entertaining. it had some cheesy moments (like when the mini ship ran into the iceberg) but there were some wonderful performances and beautiful songs that i still listen to today.

the life was a bore. yes, it had lots of talent, but it was like watching paint dry. i don't remember any of the plot, score, or characters from this show.... i DO remember that lilias had an amazing voice.

Updated On: 12/31/04 at 01:34 PM

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:57pm

leo, i felt just the opposite. i think the show DID concentrate on the characters. and when all the characters, survivors and non-survivors united for the final scene, i sobbed.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:00pm

Oh God, I sobbed in that final scene. I'm a big fan of that show as well and agree it was far superior to THE LIFE.

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:04pm

it was the first show i ever saw on b'way, after dreaming about it for MANY YEARS. it was a very emotional nite for me! seriously, i couldn't stop crying. my partner had to drag me out of the theatre. hee

[jackson992]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:24pm

I love both these shows but if I chose a preference it would definitely have to be The Life. Any song with Queen singing in it is miraculous!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:51pm

if only the Broadway production of TITANIC had the benefit of the German sets and costume designs... it would have been amazing...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:53pm

I remember when we to see Titanic in preview, Ticketmaster called to tell us the preview was cancelled - the ship wouldn't sink

Enjoyed both. The sets for Titanic were on the cheap side.

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:53pm

awesome photos! (i know, the word AWESOME is so out, but i like it.)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 6:02pm

I know! The German sets were awesome. I love how you can see the ship in the back. Sure, it doesn't quite make sense in relation to the ramp, but that was the way to go since they wanted abstract... it does look awesome. it should have been done like that on Broadway.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 6:06pm

I have some more...

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 6:55pm

i've only heard the album for The Life but i think Cy Coleman is genius and, as far as music and lyrics and talent go, the cd is really great. it's one of my favorites.

Posted: 1/1/05 at 10:03am

No comparison...."The Life" was passable, with unlikable characters. "Titanic" was nearly great! If the "Titanic" plot had focused more on fewer characters,and subplots like the movie.....and was produced before the movie........."Titanic" may have sailed longer and mightier.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/1/05 at 11:36am

TITANIC the musical actually did open before the movie, and might have actully been helped at the box office because of the movie's success. It ended up running over a year when it might have closed after six months. Unfortunately, there were little old ladies who would ask things like, "Is Leonardo Dicaprio still in the show?"

In my opinion, TITANIC, THE LIFE and STEEL PIER was all terribly flawed shows. TITANIC won because it was the biggest, most ambitious of the three.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/1/05 at 11:41am

stupid old ladies. and yes, TITANIC the musical opened in April. TITANIC the movie opened in December. The musical ran for 805 performances. almost three years.

[rclocalz]

Posted: 1/1/05 at 1:15pm

Gosh, I don't know guys. I really want to believe that Titanic is as amazing as you all are saying it is.... but, out of the 86 cast recordings I own, Titanic is the absolute worst of the recordings. I just cringe when listening to it. Maybe I would have had to see it live to appreciate it, but just listening to the recording doesn't do crap for me.