tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post1048666212220665356..comments2023-09-29T03:39:03.460-04:00Comments on Gratuitous Violins: The best musicals I've never seenEstherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-75764435915020354622008-01-14T13:46:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:46:00.000-05:00Thanks for the recommendations Sarah! I haven't li...Thanks for the recommendations Sarah! I haven't listened to "Pacific Overtures" or "Follies." I think Sondheim said that of all the songs he's written, Someone in a Tree" is one of his favorites. So I should definitely check it out.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-7095760604132364802008-01-14T13:03:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:03:00.000-05:00The Assassins revival was brilliant at Roundabout....The Assassins revival was brilliant at Roundabout. But even better to me was Pacific Overtures. Do check out Pacific Overtures (Someone in a Tree is beyond anything ever written) and Follies too.Sarah B. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01515476679981650807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-15862032283408515232008-01-14T10:51:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:51:00.000-05:00I imagine the structure of The Last Five Years wou...I imagine the structure of The Last Five Years would make it seem almost like you were seeing two different plays, since one person is starting at the beginning of their relationship and the other at the end. <BR/><BR/>I hope I get to see it someday, and I hope we both get to see Assassins someday!Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-63129741373051056852008-01-14T05:43:00.000-05:002008-01-14T05:43:00.000-05:00Assassins was staged a couple of years back at the...Assassins was staged a couple of years back at the Sheffield Crucible in the UK to pretty positive reviews, but sadly that is 'up north' so unfortunately I didn't see it. <BR/><BR/>I did see The Last Five Years, when it was staged by the Menier Chocolate Factory in London around the same time and that was very interesting, wonderful in places but the unusual structure makes it difficult to warm to the characters. Some brilliant moments though.Interval Drinkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380228642344199084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-49671353580739212762008-01-13T00:53:00.000-05:002008-01-13T00:53:00.000-05:00Steve,Thanks for introducing me to both scores!I k...Steve,<BR/>Thanks for introducing me to both scores!<BR/><BR/>I know what you mean about "Assassins" perfectly capturing distinct periods in American history. Michael Cerveris' John Wilkes Booth is pretty powerful as he goes over all the grievances Southerners had against Lincoln. Then later, when John Hinckley Jr. sings Unworthy of Your Love, it really captures celebrity-obsessed modern American culture. When I first got "Assassins," I listened to it over and over. I can understand why it's your favorite Sondheim score.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-13716387806413667572008-01-12T18:30:00.000-05:002008-01-12T18:30:00.000-05:00Esther, Assassins is my favorite Sondheim score. I...Esther, <B>Assassins</B> is my favorite Sondheim score. I think he beautifully captures the essence of each of the distinct periods of American history that the show is about.<BR/><BR/>If you ever have a chance to see <B>The Last Five Years</B>, go and see it. It's such an inventive, moving and cathartic show.Steve On Broadway (SOB)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04353077627991682499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-42828885658426283412008-01-12T09:16:00.000-05:002008-01-12T09:16:00.000-05:00Hi Alicia, Thanks so much for the comments! Sorry ...Hi Alicia, <BR/>Thanks so much for the comments! <BR/><BR/>Sorry I wasn't clear in my post. I have seen the movie version of Hair, and I even saw it on stage, in Syracuse, N.Y., many years ago. But I read about the Public Theater production, and I would love to have seen it. I know the story might not hold up very well after all these years, but the songs definitely hold up! <BR/><BR/>Hopefully I'll get to New York a few times this year. I went three times in 2007 for four or five days each time, and I managed to squeeze in 19 shows! So hopefully 2008 will be a good year, too. I'm about three hours away, but unfortunately, my life doesn't permit me to go as often as I'd like, which would be just about every weekend!<BR/><BR/>I got the remastered Merrily We Roll Along when it came out last year, mostly because I read that Jason Alexander, of Seinfeld fame, was in it, and I thought it would be interesting to hear him sing. But I like the story, and the way it moves backward in time. I'd definitely try to see it if there's a revival.<BR/><BR/>I love the Assassins revival CD, especially Neil Patrick Harris. I think he just has a great voice. And Michael Cerveris was great as Booth.<BR/><BR/>That's great that you were in a production of Assassins. I just figured that given the subject matter, it would be hard sell on Broadway, much less for a community theatre. But it must have been a terrific experience!Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-10444002765722921782008-01-12T08:46:00.000-05:002008-01-12T08:46:00.000-05:00Wait - to clarify - I was not in the Broadway revi...Wait - to clarify - I was not in the Broadway revival... There was a revival, that I was not in. There was a community theatre production last year, that I was in.Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00413833247190341404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-75097066729078905452008-01-12T08:44:00.000-05:002008-01-12T08:44:00.000-05:00OK - Hair is a very special favorite of mine and I...OK - <I>Hair</I> is a very special favorite of mine and I have to say that you should rent the movie. Now. Even though it is different from the play but... there you go. It's something.<BR/><BR/>How far are you from New York? Too bad you missed the recent revivals of <I>Assassins</I> (which I was in last year!) and <I>Hair</I> (a special Public Theater event).<BR/><BR/>However, it IS rumored that <I>Merrily We Roll Along</I>, a personal favorite, is coming back to Broadway next year, so maybe you'll get to see that one!Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00413833247190341404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-15853062547316073342008-01-12T01:11:00.000-05:002008-01-12T01:11:00.000-05:00Thanks for the recommendations Emily! I haven't li...Thanks for the recommendations Emily! I haven't listened to either one, but I know they're supposed to be great. And I love Rent. I'm going to see it on tour in a couple of weeks. It'll be my first time seeing it on stage. Until now, I've only seen the movie.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I really love The Last Five Years, too. I guess Jason Robert Brown took alot of it from his own failed first marriage. It's funny in parts and kind of sad in parts.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-77087314169484948992008-01-12T00:57:00.000-05:002008-01-12T00:57:00.000-05:00I love The Last Five Years although I've never see...I love <I>The Last Five Years</I> although I've never seen the show, that's a great album. I would also recommend <I>Altar Boyz</I> and Jonathan Larson's <I>tick, tick...BOOM!</I> as two other good and fun off-Broadway cast albums.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14657158080112396107noreply@blogger.com