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re: Good call, JayBee

Posted by:	Chromolume 08:42 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to:	re: Good call, JayBee - Michael_Portantiere 11:32 am EDT 03/14/14

Indeed. I think the opening sequence of Guys And Dolls is pretty cool. Overture, Runyonland, "Fugue For Tinhorns," "Follow The Fold" - all without a single break in the music, and all before one single line of dialogue. The original Runyonland music (not the reinvented, ultra-short version for the 1992 revival) is also clever in the way it helps introduce some of the musical themes, including "Fugue For Tinhorns" (so that by the time they sing it, the tune has already been planted in your head). PlayWiz - would you criticise the Prologue from West Side Story in the same way? I thought not, lol. No, I'm not trying to say "Runyonland" is up to the same kind of musical artistry - but I do think Runyonland deserves its due.

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re: Good call, JayBee

Posted by:	PlayWiz 11:16 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to:	re: Good call, JayBee - Chromolume 08:42 pm EDT 03/14/14

In the film, Kidd's choreography is great, thought the artificial sets bother me, though they are used whenever characters are on the street throughout the film which detracts from the film. I've seen productions without the Kidd choreography where sometimes it seems to go on too long. I realize the stage directions are in the script for a lot of the action, but not many choreographers come up to Kidd's artistry. Also saw a wonderful production by the National Theatre in London which during the Overture had the credits of the cast in lights given like a movie, which was rather clever. The rest of the staging very well done, and Bob Hoskins and Julie McKenzie were superb. No problemo for WSS.

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