| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | jero 11:41 am EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | Fun Home - Ann 11:27 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| no one told me about (SPOILER ALERT) funeral home. I have a vision of an almost cousin who lived above theirs. stain glass window, statue of Michael the Archangel slaying the dragon... said faux cousin at top of stairs in the half light cackling.. dead body in next room.... I was freaked as a kid as I listen,, I'm thinking Meh. heavy on the story telling....nothing has dragged at me yet | |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | simbo 03:34 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - jero 11:41 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| If you can't enjoy songs like "Fun Home", "I'm Changing My Major to Joan", "Raincoat of Love" or "Ring of Keys", I'm sorry, your soul is dead inside. I admired Caroline. I love Fun Home. I suspect that's because I'm not a black maid, while I am a gay man who has spent time in the closet (what's great about Fun Home is by the end of the first three songs, you know where it's heading). I'm not entirely sure how "heavy on the story telling" is even a criticism. A show is meant to tell a story, isn't it? | |
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| my soul is dead inside | |
| Posted by: | jero 08:27 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - simbo 03:34 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| interesting. I never meant an criticism. I'm too new to the work. I popped it into my cd player this afternoon and proceeded to clean up a little, arrange mail and work on some props for our spring show. nothing grabbed me by the lapels and shook me and made me listen ( not unlike caroline or change.) Next to Normal has a few things that stop you cold in your tracks and demand attention. Aquarius demands attention. Heaven on their Minds demands attention. Hold me in Your Heart from Kinky Boots demands all things stop and that you PAY ATTENTION the first time you hear it and demands you stand when you see it performed live for the first time. this didn't happen to me on my first listening with Fun Home. I think this is a show I could grow to love. I think this is a show I would very much enjoy seeing if I get to NYC while it is running. I'd like to know more about it. p.s. 2 points about Caroline or Change that stick in my mind. Farrah Fawcett was there wearing the same clothing she wore on the morning TV shows that day we saw it. 2-Talking to Jeanine Tesori about how much we loved VIOLET and having her tell us she was ready to quit writing for the theater was interesting and taken with a grain of salt. we knew she meant it was a hard road getting here. I have GOT to make it to NYC this season.. it seems wonderful with this show, IF/THEN. ROCKY, VIOLET with Sutton an Annie Golden, the new HEDWIG (although nPH is no on my list of this to gush over) Beautiful, Madison County, .. and I haven't seen Mathlda. what else? oye. can someone see me as impoverished and slip me a cool thousand dollars please? | |
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| re: my soul is dead inside | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 08:42 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | my soul is dead inside - jero 08:27 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| >>Hold me in Your Heart from Kinky Boots demands all things stop and that you PAY ATTENTION the first time you hear it and demands you stand when you see it performed live for the first time. umm, just ... no. | |
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| re: my soul is dead inside | |
| Posted by: | jero 08:51 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: my soul is dead inside - enoch10 08:42 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| sorry pal, it did for me. I did have a hard time struggling with why. I know Billy, I know his story and his history and thought that that might be coloring my perceptions. then I thought NO, this was a moment, perfect in the show , heard it for the first time in context... but as I listened after seeing the show the lyrics and delivery and orchestrations are wonderful. I saw the show again and thought the same thing. it's a perfect sentiment outside the stage craft-the dream girls moment of black stage-power lighting,the white gown. it's pure power of Billy's delivery. We'll have to agree to disagree. I was stunned. | |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | fm_15 02:30 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - jero 11:41 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| I almost fainted reading this...it absolutely pains me that the vast majority of shows, over time, will only be experienced through a truncated recording. This production was the absolute most moving piece of theatre I've seen in years. And yet possibly hundreds of listeners are now shrugging "meh" as they listen to this in their homes and cars. Yikes. | |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | jero 07:52 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - fm_15 02:30 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| Yikes indeed. as the OP that's why I asked. HOW MANY original scores will only be experienced through recordings? My parents bought a magnavox TV/RADIO/RECORD PLAYER that came with a free copy of South Pacific. I'm honestly curious, knowing full well a live production often doesn't capture the spirit of the moment.. that's why I asked... on first listening it is average and dull with an interesting story.. to compare it to my time frame the music can not grab me the way er Mary Poppin's feed the birds did. that's why I said Meh. I'm listening to the interesting story, ( which is better than ironing my shirts when I put in spring awkening) and would like to know how people felt when they saw the show en toto | |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | Chazwaza 04:43 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - fm_15 02:30 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| Well we can only hope that FUN HOME and other great shows will be performed often, and perhaps even filmed (I see no reason why an indie filmmaker couldn't make a good film of this musical... if Last 5 Years became a film, this can). I'm always grateful when the entire show ends up being recorded. CAROLINE OR CHANGE, for example, being almost entirely sung-through, is, I believe, captured in its entirety on the cast album. As is DESSA ROSE, another recent album. (I love Dessa Rose, but I don't think it's nearly on the level of Caroline). I believe BERNARDA ALBA is also recorded in its entirety as it is also, if I recall, mostly sung through. | |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | SuzanneR 12:15 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - jero 11:41 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| That's not it at all ... you might want to check out her memoir ... | |
| Link | Fun Home |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | bwaydiva1 12:07 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - jero 11:41 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| I advise you to also read the graphic novel. It is a nice companion to the recording. Also, fingers crossed it'll re-emerge next season. It's truly a remarkable piece. (I did not like Tesori's work before this at all-and I'm thinking it had more to do with her lyricists than anything.) | |
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| re: Fun Home | |
| Posted by: | Chazwaza 04:44 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - bwaydiva1 12:07 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| I can't imagine someone not liking VIOLET. At least as a score, even if you didn't like or take to the musical on stage (i've never seen it on stage), but the score is so so likable to me. | |
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| Not a spoiler | |
| Posted by: | Ann 11:56 am EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Fun Home - jero 11:41 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| Maybe you should listen to the whole thing. It being heavy on the storytelling gives you a chance to absorb the whole story of the show (her own life story) on CD. It's not about living in a creepy funeral home at all. Just my opinion, but it's not "meh" at all, on stage or on CD. Happy to hear the Tesori of Caroline and Violet. [I also lived for awhile in an apartment in the basement of a funeral home when I was in college - lots of interesting drinking games] | |
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| re: Not a spoiler | |
| Posted by: | jero 08:02 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | Not a spoiler - Ann 11:56 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| Ann- I get that part..I liked the story and the funeral home is really minor... although a mortician friend sent me a joke last night about switching heads on bodies instead of changing clothes and caskets. I replied that that was creepy.. the music to this seemed pedestrian to me, more rote story telling through words and not encompassing or using the music to heighten my mood or elevate me to a new place. It seemed all words and no visceral clawing at me. I'll listen again. And on that note, I HAVE to get to nyc to see the new VIOLET. I will be very unhappy if I don't.. | |
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| re: Not a spoiler | |
| Posted by: | gad90210 03:07 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | Not a spoiler - Ann 11:56 am EDT 03/16/14 |
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| I hope that Kron and Tesori will reunite and tackle something else. Fun Home is simply an exquisite work. | |
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| re: Not a spoiler | |
| Posted by: | Ann 03:22 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Not a spoiler - gad90210 03:07 pm EDT 03/16/14 |
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| Yes, two women whose work a admire greatly. Add in Bechdel to that. | |
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