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re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!"

Posted by: AlanScott 11:14 pm EDT 03/18/14
In reply to: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!" - PlayWiz 10:34 pm EDT 03/18/14

I always thought that one of the difficulties in musicalizing the film was the danger of being too on the money. A song titled "Don't Speak" would have to be awfully brilliant to overcome being . . . a song titled "Don't Speak."

I suspect that this is one of the reasons why Hamlisch and Carnelia either gave up or Allen decided that what they were coming up with wasn't right. By going with period songs, the songs are a bit oblique. Being oblique is good. Unfortunately, here it goes along with being nonspecific.


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re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!"

Posted by: PlayWiz 02:05 am EDT 03/19/14
In reply to: re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!" - AlanScott 11:14 pm EDT 03/18/14

Oh, I agree it would have to be a brilliant song to equal Allen's writing and Dianne Wiest's performance in one of the most memorable and quotable parts of the film.

If that couldn't happen, then I think someone mentioned the Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash song "Speak Low" from "One Touch of Venus", a very lovely song which could be sung with an interjected "Don't Speak" or two (and some other choice words) at some point as a surprise to make it into a more comedic song. Or perhaps someone write a counterpoint for a duet along the lines of "Don't Speak to Me of Love... in fact, just.... don't speak!".

I'm only conjecturing because the problem with old songs is, as you say, they're just rather general and not specific. Specific is usually funnier. It may be from "The Sunshine Boys" or some stand-up comedian, I can't recall, but when someone tries to tell a joke, they start -- "A guy walks into a shop"; The professional interjects: "No, no -- not A guy - THIS guy walks into a shop" -- it makes it more specific and funnier just by being even that little bit particular.

It's the same thing here, based on what you are saying. I didn't read all of your long post above, though I'm sure it's good as per your usual insight. I just skimmed to avoid spoilers and surprises, as it has been years since I've seen the film. The impact of Wiest, Chazz Palmieri, John Cusack and Jennifer Tilly's performances are what I remember most from the film.


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re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!"

Posted by: Delvino 11:40 pm EDT 03/18/14
In reply to: re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!" - AlanScott 11:14 pm EDT 03/18/14

I recall how Mel Brooks took lines from "Young Frankenstein" ("Roll in the Hay") and did exactly what you mention in turning them into songs: literalize their more subtle charms. Sometimes, a line that lasts seconds on the screen is memorable for just that reason: brevity, and our resulting gasp (and laugh). When we hear the same sentiment attenuated, expanded, the moment loses its power and its humor.


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re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!"

Posted by: AlanScott 12:26 am EDT 03/19/14
In reply to: re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!" - Delvino 11:40 pm EDT 03/18/14

Yeah, you totally want to avoid that kind of thing. You might put the line "Don't Speak" into a song, but you'd have to let it surprise the audience.

Since you brought up Young Frankenstein, one big mistake made there that's not repeated here is the use of enormous sets. The YF sets were very impressive, but that's the kind of thing that you probably want to avoid when putting a movie onstage. Movies can give us closeups, and you need to approximate that. Not that the sets here are small (although the Village apt. set is nicely undersized), but they're not massive, and the stage feels on the small side.

The same mistake was made long ago by Santo Loquasto — although he may have simply been doing what he was asked for — in Singin' in the Rain. Massive sets, very impressive, and exactly not what that show needed.

Although Bullets is in a big theatre, they'd done their best to make it feel intimate.


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re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!"

Posted by: newintown 09:10 am EDT 03/19/14
In reply to: re: It sounds like there should be a number called "Don't Speak!" - AlanScott 12:26 am EDT 03/19/14

I think this whole exchange skirts around the de-evolution of adaptation - a good theatrical adapter wouldn't use "don't speak" at all, either in a song or dialogue - that line is too memorable, too much a part of the experience of watching the movie. A talented adapter would create their own iconic moment, every bit as good as (or better than) "don't speak."

For my money, a good adapter also would create a new title, change the story line to be more musical, add or delete characters - in other words, create a new work only based upon the film, not slavishly adhering to it, filling it out with irrelevant songs.

Some shows actually do this - Grey Gardens and Gentleman's Guide to name two. But mostly, it seems to be a game of plopping the screenplay on stage with plugged-in tunes.


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