All That Chat - re: Allegro at CSC I SAW THE ORIGINAL

HOME ALL THAT CHAT ATC WEST COAST SHOPPIN' RUSH BOARD FAQS

LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH THREADED MODE

not logged in

Threaded Order | Chronological Order

re: Allegro at CSC I SAW THE ORIGINAL

Posted by:	Dondunn (donhdunn@yahoo.com) 04:13 pm EDT 03/31/14
In reply to:	re: Allegro at CSC - lowwriter 01:15 pm EDT 03/31/14

Well, after Oklahoma and Carousel, the feeling of disappointment was perhaps somewhat increased just from over-expectation. The "original" story -- small-town doctor learns prominent bigtime practice isn't what brings happinsss -- seemed trite at the time. However, to this day, I still hum You Are Never Away (from your home in my heart) and think it ranks up there with The Song Is You and other great Hammerstein lyrics. One Foot, Other Foot -- in which the "child" learns to walk and starts on his way to a successful career -- also is a rousing number. So is the title song -- "Our world is for the forceful and not for sentimental folk, just brilliant and resourceful and paranoic gentlefolk, we know no other way of living out the day, our music must be galloping and gay--Allegro"" -- remember most of the lyrics to this day. Disappointing, tho, in the original was Lisa Kirk, in one, doing The Gentleman is a Dope, beautifully but disappointing because the song just brought to mind The Lady Is a Tramp. Then there was the banality of A Fellow Needs a Girl (...to sit by his side and listen to him talk and agree with the things he'll say). Wikipedia has a good summation of the show's problems, with comments by Sondheim. In a season where I saw Brigadoon, Carousel, Finian's Rainbow, and Nancy Walker in Look, Ma, I'm Dancin' and High Button Shoes, well, Allegro had a long way to go, and didn't quite make it.

reply to this message \|

re: Allegro at CSC I SAW THE ORIGINAL

Posted by:	drummergirl 12:35 am EDT 04/01/14
In reply to:	re: Allegro at CSC I SAW THE ORIGINAL - Dondunn 04:13 pm EDT 03/31/14

I so enjoyed reading your comments, and they added color and flavor to a rather dry Wikipedia summary - still not sure that this is of interest (sorry, lowwriter, we agree on so much else!), but I now know so much more than I did before. Thanks so much.

reply to this message \|

All That Chat is intended for the discussion of theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)