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It's about family

Posted by: AlanScott 05:02 pm EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: re: It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. - Singapore/Fling 04:01 pm EDT 08/07/14

It's not about gay cartoonists and their lesbian daughters. (Apart from the fact, noted below, the father is not a gay cartoonist.)

It's about family. It's about parent-child relationships. It's about things that are so universal. I'm not saying it's going to be a smash that will run for years, but I truly think it's about things that most regular theatregoers will find very easy to relate to. And even though the score is mostly not written in traditional, easily accessible song forms, it's also not a difficult listen. (Of course, I've never found Sondheim the slightest bit difficult so perhaps I'm not the best judge.)

The weekly nut will be low. I think it might be very successful. I do worry a bit about the restaging that will be necessary for Circle in the Square. It doesn't seem to me a natural space for the show.


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re: It's about family

Posted by: Singapore/Fling 05:08 pm EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: It's about family - AlanScott 05:02 pm EDT 08/07/14

Good point about the universality of the family aspect. If they can sell it on that, they could do well.


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re: It's about family

Posted by: AlanScott 05:19 pm EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: re: It's about family - Singapore/Fling 05:08 pm EDT 08/07/14

I think it will be about word of mouth. If the show is as good as it was at the Public, I'd think word of mouth will be very good. But I could be wrong. We'll see.


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re: It's about family

Posted by: bwaydiva1 05:07 pm EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: It's about family - AlanScott 05:02 pm EDT 08/07/14

When they perform on the Tonys (assuming they're nominated), they should do "Welcome to Our House on Maple Avenue". That shows the whole cast and introduces the plot. It shows them as a family.

It is a specific story with universal themes-that's what they need to convey.


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re: It's about family

Posted by: simbo 05:59 pm EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: re: It's about family - bwaydiva1 05:07 pm EDT 08/07/14

Assuming they pay for a Tony slot, I'd go with the title song - "Welcome to our house on Maple Avenue" does showcase the cast and set up plot, but ... it's very plotty and angsty, and it doesn't show the humour of the show, and it doesn't really grab the attention (it's a "settle in, here's the story" song, not a "wow, look at this!" song).

The title song, by contrast, is attention grabbing, funny, and, importantly for marketing purposes, repeats the title of the show multiple times!


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re: It's about family

Posted by: bwaydiva1 06:10 pm EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: re: It's about family - simbo 05:59 pm EDT 08/07/14

I'm not sure the kids' song would go over as well. I think "Welcome to Our House" is a better choice but I could foresee a medley of that with either one of Small Alison's solos or "Welcome to the Fun Home" (there's something about caskets onstage that's disturbing to some people-not me, but it could be a turn off).


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re: It's about family

Posted by: simbo 10:51 pm EDT 08/08/14
In reply to: re: It's about family - bwaydiva1 06:10 pm EDT 08/07/14

It's a show about a family who work in a funeral home. If caskets are a turnoff, that person isn't going to go anyway.

To me, you pick your most energetic, attention grabbing number - avoiding because of fear of bad reactions to caskets is like if "Grand Hotel" had avoided "We'll Take a Glass Together" because some people dislike seeing public drunkenness.


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re: It's about family

Posted by: bwaydiva1 08:01 am EDT 08/09/14
In reply to: re: It's about family - simbo 10:51 pm EDT 08/08/14

I still think showing the family and the tensions is a good move. The kids are cute but it's a grown up show-it's not for children.


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