All That Chat - re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog...

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

LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH FLAT MODE

not logged in

re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog...

Posted by:	lordofspeech 02:23 am EDT 05/09/15
In reply to:	re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - ShowGoer 02:08 am EDT 05/09/15

I think it's politically incorrect to note that FUN HOME is hamstrung by its brilliant style and its integrity in adhering to the cartoon-ness of its source material. The eldest girl's 11:00 number is about non-communication in a car, the father's big number is about inability to fully embrace his emotional life, and the mother's arid lament. The goods are delivered, but they're about unexpressed lives, under-expressed emotions. Affecting as that may be for some, I miss the kind of mastery other composers have been able to bring to unstruck sounds. This Nearly Was Mine, Every Day A Little Death, How to Handle A Woman are, to me, examples of songs that give the audience fullness even in their expression of things-that-are-missing. I didn't hear or feel that in FUN HOME. Though the direction was masterful, the material, for me, like the essential material in PASSION, just never let me in to the beating of those thumped-down hearts. The exceptions (the song about "Joan" and about the "Ring of Keys") were great, but they weren't numbers for either the father or the most grown-up of the three girls.

reply \|

Previous:	re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - ryhog 03:14 am EDT 05/09/15
Next:	re: If anything, American in Paris is the underdog... - RonAnnArbor 03:53 pm EDT 05/08/15

Thread:

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.)