| re: Prediction: Jerry Herman's Musicals will be Relegated to Encores Productions | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 04:24 pm EST 12/16/17 | |
| In reply to: Prediction: Jerry Herman's Musicals will be Relegated to Encores Productions - Zelgo 03:27 pm EST 12/16/17 | |
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| I have to disagree with you on some levels. Hello Dolly will be around forever and revive-able when ever a leading lady of a certain age and star power wants to devote time to the stage, as actresses with this mega wattage gravitate toward movies and TV. The plot is much better than you think it is, IMO. Get the script out and read The Matchmaker which is loaded with social commentary. I saw a glorious production at Asolo Rep a few years ago and it still speaks to modern audiences. Herman had to strip some of that away to make room for the songs, but look closely and its still there, underneath. And then those wonderful songs. I would agree that Mame is problematic both with its attitude toward the South and the extremely episodic book, but again disagree about the songs, they are well known to anyone interested in musical theater (Open a New Window, Need a Little Christmas, If He Walked Into My Life, Bosom Buddies). Now onto the three flops. Dear World is the best but plagued by a weak book and a story that begged not to be musicalized. I was actually once out on a tour of Madwoman of Chaillot which itself is rather dated but shockingly has some relevance with the political fights over global warming. But the polemic tone is all wrong for musical treatment. With that said, Herman's score is by far the finest element. Recently had an opportunity to see a community theater production which I passed on. I did see the original while a Senior in HS, Boston. Mack & Mabel is sabotaged by its horrible book and dark, dark, dark story line. The concert presentation is probably the most workable idea, salvage that glorious score, just narrate the story, such as it is. The Grand Tour is your garden variety piece of dreck. The score is mostly second rate Herman with two good songs. The book is badly written and the whole thing has little redeeming value, so why worry. I sense that you are not Jerry Herman's biggest fan, am I right? Do you still scratch your head wondering how La Cage could have beat out Sunday in the Park with George for best musical. I love Sondheim too, but I also enjoy Jerry Herman. This is going to surprise you, but there was a recent , quite decent production of Little Night Music hereabouts. Many people I know (not theater people) HATED IT. Lots of different reasons why, but they just didn't like it at all. Now I hope we can agree that Night Music is one of Sondheim's most accessible shows, so if lots of people can't warm to that one, maybe it is possible to conclude that Sondheim isn't everybodys cup of tea. My point is, please don't be so ready to relegate all of Jerry Herman to the dustbin of musical theater history. BTW, have you recently or ever sat through Pajama Game or any of dozens of other 1950s (successful) musicals? They don't all play wonderfully today, 50 years out. |
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