This is exactly what people say about FOLLIES and it's just as untrue about that show.
The hyperbole isn't useful either as it's not even a huge cast of characters and it isn't at all seeming to be endless... and everyone we get to know plays an important role in this show and they are paid off, not just introduced and forgotten. I don't know what show you saw, or how you can come out of it with the seemingly rare opinion that *yes* the score (which takes up the vast majority of the play) is tremendous but *also* it somehow doesn't tell any story and musicalizes a seemingly endless parade of secondary characters we had to keep track of. A score of any musical, let alone one this heavy on score, which is guilty of that can't really be such a great score can it? It's not like it's filled with radio hits but doesn't work for a play. I obviously don't agree that it's guilty of this which is why I'm arguing against it being both. But I am glad that if we don't agree on it as a play, or its skill and satisfying/titilating ability with telling a story and engaging us with complex entertaining well-written and memorable characters we at least agree the score is sensational (you're saying it is in spite of not doing those things, I'm saying it is very much because it does those things so well AND is so musically layered, sumptuous and exciting.) |
