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| re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum | |
| Last Edit: Singapore/Fling 02:06 am EDT 08/27/22 | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 02:06 am EDT 08/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum - Chazwaza 02:58 pm EDT 08/25/22 | |
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| But her version of the song acknowledges he is a jerk, which is part of the obstacle she is facing in deciding to walk away from him. And if you're concerned about how a modern audience receives the politic, taking a song away from Beth in order to give one to Frank (who we've already hear a lot from) is a much deeper disservice to a character who, yes, is otherwise thinly sketched. And again, if we want to see Frank receiving the consequences of how he has lived (which I don't know that we do, since he doesn't appear to learn anything from this moment, since we've already seen how he makes further bad choices), then perhaps the best thing he can do is listen. Let the actor play the impact of seeing her truth, rather than - to use a common trope of today - mainsplaining how much she has hurt him. In terms of the original text, this song comes directly after Frank rails that Beth can't do this to him and to his kids, so that really does cut against the idea that this song isn't carrying an agenda. An actor can attempt to play it as action neutral (I want to experience my feelings, rather than I want you to call off this divorce), but the (original) text doesn't really support that. |
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| re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 09:53 pm EDT 09/02/22 | |
| In reply to: re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum - Singapore/Fling 02:06 am EDT 08/27/22 | |
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| The inherent problem remains that the show doesn't let us get to know Beth much or make us care particularly what she has to say... The show is not, at all, about her. It IS very much about Frank, and Charley and Mary. "Not A Day Goes By" is one of the most major songs in the show, and a very compelling emotional expression. I really do think it's wasted giving it to Beth especially that soon after meeting her, in addition to Frank needing a song/beat like the one he gets with it. So not do I not think it works to give it to Beth, as a stand alone idea, it also takes away from what Frank needs in the writing of the show. The point of the show also isn't to just convince us Frank is a jerk. We hear a lot from Frank because he is the lead and central character. How can we call it a disservice, or worry about it being a disservice, to a character that is thinly sketched? She's not thinly sketched because the writers forgot to flesh out their lead... she's thinly sketched because she's a small supporting character and the show isn't about her even if her role IN the life story of the lead character is key. |
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| re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 12:26 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum - Singapore/Fling 02:06 am EDT 08/27/22 | |
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| Also - as written, the song is a response to Frank's question, "do you still love me?" And, the answer that Beth comes out in song with is pure perfect Sondheim - an exploration of the confusion in the human condition, that goes so, so far beyond a simple yes or no (whereas if Frank sings the song, it's pretty much a "yes, I love you" all the way through). Dramatically, it's far more compelling and interesting and heartbreaking - in the same way that "Could I Leave You" or "Being Alive" leave us with that same rawness. | |
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| re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 09:55 pm EDT 09/02/22 | |
| In reply to: re: the "Not A Day Goes By" conundrum - Chromolume 12:26 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
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| Here you make a very compelling case for it as Beth's song... and I agree... except in the functionality of how it actually works in the show (with Beth singing it where she does and as such a thinly sketched character) or works against it in the material Frank does or doesn't get. | |
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