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| I am surprised... | |
| Posted by: peter3053 12:20 am EST 12/18/22 | |
| In reply to: But Diana can do Sondheim!!! - Genealley 02:22 pm EST 12/17/22 | |
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| I'm surprised by a couple of the comments in this thread concerning the character of Charley. Other comments about the emotional effect of the piece, or lack thereof, are not new and may be true of a particular production. Personally, I find Merrily as a work deeply truthful to the human condition and the motivations of the characters quite understandable and explicable. I also lament that the show can't be done now with the beautiful framing device of the graduation scenes and the hymn "Behold the Hills of Tomorrow", with its sad irony; but warmly accept other revisions which clarify the chronology, and suit older actors than were present in the original production. (Others who saw that production have sworn how moving it was.) But the suggestion that Charley is a small part is very strange to me. Does Charley not provoke the aggression of Frank when he exposes his own true feelings on TV, and also lament with Mary the loss of their friendship with Frank? Does he not challenge and help dramatise Frank's values in the "Old Friends" scene, and join in its singing? Does this not lead to Frank rationalising his choices to himself in "Growing Up"? Does he not encourage Frank to go on the holiday which inadvertently brings Frank even closer to Gussie, and so join in "Best Thing That Ever Happened?" the big Act One finale? Isn't he with Frank on the night of their first hit, momentarily sucked in to the glamour he later, and earlier, despises (or do I mean earlier and later?) Does he not feel betrayed by Frank just before, ironically, being called on to sing "Good Thing Going"? Is he not part of their revue act? Does he not join in the youthful rounds of "Opening Doors"? Does he not swear to join Frank in his mission to change the world in "Our Time"? When people have commented on the shortness of his part, are they humorously referring to Daniel Radcliffe's stature??? I'm dazed and confused. |
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| re: I am surprised... | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 12:51 pm EST 12/18/22 | |
| In reply to: I am surprised... - peter3053 12:20 am EST 12/18/22 | |
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| Agreed. Before Growing Up was added, Charley had two solos and Frank had none. He's all over the piece. If anything, more developed than Frank, which is part of the reason I think that audiences struggled with the show. The supporting leads were more developed, musically and in revealing their wants and inner life, than the leading man. | |
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| re: I am surprised... | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 01:14 pm EST 12/18/22 | |
| In reply to: re: I am surprised... - EvFoDr 12:51 pm EST 12/18/22 | |
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| and Frank had none Not so. Frank (with Mary, but much of it Frank) had the wedding version of "Not A Day Goes By" (Beth didn't sing there in the '81 version), and of course for a time he also sang the courthouse version of the song, and he gets that on the recording as well. And of course he had (and still has) solo sections of songs throughout the show. |
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