In My Life – Flop of the Millenium

In 2005, when I was going to Pratt Institute and on the cusp of giving myself to Musical Theater completely. I read a Broadway.com review (back when they wrote reviews and not just interviewed nobody's opinions of shows) about a show called In My Life. It was a huge mess, the review told me. I need to see this! Then before I knew it, the show had closed.

Now folks I have seen my fair share of flops, but this one takes the cake. Written , music and directed by Joseph Brooks. The show is about a boy with turrets who falls in love with a girl. When he is emotional he swears in rhymes. Dick, sick, flick, hick! But when he's happy he says lemon! Meanwhile an Angel is playing with these two people's lives. For his REALITY OPERA.

(This is the boy with turrets. He is so adorable in this show)

Yes, I'm not making this up. As well as this story arch. There is the fact that the boy is dying of a tumor (to make the opera more dramatic) and his dead sister is in Heaven watching this all happen (the little girl can't act, but has a voice on her like nothing I've ever heard before on American Idol). When the dead sister isn't watching her brother rhyme swears. She is dully conversing with God. In some of the boriest book scenes I have ever seen. God is a fat man named Al who wears a backwards baseball cap all the time.

Yet the show is one of the most fucked up musicals I have ever seen. The story is utterly confusing, but horribly simple. Mr. Brooks tries to stuff emotions in your face and expects you to cry. But before you can get a tear out the silly gay Angel appears and makes the scene ascend it's ridiculousness!

I love the show though. It's such a guilty treasure to watch I feel like I'm going to die knowing something that people will never experience. The show is a total sensory fuck! It is like taking a journey into a mad egotists mind.

What to see though is the Ultimo Finale! When the turret afflicted boy dies. The characters assemble in a singing battle. His dead mother who sings opera like it's know ones business, she's my favorite. There's a scene when he's remembering his mother singing opera and a set of a kitchen lowers down and she's doing dishes singing phenomenally. That was one hot scene!

So everyone in the finale gets their chance to belt it out. The turrets boy goes to heaven...

Then when you least expect it, God decides they shouldn't die. But it's not just any wedding. Gay angle floats down with a giant lemon and all the characters assemble to wed the two kids.

Oh but did I mention this is right after the man who hit turret boy's dead sister tells her she killed her. Because well he's dead too and in heaven. Oh did I mention that character existed? No? Well I didn't even realize it until that scene.

This is the stuff my dreams are made of. I swear!

I ordered the chicken...

A Catered Affair. It lacked a lot. It lacked a good book. It looked memorable music. It lacked, really anything. I wanted to like it. I really did. I love Faith Prince and she played a cold hearted mother who had a couple good numbers. But when you have a character walking around saying, "I never loved you enough...I hate your father...I don't like to think about my life." How can you possibly feel moved by her?

There were two really awkward moments in the show. First, when Faith had a nervous breakdown. She was brilliant (as someone who knows what it's like to go through that), but it was so weird and seemed forced. But she went from zero to sixty in no time flat! Sitting there, just having had her daughter tell her a big wedding will ruin her life. And Faith looks at the flag that was delivered after her son's funeral and just LOSES it.

Then there was the songs that liked to end on a downbeat and not rhyme. Then Faith just stands there for a good solid minute or two. Apparently, she stood on the fire escape for the entire night and into the morning. Oh yes and those scenes in the kitchen and on the fire escape...Oh goodness. I love seeing flops. Just love it. These was one of those shows.

I also got a new little order of Broadway DVDs. This time it was a majority of them being plays. I got The Normal Heart, Souvenir, A Streetcar Named Desire, Patti LuPone at Les Mouche, In My Life, Angels in America – The Opera. I am starting off with Souvenir.

If I knew what the show was about when it was on Broadway. I would've been there in a moment. Florence Foster Jenkins was a Tone deaf Socialite who became famous. Then in her Carnegie Hall performance she realized people were laughing at her. I think it's an amazing story that is so cool to watch unravel (though it's fiction). Also it's taped from 2005 and on HD Video and has excellent sound. Judy Kaye played Florence and really was truly amazing, especially since she won the Tony for Carlotta in Phantom in 1988. Hurrah Ms. Kaye, hurrah!

Marilyn: An American Fable

I think it's time I try to tackle Marilyn: An American Fable. One of those flops that people wonder why? It wasn't given a full chance to become a legend like Carrie or Chess. It came and went and only was a hot topic in the year is came out. Like The Pirate Queen will be in several years.

I don't think there is any possible way I can describe this show. I shall try. Marilyn tells the story of Marilyn Monroe of course. Exactly as the title explains it's all a fable. The show opens with a little Norma Jean at her window wishing to be a star! Then suddenly these three random strangers in tuxes show up. They are Marilyn's Destiny guiding her. Yes, exactly. An unknown fact about Marilyn is that she had three spiritual guides that made her decisions for her. Damn that Destiny.

On top of that Marilyn spend the entire first act breathing overly heavy and bending over. I've only gotten through the first act, because it's difficult. It doesn't pick a time period to be in. It borders on rock and absurd. Quantum Leaps' Scott Backula makes his premiere as Joe DiMaggio. Marilyn leaves him when he says he wants her to be with him HERE! When he says that I couldn't figure out if he meant here with him. Or here in Dimaggio's, the restaurant owned by Joe.

Regardless Marilyn leaves him. Act II opened with Marilyn having a nightmare where Destiny (those unholy trinity) sing evilly about her bad choices. Which has little to do with her addiction to pills, but more with her lack of success.

Chess on Broadway - 1988

Chess, if you don't know already and many (the four people who read this) of you already do, is one of my all time favorite musicals. I have finally acquired a bootleg of the production! It's amazing, well semi-amazing. Okay, I'll just admit it I secretly love it with all my heart. I've only watched Act I, but I can't wait for Act II. The three stars sing their hearts out and it's such a shame that the cut the CD down to the minimal songs. Yet, that makes sense.

Trevor Nunn does it again! And when I say that I mean he uses the same techniques he used the year before in Les Mis and would use many years later in Rock 'N' Roll. Meaning when all else fails lets use a turntable...Now, I love the turntable, don't get me wrong. It can make an otherwise dull show, fascinating. Once the stage starts spinning you just feel this overwhelming urge that something amazing will happen!

Now for Chess this actually was very true. The way the staged moved (turned), along with the two moving towers made it actually look like they were walking down hallways. It was very cinematic.

However, this show was not without problems. First to mention the utterly confusing storyline. Since every version of Chess is different I cannot tell you the story so easily. The Broadway version though not only had a love triangle (as it always does) there is the whole USSR vs. USA idea. Plus there's Florence lost father. Add in two "agents" who are working for the greater good. Last but not least bring in the sad devoted wife. And I tell you, you have one crazy storyline.

Also there is the music...the epic and amazing music. Then there is the question of...what does one do during these songs? Well in one version they had the chorus provide entertainment by dancing, while the lead sang their ballad. In concert versions it's easier, because we don't expect much. In this version though (save for One Night In Bangkok) Mr. Nunn didn't think about this fully through, nothing happens.

The best example being Nobody's Side. This is Florence's huge number where she finally leaves Freddie and decides to play the game her way! It's a wonderful song, the lyrics are a bit nutty. Yet you listen to it and feel completely empowered! So for years I've wondered what Florence would be doing during this number. Would she be smashing shit up? Would she be standing there doing nothing? So the song begins and well...I think my thoughts are best said in the email I sent to my friend, which was my immediate reaction to the number. Yes I write my friend about my feelings on certain parts of musicals.

Enjoy and I suggest listening to the actual song while reading (Click here!) You really get the feel:

But as we've discussed, the songs are so epic, what do you do? Like the song where people sell things it's just odd. However, my favorite moment is when Judy is singing Nobody's Side. At least in the Swedish version they have Florence in a club getting drunk and have a REALLY good time.

While in this Judy starts off singing after Freddie leaves. Then the turntable moves and Florence walks into her hotel room. Now you think it's gonna get great...and she proceeds to start packing her suitcase...

The rest of the song (like 2 minutes) is just her belting her heart out and she's folding her sweaters and folding skirts. She throws the shoes in very mad. Cause she's belting very powerfully...Yes...so that's just a funny moment.

Lastly, since I'm on theme of Nobody's Side. I may as well drive the point home with this little gem...

Life To-Do List

Today was an okay day. Nothing good, nothing bad. I suppose I'm allowed those days every now and then, right? I went to Therapy, which was more like rehash the week. It left me a little drained of feelings. I started rehashing and then told my therapist (poor girl is a grad student...she probably has her dissertation written about me already).

I told her I am making a "Life To-Do List" which is a list. Not a Bucket List, I refused to associate it with death. It's the same idea, but this is own personal list. It's not finished yet. It will be like the Constitution. Meaning it can be amended over time, but only is 2/3 of the house agrees. This means that Anita Morris, Judy Garland and I must out vote the tattoos on my calves.

Here is the list so far:

1. Always love those around you
2. Love yourself, no matter what happens
3. Buy an iPhone
4. Keep going the gym until you can't any longer
5. Finish undergraduate college in Theatre
6. Travel to Egypt and climb the Pyramids
7. Buy a new Computer
8. Get at least FOUR more tattoos
9. Get a theatrical Internship
10. Embrace what life has given you
11. Keep smiling and making jokes
12. Win a Tony Award
13. Travel to Germany and stay in a Hostel
14. Take a road trip across America
15. Do the AIDs Walk annually
16. Travel to Alaska
17. Write a play that you can truly be proud of
18. Have said play be put on by a theater company in an actual performance
19. Travel to Africa in a AIDs-Relief Related Event
20. Travel to San Francisco (possibly live there for some amount of time)
21. Learn to roll a joint
22. Eat a full Mexican Meal and enjoy it (perferably in Mexico)
23. Travel to India
24. Win the Pulitzer Prize
25. Meet Patti LuPone and tell her she's your idol
26. Go to the Ireland and look up at the stars
27. Volunteer in an AIDs related Foundation

In other news I got some more Broadway DVDs. This time I got the LA Cast of Falsettos, which is 10,000 times better than the Broadway recording. I have Chess on Broadway (immense pleasure in typing that one. See what happens if you deny me...I get it), Also Chess in Concert from Sweden with the original cast. City of Angels in London. Legends! starring Mary Martin and Carol Channing. Dance of the Vampires, the flop. As well as a mega flop called Marilyn: An American Fable. They all make me very happy...

Right now I'm half watching Falsettos. What a wonderful staging, truly amazing. What beautiful music.

Lastly, I have to write a short story for Creative Writing. I am trying to train myself to not rely on my own life to write about. I am trying to find common ideas and feelings I wish to write about. Then projecting them into a story I create. I am nervous, but I have a decent idea. We shall see.

Quick Notes, Quick Notes!

1. I will blog another time, but I am THRILLED to say that a friend of mine just sent me like 24 DVDs of different Broadway shows! I'll be blogging about it later. Let's say I have two shows with Patti Lu. Side Show, Marie Christine, Carrie, two Cabarets and so many more! I'm SO happy right now. I can't wait to watch them all.
2. I am once again ignoring my research paper and heading to Manhattan to see a SAW movie MARATHON! For 11 dollars I'll be seeing the first three SAW movies back to back. How brutally fun that will be. I bought enough Chocolate to kill a FAT lady even. I probably won't sleep tonight for all the gruesome imagery, but it's 11 bucks and it's three movies. I DID get a friend to come along, he'll be late but he's already seen the first one so that's good at least.
3. I feel more flustered than I have EVER been, I didn't accomplish a single thing today, and yet I now have so many musicals to watch. Really research papers can suck my BALLS!
4. Oh yes I forgot, the Chess Concert starring Julie Murney, Raul Esparza, Adam Pascal, Josh Groban and Sutton Foster is ALSO one of the shows I have...LIFE IS COMPLETE!

Time to watch some blood.