Twelve-step Musical Re-dis-covery Program

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Baby

Over the years, (mostly in my rash youth) I have made judgments on certain musicals for which I did not care.


These are musicals that I usually saw or listened to only once and rejected right away. These don't include shows that I've seen more than once, or if I have listened to the score or played the vocal selections over and over, and still don't really like, such as Phantom.

I have decided to go on a twelve-step re-dis-covery program. Actually, there are just two steps -- I clear my mind and then I listen to the CD again. Here are the first couple on my re-dis-covery journey:

Titanic: I bought the CD a few years back, listened to it, and put it back on the shelf. Now as I take it out to revisit it I can't recall a single song. On second listen I don't mind "Ship of Dreams" but the score gets a bit monotonous. And you know what? I just can't seem to work up any more enthusiasm for the subject, it's been done to death so many times. Maybe that's my fundamental problem.

Avenue Q: I saw the show and although it was wonderfully produced, amazingly acted and sung, with a book that moves along nicely, I just couldn't get "into it". I just didn't laugh (picture me sitting quietly while the entire audience is literally falling out of their seats laughing...it was a truly bizarre experience.) I thought the songs were fine but forgettable. So upon a few more listenings of late I find the songs to be well-crafted ditties that are...fine. They don't move me for some reason. I sit listening to "The Internet is for Porn" wondering why I'm not laughing, when I still chuckle when I hear Tom Lehrer's "Smut"?! This one remains a mystery to me.

Among Those Still To Go:

Baby: (Book by Sybille Pearson, Lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Music by David Shire) I only lasted through the First Act. I saw this with my sister when the Hummingbird Centre was still called the O'Keefe Centre. As I remember it, and my memory is fading, it was boring with forgettable songs. I never listened to it again. But hey, that was soooo long ago back before I even knew where babies came from! Shouldn't I give that another chance? After all, David Shire did write Big...

Sunset Boulevard: I only lasted the First Act on this one as well. Diahann Carroll was sick and the understudy (can't remember her name) was on. Maybe I should reconsider -- after all, this Lloyd Webber guy did write a couple of good things before...

I'll keep you posted...
By Suzy Conn on March 15, 2005 6:26 AM | | Comments (0)


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