PS Classics The Golden Apple- Page 2

[yfs]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 11:16pm

I confess I went all the way to Dallas to be convinced that this was actually a great score or a great show and was convinced of neither. The production was quite amateurish and clumsy, and the acting was very community theater, but, in the end, I just fond the score to be arty and self-important -- and endless. And the concept of the show somewhat baffling. Why the Pacific Northwest? Why the Spanish-American War? I know the Iliad and the Odyssey well enough so that I didn't find the plot confusing -- I fond the choices that the writers made about how to adapt the source material confusing. It can't all be just because there's a Mount Olympus out there can it? If so, sheesh. And the allusions to the Greek mythology seemed just plain silly. A pie baking contest? Really? "Lazy Afternoon" is a great song. I got that. But the rest? I think it's mostly mythological, and not in a good way.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 11:30pm

To Whom It Does Concern,

As you have deemed me "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," you can consider me equally "One-Who-Must-Not-Be-Addressed."


,

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/25/15 at 12:38am

I'm rather unfamiliar with the Illiad and Odyssey myself, but based on the basic synopses I've looked over it was rather hard to make very many connections. Seems that this show is more a "verrrrrry loosely inspired by" than anything else, taking character names and certain plot points and jumbling them together.

[elmore3003]

Posted: 2/25/15 at 4:53pm

While I disagree with much of what yfs says about the show itself, I heard a bootleg of the Lyric Stage production and t me it was a good college try. There is an incomplete sound system recording of the original Broadway cast, and the characters vividly leap out of the speakers. Everything on the Texas bootleg was rather subdued and devoid of much character or personality.



Updated On: 2/27/15 at 04:53 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:31pm

Artwork revealed and sound clips have been released!

I will say the tempos sound a bit slow. The artwork seems a tad cartoony but does seem to be inspired by the original show curtain as I suggested above.

http://www.psclassics.com/cd_goldenapple.html

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:38pm

Do pictures exist of the original show curtain? I can't say I'm impressed with that cover.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:44pm

It's on the previous page but here it is agin.

I'm also rather underwhelmed, the font looks like an MSPaint or something!

[gypsy101]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:51pm

I enjoyed the clips, I can't wait for the album!

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:54pm

The balloon and hills are also extracted almost directly from the Eckhart's scenic design:

If the tree was more like this one it might fit better:

I still think it's cool they incorporated the original set design in the cover. If they had only picked a better font...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 10:59pm

I definitely see the inspiration. I think the cover could have been better if they'd taken it further. The font and silhouettes on the cover bother me the most. They're both too modern looking and clash with the rest of it. The silhouettes in the original designs are executed more appropriately. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 11:00pm

I am certainly no graphic designer, but I made this off of the show curtain. I like it.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 11:09pm

I'll probably just use a cropped version of the show curtain in my iTunes.

[Fantod]

Posted: 4/14/15 at 11:11pm

Here's an interesting article on the development of the show from the New York Times

 

http://pdfsr.com/pdf/92550183.pdf

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/16/15 at 3:58pm

I'm so excited for this recording it's ridiculous!

Been listening to the OBC for days now.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/16/15 at 11:36pm

So am I Mr. Nowack. Thank you so much for the clip of the duet above. I thought I couldn't be more anxious for this recording to come out, but I was wrong.

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/17/15 at 2:08pm

Received news this morning that my pre-order has shipped!!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/17/15 at 11:14pm

I can't wait for your review, Mr. N.

[metropolis10111]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 8:47am

"I'm so excited for this recording it's ridiculous!
Been listening to the OBC for days now."

 I know the feeling. I'm not expecting to be life changing but I'm glad to hear the whole thing finally! 

[the brass kazoo]

Posted: 5/23/15 at 10:44pm

The Golden Apple is my favorite musical, so you can imagine how excited I was to hear this recording.  Unfortunately, it's not as strong as I had hoped, and I don't imagine that it will make many new fans for the piece.  It's not just that the performances are not of Broadway caliber (which is to be expected) but they seem insufficiently characterized--for instance Mother Hare lacks any gravitas or menace.  And Helen is screechy and annoying.  I much prefer the 1995 Evanston production.  The Ulysses is pretty decent, thankfully, since his is by far the largest part.

Of course I'm happy to have a complete recording, even if some things are still missing, such as the orchestral introduction to the second act, and a verse of "Doomed, Doomed, Doomed."  Even in this so-so production the greatness of Moross and Latouche's accomplishment shines through, as well as the tragedy that their Broadway careers were so short.

P.S. Not sure if everyone knows this, but the lyrics to Mother Hare's Prophecy ("Let accidents fill the world with woe...") are taken from a poem by "Mother Shipton", allegedly a 16th century English seeress but actually a Victorian-era fake.

 

 

      

 

Updated On: 5/23/15 at 10:44 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 7:36am

I thought those lines sounded like Mother Shipton. Thanks for the confirmation.

My copy arrived today and I immediately sat down and listened to the entire performance. I agree that some of the tempos seem slow, but on the whole I liked it better than brass kazoo did (but, then, the only other version I've heard is the OBC).

Frankly, I'm thrilled to hear all the music that is "new" to me in a clear recording and the orchestra sounds lovely (perhaps in comparison to the stripped down ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY). And I very much like the uncertainty of the ending. It makes me feel like Ulysses and Penelope have arrived at some new place.

One question: the companion booklet doesn't list doubling of the cast. I know that on the OBCR, the women of Angel's Roost play other parts in "Goona-Goona", as Sirens and Circe, etc. Does anyone know where that info might be available for the Lyric Theatre recording?

 

[the brass kazoo]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 10:18am

You're right--it's strange that the new recording doesn't mention the doubling, since it's one of the most conceptually brilliant things about the piece.  I assume that the doublings are the ones indicated in the score, which means:

Act I Mrs. Juniper = Act II Madame Calypso
Act I Lovey Mars = Act II The Siren
Act I Miss Minerva = Act II The Scientist
Act I Mother Hare = Act II Circe

To explain a little further for people who don't know the show, The Golden Apple is a re-telling of the Iliad and the Odyssey set in turn-of-the century America.  The first act is set in a typical small town, Mount Olympus, and the second act is set in the big city, Rhododendron.  So in the first act you have small-town characters corresponding to Greek goddesses, and in the second act you have big-city versions of those characters.  For example, the goddess of wisdom, Athena, is a schoolmarm in Act I, and a mad scientist in Act II (played by the same actress).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/28/15 at 3:14am

I finally got my copy today!!

I've gotta say, I really loved it. Obviously the show and score has its supporters and detractors but I am firmly a fan (at least on record!). To hear the majority of the score as it hasn't been heard in over 60 years is so wonderful I could hardly contain myself! So much great material finally available in high fidelity as originally presented.

The recording is most hurt by the sometimes glacial tempos but it's a problem that fades in and out, once I started listening I kindof adjusted. The cast seems decent enough, though I will admit they lack the vivid characterization previously mentioned from the OBC. The large orchestra sounds glorious though and is definitely the true standout.

The liner notes on the show's history were very interesting, and the explanation of the Odyssey and Illiad parallels were helpful for someone not familiar with those classical works. I loved the bits about the intended dichotomy between the "Americana" feel of Angel's Roost and the pop sensibility of the Rhododendron numbers. I'm still somewhat dissatisfied with the artwork but it is what it is. Apparently Moross's daughter insisted that her firm design the cover so that's where it came from, though I still take a tad of credit for suggesting the Eckarts' scenic design.

Overall a wonderful (though imperfect) treat and long overdue. It's probably on par with the Gershwin and Porter studio recreations of twenty years ago in terms of occasional lifeless delivery but extreme value in terms of reference to classic American scores as originally presented. Yet another stellar release by the wonderful people at PS Classics! 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:57pm

I tinkered a bit and sped the tempo of some of the tracks a bit, and at a spryer pace it's really much more enjoyable. Makes for a much more fun listening experience.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/30/15 at 3:36pm

I'm with Mr. Nowack: I don't disagree with the criticisms of brass kazoo and others, but at the end of the day, I don't mind too much. I'm just too happy to have a more nearly complete recording of the score.

Thanks for doubling list, brass kazoo, and the explanation that makes them easy to remember.

One thing that might help newcomers with a knowledge of Greek literature: THE ILLIAD and THE ODYSSEY are both "covered" in Act II (the former is pretty much covered in the prizefight at the top of the act).

The first act is adapted from the underlying myth of Paris, Helen and Menelaus, something not even Homer tries to fully dramatize in his epic.

***

On that note, I understand yfs' complaint that setting the show in Washington state just because there is a Mount Olympus there is pretty thin. He's right. But another way to see it is that the shallow parallels to Homer are just there to let us know we're watching a familiar tale of corruption and redemption; they aren't meant to be deep in and of themselves.

Updated On: 5/30/15 at 03:36 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/30/15 at 3:56pm

It really is such a powerhouse score and show trying to accomplish a lot so it's to be expected that it can't always succeed.

And the same goes for the recording. The more and more I listen to it even with the slow tempos I love it more and more. The performances are really growing on me too, especially Helen who at first I didn't like at all but now I quite like.