re: LaChiusa Wild Party

[Nath]

hey!

Just looking for any info/pics etc etc on La Chiusa's wild party (detailed synopsis/script) would be great!
If anyone can point me in teh direction of some good websites that'd be awesome!

Thanks heaps!

[BSoBW2]

The script is in this compilation:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1559362006/sr=1-12/qid=1154060718/ref=sr_1_12/102-3959058-3372946?ie=UTF8&s=books

There are loads of pictures on Mandy Patinkin's official site.

[Robos89]

BSoBW2, does the book contain the full script to those 4 shows (Rent, Parade, Wild Party, and Floyd Colling)?? Let me know, thanks!

[maybethistime]

Yes, I does...

[BSoBW2]

Yes, it contains the full libretto of all the shows, a few pictures of each, and a bit of a back story.

The TWP even contains a monologue that was cut from the show that Black says.

[Jon]

I'm not surprised the monologue got cut, since Yancey Arais, who played Black, was the worst actor on the stage.

[elvisitis1302]

"I'm not surprised the monologue got cut, since Yancey Arais, who played Black, was the worst actor on the stage."

Ug, Amen to that. I saw the show when it played on Broadway and going from "Gin" with the fabulous Mandy Patinkin into "People Like Us" with Arais was one of the saddest and least effective transitions, and "People Like Us" is such a fierce song...

[zoran912]

Toni Collette is so fierce in this show. She's heartbreaking. Even if you're not a LaChiusa fan, I recommend that you buy the recording just for her.

[C is for Company]

This Is What It Is is my favorite song on the cd of hers. It is just so emotionally effective and she sounds beautiful.

[BSoBW2]

"I'm not surprised the monologue got cut, since Yancey Arais, who played Black, was the worst actor on the stage."

Amen again.

[gustof777]

Oh C, that's my favorite song too! It's just so subtle and beautiful and Toni really shines and you just feel her pain. It does a great job at capturing what I can only imagine would be seeing her perform it live.

[C is for Company]

EXACTLY! Jeez, you have some good taste First Bernarda, now I see you like TWP. The first time I heard "People Like Us" I was extremely impressed by her and then when I heard her later I was just so moved. That is one of those shows that make me mad I wasn't born sooner to see.
And mad that daring shows like that don't ever get the respect they deserve from the audiences to keep it running. That is certainly one of those unique shows that only come by so often. Certainly the first best musical of the century.

[gustof777]

Well it's Michael John! How could you not just oogle over his music? It's stunning. I've actually been in love with Wild Party since the cast recording was given to me in 7th grade. I would love to see this someday and would travel almost anywhere if the production was good enough. Though nothing would be the same as seeing Toni. Oh I agree it is so sad how musicals that are so daring and innovative so often are ignored...I just say that it was a show ahead of it's time. I live in hope that Michael John's work will be back on Broadway when critics and all are finally caught up with the brilliance of his pieces.

[C is for Company]

Slthough probably underappreciated by tourists and commercial theater-goers, he still has a loyal following and as long as he continues to dazzle with the material he pumps out, I will always be there to go see.
Plus, like Sondheim, he takes on such obscure pieces and really surprises everytime with such intelligent work, yet you can trust it will be worth it.

[zoran912]

It's my love for LaChiusa, among other things, that really makes me wish I lived in closer proximity to the city. LaChiusa's work doesn't tour, sadly. It's rarely produced in regional theatre either. I would love to see a production of this.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

I think This Is What It Is has played on my iPod like... 25 times in the last day I love that song

[wei2]

i just read an interview by michael musto w/ toni in the latest issue of OUT. he briefly asks her what it was like to work w/ mandy and references mandy's apparently difficultness. she gives a somewhat diplomatic answer along the lines of "i hope he finds happiness someday"

anyways, does anyone know of any specific stories or rumors about him in this production?

[C is for Company]

I remember there was something like this posted a year ago or something and reading what someone wrote about him supposedly cursing her out and walking out or something. I don't know, but apparently there was some problem or another. Either way, he produces such fine work I can't complain about the guy ever.

[BSoBW2]

There was an article about Mandy's behavior - except every source was cited as "says someone who worked on the show," or whatever. No actual names, or positions, given.

The article talked about how this show - which already brings out the worst in people (in the name of art, of course)...brought out the worst in Patinkin. It said he would spit in actors' faces on stage and would slap and hit them. Often he and Toni Collette would get into huge battles.

How much is true, I don't know.

[bwaysinger]

the Wild Party remains one of the best shows I have ever seen live.
The entire experience was aboslutely incredible. Toni was robbed of the Tony (her performance still ranks as one of my top three or four acting experiences), as was the show (for Best Musical and Score, I believe).
Marie Christine probably did a lot to ruin its chances...and Michael John's of picking up score (one would have won it that year but I think both cancelled out).
I never liked Marie Christine but I admit it has grown on me completely. Now it is in frequent rotation with TWP on my MP3 player.

[BSoBW2]

They sure beat Aida.

[bwaysinger]

But not alone. I'm willing to bet the name LaChiusa had more votes but they were obviously split somewhere along the total and neither show obviously could keep up with Aida.

[BSoBW2]

And to content myself I will say that is what happened with See What I Wanna See and Bernarda Alba.

[bwaysinger]

But neither played Broadway, Bso...and I've never noticed quite the nomination/voting pattern with the off-Broadway awards as I do with the Tonys.
In fact, didn't both shows fail to even sweep nominations?
But I don't think either show was up to the quality Marie or TWP.

[BSoBW2]

They both got Best Musical Drama Desk nominations.

And I find myself to be one of the few - if not the only - who preferred BA to SWIWS.

But neither were as good as TWP...though BA has much of the same air that MC had.

[bwaysinger]

I can see that. it's a shame that LaChiusa's works really aren't "commercial" but I am appreciative that places like the Public and Lincoln Center continue to produce them since Broadway is increasingly gearing itself only towards revivals and staged versions of cartoons.