The Dead

[starspangledjenny]

Is there a place I can listen to this score, I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[CATSNYrevival]

Yes. There's no Broadway cast recording, but there's a recording of the Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre production from 2004. It's not commercially available so you'll have to trade for it.

http://castalbums.org/recordings/James-Joyces-The-Dead-2004-Pittsburgh-Cast/4954

[Jordan Catalano]

Ive looked for a copy of that cd for years! Does anyone here have it??

[CATSNYrevival]

I do.

[After Eight]

This show had a beautiful score. It's a shame the Broadway production never got a recording.

[abstract19]

Does anyone have a copy they would be willing to let me listen to? Some form of trade or something?

Thanks!

[Jordan Catalano]

You can buy it from the Pittsburgh theater. They sell it. You can trade them cash and they will give you the CD.

[supportivemom]

New Studio on Broadway at NYU is doing The Dead this year for one of their studio productions. I don't know the date of the show but it's worth checking out. The students there are really talented and I bet the tickets won't cost much either!

[abstract19]

I couldn't find it on their website. I'll have to look again.

[When I get low...]

The Court Theatre in Chicago will be mounting a production in the winter.

Anyone here see the Broadway production? I'd love to hear more about what it was like.

What are the general opinions about the material itself?


"The Dead" at Court Theatre

[Jordan Catalano]

It was one of the greatest things I've ever seen.

What did you want to know about it?

[When I get low...]

Wow, one of the "greatest things"!

Regarding the Broadway production, the cast was full of "names"; how were the performances? With that kind of cast, is it more of an ensemble show? Also, does anyone know if there were any changes between the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions or was it moved to Broadway as-is?

I'm most curious about the score. Not the sound of it, but what is the whole of the score like in terms of how it is integrated into the book? I remember seeing the production number on the Tony Awards ceremony that year, but if I remember correctly that song did not seem like a "book number." Does the score have a lot of stand-alone numbers or is it well integrated into the book? And the book won a Tony. Does it really play that well or were the pickings slim with the other nominees that year?

Thanks!

[matty159]

The Dead is and will always remain one of my favorite short pieces of literature. I love a lot of the Dubliners, but there is something absolutely haunting about this piece that makes it stand out above the other stories (though "Araby" is another favorite of mine). The stage version and the cast captured it brilliantly. The songs were integrated to perfection and (as it should have been) the final scene was downright chilling. To my recollection, it was more of a "play with music". There were songs that fit the book, but much like the short story, the music was in keeping with evening that was being presented to us. The whole piece is a hard sell because underneath all of the revelry there is so much sadness. But such is the nature of Joyce.

[Jordan Catalano]

It's so sad. So so so so sad. lol

But to answer some of your questions - It is essentially a "play with music" but there are also true "Musical" numbers so it's about half and half. The majority of it takes place during the party where the guests sing (a big ensemble number was what was used at the Tony awards that year) but there are also some very gorgeous songs performed later, (D'Arcy's Aria, When Lovely Lady Stoops... (reprise), Michael Furey (my personal favorite) and the finale, The Living & The Dead).

I can't say for sure if there were a lot of changes from Off-Broadway to Broadway since I only saw it when it transfered but I've heard recordings from Off-Bway and it sounds exactly the same to me.

[EricMontreal22]

I've only seen a video, but it really is a great adaptation of Joyce's greatest work (IMHO). I love John Huston's movie as well, despite one change that changes the tone a tad too much.

I was in a class, maybe 8 years back, where someone mentioned that The Dead had been changed into a musical--the class in general seemed to think that was the funniest concept of all time. I glared.

[Jordan Catalano]

I also think the musical could be made into a GORGEOUS film.

[AEA AGMA SM]

I went into the show with my friend mainly to see Alice and Emily together again, but the show blew us both away. It was expertly staged, designed, and performed. The original cast was great and that final scene with the snow falling in the background was heart-breakingly beautiful. I was disappointed that the score had not been recorded by the original cast and have had little interest in seeking out the Pittsburgh recording to be honest.

[Jordan Catalano]

That Pittsburgh recording isn't worth your time. I'll stick with my recordings of the original cast that can never be topped.

[Dubliner]

The musical has never been seen in Ireland where it belongs - I think the Joyce estate didn't allow it. Now that Joyce is out of copyright we might get to see it some day. In the meantime there is great excitement in Dublin for a new dramatic adaptation by Frank McGuinness that Joe Dowling will direct for the Abbey at Christmas. The cast is stunning - Rosaleen Linehan, Anita Reeves, Ingrid Craigie, Stanley Townsend, Lorcan Cranitch and Derbhle Crotty.