Aspects of Love

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 3:15pm

Listening to the cast recording of "Aspects of Love" for the first time in a loooong time and remembering how much I love the score and dislike the book. Rarely have I encountered such a glorious score married to such a drip of a story. Would be interested to hear others' thoughts on this show.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 3:20pm

This isn't a "THERE'S ALREADY A THREAD!" but I just realized what I think is the longest thread about this show is now old enough to play Young Jenny.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=47683

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 3:44pm

Evanston - 

Aspects of Love  was for the longest time my favorite musical of all time (Sunset Blvd I realized only recently has taken that position for me).  Part of it was that it was the first musical I ever saw on Broadway when my parents wanted me to "expand my horizons" when I was in High School and said we could see anything I wanted.  I had heard "Love changes everything" on a commercial and thought "that sounds like a nice song".  Seriously that was all I knew of it.  By the end of Act One, I was blown away that an hour had gone by... I was seriously drawn into the music which made a bizarre story at least entertaining.  

I do think it's one of ALW's most underappreciated scores, and have been somewhat surprised that it hasn't been revived over here (I know that it was in London for a short run).  I had read that ALW was working some years ago on a "definitive version" of the score when the 25th anniversary came around where he was rewriting sections and incorporating changes that had crept into productions over the years (i.e. There is More to Love as a duet rather than a solo; which was already an addition after Aspects opened in London) but nothing further came of it.  Perhaps with ALW's renaissance this year, we could see a small revival (ala Sunday in the Park with George) for a limited run with a name-filled cast? 

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 3:52pm

I love most of the score and hate the book. The absolute nadir is "She'd be Far Better Off With You" with George and Alex having a lighthearted duet while poor Rose lies bleeding in the corner. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 3:58pm

I saw the show once at Walnut Street and didn't realize how appallingly soap opera-ish it was, even though I'd read the book in college for fun. I could kind of go along for the ride like a bad "housewives" reality show, but even then, dear god. The five melodies are good, though.

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 3:59pm

StageStruckLad,

Ha, I was thinking the exact same thing just now while listening to the recording!! So tacky! I don't know that any amount of rewriting could save the story, which is so Person A loves Person B then loves Person C then loves Person B again until who gives a f**k. But again, the score is full of really beautiful songs.

Updated On: 4/20/17 at 03:59 PM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 4:15pm

LizzieCurry said: "The five melodies are good, though."

For the record, there are at least 15 completely different songs in the show, which is pretty typical for a musical. Admittedly, some of them are repeated a lot of times. :)

 

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 5:46pm

I had seen it both in London and on Broadway with essentially the same score ( some relatively minor changes) and it remains my favorite ALWebber score. Lyrical and achingly romantic...and very well-sung by the cast.  The book was essentially an adaptation of a British novel based on Bohemian-themed intertwining relationships. Les liaisons amoureuses! 

Many years later, I had seen a much pared-down staging where I live  ( presumably based on the new approved production from the UK), more like a chamber piece, but still highlighted the beauty of its score.

Re LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING -- I first heard Michael Ball sing it in London and it sounded more like the song of an impetuous young man with his first romantic idyll.  Many years later, I heard him reprise the song in an album of musical theatre songs and it sounded more like the musings of a mature man who looks back at what set him on a course of romantic pursuits.

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 4/20/17 at 05:46 PM

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 5:53pm

It was one of  TONY-nominated best musicals  in 1990.

In its presentation at the TONYs, it highlighted the relationship links with Love Changes Everything ( a slightly different version compared to how it was sung int eh show) as the musical theme.

 

.

 

Updated On: 4/20/17 at 05:53 PM

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 5:53pm

Jo - can I ask where you saw the pared down version?

I've been trying to get info about this since I first read this on Wikipedia:  The new Definitive script was staged at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay during February to March 2014. Produced by Tynemouth Operatic Society, it was the first non-professional staging in the UK with the new script and full orchestra. It was also the first staging in the world of the Definitive version worked on by Lord Lloyd Webber who pulled together various aspects of productions and tours over the years and created the show as he wishes to see it staged.

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 6:05pm

I saw it here in Manila (Philippines) but it was an earlier version ( not the 2014 version mentioned in what you quoted, Chernjam). I think it was based on the production directed by Gale Edwards in the UK although it was mentioned in publicity material that the production was a new version which was recently introduced then in Asia.  The staging was very spare but it was blessed with excellent singers who were also excellent actors.  There were only 2 pianos accompanying the production but because it was held in a dinner-type theatre, it suited the staging very well.  The female lead was our Monique Wilson, the alternate ( to Lea Salonga) in the original production of MISS SAIGON in London.  The male lead was a very good actor who also had a very good singing voice. Even the child actress was enchanting... The casting and the score elevated the show to such an enjoyable theatre experience!

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 6:13pm

I remember seeing the Robin Philips production where the scenery was basically these white curtains and minimal props.  As I've discovered, usually the professional version after the original "Trevor Nunn" production seems to get it right (at least in Aspects and Sunset's cases)  The Phillips version without the massive scenery made the whole thing much more intimate.  And with a story like this, you definitely needed that to make it seem at least slightly more believable

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 6:20pm

That seemed like the production I saw here in Manila.

I found this upload of a clip of THE MERMAID SONG --

 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 6:28pm

jo said: "It was one of  TONY-nominated best musicals  in 1990.

In its presentation at the TONYs, it highlighted the relationship links with Love Changes Everything ( a slightly different version compared to how it was sung int eh show) as the musical theme.

 

 

 

.

 

 

"

Young Michael ball. Glorious! Thanks for posting. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 6:59pm

jo said: "That seemed like the production I saw here in Manila.

I found this upload of a clip of THE MERMAID SONG --

"

Now I'm going to be humming that all night :)

There's a lot of beautiful tunes in this score... much better than "Love Changes Everything" (which with so many over-dramatic interpretations I kind of loathe at this point) I particularly loved the orchestral interludes... The one of the Mermaid Song/"your too young and too confused to understand what's best" tune one of my favorites.

[shanphelia]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 9:02pm

I was completely besotted with this musical as a teenager; at 15, listening to the OCR, I think I was picturing myself as Jenny, not realizing until many years later how creepy the Alex/Jenny relationship was, though I still love her relationship with George.

My family made plans to take me to see the show on Broadway in the spring of 1991 because I was so in love with it, but it closed two or three weeks before our planned visit.  (We ended up seeing Once on This Island instead, so it was a win in the end!)  I didn't end up getting to see it until sometime in mid 90s when it was touring with Sarah Brightman.

Despite the issues with the book, I still adore the score, and would love to see it on stage again.  

One question about the book that I'll put in a spoiler just in case:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Maybe I am completely off on this, but it only recently dawned on me that Alex might actually be Jenny's father? He spends the night with her right before the shooting/Better Off With You episode, and I'm not clear how much time passes until he learns that George will be a father soon... If this is the case, the Alex/Jenny relationship gets way creepier. :/ 

 

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 9:04pm

Another memorable tune was  CHANSON D'ENFANCE which was Rose's theme.  I read in the companion book to the musical ( Kurt Ganzel) that it was based on a melody that a nine-year old Andrew Lloyd Webber once composed ( his very first, at such a tender age).

Here's another one -- as featured on the Royal Variety Show : The First Man You Remember :

Hey, it is followed by Michael's rendition of LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING -- not bad

 

[shanphelia]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 9:05pm

jo said: "Another memorable tune was  CHANSON D'ENFANCE which was Rose's theme.  I read in the companion book to the musical ( Kurt Ganzel) that it was based on a melody that a nine-year old Andrew Lloyd Webber once composed ( his very first, at such a tender age).

Here's another one -- as featured on the Royal Variety Show : The First Man You Remember 

Thanks so much for posting this!!

 

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 9:14pm

shanphelia said: "I was completely besotted with this musical as a teenager; at 15, listening to the OCR, I think I was picturing myself as Jenny, not realizing until many years later how creepy the Alex/Jenny relationship was, though I still love her relationship with George.

My family made plans to take me to see the show on Broadway in the spring of 1991 because I was so in love with it, but it closed two or three weeks before our planned visit.  (We ended up seeing Once on This Island instead, so it was a win in the end!)  I didn't end up getting to see it until sometime in mid 90s when it was touring with Sarah Brightman.

Despite the issues with the book, I still adore the score, and would love to see it on stage again.  

One question about the book that I'll put in a spoiler just in case:

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Maybe I am completely off on this, but it only recently dawned on me that Alex might actually be Jenny's father? He spends the night with her right before the shooting/Better Off With You episode, and I'm not clear how much time passes until he learns that George will be a father soon... If this is the case, the Alex/Jenny relationship gets way creepier. :/ 

 

"

That didn't happen -- if you listen to one of the last tracks ( # 23 or #24), Jenny was asking Alex to reciprocate her feelings -- and Alex was staunch in saying that she was too young and it would be criminal if he reciprocated them at that point . If you could get  a copy of the novella by David Garnett of the same name, the relationship between Alex and Jenny is more normal than what the show may imply.  The young Jenny eventually goes to Paris to study and would be occasionally visited by her cousin Alex - nothing romantic about it.  It was only when she had spent  a few years in Paris that she began developing romantic feelings about him, if I remember correctly.  But still, Alex kept to his resolve to let her mature further.

On another note -- in the Broadway production, the roles of the young and older Jenny were played by sisters in real life, which I thought was a nice touch.

Also, there is a remastered version of the cast recording.

 

 

[jo]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 9:27pm

In this set of publicity clips for the show, there are two other songs that are highlighted : the beautiful duet of SEEING IS BELIEVING and Rose's showstopper ANYTHING BUT LONELY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZac0gwAkiw

In everything, Michael Ball's voice is in glorious form!

[chernjam]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 10:57pm

Love those clips - especially to see Ann Crumb.  Was fortunate to see her on broadway in this... Can't believe she hasn't become a bigger name/star

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:02pm

Saw the Australian production twice, really enjoyed it. Anything but lonely is a beautiful song

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:24pm

I'd love to see a Broadway revival soon

[brdway411]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:26pm

I was fortunate to see it on Broadway with the original cast. I had heard the recording before seeing the show and LOVED the Score. HATED the book, Although, I did love the set. The back wall was pretty impressive when it split. I have the hardcover show book some where, if I remember correctly it was one of the first shows to use the now common computerized stage lights and computerized sets. Those flying turning screens were also impressive. 

[06s091]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:01am

I agree with most of you - I adore the score, but the book is weak. 
But to be fair, the David Garnett novel is hardly an amazing source in the first place and I feel that the musical actually improved upon it. 

For me the downfall of the show is that none of the characters are all that likable despite great performances by the actors.

That being said, I still adore the music and it's definitely Andrews most underappreciated score. 

As for "The Definitive" version - I haven't seen a production using it, but I have the libretto somewhere and as far as I recall it's a mix of various rewrites and the original. 

Here's a lovely video I only recently found: Michael Ball and Diana Morrison (OLC Alex and Jenny) performing "First Man You Remember":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5LdlbC5GA

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 06:01 AM