They're Playing Our Song

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 3:13am

I enjoy listening to the TPOS recording, and like the Klein/Arnaz Tonys performance on YouTube. I've never seen it live, but seems like a sweet simple show inexpensive to produce with the relatable theme of Boy Meets Girl...

Would a revival work today? Have you seen a production, either Broadway or elsewhere? It ran for a respectable 2.5 years originally. 

I'd like to see Jane Krakowski or Stephanie J. block as Sonia. Or Carolee, but I'm biased because I adore her and would buy a ticket to hear her read a phone book. What actor for Vernon? Zachary Levi? Cheyenne Jackson? 

[nsguy45]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 7:02am

I saw Stephanie J. Block and Jason Alexander in a Los Angeles production several years ago. Stephanie was excellent, Jason was good, though miscast. 

[A0326T]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 8:34am

Love this musical. I was in my early teens and it's this musical that I immediately fell in love with the theater. It was back in college. Early 1980s. 

 

[A0326T]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 8:37am

Oops ... Sorry I meant "early twenties" .... Date night theater. "I Still Believe in Love" and "falling". Great songs. Just about every song in this musical is a gem.

[hork]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 11:51am

nsguy45 said: "I saw Stephanie J. Block and Jason Alexander in a Los Angeles production several years ago. Stephanie was excellent, Jason was good, though miscast."

I saw that, too. I enjoyed it, mainly for the performances. It seemed a bit long for a two-hander.

[Withonelook2]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 12:11pm

Saw it & loved it when it originally came out. Loved the music!

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 12:45pm

It is a wonderful little show.  I remember being captivated by the set design.  The set design used to be posted online. I wish I could find it again.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 12:47pm

hork said: "I saw that, too. Ienjoyed it, mainly for the performances. It seemed a bit long for a two-hander."

Seems like a show that could work well as a one act instead of the two acts as written. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 1:21pm

Saw the show several times during its original run. Was set to play the lead in a local production of it until the director's boyfriend decided he wanted the role.

 

Guess how that one turned out!

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 2:55pm

The original Broadway Cast Recording is a guilty pleasure of mine...a lot of fun. I don't remember enough about the whole show, though, to comment on whether or not it would work today. Maybe with a few revisions...or it cold just be performed as a musical of its tie; nothing wrong with that.

I saw the original production...

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 3:02pm

I'd be curious to see it live. I haven't listened to it all the way through in years. I really love the song "Falling" - so much so that I still listen to it frequently, and even sang it at a school cabaret performance. And yet I could never really get into the rest of the score, but maybe I need to give it another listen

Falling has one of my favorite lyrics from musical theatre:

"You'd think by now I'd learn, play with fire, you get burned. But fire can be oh so warm, and that's why I returned." It's such a simple yet effective metaphor, and a very well-constructed lyric. 

Updated On: 10/14/17 at 03:02 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 3:23pm

Always one of my favorites.  Saw it on Broadway with Tony Roberts and Stockard Channing.  A delightful feel good evening.  The orchestra sounded fantastic and those sets were amazing.  I wish I had a time machine,  I'd like to see it again.  :)

[nsguy45]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 8:41pm

Saw the OBP twice, including Lucie Arnaz's final performance. Robert Klein, who had already left the show, came to see Lucie and sat directly behind me.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 10:43pm

I stage managed a production about a year ago, and can best describe the show as very cute. I feel like some of the book scenes go on a bit long, and it's DEFINITELY a product of its time. The show really relies on who your leads are. If they can carry it with good performances, the show is very entertaining. If anything an off-Broadway revival feels more appropriate. This could never come back to Broadway without A-list stars attached. A Benanti/Levi benefit or concert could be a lot of fun. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/14/17 at 11:44pm

i saw it the week AFTER I saw Sweeney Todd.  Probably not the best timing, but that may have influenced my opinion that everything about it was totally mediocre.  I never had any interest in seeing it again, and imagine it would be ridiculously dated at this time.  I did buy the CD (or album...can't remember, and listened to it about twice.  

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/15/17 at 11:27am

I too saw the original Broadway production and was under-impressed by the book and score--though there's no question the leads were working their hearts out.

It seemed to me to represent a transition period during which Simon sometimes wrote punch lines (as he had before) and sometimes wrote character and action (as reflected in his later words).

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 10/16/17 at 1:51am

I got to see the tour, with Victor Garber and Ellen Greene. Loved it and I listen to the original cast recording all the time. Over the years, I have read with interest the comments, in this and other forums, from those who say it's too slight and of its time to be revived but I remember it as an evening of sheer pleasure: sweet, very funny and with a bunch of terrific songs.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 10/16/17 at 11:46am

I've seen two regional productions. When you produce it without charismatic stars the seams really show. Sonia's late. Vernon complains. Sonia's kooky. Vernon relents. Then just when they start to connect... RING... Oh no! It's Sonia's ex, Leon, calling on the phone... AGAIN! What will happen now?... Absolutely nothing. We cycle through that routine about 3-4 times.

Updated On: 10/16/17 at 11:46 AM