Floyd Collins - Where should I start?
Floyd Collins - Where should I start?
macbeth
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/03
#1Floyd Collins - Where should I start?
Posted: 1/24/21 at 7:58am
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I know almost nothing about this musical, but just flipped out over this video. Where should I start to learn more?
#3Floyd Collins - Where should I start?
Posted: 1/24/21 at 11:30am
Agree, the cast album.
Floyd Collins is a strange animal: if I recall correctly, Adam Guettel (composer/lyricist) was mostly interested in the character of Floyd and his family. Meanwhile, Tina Landau (book writer, and original director), was more interested tackling the whole media circus side of the story. As a result, there’s an obvious, stark difference in quality in the score: the songs dealing with Floyd and his family are staggeringly brilliant. Some of the most inventive, nuanced, gorgeous musical storytelling I’ve ever heard. But the rest of it...Guettel’s heart obviously wasn’t in it. The rest of the songs are a lot more bland, and as musical numbers, they tend to fall totally flat.
But do give the cast album a listen. Even with the show’s inconsistencies, it’s totally worth it. Because when it’s good, it’s REALLY freaking good.
#4Floyd Collins - Where should I start?
Posted: 1/24/21 at 11:39am
The New American Musical: An Anthology from the End of the Century contains the script and is worth the read.
#5Floyd Collins - Where should I start?
Posted: 1/25/21 at 10:05am
Agree with all comments about the cast album. (Small note: I believe "'Tween A Rock and a Hard Place" has been replaced with a song called "Where A Man Belongs"
It really is such a special gem of a show. I saw a production at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario back in 2004. I think the material was so unique and out there for my little teenage brain then. I went back and saw it three more times. Tina Landeau's writing is quite lovely here and the score is just sensational: "Lucky", "The Riddle Song", "How Glory Goes"... I mean, come on!
