TALES OF THE CITY musical to stream

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/1/21 at 6:10pm

ACT is going to release their archival multi-cam proshot video from the 2011 production of Tales of the City, in honor of Pride month.

For those who don't know: this was a high-profile out of town tryout with sights set on Broadway, but it never got there (aside from the a one-night-only benefit concert version performed in a Broadway theatre, which they have tried to spin as a "Broadway performance". So we're dealing with an exquisite cast and creative team of Broadway vets! 

FWIW, I saw the show twice at ACT, and I really loved it, despite some massive structural issues with the book. The characters (from Armistead Maupin) are compelling, and the music was fantastic. It never received a cast album, so I would recommend people at least watch the video for that reason. 

In the years following the ACT production, I occasionally found myself talking with various cast members, and I always asked about the show. And they always said "they're still working on it!" And here we are 10 years later. I wonder if there will be any renewed interest as a result of this limited release. 

https://www.theatermania.com/san-francisco-theater/news/act-to-stream-2011-production-of-tales-of-the-city_92330.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=01jun2021&fbclid=IwAR1DIRHW5HAaj3NZP_5lD_r9iJELT4TlNUwdrF9jVVWS8Jf-FkXROW3Sq1E

[BJR]

Posted: 6/2/21 at 7:39am

Yeah, I recall it had its moments but also had big issues.

I also found it to just be lacking the whimsy and charm of Maupin's stories and even the original miniseries.

Predictably for composers from the pop world, many of the confessional solo ballads were strong, (the coming out letter was definite a highlight), but I recall anything that had to move the story forward simply didn't.

That said, with more work and possibly some changes in the team, it felt possible.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 6/21/21 at 4:40pm

Watched the first act. The songs are sentimental and often bland. There's no sex, camp or danger. When a "comedy" song arrives it falls flat. The A-Gays are styled like Roger Debris's entourage but their song doesn't earn a single laugh.

Mary Ann Singleton was a gateway for Maupin to write about more interesting characters. Making her a musical theatre heroine with ballads and such drags down the pace of an overlong show.

I like the cast so I'll try the second act later.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/21/21 at 4:43pm

MrsSallyAdams said: "Watched the first act. The songs are sentimental and often bland. There's no sex, camp or danger. When a "comedy" song arrives it falls flat. The A-Gays are styled like Roger Debris's entourage but their song doesn't earn a single laugh.

Mary Ann Singleton was a gateway for Maupin to write about more interesting characters. Making her a musical theatre heroine with ballads and such drags down the pace of an overlong show.

I like the cast so I'll try the second act later."

 

The second act has a few lovely moments, particularly Mouse's "Dear Mama" - but based on what you've said, I think you might dislike the 2nd act even more than you disliked Act 1. 

 

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 6/21/21 at 9:46pm

The second act score had more variety. Dee Dee's pregnancy song, Mama Mucca's whorehouse song and Mouse's letter were standouts.

The Norman plot is over-the-top and his fate is awkwardly staged. It undercuts Mary Ann's 11 o'clock ballad, "Paper Faces," to put it in response to such a clumsy bit. But that's an issue with the source material.

For all they pruned I think they still crammed in too much. It keeps any one character's story from resonating. But we'll always have the mini-series and the novels themselves to go back to.

[GlitterandBeGay2]

Posted: 6/22/21 at 11:47am

Hi, all!  I'm contemplating renting the stream.  Can those of you who have seen it talk to the filming quality?  Is it polished like in the trailer or more like what Lincoln Center did with the Vanya edit of existing archival footage, or a mixture of B-roll and archival?  A friend says there's a lot of fade to blacks which got me worrying about what I might see.  I appreciate this getting a release at all but just want to adjust my expectations.  Thank you so much!