so i was listening to the score to the life yesterday and i remember clips of the show that i've seen over the year and am just bewildered as to how it lost all three tony's to titanic... i just can't comprehend it... so maybe someone can help me... thanks... andrew
The score to TITANIC is far superior to that of THE LIFE, hands down. I think it was an overall better musical as well. As far as the book is concerned, neither were very strong.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
THE LIFE had some good stuff in the score, but it was bogged down in the theatre by a baffling book, and lead characters who were (despite their professions) dull as dishwater. There were some great performances, and McKneeley's choreography was fun, but in the end, THE LIFE really had nothing to say, except "Gee, it sucks to be a hooker."
I love TITANIC. I think the score is fantastic and the book by Peter Stone is one of the best books in recent memory. It managed to be touching and funny. not to mention completely historically accurate which was quite an accomplishment. I mean, obviously we can only guess the kinds of conversations they had, but any time numbers, dates or anything of the sort is mentioned it's all completely accurate and no invented characters either, they were all real people who existed and had lives. Peter Stone is definitely missed...
The Life had a score based on 1970's bumper stickers, My Way Or The Highway, It's My Body, etc. There were a few good songs but not enough to make the overall score good. Queen's operatic numbers were very much out of place, much of the music was dark, dreary and uninspired. Many of the numbers between Queen and Fleet sounded exactly the same. The pacing and flow was bad, too many of the dark, depressing songs in a row then suddenly an upbeta number that seems to come out of nowhere and deosn't seem to fit. Watching this show onstage made the score slightly better than just listening. At least you could see some reasonable transition from one number to the next and it made a bit more sense.
There was also nothing challanging or complicated in the score of The Life. Almost every song was specifically written for one voice. There are very few songs with multiple voacle parts and the few that exist don't work as well as they should because of the uncomplicated nature of the music. It was a shame becasue there were some very talented and accomplished singers in the original production. One stand out in that score is the gospel number that Lilias White belts the hell out of. Even with that, teher is some holding back to accommodate the music. I've heard Lilias do so much better when she has a well written piece.
ah Lilias singing "The Oldest Profession" - what bliss!
I love the score and book to TITANIC, however I thought the stage direction was poorly done. The book was about the people and not the boat sinking. Everyone knows the boat goes down - the technical aspects of the show killed the passion I had for the characters. I have to head out now, so I can't elaborate but can someone else finish this off for me. I remember seeing the show and thinking "What great material!! Which unfortunately the director ruined by making it about the boat instead of keeping the focus on the people." That was the kicker for me. I love Yeston's score immensely!
i saw them both. titanic was entertaining. it had some cheesy moments (like when the mini ship ran into the iceberg) but there were some wonderful performances and beautiful songs that i still listen to today.
the life was a bore. yes, it had lots of talent, but it was like watching paint dry. i don't remember any of the plot, score, or characters from this show.... i DO remember that lilias had an amazing voice.
Ocean Breeze soap. It's just like taking an ocean cruise only there's no boat and you don't go anywhere.
leo, i felt just the opposite. i think the show DID concentrate on the characters. and when all the characters, survivors and non-survivors united for the final scene, i sobbed.
Oh God, I sobbed in that final scene. I'm a big fan of that show as well and agree it was far superior to THE LIFE.
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
it was the first show i ever saw on b'way, after dreaming about it for MANY YEARS. it was a very emotional nite for me! seriously, i couldn't stop crying. my partner had to drag me out of the theatre. hee
I know! The German sets were awesome. I love how you can see the ship in the back. Sure, it doesn't quite make sense in relation to the ramp, but that was the way to go since they wanted abstract... it does look awesome. it should have been done like that on Broadway.
i've only heard the album for The Life but i think Cy Coleman is genius and, as far as music and lyrics and talent go, the cd is really great. it's one of my favorites.
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
No comparison...."The Life" was passable, with unlikable characters. "Titanic" was nearly great! If the "Titanic" plot had focused more on fewer characters,and subplots like the movie.....and was produced before the movie........."Titanic" may have sailed longer and mightier.
TITANIC the musical actually did open before the movie, and might have actully been helped at the box office because of the movie's success. It ended up running over a year when it might have closed after six months. Unfortunately, there were little old ladies who would ask things like, "Is Leonardo Dicaprio still in the show?"
In my opinion, TITANIC, THE LIFE and STEEL PIER was all terribly flawed shows. TITANIC won because it was the biggest, most ambitious of the three.
stupid old ladies. and yes, TITANIC the musical opened in April. TITANIC the movie opened in December. The musical ran for 805 performances. almost three years.
Gosh, I don't know guys. I really want to believe that Titanic is as amazing as you all are saying it is.... but, out of the 86 cast recordings I own, Titanic is the absolute worst of the recordings. I just cringe when listening to it. Maybe I would have had to see it live to appreciate it, but just listening to the recording doesn't do crap for me.
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