LedZeppelinBarbieGirl
|
Merrily We Roll AlongI have the OBC and the new recording, with Michele Pawk.
I noticed the OBC had a much fuller orchstra, and many of the lyrics were different. In the OBC, they say "How did you get to be here, Mr. Shepard?" but they don't in the Off-Broadway Revival. Also, the Off-Broadway version has the song "That Frank" in place of "Rich and Happy".
Are there two different editions of the show? Does the newer version have less instruments in the pit?
|
Dvarg
|
Re: Merrily We Roll Along | LedZeppelinBarbieGirl wrote: | | Are there two different editions of the show? Does the newer version have less instruments in the pit? |
I'm not an instrumentatuions person, but yes. After the failed initial run on Broadway, Merrily was substancially rewritten. Songs and lyrics were cut, rewritten and added to give the show a better focus and flow.
|
dolbinau
|
I'm not too familiar with the show but I prefer the 1993 Leicester cast. It feels to me like a cross between the OBC orchestrations and the 1994 off broadway structure/revisions (although I think the 94 version is what the current state of the show is in, is it not?)
|
LedZeppelinBarbieGirl
|
| Quote: | | I'm not an instrumentatuions person, but yes. After the failed initial run on Broadway, Merrily was substancially rewritten. Songs and lyrics were cut, rewritten and added to give the show a better focus and flow. |
So... does that mean we'll never see Merrily We Roll Along with the glorious full orchestra again, like in the original version?
As for the re-write of the lyrics.... as a matter of personal opinion, I think the original version sounds actually more tighter and has more focus and flow than the newer one. With the exception of all the distracting talking over the title song (which distracts from listening to the music but still works for the character), the older lyrics sound more direct.
"How did you get to be here, Mr. Shepard?" tells you right away what the song is about. It makes the song specifically about Frank rather than just a broad metaphor in the show.
Also, "Rich and Happy" works better than "That Frank". I like how the swanky people around Frank don't have the guts to tell him to his face that his movie is terrible. The motive seems less focused in That Frank, as they sing of all of his talents (though that could be sarcasm---I haven't really seen the show so there's a limit to how much I can really observe about the show. I have read plot synopsises, though)
|
Dvarg
|
| LedZeppelinBarbieGirl wrote: | | Also, "Rich and Happy" works better than "That Frank". |
I wonder if the two songs could work in some sort of counterpoint arrangement, kind of like how the two Glamorous Lifes were put together in the RNT version og ALNM. They are based on the same tune anyway.
|
