[memo22]

Does anyone know what Kathy is supposed to represent in this song? April's thoughts? Her own? Bobby's?

Any help woudl be appreciated.

[Paula74]

I've never seen a version (yet) that has included her dance.

However, talking with people who have seen it or gone over the original blocking for the scene, I've gotten the impression that it's supposed to represent the difference between just sex (Bobby & April) as opposed to genuine romantic lovemaking.

[memo22]

right. But my question is more along the lines of how so. Is she supposed to be in contrast the whole time?

[The REAL Ciaron]

"Tick Tock" was used as an excuse for Michael Bennett to create a kick ass dance for Donna Mckechnie. Nobody could dance like Donna so it was later cut out all together. It saves fute productions from having to find an amazing dancer. It was a showcase number. It's sad because it leaves Kathy with no kind of solo whatsoever.

[MorseCodeRain]

She's the only one that solos in 'You Drrive a Person Crazy' isn't she? I would count that as a solo. I got the impression that the other two were her backups in that song.

[The REAL Ciaron]

[Lilys.eyes]

Aw man I just got cast as Kathy and I was really hoping for a dance! I hope the production crew decides to put it in!

[Salome]

they wont put it back. its been officially cut from the licenced script.

[EricMontreal22]

Salome your knowledge nevails to impress--you CAN rent the original script, you just have to make sure it's what you're getting.

I--as a dance fan I guess--feel it's ESSENTIAL

[Salome]

I feel cutting Tick Tock was the best thing that happened to the show.

[EricMontreal22]

Oh why? Did dance tax the abstract capacities of your brain?

[Monsieur D'Arque]

It just wasn't "the right thing" for the show. It didn't fit the stylistic pattern of the rest, and was just a Donna McKechnie showcase.

I know, as a dancer, you love the concept of a dance piece in the show, especially one scored by Sondheim. But with the way the scene was set up, it just didn't add much to the show. I'm always inclined to think, as brilliant as Donna was, its weakness may have been that it was a dance SOLO, not a "dream ballet." This moment in the show, with Bobby hovering between sex and sleep, would lend itself well to a stylized group sequence showing the difference between lust and love. But just having Donna McKechnie come out and do a ballet on the subject, underscored by Bobby's off-the-cuff comments, didn't really solve the problem.

[EricMontreal22]

Well I always feel its absence when I see a production where it's not done--even though I didn't think Marshall did much with the moment in the 95 revival for D'Amboise

[Monsieur D'Arque]

The thing I always thought would have worked better is to make it a full-cast moment, and not just an avant-garde solo for one dancer. Go the old dream-ballet route: use Bobby and his girlfriends, use the couples, etc. Not everyone is Donna McKechnie.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

The thing I always thought would have worked better is to make it a full-cast moment, and not just an avant-garde solo for one dancer. Go the old dream-ballet route: use Bobby and his girlfriends, use the couples, etc. Not everyone is Donna McKechnie.

[EricMontreal22]

To be fair it gives Donna's character a moment that otherwise she doesn't get (the other girls do). It may have been a bone to Bennett too to do one real dance number--the rest of the piece he had to choreograph for people who couldn't dance (ie making What Would We Do Without You feel like a parent's Day routine, etc)

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Also, to be fair, in many productions, Donna's character would be the Cantor in Getting Married Today- a singer's showcase.

[Salome]

cathy usually doesnt do the soprano soloist because it needs to be a soprano its usually jenny or april.

[EricMontreal22]

[BryanJrr]

I wouldn't mind having the dance in the show.

I would, personally, like the contrast, and use of the piece.

[Disney-Bway27]

I'm not at all offended they took the dance out. I always hated the song as a whole. Easily my least favorite Sondheim "song", if it could be called one.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Yeah. It's like it belongs in a different show. I like the music, but not that it's in Company and an interpretive dance.

[EricMontreal22]

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Why do you think the revisions to the script were bad? Just wondering.

[EricMontreal22]

I don't think the play works as well in the "contemporary/random" era as it does in 1970. it still works of course (as it does without Tick Tock) but...

My friends don't TALK the way they do in it. Maybe they wouldn't now either but...

Why update the opening to answering machine messages when you keep lyrics like "call me in the morning/or my service will explain"? Why change the bottles of wine swomeone drinks from 6 to 2? I don't act drunk enough to get arrested by a copper after two bottles.

[EricMontreal22]

This is a good article on how they changed the play. In its way I feel its identity has been changed as much as Follies

http://www.sondheim.com/commentary/company_rewritten_1.html

[EricMontreal22]

It's just another example of one of my few probs with Sondheim--for the most part once his shows are out there he shoudl resist tamporing with them

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Perhaps the dialogue does sound somewhat stilted in a non-Seventies production, but the changes in orchestration have made the show a little less dated, and the new material added to the show is much stronger, in my opinion, than Tick Tock was.

I find it hard, even after having read both scripts, to picture the show without "Marry Me A Little" and "a homosexual experience."

[Life=Cabaret]

really quick, ericmontreal, you mentioned a video of the original tour or something? how'd you get that/where/what is it? (PM me or something)

[EricMontreal22]

You can only view it in the Lincoln Center/library archives. I wish it was floating out there in collections but it doesn't seem to be whatsoever.

D'Arque we're gonna have to agree to disagree I think--I love the original orchestrations (and the vocal minority). I do really like Marry Me a Little though--and I'm ok with the gay scene. But I really don't feel it works as a piece set in "2008" or "now"--but as one set in 1970. I mean the pot scene for example--would a couple be that new and weird about pot in 2008?

[RainbowJude]

The original orchestrations rock! And, I agree, the show works best as a period piece.

Later days
David