Jules
So how should we start? A little of our personal history? My
sister turned me on to the book Fun Home years ago and when she saw it was
being musicalized, we made a point to see it at the Public. The next year, we
went back to see the Broadway version at Circle in the Square. And now the
tour. And the productions are different, at least physically.
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| the cast of Fun Home (photo by Joan Marcus) |
I saw it on Broadway last year, and then read the book. Didn't
download the cast recording but I will now after the 2nd viewing.
(Love Jeanine Tesori!)
Jules
I can't remember, did they re-record the cast album? Mine just
says "original cast recording" and I think I got it before Broadway.
Carol
They did.
"The original cast album, released in 2014, opened at #2 on the
Billboard Top Cast Album Chart, a remarkable feat for an Off-Broadway cast
album. After the musical opened on Broadway in 2015, new portions of the show
were recorded, and parts were re-recorded, especially to feature Emily Skeggs
in the role of Medium Alison. It also includes more dialogue to help the
listener follow the story." (Wikipedia)
Laura
I wasn't familiar with the book until word of the off broadway
production. I think I got the cast recording around the time it came out and
read the book (along with the book more about her relationship with her mother)
later. I saw the show in April after months and months of anticipation. I was
very struck with how invested all the actors were, and how happy they seemed to
be doing the show, and at this point it had been for more than a year.
Jill
How does the tour proscenium set/direction compare with
off-Broadway?
Jules
I think it’s interesting how they adapted the show for the tour.
It has much more of a set than either of the previous versions. It was pretty
bare-bones at the Public as I remember, and then of course Circle in the Square
is in the round, so there was very little in the way of set, just the props.
The brick wall that is the backdrop for NY and Oberlin is new, as is the reveal
of the realistic-looking Bechdel home. My friend had some thoughts about the
set, too, but what did you guys think?
Jill
The beginning of the tour production pretty bare-bones too, with
the back wall of the theater visible, and I love an on-stage band! I wasn't
sure about dropping the wall of the house, I don't think it's necessary, but it
grew on me. In a way it serves to sort of bring the story in and make it more
intimate, and claustrophobic. And I especially like when it was removed and we
left Alison's memories and went back to her drawing room.
Laura
Yeah, I didn't think that it really took anything away from it. I
liked that in the reveal of the Bechdel home the wallpaper was the same that
Bruce was holding in an earlier scene. The one thing that I didn't really like
was using the projection of the book at the end instead of actually going on
the father's legs like at the beginning. I believe that is how it was staged at
Circle in the Square and was more powerful for me.
Jill
Julie, "your friend?" Just tell us what you thought. 😉
Jules
I liked the upgrade of the home set, and I felt like we were
seeing it as Joan was, for the first time, after hearing about it for so long,
just like we in the audience were.
Jill
I didn't mind the projection, I'm glad they just did it once at
the end and not throughout. In general projections should be used sparingly.
Laura you're observant, I totally missed the wallpaper!
Jules
Beth's take was that given the time that passed between the
earlier scenes and the last one at the house, it had gone from a "work in
progress" to something more finished. And that the house mirror's Bruce's
life, in that he's building something that looks beautiful and wants to be
admired for it, but that the trappings of the house, like his marriage, become
overwhelming.
Laura
Yeah it was interesting because in the end he is at and singing
about the house that he is fixing up and still is a mess but the back drop is
the house that he was already “completed"
Jules
That's why I didn't take credit for the idea. Not mine, but I can
see the point! I noticed the wallpaper, too, Laura!
Jill
Ooh Beth is smart, she should start a blog! 😉
Jules
I feel like there were more projections in the off-Broadway
production. Possibly at the points where Alison is drawing and narrating. I
think there was more of her work. But there wasn't anyplace to project it at
Circle in the Square. For me, I liked
the bookending of the real airplane game at the beginning and the cartoon at
the end representing Alison's good memories of her father.
Laura
I remember there being some projections in circle in the square,
but they were on the floor so much more subtle
Jill
Yeah I loved the ending, that despite all the dysfunction, abuse,
neglect, there were a few moments of perfect balance. As you get older you
realize your parents did the best they could, they're just humans who make
mistakes like the rest of us.
Laura
At the end everyone was leaving and I just needed some time to
take some deep breaths.
Jill
Yes! It's so emotional.
I still think the Orpheum is too big of a house for an intimate
show like this, but where I was sitting (Row O) it was fine. Not sure how it
plays in the back of the house or up in the balcony though. It's a dilemma, you
want as many people to see it as possible, but at some point it's detrimental
to the show.
Laura
Exactly, in a way by paying more you can sit closer and create
the "intimate" experience that you want and does aid to shows like
this, but it doesn't change the fact that the show is designed and directed for
such large houses. But I do think that most theaters that touring shows go to
are larger than the largest Broadway house by about 500 seats, which is just
insane to me.
Jules
I think it's always a gamble to put small shows on tour when most
tour venues are so much bigger than Broadway houses. (Laura, great minds think
alike!)
I think I was in Row N. I wouldn't have wanted to be further back
or in the balcony, though.
What did you think of the acting/directing/singing? I thought the
cast was terrific. Having listened to Michael Cerveris and seen him twice, I
missed him, but Robert Petkoff did a great job.
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| the Alisons (photo by Joan Marcus) |
I thought medium Alison (I forget her name) was amazing. I didn't see Emily Skeggs but I liked her more than who I saw on
Broadway
Jill
I thought the cast was every bit as good as the one I saw on
Broadway. Agreed on Abby Corrigan (medium Alison).
Laura
It was strange not seeing the original (and for the most part
only) cast, but once I got past that I thought it was a solid group
Jill
I love how just about every character gets their song, their
moment. It's truly an ensemble piece.
Laura
Before I went my friends were asking me what is your favorite
part that you are looking forward to seeing again. And I couldn't think of just
one thing.
Julie
I think when we first saw the show, they had extended and
Alexandra Socha (original medium Alison) had left, and Emily Skeggs had taken
over. I have to say, I had forgotten how painfully awkward medium Alison is at
college and when she first meets Joan. I felt her angst, and cringed, it's such
a good depiction of an awkward time of life.
Laura
Yeah when does the awkward time stop?
I'm about 7 years out from medium Alison
Jill
I'm 24 years past medium Alison and I still frequently feel like
that!
Jules
I thought the three Alisons were wonderful, and I loved each of
them in their solo turns, but I would say my favorite part is at the end when
all three Alisons are singing at the same time. On the recording, it's called
Flying Away (Finale).
Jill
I see understudies and standbys listed, do you think they travel
with the cast even though they're not in the show? That would be a weird job,
traveling around the country just waiting…
Laura
I would think that they have to.
Jules
Yep, the understudies and standbys tour. It is very rare for them
not to be in shouting distance of the theater until the show is well underway.
Jill
Nice work if you can get it. 😉
Laura
There is a really good documentary about people who are standbys
for people like Nathan Lane (the celebrity Broadway star).
Jill
What's it called?
Laura
The Standbys
Jules
I haven't seen that one either. The Standbys. Will have to check that out.
I think being an understudy or swing would be totally
nerve-wracking. You get maybe 12 hours of rehearsal, maybe not even with the
full cast, but you have to be ready to go on and give a performance that will
make the audience forget they're not seeing the star. So much pressure!
Oh, and the other thing I wanted to mention was that the band was
terrific. I think sometimes I forget about the musicians because they're not
front and center, but this was a good group, and gave great support to a strong
cast.
Jill
Hooray for the band! Which
includes a few local musicians, as is common. (If only I hadn't given up the
clarinet…)
Can we give a shout-out to the 90 minute no intermission
musical?! Not only does it get me home to bed at a decent time, but I love that
they tell the story in the time it needs to be told, even if it's not the expected
length, and doesn't have an intermission to sell more drinks. I wish more shows
would follow suit.
Jules
Jill, Amen! (and can you imagine an intermission in this show?
That would feel so wrong.)
Laura
Yes, plus for a show like this it would be a crime to take you
out of the emotional action and then make you dive right back in.It wouldn't be
able to have the same impact
Jill
Julie - ugh! So often I feel that intermission is just an
interruption that takes me out of the story, and it's sometimes hard to get
back in.
And of course, I love women's stories told by women! Although I
guess the director is a man. But I'll take it.
Laura
Credit is deserved for a Tony win for the first women songwriting
team. Also Lisa Kron's first musical and attempt of writing lyrics. So
impressive, other recommendation is the podcast Broadway Backstory, they
chronicle the creation of Fun Home really well.
Julie
Absolutely, all credit to all of the female creators of this
piece. Very hard to believe it's Lisa Kron's first musical. I think they did a
great job of creating a musical and lyrical vocabulary that really fits the
story.
Jules
Although since you mention drinks, I have to say that I strongly
disapprove of the HTT's choice to sell caramel corn in rattly wax-paper bags
during this show. There was a woman down the row from us who was being really
obnoxious with it. It's such a quiet show, and I got really tired of hearing
the crinkle, crinkle crinkle during what should have been silence. (And then
when my friend asked her to stop, she got belligerent and said she should talk
to the theater, since they sold the caramel corn.)
Jules
Why can't people behave in public? Sit quietly for 90 minutes and listen. It's
not that hard!
Jill
This is a digression, but last night at Bradley Greenwald's superintimate Open Eye Figure Theatre show the person next to me was loudly
crunching on candy or cough drops or ice or something. It was sooo loud in that
space! He wasn't even miked!
Julie
Ugh, Jill, I feel your pain! I actually wish theaters would not
sell drinks with ice in them, or at least not let them back into the theater.
Laura
Maybe we should have a separate post on theater etiquette
Jules
We should always talk about theater etiquette!
Jill
Anything else we need to cover? My last comment would be this: In
the age of revivals and jukebox musicals and movie adaptations, it's so
wonderful to see a new original musical that isn't the same old formula, but
continues to move music-theater into the future.
Mamma Mia? Puh-lease.
Jules
The other thing I wanted to say about Fun Home touring is that
despite the drawbacks of putting it in a bigger house, I'm very glad that this
show in particular is being seen outside of New York. I think there are
probably still a lot of people in the audience who wouldn't think to go to a
"gay musical" if It hadn't won all those Tonys. And this story is so
personal and human but also so relatable! Hooray for new work coming out on
tour!
Laura
I hope it gets a positive reception.
Jill
Yay for new musicals touring the heartland! Although our
Minneapolis/St. Paul theater audience is much more sophisticated than most
other stops on the tour, I'm sure.
Jules
Jill, our theater audience is pretty awesome, but as Laura and
Carol and I discussed earlier tonight, sometimes the audience at the touring
shows isn't all that well-versed in theater, and they don't know what they're
going to see. The tour show audience as opposed to, say, the audience who sees
the smaller, more adventurous theaters. But fingers crossed that with some new
blood in the mix, even some of the old dinosaurs are turning it around.
Jill
Julie - excellent point about the touring show audience. I think
some people don't realize that theater exists off of Hennepin Avenue. 😞 But that's
why we do what we do!
Laura
We will get there
Julie
And yes, Jill! It's totally why we do it.