Re: Now that I have seen Oklahoma!...

Don't get the impression, Noel, that I dislike the show itself. As the
successor to OKLAHOMA! I think, actually, a case can easily be made for
CAROUSEL's having taken musicals a step forward. I, personally think it is
far more satisfying than OKLAHOMA! though its place in musical theatre
history is less lauded.. The fusion of the book and music are, it seems to
me, more successfully accomplished in it than in its predecessor. The book,
IMHO,also has more depth and universality than its "elder sibling". My
"beef" is not so much with the show as written, although the focus on the
emotional transformation of the Billy's wife and daughter rather than his
own may be in the text rather than its interpretation. I have, rather,
"objected" to the ways I have several times seen it staged. However, as I
recall, I entered this discussion in "defense" of Hytner's direction, which,
it seemed to me, allowed, by facing his "dark side" more forthrightly than
usually seen, for Billy's "redemption" in a way glossing over of his actions
doesn't [actually, IMHO, disallows]. I had previously felt unsatisfied
[deeply disturbed, in fact, by what I felt as "justification" of Billy's
bullying and violence in the film, the MToLC revival, and other stagings I
had seen] at the conclusion of the show. Hytner's staging gave the audience,
and characters, an opportunity for [to use a word probably far less used in
the 40's] "closure", and, perhaps, elation I found missing in prior
productions.

And, by the way, I agree with you that "there's plenty of good humor in
Carousel". That, however, is somewhat different, it seems to me, from the
notion that this [or many "musical dramas", IMO] show can be enhanced by
focusing on the comedy, and letting the drama take care of itself. That
strikes me as odd advice [not your advice, I realize], but, perhaps, I just
don't "get it". I still feel this is one show in which boarding "the
joy/comedy boat" can, at best, lead a production into murky "waters", if
not, at worst, "sink" it all-together.

Briefly, re URINETOWN:
Nor am I "quite sure how they [CAROUSEL/U'TOWN] got in the same discussion".
However I am, as I have said, one of those who did find it provocative...
and amusing; not so much because of its jokes [some of which were "lame"
because, it seemed to me, of their familiarity, but were, IHO, given "new
legs" by the context in which they were employed], but its situations. It
is, in fact, a fine example of a show with serious intent which uses comedy
as a piquant rather than as an end in itself. That said, I understand it's
not everyone's "cup of tea". My objection is to it being dismissed as a
"one-joke spoofical", without some further addressing of the "intents" of
the show. Surely you agree that those daring to submit their creations for
public scrutiny deserve at least a modicum of respect  for their hard work,
even by those who haven't particularly appreciated it.

Mila

"Noel Katz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I have seen both Carousel and Urinetown, but I'm not quite sure how they
got in
> the same discussion.
>
> Urinetown makes fun of musical comedy conventions.  A typical joke is "We
can't
> give them too much exposition; this is, after all, a musical."  I think I
would
> have appreciated the show if I'd found any of its jokes remotely funny.
>
> There's plenty of good humor in Carousel, a show from a vastly different
era
> that concerns itself with the redemption of a rather imperfect man.  It
depicts
> a love story unlike any other love story with a wealth of wonderful
music.and
> just about everybody can identify with some aspect of the character's
lives.
>
>     http://www.weddingmusical.com
>
>