Weird Romance

Fun times!  This is the first entry I'm gonna do where I'm actually listening to the cast album with the intention to note and talk about it. I'm reminded of my first introduction to musical theatre, when my complete interaction with a production was through the cast album.  I still haven't seen that many professional productions.  And when you add the community or university theatre that I've seen, it still doesn't add that many shows, so there are a LOT of productions I'm aware of that I only know through the CD.  And some research.

This often leads to some misinformation.  I remember being flabbergasted when I discovered (SPOILER!!!) Coalhouse Walker is shot at the end of the show.  I think it's included in the liner notes, but I totally missed that little tidbit.  Anywho, I say that to preface that I don't know what's going on with the story of Weird Science, so while I want to talk about story elements, I should probably stay away.

What I do know;  Weird Romance is 2 one-act musicals with music by Alan Menken. Both are science fiction tales that deal with love.  And it sounds like Alan Menken.  There's a lot of moments that remind me of Newsies.  I don't know if there's anyone who can write a heart-tugging song like Alan.  In fact, the first show, The Girl Who was Plugged In, features Ellen Greene (queen of vulnerability... can that actually exist? Yay for oxymorons!) in an early song singing about how no one ever sees her.  She's then taken in by a scientist who puts her soul, Avatar-like, into the body of a clone that's much more beautiful.  Ellen Greene's character controls the body of Delphi, the beautiful clone from her own body.  I wonder if James Cameron gave any money to James Tiptree Jr. for stealing elements of his story.

Girl Who Was Plugged in is a pessimistic vision of the future though, resulting in a mixed bag musically. After the heart-rending "Stop and See Me" is the superfun, undeniably catchy "That's Where We Come In" where the scientists & marketers do a lively literal song and dance to mirror the figurative one they give Ellen Greene about rejecting her body to control the new, more attractive one.  A decidedly different take on the Cinderella story.  A lot of the music, though, is strident.  Melodic, but still difficult to listen to as everyone belts out about how awesome Delphi is.  It also results in some biting lyrics that point to where the writers think our society is heading.  In the short story the show is based on, advertising is verboten, but instead corporations foster celebrities to sell products.  "Amazing Penetration" shows this mentality, as we're told how well Delphi is getting into the public consciousness.  As little as they care about the real woman, Delphi the avatar is only so useful as she serves the company.

Of course it doesn't end there.  Juxtaposed with the vicious "Amazing Penetration" is "Eyes That Never Lie" another example of Menken's ability to write beautiful, melody.  I mean, this is the guy that wrote "A Whole New World."  I can see myself singing "Eyes..." instead from now on.  Sal Viviano plays the love interest that is attracted to Delphi's beauty, but appears to truly love the mind within (Oh! will he love her if he sees her?).  Another vicious shift as Ellen Greene/Delphi (Marguerite MacIntyre) is told that she can't tell the new love interest about her real life because he'll never love her.  It's perfect that Ellen Greene comes back to the fore at this point because there's no one who can break your heart like her.

I'm not sure how the story ends precisely, but it feels all sorts of sad.  Everyone seems incredibly disappointed.  And I am a little.  But I'm glad to have "Stop and See Me" and "Eyes That Never Lie" as souvenirs from this show.

The second act is a little more optimistic, if still extremely bittersweet.  This story was easier to find.  "Her Pilgrim Soul" features another scientist who gets absorbed in his work to the detriment of his relationship to his wife.  The bulk of the music in this act is more soaring, full of hope.  Even though the Opening starts with what I'm pretty sure is the wife talking about her husband and his work, the music quickly segues to the husband and his team coming off of their great success.  Then once Ellen Greene returns to the album, this time as the hologram, Nola, she starts as a young child that quickly ages.  "You Remember" is a pleasant enough song, with a child-like waltzing tempo, as Kevin, the scientist helps the holographic child remember elements of her childhood.  Then as she ages, she helps him remember his wife.  

 "Another Woman" is a more exciting entry, when he returns to his wife and she asks point blank if he's leaving her.  

Then, returning to Nola, the music becomes soaring again, but this time slightly darker.  Something's wrong (I had to look up the story to figure it out though).  Eventually, Kevin realizes that while Nola represents someone who once existed, and that she has very particular meaning to him.  And luckily for him and his wife, she's not simply another woman.  

The two shows do make good companions.  I definitely prefer listening to "Her Pilgrim Soul" after "The Girl Who Was Plugged In."  It's better to end on a more optimistic if bittersweet note.  Totally recommendable though. Anything featuring Ellen Greene is bound to get a recommendation from me.

Comments

[Liz]

Interesting post, I wish shows like that were playing in my area.

btw, James Tiptree, Jr. was a she not a he. Real name Alice Bradley Sheldon.

[Ty]

Thanks for the heads up! I didn't really do much research since I was mostly responding to the music. I suppose I should do some though. I guess it would make sense that a woman had written The Girl Who was Plugged In. Thanks again!