What rhymes with Marty?
Marty is the much-anticipated musical version of the 1955 film. It’s written by Rupert Holmes (book), Charles Strouse (music), Lee Adams (lyrics) and Paddy Chayefsky (original screenplay). All of these Tony and Oscar winners, plus the cachet of John C. Reilly in the title role, mean great expectations. I saw a preview production.
I’ve not seen the movie Marty, and it never interested me much until I saw this new musical play based on it. This is a good thing, I think. This is, however, the only good thing.
The Web site indicates the time prominently.
ACT I: 60 minutes
15 minute intermission
ACT II: 60 minutes
The same information is provided scrupulously in the playbill. Alas, only the time for the intermission is honored, and you will feel that fact: Long solos that say nothing that couldn’t be said in one look. Rhymes that never get beyond wife/life and star/far. Plodding pace. One great moment of humor and theatrical success when Marty’s mom is infected with her sister’s bitterness. More plodding. Happy ending.
Marty doesn’t sing a single line that you can remember on the way out the of the theater — this is a downfall of music and lyrics alike. I did notice, however, that Marty frequently refers to himself by name. I don’t know why he’s such the illeist, but it gets old fast. All of these songs should be scrapped and replaced with one song that rhymes our beloved butcher’s name with a certain juvenlie adjective. That would be, in comparison, a blast of fresh air.
Posted by Kevin Ashworth at October 24, 2002 10:43 AM
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