They're Playing Our Song
They're Playing Our Song | ||
---|---|---|
Book Neil Simon | | |
Basis | Relationship between Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch | |
Productions | 1978 Los Angeles (tryout) 1979 Broadway 1979 North American tour 1980 West End 1981 North American tour |
They're Playing Our Song is a musical with a book by Neil Simon, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, and music by Marvin Hamlisch.
In a story based on the real-life relationship of Hamlisch and Sager, a wisecracking composer finds a new, offbeat lyricist, but initially the match is not one made in heaven. The two undergo a series of trials and overcome a number of hurdles before finding true love by the final curtain.
They're Playing Our Song is essentially a two-character show. Vernon and Sonia are the sole characters on stage; each character has a three-person Greek chorus acting as their inner voices, and there are no big production numbers.
Productions
Produced by Emanuel Azenberg, the musical had its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in December 1978.[1][2]
The musical opened on
Film rights were purchased by
The first U.S. national tour opened in 1979 with Victor Garber and Ellen Greene.[4]
The original Australian production opened on August 23, 1980, at the Theatre Royal in
The musical opened in the
An Argentinian production opened in 1980, starring
The Singapore Repertory Theater production opened in the
A production opened at the
A Brazilian production opened in March 2009, starring Tadeu Aguiar[11] and Amanda Acosta.
On August 30, 2010,
In fall of 2010, the Reprise Theatre Company in Los Angeles staged a production starring Jason Alexander and Stephanie J. Block.[13]
A Hungarian version titled Kapj el! (after the song "Fallin'")—played in Békéscsaba, Hungary, in 2011. The production, directed by Zoltán Seregi and choreographed by Judit Kerekes, starred Anna Balogh as Sonia and György Szomor as Vernon.[14]
Porchlight Music Theatre presented They're Playing Our Song as a part of their "Porchlight Revisits" season where they stage forgotten musicals three times per year. This production was in Chicago, Illinois in March 2018. It was directed and choreographed by Christopher Carter and music directed by Andra Velis Simon.[15]
Hayes Theatre in Sydney, Australia presented They're Playing Our Song as part of their "Neglected Musical" series in 2024. Neglected Musicals is a theatre initiative dedicated to presenting musical theatre that has never (or rarely) been seen in Australia. The musicals are presented with scripts in hand, and with piano accompaniment after only a day’s rehearsal.[16]
A Spanish-language production directed by Antonio Banderas opened on June 6, 2024 at the Teatro del Soho in Málaga, starring Miquel Fernández as Vernon Gersch and María Adamuz as Sonia Walsk.[17]
Synopsis
Act I
Top pop music composer Vernon Gersch, hoping to find a new collaborator, meets offbeat Sonia Walsk, who has already had some success writing lyrics and is in awe of his accomplishments, at his luxury
Sonia, who has been trying to ease Leon's anguish, is late yet again, and the evening begins badly. She and Vernon argue, then dance in an effort to calm down. The two settle down to enjoy the evening, and they hear their own songs being played over the sound system. Another work session, in which the two really don't listen to each other, follows, but Vernon convinces Sonia to join him for a romantic weekend at a Long Island beach house. The trip to the island in Vernon's small sports car is fraught with engine trouble, calls to Leon, and arguments. They finally arrive at the house, but a phone call from Leon threatens the romantic mood. Determined to concentrate on Vernon, Sonia tells Leon that she can't help him and hangs up.
Act II
It's a week later and Vernon is suffering from insomnia. Sonia manipulates her way into his apartment by telling him she has no place to stay since Leon is back living at her place. Sonia and Vernon's romance and collaboration seems successful for a while, but the relationship begins to crumble because of her inability to send her ex-boyfriend away. Also, away from his piano, Vernon is a bundle of neuroses and unable to express his deepest feelings. After some psychologizing about the difficulties of living and working together, the pair split up at a recording session.
A few months later, while Vernon is in a Los Angeles hospital, Sonia arrives unexpectedly with a tiny red child's piano as a get-well gift. Months later, both have separately come to the realization that, despite their differences, they are better together. Vernon arrives at Sonia's apartment in New York to tell her that he wants to try again. She agrees, and they reconcile with a kiss.
Original casts
Broadway (1979)[18] |
1st North American tour (1979)[19] |
West End (1980)[20] |
2nd North American tour (1981)[21] | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vernon Gersch | Robert Klein | Victor Garber | Tom Conti | John Hammil |
Sonia Walsk | Lucie Arnaz | Ellen Greene | Gemma Craven | Lorna Luft |
Voices of Vernon Gersch | Wayne Mattson Andy Roth Greg Zadikov |
Kenneth Bryan Clint Clifford Bubba Rambo |
Thom Booker Philip Day Mark Jefferis |
George-Paul Fortuna Paul Mack Michael Mitz |
Voices of Sonia Walsk | Helen Castillo Celia Celnik Matthau Debbie Shapiro
|
Ivy Austin Andrea Green Cheryl Howard |
Dawn Hope Beverley Kay Deena Payne |
Lynne Lamberis Gail Oscar Peggy A. Stamper |
Songs
Act I
|
Act II
|
Charts
Australia cast recording
Chart (1980) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[22] | 49 |
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | Tony Award
|
Best Musical | Nominated | |
Best Book of a Musical | Neil Simon | Nominated | ||
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
|
Robert Klein | Nominated | ||
Best Direction of a Musical | Robert Moore | Nominated | ||
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Book of a Musical | Neil Simon | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Lucie Arnaz | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Music | Marvin Hamlisch | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Lighting Design | Tharon Musser | Nominated | ||
Theatre World Award | Lucie Arnaz | Won |
Original London production
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Laurence Olivier Award
|
Best New Musical | Nominated | |
Best Actor in a Musical | Tom Conti | Nominated | ||
Best Actress in a Musical | Gemma Craven | Won |
Notes
- ^ "L.A. as a Tryout Town: What's So Bad About That?", Los Angeles Times, pp. R87, 10 December 1978
- ISBN 0573681058, p. 3
- ^ "Col, Rastar films buy Neil Simon's 'Playing Our Song'". The Hollywood Reporter. December 12, 1979.
- ISBN 0793577500, p.252
- ^ "'They're Playing Our Song' Production Information" broadwayworld.com, accessed December 9, 2015
- ^ "Olivier Awards 1980" olivierawards.com, accessed December 8, 2015
- ^ "Shaftesbury Theatre History" shaftesburytheatre.com, accessed December 8, 2015
- ^ "They're Playing Our Song". thisistheatre.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Llamas, Cora. "Lifestyle: They're Playing A Good Song", Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 10, 2000, p. 6
- ^ Shenton, Mark (August 4, 2008). "They're Playing Our Song, with Sound of Music's Fisher, Opens in London Aug. 4". Playbill. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Tadeu Aguiar - They're playing our song - Brazil April/2009.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam; Gans, Andrew (August 18, 2010). "Full Cast of Sutton Foster-Seth Rudetsky They're Playing Our Song Announced". Playbill. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (September 28, 2010). "They're Playing Our Song, With Stephanie J. Block and Jason Alexander, Begins Reprise Run Sept. 28". Playbill.
- ^ "Kapj el! - szereposztás". jokaiszinhaz.hu (in Hungarian). 13 September 2014.
- ^ "Porchlight Revisits They're Playing Our Song". Porchlight Music Theatre. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
- ^ "They're Playing Our Song". Hayes Theatre. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ "Tocando nuestra canción: Antonio Banderas instala en el Soho el Broadway más divertido y sofisticado". diariosur.es. 2024-06-07.
- ^ "They're Playing Our Song (Original Broadway Production, 1979) | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ "They're Playing Our Song (First National Tour, 1979) | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ "They're Playing Our Song (London Production, 1980) | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ "They're Playing Our Song (Second National Tour, 1981) | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
References
- Information from Musical Notes
- Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre
- Links to lyrics of songs in the show