Lippa's is a soap opera that takes place at a version of a party that is hoping to feel like the audience is at a party. I dare say it removes nuances and layers the poem has.
LaChiusa & Wolfe's expands on what the poem offers and builds on it, deepens it, and finds music in it. It takes the party as a metaphor, a play that is set at a party, the party is a metaphor not an actual party, but it is actually structured like a party.
Both a valid theatrical experiences, both are fun and exciting scores (whether or not one loves LaChiusa's score like I do, I think there's a lot of fun in it)... but I do think looking at the two is a very interesting lesson in adaptation, as well as in writing a fun musical vs a deep musical. |
