They're Playing Our Song
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| They're Playing Our Song | |
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| Original Cast Recording | |
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| Music | Marvin Hamlisch |
| Lyrics | Carole Bayer Sager |
| Book | Neil Simon |
| Based upon | Relationship between Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch |
| Productions | 1978 Los Angeles 1979 Broadway 1980 Sydney 1980 West End |
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.
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[edit] Productions
The original production had its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in 1979. After eleven previews, the Broadway production, directed by Robert Moore (director), choreographed by Patricia Birch, and starring Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz (in her Broadway debut), opened on February 11, 1979 at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1,082 performances. Ann Roth designed the costumes and lighting was by Tharon Musser. Notable cast replacements included Tony Roberts, Stockard Channing, Victor Garber, Anita Gillette, and Ted Wass.
An original cast recording was released by Casablanca Records.
The West End production opened on October 1, 1980 at the Shaftesbury Theatre with Tom Conti and Gemma Craven, who won a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance. Among the "Inner Voices" was Deena Payne. Notable replacements during its original London run included Martin Shaw. It closed on May 8, 1982. A London cast recording was released on the Chopper label.
The original Australian production opened on August 23, 1980 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. It starred John Waters and Jacki Weaver, with Rhonda Burchmore as one of the "Inner Voices." An Australian Cast Recording was released by Festival Records.
In 2000, a production opened in the Philippines, starring Tony Award winner Lea Salonga as Sonia and Singaporean actor Adrian Pang as Vernon. The show ran in the AFP Theatre.
[edit] 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 Manhattan apartment. She is surprised that his Oscar is so light, and Vernon quips, "They're chocolate inside." He is aloof and focused, while she is disorganized and distracted, but Vernon has already written music to one of Sonia's lyrics, and they decide to forge ahead. Sonia, frazzled by her break up with lover Leon, arrives a day late for their first work session. When they begin, she tells Vernon they should get to know each other on a personal level in order for their work to gel, and they decide to have dinner at "Le Club."
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 schizophrenic 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.
[edit] Songs
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[edit] Awards and nominations
- Tony Award for Best Musical (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Klein, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
- Theatre World Award (Arnaz, winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Arnaz, nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design (nominee)
- Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Arnaz, winner)
- Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Klein, winner)
[edit] References
- Information from Musical Notes
- Information from the NODA website
- Links to lyrics of songs in the show
