Flowers for Algernon - The Musical

[ChiChi]

I found the record of the Michael Crawford. I don't think it is by any means the greatest score but I like parts and was wondering if anyone had actually seen it.

[mallardo]

The one person on this board who probably did see it hasn't been heard from lately.

Most of Charles Strouse's scores have something good in them. If you liked this one try some of his other flops-with-fine-scores like Nick & Nora, Rags, or even It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.

[ChiChi]

It's odd because I saw the vinyl in a used record store for over three years and chose never to purchase it. I bought it for $1.99. When I went to buy the CD online it was HELLA expensive due to its rare status. Maybe I got a good deal on the vinyl.

[beagle]

This show was known as Charlie and Algernon for the Broadway run. My high school performed it in the mid-80s and it was one of the better productions we did. It strikes me as something that would work well in smaller venues (especially with a great cast) but I'm not sure how it would do in a larger-scale production. It didn't last very long on Broadway.

[mallardo]

Right, the title change in the US was because of the very successful movie made from the same book - "Charlie", for which the late Cliff Robertson won a well-deserved Oscar.

[ChiChi]

Yeah. It only lasted 12 previews and 17 regular performances. I don't think it's a broadway piece. It's far too small and, well, on the whole, it is not a great musical. I just really like some of the music. Needless to say, "Whatever time there is" is beautiful.

[Scripps2]

I like Charles Strouse scores and this one does have some good stuff in it.

I didn't see the show but I do have a copy of the Souvenir Programme. Note that the woman who taunts Charlie is played by Sharon Lee Hill, later Mrs Trevor Nunn and derided as The Director's Wife when she played the title role in Nunn's production of The Baker's Wife.

[ChiChi]

OMG You have the program? That's awesome

[After Eight]

I saw Charlie and Algernon.

I didn't enjoy it. I recall it as being a downbeat tale that did not fit easily with musicalization. It looked none too attractive, either. Sandy Faison was excellent, though.

The score was fair-- far fom Strouse's best. But I did like a song not on the Flowers recording, "Jelly Donuts and Chocolate Cake."