Martin Guerre vs Martin Guerre

[Phantom of London]

As many of you will know there were two productions of Martin Guerre. I haven't seen it, which is something I regret and if I could turn the clock back I would see both productions.

What I have heard from both cast recording is great and the story of Martin Guerre is a enjoyable story.

The original one opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1996, this got a cast recording.

Extensive revisions, rewrites, renaming and re-positioning happened for the West Yorkshire Playhouse production that went on to tour the country.

Another cast recording was recordered, does anyone know wht songs got renamed and repositioned please?

[Princeton Returns]

ive got both recordings, couldnt tell you without digging then out but i do prefer the olc on the whole for both cast and songs

[TBFL]

There were ALOT of changes and rewrites, and honestly too many to get into! For me, the most noticable change from London to West Yorkshire Playhouse was the cutting back of the character Benoit. His character brought alot of heart to the show and i found his character moving. I really liked the song 'Louison' which was later cut. One vast improvement was the cutting of the song 'Sleeping On Our Own' sung by the 3 old women, who were the Thenadiers of Martin Guerre. I THINK they also cut the characters from the latter production. Why do Boubil and Schonberg insist of having light relief characters in all their shows??

As much as i love Joanna Riding, the OLC is also my preferred recording, but even that doesnt get much of an airing. I saw the original a few times and would definitely go and see it again if it was a large production.

[bob8rich]

The West Yorkshire Playhouse version was a complete rewrite with a different lyricist. All the music that remained had new lyrics and some new songs were added, such as the stunning How Many Tears and Live With Someone You Love. I also on balance prefer the OLC.

Craig Revel Horwood's production at the Watermill in 2007 (which is still one the most amazing things I have ever seen) reverted to the original version with some changes. The only thing I didn't agree with in the Watermill version was the cutting of All I Know (my favourite song in the score!) and replacing it with Live With Someone You Love (changed to a duet between Arnaud & Bertrande from the duet between Arnaud & Martin in the West Yorkshire version).

Martin Guerre is my favourite Boublil/Schonberg score.

Apparently Cameron is planning to launch Martin Guerre on Broadway next year. It will be interesting to see what changes this will have.

[philitalia]

The leatherpants with those huge bulges were too distracting
I found version 1 incredibly tedious. Version 2 at the Prince Edward was much better.
I agree it has a great score and that they should not have had those 3 "Thénardiers".

[theatrepaul]

I saw the orginal London production at the Prince Edward and was hugely dissapointed. Yes the score had its moments as did the show, but the production felt forced, poorly conceived and rushed in before it was ready.

I've wondered if they felt compelled to bring in a new show as quickly as possible to try and repeat the success of Les Mis and Miss Saigon.

Maybe it can be made to work, but after numerous changes & re-writes I still think they have a way to go.

[bob8rich]

Theatrepaul - did u see the Watermill production? That most certainly worked on every level, dramatic, musical and emotional.
Cameron should have transferred that en bloc to the West End.

Here's the link to my BWW review of the 2007 Watermill Martin Guerre:
http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/A-Spellbinding-Martin-Guerre-at-the-Watermill-20070721

[abitoftap]

We saw the Prince Edward vers 1 and 2, as well as the W Yorkshire version.
Vers 1 best then 2 then I didn't like the W Yorks one at all.
The P Ed versions , partic 1, were mysterious and engrossing...it got more straightforward but less interesting.
...and why they'd ever drop Working on the land with those scythes, God knows

[philitalia]

Interesting you preferred version 1. I found it hard to sit through, though I'd have to add that because of the pushing back of the opening night for 2 weeks we found ourselves in a preview performance which did not go smoothly (at a certain point the performance was halted due to a technical issue with the sets).

[Whileshesleeps]

There were in fact 5 versions of the West End show to my knowledge, that I saw.
Version 1 - Early Preview - much lengthier Act 1 - had several extra songs which musically were lovely such as a song called Argigat, but did nothing to move the plot on (I have a program somewhere which I'll dig out for the song lists. I seem to remember much more made of the not providing and heir as well as the marriage scene.There was a much bigger ending to Act 1.I think Act 1 lasted over an hour and forty minutes.

Version 2 - By opening night and early performances cut several songs from Act One and change to close of Act 1. Much more made of the village idiot role.Act 2 stayed virtually in tack with no changes. The essence of this version is the orgigional cast recording.

Version 3 - by about week 4/5 after Opening Night - alterations to opening instrumental and added dialogue plus short song between Bertraund and village idiot. Speedier end to Act 1. Battle scenes shortened considerably.

Version 4 - changes after closed the show - several changes to lyrics and songs. Additional lyricist brought on board.

Version 5 - About 6 weeks before the show closed there were several small lyric changes and a new song between Bertraund's mother and Martin's uncle, reusing a tune in the first version of the show.Sleeping "On Our Own" was cut from the show (I think bar one of the old ladies the other two had left the show).

I liked the majesty of the original staging at the Prince Edward, but thought plot wise the show flowed much better with the West Yorkshire Playhouse version. I agree that the Guillaume character seemed to weaken and not be as evil or complicated as in the London version. And the show lacked the beautiful opening and dance sequence when Martin Guerre returns in Act 1 and the Murderous dance sequence in act 2.

I'd be interested to learn what further changes were made when the show toured America?

[abitoftap]

Crikey!!
Little did I realise. It's almost a Follies

[Phantom of London]

Yes indeed, or Chess.

Thanks for all the contribution so far, vet helpful, I love the original cast recording, and adore the title song and Tell me To Go but from the West Yorkshire production the best song was written and that was 'Why?'.

'One vast improvement was the cutting of the song 'Sleeping On Our Own' sung by the 3 old women, who were the Thenadiers of Martin Guerre. I THINK they also cut the characters from the latter production. Why do Boubil and Schonberg insist of having light relief characters in all their shows??'

TBl - you correctly said that 'Sleeping On My Own', can be compared to the Thenadiers 'Master of the House' if you will, which indeed you are correct and I 100% agree with you on this, the reasoning for doing this song is that both stories are very morbid and both need a touch of comedy relief, or the show would be just to melancholy. Master of the House delivers this perfectly and goes on to define the characters to perfection, 'Sleeping On My Own' although a well written song and reasonable funny, seems out of place in keeping with Martin Guerre.

Whenshesleeps - You give any more contributions like that, make sure you don't leave your next visit too long.

[theatrepaul]

Bob8rich - no I only ever saw the very first production and it was only a few weeks in. I did hear that the Watermill production was much improved.

Maybe it will have another life again. I heard Cameron Mackintosh on the radio recently and it's obviously a show that remains close to his heart so I wouldn't be surprised to see it re-born once again.

[rockyhorrorfan]

I saw the very first version which whileshesleeps refers to. I remember there was a song called something like Carivari which became Where's The Child. I saw Rebecca Lock as Bertrande which turned out to be fortunate as she sang the part on the OLC recording. I even liked Sleeping On Our Own which everyone else seems to hate. I actually loved the show but was disappointed with the West Yorkshire Playhouse version. It's only saving grace for me was How Many Years.

I'd rather see a revival with staging similar to the original London production.

[Whileshesleeps]

Here's what I have from programmes (and some notes gathered off Wikipedia (although not convinced all the info there is correct. They even mention a Spanish language production in Madrid which had a very reduced song list. I believe they used the sets from the UK tour.


Prince Edward Theatre, London - 10 June, 1996?Revised version Prince Edward Theatre, London - 11 November, 1996 to 28 February, 1998


London Version 1 (early preview May 1996)

Act 1:
1, Prologue
2. Artigat
3. When We Were Young
4. Over A Year
5. Charivari
6. Why Won’t You Love Me?
7. The Rejection
8. Martin Guerre
9. And So The Story/The Battlefield
10. Here Comes The Morning
11. Sleeping On Our Own
12. The Confession
13. Man Of Your Dreams
14. Louison
15. Welcome Home
16. You’re Not Martin
17. Tell me To Go
18. All I Know
19. The Seasons
20. The Baptism
21. Bethlehem
22. The Dinner
23. Louison (reprise)
24. The Dinner
25. One By One
26. All I Know (reprise)

Act 2:
1. Ente’acte
2. Hallelujah
3. Behtlethem (reprise)
4. The Courtroom
5. Me
6. Martin Guerre (reprise)
7. Someone
8. The Imposters
9. The Last Witness
10. Here Comes The Morning (reprise)
11. The Sentence
12. The Rabble
13. I Will Make You Proud
14. All I Know (reprise)
15. A Life For A Life
16. The Escape
17. The Reckoning
18. Land of the Fathers

Version 3 (November 1996)

ACT ONE?
1.Prologue ?
2.Pray for the Day ?
3.Working on the Land ?
4.Where's the Child? ?
5.The Rejection ?
6.Martin Guerre ?
7.The Battlefield/Here Comes the Morning ?
8.Sleeping on our Own
?9.Duty ?
10.When Will Someone Hear? ?
11.Louison/Welcome Home
?12.Tell Me To Go
?13.The Seasons ?
14.Louison (reprise) ?
15.All I Know
?16.Bethlehem ?
17.The Dinner
?18.One By One ?
19.All I Know (reprise) ??

ACT TWO ?
20.The Courtroom ?
21.Me ?
22.Martin Guerre (reprise)
?23.Someone ?
24.The Imposters ?
25.The Last Witness ?
26.Here Comes the Morning (reprise) ?
27.The Sentence ?
28.I Will Make You Proud ?
29.The Madness ?
30.The Jail ?
31.The Reckoning ?
32.The Land of the Fathers ?
33.Working on the Land (reprise)




Version 5 (final)

Act 1:
1. Prologue
2. Working On The Land
3. Only Yesterday
4. Where’s The Child 1
5. Where’s The Child 2
6. Martin Guerre
7. Here Comes The Morning
8. The Battle
9. Here Comes The Morning (reprise) sung by Bertande
10. Faithful To the Last
11. The Solution (“Hallelujah” melody)
12. Duty
13. When Will Someone Here
14. Louison
15. Tell Me To Go
16. The Seasons
17. Louison (reprise)
18. All I Know
19. Bethlehem
20. The Dinner
21. One By One
22. All I Know

Act 2:
1. Ente’acte
2. The Courtroom
3. Me
4. Martine Guerre
5. Someone
6. The Imposters
7. The Last Witness
8. Here Comes The Morning
9. The Villagers and Martin
10. I Will Make You Proud
11. The Madness
12. Soliloquy
13. The Jail
14. The Escape
15. The Reckoning
16. When Will Someone Hear
17. Working On The Land



1999 West Yorkshire Playhouse (December 1999)
Act 1
• Prologue
• Live With Somebody You Love
• Your Wedding Day
• The Deluge
• I'm Martin Guerre
• Without You As A Friend
• Death Scene
• The Conversion
• God's Anger
• How Many Tears
• Dear Louison
• Welcome To the Land
• The Confession
• The Seasons Turn
• Don't
• All the Years
• The Holy Fight
• The Dinner
• The Revelation
The Day Has Come


Act 2
* If You Still Love Me
• The Courtroom
• Who?
• I’m Martin Guerre
• All That I Love
• The Imposter Is Here
• The Final Witness
• The Verdict
• Justice Will Be Done
• Benoit's Lament
• Benoit’s Lament
• Why?
• The Burning
• The Killing
• You Will Be Mine
• How Many Tears
• Live With Somebody You Love

US TOUR
Act 1
• Without You As A Friend
• Your Wedding Day
• The Deluge
• I'm Martin Guerre
• Live With Somebody You Love
• Death Scene
• The Conversion
• God's Anger
• How Many Tears
• Dear Louison
• Welcome To the Land
• The Confession
• The Seasons Turn
• Don't
• All the Years
• The Holy Fight
• The Dinner
• The Revelation
• Alone

Act 2
* If You Still Love Me
• The Courtroom
• Who?
• I’m Martin Guerre
• All That I Love
• The Imposter Is Here
• The Final Witness
• The Verdict
• Justice Will Be Done
• Benoit's Lament
• Benoit’s Lament
• Why?
• The Burning
• The Killing
• You Will Be Mine
• How Many Tears
• Live With Somebody You Love


Newbury 2007 (Craig Revel Horwood Actor/Musican version)
ACT 1
1. Overture
2. Working On The Land
3. Where’s The Child
4. Martin Guerre (new lyrics)
5. Here Comes The Morning
6. Sleeping On Our Own
7. Duty
8. When Will Someone Hear?
9. Louison – Someone As Beautiful As Her
10. Thank God You’re Here
11. What Do I Say?
12. The Seasons
13. Live With Somebody You Love (Arnaud and Bertrande)
14. Bethlehem
15. The Dinner
16. One By One
17. Live With Somebody You Love (reprise)

ACT 2
18. The Courtroom
19. Martin Guerre (new lyrics)
20. Someone
21. The Imposters
22. The Last Witness
23. Here Comes The Morning
24. The sentence
25. I Will Make You Proud
26. The Jail
27. The Reckoning

[Eastwickian]

I'd be interested to learn what further changes were made when the show toured America?

Off the top of my head - 'Live with somebody you love' and 'Without you as a friend' were swapped over, 'The day has come' had new lyrics and retitled 'Alone'. Those were the big ones - there were minor lyric tweaks both after the WYP recording was made (apparently they recorded the whole show but only released a single album) and again on the US tour.

[CATSNYrevival]

I wish I could have seen the 2007 Watermill production. Of all the versions to record that should have been the one! I hope this new Martin Guerre is most like that one.

[CATSNYrevival]

Also, why in the world did they ever cut the "Welcome Home" / "Thank God You're Here" dance? Who's idea was that?

[Phantom of London]

Has it been over 5 years now, simce the Watermill production?

Perhaps a fringe theatre will pick up the rights and produce, would be good in somewhere like the Menier, St James Theatre the new Southwark Playhouse etc.

[CATSNYrevival]

While we're on the subject of Martin Guerre, can someone explain to me what this was supposed to be? I've always wondered. I see a face if that's all it is. Is there more to it?

[Princeton Returns]

i see a face and an upside down stick man, one face two people maybe the meaning? that was always my guess

[Phantom of London]

Welcome to the world of abstract art, and you thought theatre was subjective!!!

[philitalia]

It's a wooden figure.

Just like the heli in the Miss Saigon poster was a reference to what the show was about, IMO this is a reference to the time and place in which the show is set : a rural community in Northern France/Belgium in an area with lots of forests.

Also the sets of the show at the Prince Edward used a lot of wood (at least something that had to resemble wood), eg instead of a house you just had the beams that formed the wooden structure of a house.

On the other hand I could be completely wrong

[CATSNYrevival]

If it's upside down, it could be the scarecrow, yes? Louison? Maybe?

[Eastwickian]

I loved the tour logo which combined the title, a burning cross and the silhouettes of a couple about to kiss:

[philitalia]

That one reminds me too much of Which Witch.