Romance Romance: Two New Musicals : Vocal Selections

Rating:
Summary: Guess what's all the rage again....
Review: 1988 saw the Broadway premiere of Barry Harman and Keih Herrmann's two new musicals, Romance Romance. Act I, 'The Little Comedy,' is based upon the short story of the same title by Arthur Schnitzier and set in turn-of-the-century Vienna. The style of the music is much like the 3/4 waltz time Stephen Sondheim gratuitously used in A Little Night Music some 16 years before. The vocal selections offer such songs from The Little Comedy as the hopeful 'It's Not Too Late,' the light 'Yes, It's Love,' and the soulful tearjerker 'The Night It Had To End.' Act Two, 'Summer Share,' is based upon the play Pain de Menage by Jules Renard and is set in The Hamptons, August of the current year. This act gives you-among others- 'It's Not Too Late-Reprise,' 'Romantic Notions,' and 'Words He Doesn't Say,' as well as the title song. This sometimes has the feel of the music popular in the late 80s when the music was written, but overall it's a universal style that people today can appreciate. Overall the music is delightful and the book is a wonderful companion to the show.

Rating:
Summary: Guess what's all the rage again....
Review: 1988 saw the Broadway premiere of Barry Harman and Keih Herrmann's two new musicals, Romance Romance. Act I, 'The Little Comedy,' is based upon the short story of the same title by Arthur Schnitzier and set in turn-of-the-century Vienna. The style of the music is much like the 3/4 waltz time Stephen Sondheim gratuitously used in A Little Night Music some 16 years before. The vocal selections offer such songs from The Little Comedy as the hopeful 'It's Not Too Late,' the light 'Yes, It's Love,' and the soulful tearjerker 'The Night It Had To End.' Act Two, 'Summer Share,' is based upon the play Pain de Menage by Jules Renard and is set in The Hamptons, August of the current year. This act gives you-among others- 'It's Not Too Late-Reprise,' 'Romantic Notions,' and 'Words He Doesn't Say,' as well as the title song. This sometimes has the feel of the music popular in the late 80s when the music was written, but overall it's a universal style that people today can appreciate. Overall the music is delightful and the book is a wonderful companion to the show.