When Pigs Fly (musical)

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Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly is a musical revue in two acts conceived by Howard Crabtree and Mark Waldrop. [1] The revue has music by Dick Gallagher and lyrics by co-conceiver, sketch writer and director Mark Waldrop. The revue opened Off-Broadway in 1996 and ran for two years, and received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical Revue. [2]

A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932. Though most famous for their visual spectacle, revues frequently satirized contemporary figures, news or literature. Similar to the related subforms of operetta and musical theatre, the revue art form brings together music, dance and sketches to create a compelling show. In contrast to these, however, revue does not have an overarching storyline. Rather, a general theme serves as the motto for a loosely-related series of acts that alternate between solo performances and dance ensembles.

An act is a body part theatre work, including a play, film, opera, and musical theatre. The term can either refer to a conscious division placed within a work by a playwright or a unit of analysis for dividing a dramatic work into sequences. The former use of the term may or may not align with the latter. The word act can also be used for major sections of other entertainment, such as variety shows, television programs, music hall performances, and cabaret.

Dick Gallagher American musician

Dick Gallagher was a pianist and composer, best known on the New York City cabaret scene.

Contents

Production

The revue opened Off-Broadway on August 14, 1996 at the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre, and closed on August 15, 1998 after 840 performances. [3] Directed by Mark Waldrop with costumes by Howard Crabtree, the cast included Stanley Bojarski, John Treacy Egan, David Pevsner, Jay Rogers, and Michael West. [4] The title of the show derives from Crabtree's school counselor, who said that Crabtree's ambition to "put on stage shows" would happen "when pigs fly." [5]

David Pevsner is an American actor, singer, dancer, and writer. Pevsner appeared in the 1990 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, 1991 revival of Rags, and some other theatrical productions. He also wrote three songs for the 1999 musical Naked Boys Singing!, including "Perky Little Porn Star." He wrote and produced two one-person shows, To Bitter and Back (2003) and Musical Comedy Whore (2013). Pevsner portrayed mostly minor roles in films and television. His major screen roles are Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge & Marley, the 2012 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Ross Stein in a 2011 web series Old Dogs & New Tricks. He recorded the 2016 album Most Versatile, whose album cover pays homage to Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A.

Crabtree died on June 28, 1996. Waldrop noted "It's a show...inspired by costumes--and, just by extension, the exuberance of Howard's spirit and his desire to just put it out there.... Without Howard, it's inconceivable that I would have written a gay revue." [6]

An Off-Broadway revival, directed once again by Mark Waldrop, with choreography by Denis Jones and costumes by Bob Mackie, was scheduled to begin previews on October 6, 2017 and open October 30, 2017 at Stage 42. [7] The cast was to feature Jordan Ahnquist, Taylor Crousore, Jacob Hoffman, Brian Charles Rooney and Frank Viveros. However, on October 2, 2017, the producers announced that the revival is canceled. The reason given was that "a shortfall in the show’s investment has made it impossible for the production to continue." [8]

Robert Gordon Mackie, is an American fashion designer and costumer, best known for his dressing of entertainment icons such as Joan Rivers, Cher, RuPaul, Barbara Eden, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett, and Mitzi Gaynor. He was the costume designer for Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show during its entire 11-year run and designed the costumes for its spinoff, Mama's Family, and for the 1993 television adaptation of Gypsy.

Concept

The concept of the revue is that "Howard" stages a musical. As he struggles to do so, dealing with the large egos of performers or scenery gone wrong, he hears the words of his high school counselor, "Miss Roundhole". She sarcastically said, "When pigs fly!" in response to his ambitions. The characters in the revue (all played by men) appear in sketches: a song to unlikely loves ("Torch Song #1"); four life-sized queens from a deck of playing cards ("You've Got to Stay in the Game"); and dancers make a case for being yourself ("Light in the Loafers"). "The Melody Barn" is a take-off on classic summer stock themes; "Laughing Matters," is a defense of fun in sad times.

"The wigs alone...are like tone poems of camp: pillowy, cartoon-land creations, threatening to lift the men beneath them somewhere, fully aloft.... Crabtree's visual creations are the reason for this drag-intensive show's being." [9]

Songs

Act 1
Act 2

Critical response

In his review for The New York Times , Vincent Canby wrote that the revue is "...an exceptionally cheerful, militantly gay new musical revue that comes close to living up to its own billing, 'the side-splitting musical extravaganza.' No sides are ever in serious danger of splitting. Yet there's enough hilarity, wit and outre humor here to evoke that era, more than 40 years ago, when bright, irreverent revues were as commonplace on Broadway as today's stately Cameron Mackintosh spectacles." [10]

<i>The New York Times</i> Daily broadsheet newspaper based in New York City

The New York Times is an American newspaper based in New York City with worldwide influence and readership. Founded in 1851, the paper has won 127 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other newspaper. The Times is ranked 17th in the world by circulation and 2nd in the U.S.

Vincent Canby American film critic

Vincent Canby was an American film and theatre critic who served as the chief film critic for The New York Times from 1969 until the early 1990s, then its chief theatre critic from 1994 until his death in 2000. He reviewed more than one thousand films during his tenure there.

In the Talkin' Broadway review of a regional production in San Francisco, the reviewer wrote: "The music by Dick Gallagher is jaunty and tuneful and lyrics by Mark Waldrop are sharp and witty. This is a real great musical comedy revue. Michael Sommers of The Star Ledger sums it up beautifully by calling it 'A Hog-Heaven of silliness.' Clive Barnes of the New York Post said 'This show is user-friendly for straights.' I totally agree with both critics." [11]

Recording

The original cast recording was released by RCA Victor. [2]

Awards and nominations

When Pigs Fly won the 1997 Outer Critics Circle Awards for Off-Broadway Musical and costume design, [12] as well as the Drama Desk Awards for Off-Broadway revue and costume design. Additional awards were the Lucille Lortel Award for costume design, and an all-around OBIE. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ "Howard Crabtree's 'When Pigs Fly' " samuelfrench.com, ISBN   9780573623318, accessed August 15, 2013
  2. 1 2 Ruhlman, William. 'When Pigs Fly' allmusic.com, accessed August 15, 2013
  3. 1 2 Simonson, Robert and Lefkowitz, David. "Last Chance: Crabtree's 'Pigs' To Give Last Oink Aug. 15" Playbill, August 12, 1998
  4. ↑ When Pigs Fly Listing" lortel.org, accessed October 3, 2017
  5. ↑ Campbell, Mary. "Howard Crabtree" Boca Raton News (The Associated Press), February 7, 1997
  6. ↑ Haun, Harry. "Co-Creator of OB's 'When Pigs Fly' Discovers The Importance of Being Silly" Playbill, November 18, 1996, retrieved October 3, 2017
  7. ↑ Gerard, Jeremy. " 'When Pigs Fly' Off Broadway" Variety, August 14, 2017
  8. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Off-Broadway Revival of 'When Pigs Fly' Abruptly Canceled" Playbill, October 2, 2017
  9. ↑ Phillips,Michael. "'Pigs Fly' and Campy Wit Soars" Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1999
  10. ↑ Canby, Vincent. "Review. Don They Now Their Drag Apparel" The New York Times, August 15, 1996
  11. ↑ Connema, Richard. "When Pigs Fly Is Brash And Brassy" talkinbroadway.com, June 4, 2003
  12. ↑ Lefkowitz, David. "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced" Playbill, May 5, 1997

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