The one-act musical centers on Marvin, who has a wife and children. He recalls the past relationships he shared with, among others, his high school sweetheart and Miss Goldberg, his English teacher who let him play Christopher Columbus in the school play, and then reveals he prefers to be with men. Torn between his natural inclination and his desire not to upset his family life as he knows it, Marvin ultimately makes the decision he feels is best for him.
Productions
In Trousers, directed by Finn, was developed off-off-Broadway in 1978[1] and mounted twice in 1979 at Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons, opening on February 21 for 24 performances and again on December 8 for 8. The cast -- Chip Zien, Alison Fraser, Joanna Green, and Mary Testa—was the same for both productions. The play was next produced Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in March 1981, with Jay O. Sanders as Marvin, Kate Dezina (Wife), Alaina Reed (His Teacher, Miss Goldberg) and Karen Jablons (His High School Sweetheart). Direction was by Judith Swift with choreography by Marta Renzi and Sharon Kinney.[2] The play was sharply panned.[1]
In 1985, a significantly rewritten version, with additional songs, a more cohesive storyline, and better defined characters (with Marvin's wife christened Trina), opened on March 26 at the Off-Broadway Promenade Theatre, where it ran for 16 performances. Directed by Matt Casella, it starred Tony Cummings, Catherine Cox, Sherry Hursey, and Kathy Garrick. (Cummings was replaced by Stephen Bogardus shortly after the show opened.)[3] In an author's note (dated April 1986) to this version, Finn wrote: "...a lot of the material was about my learning to write the kind of show songs I want to write. So the show is about Marvin's education, and mine."[4] In his review of this production, Frank Rich wrote: "As lovingly orchestrated by Mr. Finn's long-time collaborator Michael Starobin, the melodies linger well after the final curtain; so do running lyrical conceits built around phrases like breaking down and giddy seizures. Isn't it typical of this luckless season that the musical with the best score would be more enjoyably heard on a cast album than seen on stage?"[5]
After In Trousers was "viciously panned", Finn considered abandoning musical theater and attending medical school.[6] Finn also lost his singing voice permanently during a shower scene in the show. He recalled that "There were problems, but it was fun".[6] Finn felt that the negative reception to In Trousers was undeserved: "if the critic for the Times at that time had been more responsible, it would have been a considerable debut. But as it was, he just said it was junk. So I just started writing 'March of the Falsettos'."[6]
Finn eventually collaborated with James Lapine on two additional one-acters, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland, which further explored the lives of Marvin and his family and friends. These two later were combined for a two-act Broadway production entitled Falsettos.
High-Heeled Ladies at Five O'Clock (A Calypso Fantasy)
The Rape of Miss Goldberg by Marvin (A Fantasy Which Is Better Abstracted)
I Am Wearing a Hat
Wedding Song (Part One)
Three Seconds
Wedding Song (Part Two)
I Feel Him Slipping Away
Whizzer Going Down
A Breakfast Over Sugar
The Nausea Before the Game
Love Me for What I Am
How America Got Its Name
Been A Helluva Day (Reprise)
Marvin Takes a Victory Shower
Another Sleepless Night (Reprise)
In Trousers
Recording
The original cast album is available on CD on the Original Cast Records label. In reviewing the Original Cast recording, William Ruhlmann wrote: "Since Finn turned out to be the most impressive songwriting talent to emerge in the musical theater in the 1980s, this record, a cast recording of the 1979 production, is of more than passing interest, even if, in comparison to its successors, it is slight. Still, the music is lively and melodic, the lyrics often provocative and surprising, and the performances, notably that of Chip Zien, who appeared in the later shows in a different role, arresting.[8] The album made some changes for time. For example, it cut the opening number, Very Opening, and abbreviated several songs, most noticeably The Rape of Miss Goldberg. The number How America Got Its Name was cut, except for Marvin's final words.
References
^ abBrown, Joe (May 10, 1992). "The Truth about Falsettos". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
^"Theater: In Trousers", The New York Times, March 4, 1981, p. C20
^Finn, William. "Preface" In Trousers, Samuel French, Inc., 1986, ISBN0573681538, p. 7
^Rich, Frank. "Theater: 'Trousers' AMusical" The New York Times, March 27, 1985
^ abcBrown, Joe (May 10, 1992). "The Truth about Falsettos". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
^ abFinn, W., Lapine, J. and Rich, F., 1993. Falsettos. 1st ed. New York: Plume.
^Ruhlmann, William. " In Trousers Original Cast Recording" allmusic.com, accessed May 22, 2015
External links
First 1979 production at Internet Off-Broadway Database
Second 1979 production at Internet Off-Broadway Database
1981 Production at Internet Off-Broadway Database
1985 production at Internet Off-Broadway Database
February 11, 2023
trousers, musical, which, premiered, broadway, 1979, with, book, music, lyrics, william, finn, first, trilogy, musicals, followed, march, falsettos, then, falsettoland, original, cast, recordingmusicwilliam, finnlyricswilliam, finnbookwilliam, finnproductions1. In Trousers is a musical which premiered Off Broadway in 1979 with book music and lyrics by William Finn It is the first in a trilogy of musicals followed by March of the Falsettos and then Falsettoland In TrousersOriginal Cast RecordingMusicWilliam FinnLyricsWilliam FinnBookWilliam FinnProductions1979 Off Broadway1981 Off Broadway revival1985 Off Broadway revival Contents 1 Concept 2 Productions 3 Cast Original 1979 4 Song list 5 Recording 6 References 7 External linksConcept EditThe one act musical centers on Marvin who has a wife and children He recalls the past relationships he shared with among others his high school sweetheart and Miss Goldberg his English teacher who let him play Christopher Columbus in the school play and then reveals he prefers to be with men Torn between his natural inclination and his desire not to upset his family life as he knows it Marvin ultimately makes the decision he feels is best for him Productions EditIn Trousers directed by Finn was developed off off Broadway in 1978 1 and mounted twice in 1979 at Off Broadway s Playwrights Horizons opening on February 21 for 24 performances and again on December 8 for 8 The cast Chip Zien Alison Fraser Joanna Green and Mary Testa was the same for both productions The play was next produced Off Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in March 1981 with Jay O Sanders as Marvin Kate Dezina Wife Alaina Reed His Teacher Miss Goldberg and Karen Jablons His High School Sweetheart Direction was by Judith Swift with choreography by Marta Renzi and Sharon Kinney 2 The play was sharply panned 1 In 1985 a significantly rewritten version with additional songs a more cohesive storyline and better defined characters with Marvin s wife christened Trina opened on March 26 at the Off Broadway Promenade Theatre where it ran for 16 performances Directed by Matt Casella it starred Tony Cummings Catherine Cox Sherry Hursey and Kathy Garrick Cummings was replaced by Stephen Bogardus shortly after the show opened 3 In an author s note dated April 1986 to this version Finn wrote a lot of the material was about my learning to write the kind of show songs I want to write So the show is about Marvin s education and mine 4 In his review of this production Frank Rich wrote As lovingly orchestrated by Mr Finn s long time collaborator Michael Starobin the melodies linger well after the final curtain so do running lyrical conceits built around phrases like breaking down and giddy seizures Isn t it typical of this luckless season that the musical with the best score would be more enjoyably heard on a cast album than seen on stage 5 After In Trousers was viciously panned Finn considered abandoning musical theater and attending medical school 6 Finn also lost his singing voice permanently during a shower scene in the show He recalled that There were problems but it was fun 6 Finn felt that the negative reception to In Trousers was undeserved if the critic for the Times at that time had been more responsible it would have been a considerable debut But as it was he just said it was junk So I just started writing March of the Falsettos 6 Finn eventually collaborated with James Lapine on two additional one acters March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland which further explored the lives of Marvin and his family and friends These two later were combined for a two act Broadway production entitled Falsettos Cast Original 1979 EditMarvin Chip Zien Trina Alison Fraser His Sweetheart Joanna Green Miss Goldberg Mary TestaSong list Edit1979Very Opening Marvin and Company 7 Marvin s Giddy Seizures Marvin and Company How the Body Falls Apart His Wife His Sweetheart and Miss Goldberg Your Lips and Me His Wife My High School Sweetheart Company Set Those Sails Miss Goldberg and Company My Chance to Survive the Night Marvin I Am Wearing a Hat Miss Goldberg and Company How Marvin Eats His Breakfast Marvin and Company A Breakfast Over Sugar Marvin and His Wife Whizzer Going Down Marvin and Company High School Ladies at Five O Clock Company The Rape of Miss Goldberg Marvin Miss Goldberg and His Sweetheart The Nausea Before the Game Marvin and Company Love Me for What I Am His Wife and Company How America Got Its Name Marvin Your Lips and Me Reprise His Wife and Company Marvin Takes a Victory Shower Company Another Sleepless Night Company In Trousers The Dream Marvin and Company 1985In Trousers I Can t Sleep A Helluva Day I Have a Family How Marvin Eats His Breakfast Marvin s Giddy Seizures My High School Sweetheart Set Those Sails I Swear I Won t Ever Again Part 1 High School Ladies at Five O Clock I Swear I Won t Ever Again Part 2 The Rape of Miss Goldberg I Swear I Won t Ever Again Part 3 Love Me for What I Am I Am Wearing a Hat Wedding Song 3 Seconds Wedding Song Part 2 How the Body Falls Apart I Feel Him Slipping Away Whizzer Going Down Marvin s Giddy Seizures Part 2 I m Breaking Down Packin Up Breakfast Over Sugar How America Got Its Name Another Sleepless Night Good Night No Hard Feelings 1993 Plume Edition published only 7 Very Opening Marvin s Giddy Seizures A Helluva Day I Have A Family How Marvin Eats His Breakfast My High School Sweetheart Set Those Sails My Chance to Survive the Night High Heeled Ladies at Five O Clock A Calypso Fantasy The Rape of Miss Goldberg by Marvin A Fantasy Which Is Better Abstracted I Am Wearing a Hat Wedding Song Part One Three Seconds Wedding Song Part Two I Feel Him Slipping Away Whizzer Going Down A Breakfast Over Sugar The Nausea Before the Game Love Me for What I Am How America Got Its Name Been A Helluva Day Reprise Marvin Takes a Victory Shower Another Sleepless Night Reprise In TrousersRecording EditThe original cast album is available on CD on the Original Cast Records label In reviewing the Original Cast recording William Ruhlmann wrote Since Finn turned out to be the most impressive songwriting talent to emerge in the musical theater in the 1980s this record a cast recording of the 1979 production is of more than passing interest even if in comparison to its successors it is slight Still the music is lively and melodic the lyrics often provocative and surprising and the performances notably that of Chip Zien who appeared in the later shows in a different role arresting 8 The album made some changes for time For example it cut the opening number Very Opening and abbreviated several songs most noticeably The Rape of Miss Goldberg The number How America Got Its Name was cut except for Marvin s final words References Edit a b Brown Joe May 10 1992 The Truth about Falsettos The Washington Post Retrieved April 12 2020 Theater In Trousers The New York Times March 4 1981 p C20 In Trousers April 2016 Finn William Preface In Trousers Samuel French Inc 1986 ISBN 0573681538 p 7 Rich Frank Theater Trousers AMusical The New York Times March 27 1985 a b c Brown Joe May 10 1992 The Truth about Falsettos The Washington Post Retrieved April 12 2020 a b Finn W Lapine J and Rich F 1993 Falsettos 1st ed New York Plume Ruhlmann William In Trousers Original Cast Recording allmusic com accessed May 22 2015External links EditFirst 1979 production at Internet Off Broadway Database Second 1979 production at Internet Off Broadway Database 1981 Production at Internet Off Broadway Database 1985 production at Internet Off Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title In Trousers amp oldid 1110782378, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
