At 7pm Bangkok time on Saturday, August 29th the BCT watch party musical will be “Falsettos”
Please email rsvp@bangkokcommunitytheatre.com so that we can send you the private link to this online musical event.
With people staying home and theatres around the world closed for the forseeable future, BCT hopes to bring a little theatre magic into your lives by sharing these weekly “Filmed live on stage” productions. Join us.
ABOUT THE SHOW
“Falsettos,” the filmed revival of a fabulous musical, is based on the book by James Lapine and William Finn, who also wrote the music and lyrics. The original 1992 Broadway production won two Tonys and was revived in 2016, providing the “Live from Lincoln Center” filmed version that will screen at the watch party.
Seven actors play members of an extended Jewish family in 1979. Marvin, played by Christian Borle, is married to Trina (Stephanie J. Block), and they have a 10-year-old son, Jason (Anthony Rosenthal). Once Marvin decides he’s gay and moves in with Whizzer (Andrew Rannells), this cozy family explodes. Trina takes up with Marvin’s psychiatrist, Mendel (Brandon Uranowitz), further complicating things for Jason and his dad. In addition to the theme of what happens when homosexuality fractures a heterosexual family, there are issues about masculine identity, signaled by Mendel singing, “It’s about time to grow up.”
Two years later, the dysfunctional family starts planning Jason’s bar mitzvah, and the ominous threat of AIDS comes into the picture. Doctor and lesbian neighbor Charlotte (Tracie Thoms) sings, “Something bad is happening,” predicting the emerging epidemic. Lest the story seem too grim, many comic moments enter the picture, like “We’re watching Jewish boys play baseball, who can’t play baseball.” Another has Cordelia (Betsy Wolfe), a caterer who is Charlotte’s partner, testing hors d’oeuvres that aren’t too tasty. Marvin and Whizzer split up, but a conflicted Jason still wants Whizzer to come to his bar mitzvah. “Everyone hates his parents,” Mendel advises Jason. Whizzer contracts AIDS, but lest that seem like an inevitably grim ending, things come together in an unusual and heartwarming way.
Many aspects of “Falsettos” make the musical dynamite fare. It’s no wonder the 2016 production earned five Tony nominations.