#talk to me about judaism in falsettos

[legiterallylunar]

shabbat in falsettos pls. i need to know if trina and marvin do shabbat properly with jason even though they're divorced. i need to know if trina and mendel keep shabbat even though mendel isn't a huge religious enthusiast. i need to know if marvin and whizzer keep shabbat . i need to know if charlotte and cordelia do shabbat by themselves or maybe with marvin and whizzer. please. shabbat in falsettoland. casual religion in media. save me casual references to jewish life in falsettos

[christianborle]

so wild how there’s still people on tumblr blogging about the falsettos revival. the falsettos revival fandom in 2016 had so much discourse it gave me a headache every single day. godspeed i hope y’all are being normal

[annabelles1692]

my favorite background moments in falsettos (2017)

this is purely because i am insane. it's a very long list. i might make a similar post for the bootleg of the original broadway cast because they are also very dear to me. anyway, list is below the line!

3:50 ("four jews in a room") during the last chorus, whizzer + mendel starting spinning in a circle as opposed to dancing normally

3:54 ("four jews in a room") trina accepts a piece of the block from marvin and grabs at the back of his head, seemingly picking something out of his hair and tossing it to the ground

17:16 ("marvin @ the physiatrist") following whizzer's "part two", marvin looks over at him and smiles (i can't tell if this is christian to andrew or if it's supposed to be in character)

21:55 ( "my father's a homo") as jason says "my mother's no wife" and "my father's no man, no man at all", both trina and marvin react to their relative assessment. trina stops for a moment and shoots jason a stern look, while marvin turns back at each repeat of 'no man' to stare desperately at him.

25:34 ("everyone tells jason to see a physiatrist") whizzer grins at jason encouragingly following his line "absolutely, jason"

43:16 ("a tight-knit family reprise") following mendel's line "it's embarrassing" marvin looks to whizzer and says "you're watching embarassing" (i'm like 90% sure on this one haha)

43:18 ("a tight-knit family reprise") as marvin's pushing jason away as he's on the cube, he says to him "i can't look at this jackass"

43:55 ("a tight-knit family reprise") after mendel and marvin arm wrestle, whizzer and jason exchange a look

49:50 ("trina's song reprise") trina reemerges having changed costumes, her outfit now including a beaded bracelet we see mendel wearing earlier on in the show

54:57 ("the chess game") as whizzer is yelling at marvin (and the audience) about marvin's absurd expectations, marvin says "come on" and "is that all you got?"

56:00 ("making a home") jason retreats to the background to set his chess board down as well as push in a looser block - not sure if this is just anthony fixing the set or if it's supposed to be in character. he then proceeds to watch trina + mendel setting up the couch before looking up/out to the audience as they do (with the lines "what it needs is people/men and women talking"). he does the same thing at 57:30 during the second chorus

56:23 ("making a home") whizzer is pulling out his clothes from inside one of the blocks, similar to how trina retrieves the couch throw pillows later on

57:08 ("making a home") the photographs they set on the mantlepiece appear to be historical family portraits; the one in the back is most likely trina as a child with her parents, and the one in front are mendel's parents (judging by the era of clothing)

1:03:40 (marvin hits trina") rather than use an instrument (like a clapper), whizzer uses his hands to make the slapping sound

1:05:22 ("i never wanted to love you") marvin and whizzer's eye contact lingers after whizzer's part. i'm curious what you all think christian's trying to express here - to me it looks like he's about to start crying before he turns away.

1:20:00 ("miracle of judaism") when the family erupts to tell jason the second ball is coming, marvin says something along the lines of "there's a...there's a what, what's happening - he's not looking". also, each character reacts in their own unique way. i love cordelia in particular because when jason looks over, she waves first before pointing to the ball

1:21:18 ("the baseball game") this is similar to the previous, i love focusing on what each character says.

cordelia: you're kinda choking up, buddy (motioning to the way jason holds his bat)

charlotte: next inning, jason, next inning

mendel: get your head in the game, think about the footwork a little bit

marvin: it's alright buddy, you'll get 'em next time

trina: you have eight more innings, my love!

1:22:40 ("the baseball game") cordelia + charlotte realize who whizzer is and are shocked, and then quickly try to appear nonchalant about it (1:22:50 you can see charlotte rest a hand on both cordelia and marvin's knees before all three adjust in their seats and separate)

1:23:16 (during "the baseball game") the lesbians nod encouragingly at marvin after whizzer asks "is he still queer?" (i absolutely LOVE this detail it's so cute lolol)

1:30:24 ("a day in falsettoland") cordelia reacts to charlotte's line "...lightbulbs up the ass" by dropping her smile + staring off into the distance in horror

1:30:33 ("a day in falsettoland") following charlotte's line "people overdosed and i saved them", cordelia nods at her + says "yeah, you did"

1:31:06 ("a day in falsettoland") charlotte laughs in shock when cordelia says "...and i save chicken fat"

1:35:25 ("everyone hates his parents") following trina's line "you have paintings of dicks/don't talk to me about taste", she + marvin have the following interaction:

marvin, smug: those are french

trina, exasperated: really?

1:43:15 ("something bad is happening") charlotte holds a copy of JAMA aka the "Journal of the American Medical Association". i'm unsure the larger magazine is

1:50:55 ("days like this") prior to the song beginning, whizzer says either "marvin" or "mornin'" to marvin

1:52:45 ("days like this") marvin turns and says something to whizzer (i can't figure it out and its KILLING ME) as mendel sings "go ahead, be good and pissed/how can i help, says the wiry pyschiatrist"

1:54:00 ("canceling the bar mitzvah") as jason gets up and walks downstage, trina nods in his direction - can't tell if this is her communicating with mendel or marvin, or perhaps both

2:01:30 ("unlikely lovers") following whizzer's line "i love friends that hover", charlotte reaches over and playfully pinches his shoulder

2:09:30 ("jason's bar mitzvah") while trina is singing "probably it's doubly useful/at a time like this", mendel says something akin to "you don't have one/you don't have some?", most likely to jason in regards to the champagne

2:09:38 ("jason's bar mitzvah") after saying cheers, marvin first looks to whizzer and then to jason - presumably because this is jason's first time drinking alcohol. my guess is that he says "good?", asking for jason's opinion on the champagne

2:09:50 ("jason's bar mitzvah") while whizzer sings "please excuse me if i interfere", mendel and marvin have a brief conversation about the cubicle curtain. it's fairly inaudible so i'm not sure of the exact wording

2:12:00 ("jason's bar mitzvah") as marvin is fixing jason's tie, he whispers to him "relax, relax". while the cast sings "like marvin", marvin continues speaking to jason by saying "is that so hard?"

feel free to reblog and add any i've missed! i tried to include those i discovered on my own/ones i haven't yet seen talked about

[falsenettleland]

ohhh something about falsettos and growing up and learning what it means to be a man…

four jews in a room establishing the pettiness of the men. we’re manipulating people and we need to know our worst sides aren’t ignored. marvin talking about his ideal tight knit family where he’s the man of the house. i want it all. they faked dispair, they wet their bed, they combed their hair, they acted dead. want me. feed me. i bring home the bacon. make the dinner and love me. he’s a sometimes worthless. i’ll pay the bill until you’re old. i want to speak with whizzer. he wasn’t very smart but he was rich. love me please. he’s like a baby who’s denied. you’ve got a temper that redefines temper. he and whizzer live like… someone’s bringing you dinner. i’m not a giant man. i want a wife who knows what love is. the family was mine. they throw their knives. who is man enough to march to march of the falsettos. teach it to your brother. we’re lacking in maturity. treat him nice. now protect him. be a patsy, lose at chess.. clip the coupons. make the dinner and love him. he decides the role to assume. men and women talking. these are the games i play. ask me if i need him. get him out of my way. what i’ve done to you is rotten. i keep marching in place. watch as you sing how your voice will get much lower. a man kid, you’ll be kid. sing for yourself. it’s about time to grow up and face the music. it’s about growing up getting older living on a lover’s shoulder. this is the year of jason’s bar mitzvah. his life’s about to start! selecting girls for ones bar mitzvah. god, that’s the miracle of judaism. when you play me you win. all i want is you. it’s a celebration where i get presents. we laugh, we fumble, we take it day by day. and his lack of control kills what’s best in his soul and this is the start of his becoming a man. but if you could make my friend stop dying, god, that’d be the miracle of judaism. let’s have my bar mitzvah here! how’d you turn out so great. who do i thank for the man you became. once i was told, that good men get better with age. we’re just gonna skip that stage.

[imintheairconditioning]

FALSETTOS SPOILERS

As devastated as I am, time to talk about this gorgeous musical

My main issue is that I fully believed it would turn around. AND I HAD REASONS. I convinced myself the song at the start (4 Jews in a room b1tching) it specifically took the story of the quintessential miracle of Judaism, moses splitting of the red seas. THEN Jason prays for a miracle and my head said

Oh yeah this reminds me of the first song where they got their musical

IT DIDNT HAPPEN

Then they both died (it's not offucial but honestly... definitly happened :()

God I'll need forever in order to get my stability back

[richie-shitlips]

Hello!

please like if read, thanks!

we're a system! most frequent fronters listed below:

Thomas (host) - he/it/she, arospec bisexual, hopeless romantic, not religious really but I'd like to convert to Judaism when I'm out of my parents house, likes musicals and britcom. will also answer to Noel, Poison, Betty, Sheila, Orpheus, Emmett, Pippin, Roxie, and any of the other alters names. proficient in German. signoff is just -Thomas and tag is #tommy <3

Kevin Price - he/him, (ex?)Mormon (ex in source but will try to convert you now. probably joking), doesn't swear, gay and trans but suuuuper repressed. likes history and religion. signoff is -Kev☕️✝️ and tag is #kev!!☕️✝️😁

Marvin Cohen - he/him, Jewish (in source), gay, sad, paranoid. likes the weather and Christopher Columbus. also speaks German. signoff is -Marvin<3🌈⛈️ and tag is #marv🌈⛈️👑🌊

ask box is open for all of us, just specify who you're talking to if you're asking questions!

i (thomas) am also fictionkin! you can send me questions about memories and stuff! kin blog at @whenancientghostsarewaking !!

Matching blog theme/PFP with my lovely boyfriend @annahanover <3

DMs are OPEN to mutuals! just don't be weird please (duh) and if I don't respond I'm either in school or got scared to talk (the internet is scary but i really try to respond) mutuals can also ask for our discord!

IMPORTANT: mutuals, if you see this, please tag anything related to harry potter, rocky horror picture show, hazbin hotel, cats the musical, or helluva boss with #thomas don't look as that media makes me uncomfortable. thank you!

ALSO IMPORTANT: If you don't mind, please tag anything positive about Miss Goldberg (from In Trousers), any "I hate Marvin Falsettos" jokes, and anything about Whizzer POST-HOSPITALIZATION or his death with #marvin's blocked!, just a comfort thing, sometimes I don't have the mental strength to deal with that stuff, and I'd like to be able to control when I see it, thank you for understanding. -🌈⛈️

Proshippers, terfs, swerfs, pedos/paras, transmedicalists, transphobes, homophobes, cluster b abuse believers, anti-kin, endos/their supporters, and autism speaks supporters DNI. Blank blogs will be blocked.

Also DNI if you hate Marvin from Falsettos for like. Any reason. Because I am him IRL and we also have a fictive. Like literally why would you talk to me if you hate me. /fictionkin

suspected/self-diagnosed BPD and NPD. possible OCD/traits of OCD? but idk about that one. possible autism

diagnosed ADHD

be my mutual I need more friends and I like people

( matching with @just-watching-dont-worry )

( matching with @isopodonanescalator )

( matching with @annahanover <333 )

(blinkies are from, in order: I Fell In Love In Juvie Hall!, Love In Hate Nation // Marvin's Giddy Seizures, In Trousers // Masochist, Love In Hate Nation // I Have A Family, In Trousers // My High School Sweetheart, In Trousers // Kind Of Woman, Pippin // Tear Me Down, Hedwig and the Angry Inch // Spies Are Forever // Extraordinary, Pippin // Unlikely Lovers, Falsettos)

WAY more under cut! please read if you have the time!

Sideblogs: @buy-cheese-please, @richies-shit-poetry

My RP blogs:

@richie-lipschitz-official - Richie Lipschitz, Hatchetfield

@miss-hollys-toys - Miss Holloway but with a slight... twist (Hatchetfield)

@kingoftheocean-marvin - Marvin Cohen, In Trousers (teenage years)

@theroomisyellow - Marvin Cohen, In Trousers (married years)

@ilovemytightknitfamily - Marvin Cohen, March of the Falsettos

@gay-weatherman - Marvin Cohen, Falsettoland

@owenc1147 - Owen Carvour, Spies Are Forever

@digbick1152 - Dick Big, Spies Are Forever

@emmettforrestofficial - Emmett Forrest, Legally Blonde

@moniquegibeau-xx - Noel Gruber, Ride the Cyclone

@sturdywiththewordyshakespeare - William Shakespeare, Something Rotten!

@dingdong-elderprice - Kevin Price, The Book of Mormon

@theoneandonly-thomasthorne - Thomas Thorne, BBC Ghosts

@seymourlikesplants - Seymour Krelborn, Little Shop of Horrors

@therealdougsimon - Doug Simon, Gutenberg! The Musical!

@im-not-that-smart - Leaf Coneybear, 25APCSB (Spelling Bee)

@happyhomewrecker-impossiblesob - Larry, The Boys In the Band (2020) (this blog is run by Larry)

@theotheroneisalliveverbeen - Sheila Nail, Love In Hate Nation

@morning-glow-is-here - Pippin, Pippin (Musical)

@orandges - Karen Smith, Mean Girls (this blog is run by Larry)

@apoorboywithagifttogive - Orpheus, Hadestown

@bettywilliams-real - Betty Williams, OC!

@khowardishere - Katherine Howard, SIX: The Musical

@soundbodysoundmind - Ambrose Wellington Bassford, Adamandi

@itsgonnaberoxie - Roxie Hart, Chicago

@insanelycool-jaredkleinman - Jared Kleinman, Dear Evan Hansen

@brom-xtra-bones - Brom Bones, Headless

@rebel-gotta-raise-her-voice - Kitty Minx, Love In Hate Nation

@thishadbettercometoan-end - Marvin Cohen but transfem

@icantread-helvetica - Helvetica Gummistiefel, Gutenberg! The Musical!

@whatsthepointofloving - Peggy Schuyler, Hamilton

@dipperpines-pines-pines - Dipper Pines, Gravity Falls

@lydz-d - Lydia Deetz, Beetlejuice

@cmonsugardaddybringmehome - Hedwig Robinson, Hedwig and the Angry Inch

@dewin-it-with-dewey - Dewey Duck, Ducktales (2017)

@nananananananausea - Marvin Cohen, Falsettos college AU!

@theseance-004 - Klaus Hargreeves, The Umbrella Academy Season 1

Agere sideblog: @lil-marvs-gardens

(yes, i know most of those links don't work! i don't know how to fix them)

Founder of Chastity Rocks! (Mark/Boy Jerry) (i think)

Libra, the balanced nature. Favorite ride: the wild mouse.

PLEASE interact: homosexuals, women with children, short insomniacs, and a teeny-tiny band /ref

blog title from: the chess game from falsettos

My main interests i'll post for (current hyperfixations in blue):

Love in Hate Nation

Ride the Cyclone

Fabulous Killjoys / Danger Days

BBC Ghosts

Fall Out Boy

Hadestown

Taylor Swift

My Chemical Romance

Gravity Falls

Percy Jackson / Riordanverse

Starkid / Hatchetverse

The Hunger Games

The Umbrella Academy

Spies Are Forever

Ducktales / Darkwing Duck

Falsettos / Marvin Trilogy

Gutenberg! The Musical!

Legally Blonde (musical)

Something Rotten!

The Book of Mormon (musical)

Adamandi

The Boys In the Band (2020)

Pippin (musical)

Little Shop of Horrors

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (musical)

Jersey Boys (musical)

The Four Seasons (band)

my tags:

#sing it like the kids that are mean to you - school stuff

#npmd boys dont cry au - mine and logan's npmd au

#out of the depths of hell and back - lords in black

#swinging the hatchet now - hatchetfield posting

#sleeping on your folks porch again dreaming - poetry

#were falling apart to halftime - fall out boy

#take my fucking hand and never be afraid again - mcr

#we were born to be suburban legends - my crushes

#the rest of the world was black and white but we were in screaming color - gay rights

#my existence shouldn't be a compromise - trans rights

#we need love but all we want is danger - taylor swift, a lot of times this will be gaylor content btw. deal with it.

#sheila liveblogs learning guitar - self explanatory

#marvin's mail! - answered asks

#in trousers my beloved - in trousers (musical)

#headcanons with emmett - self-explanatory

#marvin's giddy seizures - VENT TAG block it if you don't want to see that

#richie sings - song covers!

[unreadpoppy]

So I heard ya know about theater stuff 👁️

/cracks knucles

Boy do I know about theater. I'm techinically getting a degree in theater (the actual name of my course is 'scenic development' but we learn about both theater and some of filmmaking. My course is also techonological which means it's more practical and it's shorter) this semester and I have been participating in Drama Club theater productions since 2016 (it's very amateaur-ish but it did help me a lot and it led me to knowing my current singing teacher)

But, if the post Sky tagged me is anything to go by, I heard you want some recs.

I really love the theban trilogy by Sophocles, which is composed of three plays: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus in Colono and Antigone. Also, I really recommend Jean Anouilh's version of Antigone, it explores more the themes of family and duty.

The Mandrake by Machiavelli is a comedy but with a tone of social critique that I found really enjoyable.

I'll say that I am a bit lacking in Shakespeare but A Midsummer's Night Dream can be a really fun read if you want something more light hearted!

I need to read more of his plays but if you are looking for something with a heavier social political undertone, I recommend Bertold Brecht's plays, like The Good Soul in Setsuan, Mother Courage and Her Children, etc. (note: even thought I haven't read a lot of his work, I really like his Epic Theater and agree with a lot of stuff that that brings, like making stuff so that the audience never reaches catharsis and makes them think)

I haven't really read this play BUT the students whose classes I accompany in my internship are staging Endgame by Samuel Beckett, and honestly, by each rehersal, more intrigued I get.

I'll be honest, there's a lot of plays that I've yet to read but I can also give you some musical theater recs, as I also love that.

Falsettos (the 2016 revival) is funny yet heartbreaking, with a story about love, family and living in the HIV/AIDS crisis (and also judaism). The songs are great, many have very uplifiting vibes but the sad ones hit HARD.

Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd (I recommend watching the OG stage versions, i think a recording of each can be easily found on youtube) are Sondheim classics and you just can't go wrong with Sondheim

Next to Normal is a musical that handles mental health and grief, with many touching moments, and the ends always leaves me as a mess.

Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 is a musical pop rock opera adaptation of a portion of War and Peace and honestly, the music is just PHENOMENAL. Banger after banger.

I know everyone and their mother has talked about Hamilton, and despite it's problems, I still think the music itself is really good.

Book of Mormon and Avenue Q are really funny, acid comedies, with some really great numbers, that will make you laugh and might even make you reflect on life.

Waitress is another fave of mine, I love many of the songs and they just have this sweetness and heartfeltness to it that I just aaaaaaaaa

Phew, that was a lot, but I'm always happy to provide more!

[crackingfeetlol]

i remember in like 2020 there was this falsettos instagram roleplay group and I wanted to be a part of it so I messaged the person who was leading it and they said I could be one of the girls Jason talks about in miracle of judaism. I hate that song. it makes me so uncomfortable. but I did it anyway. i picked Ellie Maisie Rosenthal because I thought the name was pretty. nobody knew who that was so nobody wanted to rp with me.

except Bunny Doyne. shout-out to you Bunny Doyne

[incorrect-life-of-me]

havent done one of these in a while so falsettos characters as things me and my friends have said!!

trina talking about whizzer and marvin: cracker on cracker crime 

charlotte: this is why jesus is dead.

whizzer: i have all my baes on snap. all 17 of them

cordellia: i can make you a christmas whore

marvin: only if MLA stands for marvin likes ass

jason: i am not a person i am a cat 

mendel: why is it built like a green bean?

jason talking to his parents: wow you really have a love for judaism

cordellia: i like to think im smart 

whizzer: quantum physics is werid, be gay and spiteful

trina: dont make me spit out my wine thats alcohol abuse

[helenaredamancy]

more cool musical stuff: falsettos edition (p2/?)

- specifically talking about the revival 

- the harmonies in tight knit family/ love is blind

- “life’s a sham and every move is wrong, we’ve examined every move as we move along”

- hepa hepa hepatitis hepatitis hepatitis 

- the way jason and marvin parallel each other so perfectly? idk the line “dont know why but he looks like marvin” is so beautiful in context for me since jason spends act 1 despising how much he resembles his father- i find the line kind of important because while he’s always looked like marvin, now that’s no longer an insult

- i like that arguably, jason and marvin are the main characters of falsettos and the show’s central relationship is jason and marvin’s and not marvin and whizzers

- the entirety of im breaking down

- andrew rannells

- high note when he sings “these are the ONLY GAMES I PLAY” 

- jasons dancing in year of the child

- another miracle of judaism kills me (its such a sad song but it opens with ‘hello god. i dont think we’ve ever really spoken’) 

- “and godchild to the lesbians from next door” 

- jason saying he’ll let whizzer win, and putting his king piece on whizzer’s grave later on (he let him win!!!!)

[classified-bluerose]

Falsettos (Act 2) - Favourite Lyrics

falsettoland/it’s about time: it’s about growing up, getting older, living on a lover’s shoulder, learning love is not a crime

year of the child: stop! this is so much crap, throw a simple party, religion’s just a trap

miracle of judaism: selecting girls for ones bar mitzvah, that’s the miracle of judaism

the baseball game: when he smiles that smile avoid him or else sound the alarm

a day in falsettoland: play it raw, don’t play pretty, sex and games in new york city, have gotta be played with flair and passion

everyone hates his parents: you want to blame me? you have paintings of dicks, don’t talk to me about taste

what more can i say?: can you tell, i have been revised; it’s so swell, dammit, even i’m surprised, we laugh, we fumble, we take it day by day

something bad is happening: just call me ‘’doc’’, don’t call me lady, i don’t like to talk when i’m losing the game

more racquetball: be a jerk my sweet bruiser, try and be a decent loser

holding to the ground: trying not to care about this man who marvin loves; but that’s my life, he shared my life

days like this: whizzer hello, gee you look awful, i think you need to play some chess

cancelling the bar mitvah: why don’t we tell him that we don’t have the answers, that life can be grim, life’s not all about him, and things rarely go according to plan? tell him things happen, for no damn good reason. and his lack of control kills what’s best in his soul and this is the start to his becoming a man.

unlikely lovers: hit me if you need to, slap my face, or hold me till winter, oh baby please do

another miracle of judaism: are you just a big psychiatrist? or, can you make things not happen?

something bad is happening (reprise): something that kills, something infectious, something that spreads from one man... to another

you gotta die sometime: to go out, without care, my head high in the air, it’s the last little mountain i’ll climb

jason’s bar mitzvah: son of marvin, son of trina, son of whizzer, son of mendel

what would i do?: how am i to face tomorrow? after being screwed out of today

falsettoland: lovers come, and lovers go, lovers live and die fortissimo. this is where we take a stand. welcome to falsettoland.

[lazarusemma]

using my english degree to psychoanalyze fictional characters through song lyrics. anyway falsetto’s another miracle of judaism is... a lot.

just the premise and title shows jason’s development and the way he's had a more mature perspective forced upon him through grief, growth through trauma, since it’s a callback to his previous “miracle of judaism” of being able to invite girls to his bar mitzvah, and ten songs and one tragedy-in-progress later his priorities have shifted so much

(which is also a callback to his earlier motif of “my father says love is the most beautiful thing in the world” and his own insistence on games/chess, and then as he gets older he says girls instead to reflect both early puberty and his fear of being gay like his father, but now he’s putting whizzer’s health above girls as the most important thing in the world, because he loves whizzer, and as mendel told him: he got older, he hates less values love more)

but then he's still trying to bargain with Gd which is a classically childish move: i’ll do this for You if You do this for me, treating Gd like a person and religion like a straightforward give and take

and the way he isn't even sure he believes in Gd, calling Him a psychiatrist because he's echoing mendel (a role model in his early adolescence) who doesn't think religion is real, and therefore Gd is just a thing people talk about and to in order to make themselves feel better

the way jason is trying to get a miracle for whizzer by trading a sacrifice of his own and having the bar mitzvah he assumes Gd wants from him even though he didn't want it himself anymore

the way he denies his own naivete by acknowledging the unlikeliness of whizzer's recovery but is still heartbreakingly innocent in his child's view of Gd who, if He's real, might have trouble doing things

the flaws in jason's faith but the desperation of reaching out anyway

so i have some thoughts™️ please feel free to add yours

[shrimp-colours]

I want to talk about both falsettos and bare the musical but I'm watching falsettos rn so I'll talk about that.

LOOK LOOK LOOK LOOK it's a LESBIAN from next door.

the choruses of yummy.

jason looks sick when they're conga lining

charlotte and cordelia are both different ends of the mood spectrum but they're so nice together

jason simping for girls in his class is such a fucking mood

why is he holding the bat like that

singing about girls being the miracle of Judaism instead of batting... same

Charlotte is so angry at them and I would be too

whizzer looking like a boy from grease

sORry

his wheezy voice (marvins)

whizzer tapping his hands on his thighs when Jason comes out

charlotte is wonderful. I want to be cordelia

*thick slap on whizzers shoulder*

whizzers soo happy

my favorite song time

iiiii don't get it (saaame)

caroline is weird

the beginning of the song is such a damn mood

boiss (boss)

trina time

trina Works It Out(tm)

EX sure does

CC and WM parallels

TERRIBLE

who? Me? Hahahha

yaaaaayyy!

lightbulbs up the ass...

saving lives and loooving you

she saves lives and I save chicken fat. I can't FUCKING deal with that

Ha!!

marvins a bit chunky but we hate act one marvin

whizzers peacock strut

haha

his boner....

hes so playful with marvin

yes it did

this part where they're all singing and dancing is soo satisfying

angelica would be proud

im gonna stop now

[binary-colour]

Falsettos UK time

So I just went to see the UK production of Falsettos last night and kind of wanted to word vomit all my thoughts and key parts of it onto a post so that I can preserve the amazingness in my mind for as long as possible.

Basically, I’ve been obsessed with this show for a while now and it lived up to every expectation possible. The cast were incredible, the singing was outstanding and my mum sobbed solidly through the second act.

FYI - we had the male cover Matthew McKenna as Whizzer (I was a bit worried at first but he was incredible)

This is v v long so read at own risk ig. Also, spoilers!

Four Jews was portraying Jason’s birth (like, the ‘slavery’ was Trina going into labour). It worked really well actually, especially for people who had no idea what the show was about (ie 90% of the audience lmao) It was also Trina in it more than Jason, but there was this hilarious bit when they did the ‘I’m Mendel!’ etc. section and Trina went ‘I’m-‘ and got cut off Also Whizzer piggybacked Jason, my heart

Tight Knit Family - as you’d expect I guess, Daniel’s voice was 👌 Also Marvin did ‘friend’ in airquotes and Whizzer did this mega eye roll lmao

Love is Blind - I guess there wasn’t much else different, just that they all stood in the photo frames when Trina sung about them which was a v nice touch ¯\_(ツ)_/

Thrill of First Love - Whizzer was,, a lot more argumentative than I expected I guess? Like, almost a bit aggressive? But overall it was great, they were so snarky and less sexual than the revival (which my asexual ass didn’t mind) apart from one reaaaach. They also had v good chemistry to say it wasn’t Oliver performing.

Marvin At The Psychiatrist - the staging was pretty similar to revival. Whizzer was watching from the top and he made all these offended faces when Marvin and Mendel were talking about him (when they said he was ‘smarmy’ he did this Offended Gay expression it was great). Then Trina started unbuttoning her shirt in Pt. 2 and Mendel got really flustered, it was wild. Everyone was dying from laughter. Also, ‘it’s queer Mr Marvin… sorry, it’s strange Mr Marvin’ deserves its own shoutout

My Father’s A Homo/Everyone Tells Jason to See A Psychiatrist - Elliot is a star, what more can I say. His voice is soo good as well. When Whizzer arrived Trina and him did this 😒 face at each other.

I’m Breaking Down - I thought no-one could come close to Stephanie’s iconic performance in the revival, but Laura rocked it. She was setting the table for Mendel coming, and it had this mega chaotic energy where she threw the bananas around and screamed ‘shIT’ when they fell onto the floor. For the ‘fulfill his needs’ bit she really aggressively ripped the top of the banana off and peeled it lmao. Also, she was drinking from the wine bottle for one of the choruses and humming, it was amazing. 

Jason’s Therapy - Jason was definitely the most mature one in this scene haha. After Mendel did his first dance sequence, Jason just put a hand on his shoulder to stop him and sighed before he said the ‘is this therapy?’ bit.  Marvin and Trina sat drinking at the side of the stage the whole time lmao. When it was the second ‘is this therapy?’ line, they both held up their glasses for the ‘yES!’. Also, for the final bit Marvin, Trina and Whizzer all came on singing into glasses and slapping their legs with plates lmao.

Marriage proposal - I saw a few people saying that this was a bit ~creepy~ rather than cute, and I guess I see what they mean? But they didn’t do the weird vampire wrist grab like the revival, so I guess that’s a plus. Trina was very confused the whole time, bless her, and for the ‘start to cry’ she was like ‘I’m not??’ and then Mendel starting blubbering. Plus, Jason sang the ‘biblical times?’ first one rather than Trina, and Marvin did this Super Sassy ‘bIbLiCaL tImEs’ that was hilarious.

Trina’s Song/March of the Falsettos - This was staged as a nightmare sequence, which brought some sense to the madness of MoTF. Like, when she woke up she continued with the song, it worked really well. I also really liked that they reenacted the wedding scene from 4 Jews as part of it, it really showed Trina’s fear that something bad would happen again.

The Chess Game - Wow, this was... intense. Whizzer was super snarky, so Marvin got mad at him pretty quickly. It was so funny though, especially when it was Whizzer saying the ‘move a pawn’ bit and he sat in his chair like Marvin and acted all stern. Marvin was drinking solidly, so when Whizzer ‘won’ and knocked over a ton of pieces he lobbed the board off stage and hit a few things. Whizzer backed off pretty quick looking scared and Marvin was apologetic until the ‘Whizzer’s supposed to make the dinner’ bit, when he got Whizzer’s suitcase and packed it for him on stage before throwing it at him.  Also, the ‘this had better come to a stop’ was targeted at the liquor bottle.

Making a home – Mendel came on with only a house plant and it got kicked out of the house anyway lmao I relate. The dog bit Jason’s chessboard rip.

The Games I Play – this was performed so well my mum almost cried. It was much softer than any other version I’ve heard and more… spoken? But the notes at the end were belted and spot on, but he still had the slight tremor like he was tearing up. Your heart really went out for Whizzer, especially as the Motel projected on the screens on his side were mirrored by the homely ones on the other.

Marvin Hits Trina – Marvin didn’t tear up the invitation but he did hit a lot of stuff. Mendel also seemed a lot less angry at him when Marvin first came in then the revival – I guess Marvin was somewhat drunk in this. He also looked MAD at Whizzer whenever he sang his bits, apart from when Whizzer chokes up a bit when he says he doesn’t love him, and you see Marvin falter a bit then before he shouts at everyone. The lights went red when he hit Trina, which really added to the effect (although they were a bit late whoops)

I Never Wanted to Love You – Jason was crying and hugging Trina after Marvin hit her, and Mendel came and surrounded them in this big ~protective dad~ way. Marvin looked genuinely sorry as well, which was nice I guess.

Father to Son – The staging of this was really simple – they were just sat on the floor centre stage face-to-face. But it was so heartfelt, and Marvin looked like he was going to cry for most of it. And at first, Jason was a bit hesitant to hug him after what happened before, but you could see how relieved Marvin was when he did.

Falsettoland – Mendel pointed at the audience for the ‘homosexuals’ and ‘mother with children’ lmao. The tiny band was the wedding ring too. Whizzer was introduced back on with ‘homosexual’ and he did this offended ‘really’ gesture it was great. No Nancy Reagan punchbag unfortunately, but the lesbians came on holding signs saying Love Is Love <3. Marvin and Trina seemed a lot more friendly in this too, which was a nice touch!

Year of the Child – Mendel was Too Scared to really disrupt the arguments haha. Trina was fierce, Marvin suggested the caterers really sheepishly and she basically bit his head off it was hilarious. And when the lesbians arrived with the food, she literally said off-mic ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ to Marvin. At the end, Jason ran off because they were all too ~excited~ and the last part of the song was spent looking for him lmao.

Miracle of Judaism – ‘Jo… what’s the name of that bitch?’ im dead

Baseball Game – Jason had a pretty good swing before Whizzer even arrived to be honest. The lesbians fully got up and yelled at the umpire it was great. Mendel got up to sing his bit, and Marvin and Trina just sort of led him to sit back down and apologised offstage. Whizzer kept teasing Marvin back about the hairline comments, and Marvin just mournfully rubbed his head like ‘I know.’ It was hilarious.

A Day in Falsettoland – Charlotte and Cordelia were the patients and they were both amazing. Mendel wasn’t even sorry about the name. Charlotte literally spat the food back onto Cordelia’s plate, she didn’t even hide it lmao. ‘Maybe in a mile I’ll be okay.’ ‘a mILE?’ Same Mendel. Also, Trina runs with weights? Raquetball worked really well to say there was such little space on stage. It was nice to see the softer side to Marvin and Whizzer’s relationship, the occasional kisses throughout the game.

Everyone Hates His Parents – it was pretty similar to the revival, except Mendel and Jason both did a mega cartwheel?! I was shocked, it was perfect. Also, Trina cried ‘you’re killing me!’ to Jason after he said he didn’t want the bar mitzvah, which made the ‘kill you mother’ verse a bit more understandable lmao. Also, Trina kept giving Marvin these ‘seriously?’ looks during that whole song.

What More Can I Say - this was so sweet, so Domestic. Marvin was like this happy puppy. Whizzer basically fell asleep reading, and Marvin was taking his glasses off and putting the book aside, it was v sweet

Something Bad is Happening - lovely singing from the lesbians, extra runs! They were So Good together. When Whizzer collapsed (it was a proper keel over too), Marvin lifted his head and shoulders into lap and sang it straight to him. It was v sweet and sad, Whizzer was crying and apologising to him :’(

Holding to the Ground - this is such a beautiful song, and Laura sounded incredible. They were setting up the set behind her, but there were sirens and a heart monitor came on when they helped Whizzer into the hospital bed.

Days like this - Marvin brought this awful cheesy card, and Whizzer just held it up to the audience like ‘what’. But he kept reading the on Trina and Mendel brought and showing it to Marvin. The Whizzer/Trina solidarity was v sweet, he kissed her cheek and things when they arrived.

Cancelling the Bar Mitzvah - Jason started properly crying into Trina who cried as well. It was so raw and emotional, you really felt their fear for what is happening. My only qualm was that they cut part out?? It’s one of my favourite lines, when Mendel sings the ‘becoming a man’ bit :s

Four Unlikely Lovers - now this was heartbreaking. Marvin went and cried at the end of the hospital bed at the beginning, and he sobbed at Whizzer’s ‘our bed’. They were really sweet though, always kissing foreheads or holding hands and things - I don’t think they let go all song. Cordelia and Charlotte also came in holding hands <3

Side note! Whizzer seemed in a lot more pain in this!! Which made me really sad 

Something Bad (reprise) - Jason was watching Charlotte sing it instead of Marvin, I guess it was almost like her preparing him for what was going to happen to his Dad too?!

You Gotta Die Sometime - this was sooo well sung, it was pretty soft and then he started breaking down at end instead of belting the note :’’( Until Jason came in and he was like ‘um where’s your parents??’

Jason’s Bar Mitzvah - it had such a nice tight-knit ( ;) ) feeling to it which was really bittersweet. Mendel came in hiding balloons v unsuccessfully behind his back. The took the photo again, which was great (although not bitter they didn’t use the camera effect in that for the line in Everyone Tells Jason to See A Psychiatrist or anything). When Jason sung the prayer, he waved away the book and stood on table v proud. Then Jason sort of beckoned Whizzer over, which made him collapse onto the floor and Jason was taken off screaming for him. It was heartbreaking.

What Would I Do - the one that finally broke me. It was so so sad, Whizzer was still alive collapsed in bed so they sung it to each other and held held hands until he flatlined at end. On stage. My God.

At the end, the rest of the family all crowded around the bed and surrounded Marvin (who was properly sobbing). Mendel blew the candle that had been lit for the Bar Mitzvah out, and the photo they took came up on screen.

So, conclusion, see this show NOW before it ends its ridiculously short run. Honestly. You won’t regret a penny.

[colemckenzies]

Falsettos (again)

seeing as a already made a bajillion posts the first time i saw uk falsettos im not gonna talk about the differences between this production and the broadway version (i have talked enough about the chess game and what more can i say. but also. FUCK!!)

so im just gonna say the stuff that was different from last time or stuff i didn't notice at first:

the jason we had this time was much sweeter and softer and less whiny which didn't work as well in act one but was HEARTBREAKING in act two

he did do good faces tho like kept rolling his eyes and sighing @ Mendel and Trina

i spent 90% of the time watching marvin bc god the way he reacts to Every Thing that happens like the constant self-victimising and personal offense he takes to every comment.. god.

actually he seemed less overtly angry in act one compared to last time like obviously the anger was still there but it really felt like he was just having like. an absolute nervous breakdown

the first time at the slap marvin IMMEDIATELY backed off just from himself and trina, and mendel put out a hand but mostly was comforting trina. this time mendel actually grabbed marvin and pushed him away.

we had Matthew McKenna Mendel which means ive now seen/heard him do all three of the principal male parts and i gotta say. mendel was his best. I think i actually preferred him to joel montague. he doesn't have the emotional depth for Whizzer/Marvin but he has this kind of... easiness w jason and trina when he's mendel which was really nice. I Trusted Him.

when he put on the headband to exercise w Trina in day in falsettoland he wore it more like a hat it was great.

not the most relevant point but he rly put his hips into everything. this was very noticable from our vantage point. also at one point he was kinda surfing on the wheeled trunk directly in front of our faces and i truly thought we were gonna die.

in making a home he tried to get Trina to dip him

WHIZZER AND MARVIN.

i truly cannot get over daniel boys and oliver savile it's just. too much. they're too much

the way their body language towards each other changes between act one and act two... like the actual interactions aren't that different but there's so much hatefulness in the first act and so much love in the second.. i need a moment

i know i wasn't going to talk about what more can i say again but. Marvin is so happy and soft :(

the first time we watched it the collapse in More Racquetball was So Much like it was a massive fall backwards that made the stage shake. this time the racquet just slipped out of his hand on 'excuse me' and he just kind of,,, sat down weakly. and then folded into marvin's chest/neck when he'd finished the line.

like. literally. he was just slumped leaning against marvin completely w his face buried in the crook of marvin's neck and marvin was Gripping the back of his head and holding him. im

watching whizzer's face all thru the hospital scenes.. and his bitter resignation even in the ''''happier'''' moments. excuse me. excuse m

he ends gotta die some time. crying

i was still sad that they changed the staging of something bad reprise so that it wasn't directed at marvin anymore, but something i didn't notice last time (and might not have happened last time?), is that while charlotte is up behind the picture frame singing it, Jason is still in the other picture frame from his miracle of judaism bit, and they.. look at each other. and because they were on opposite sides of the stage it wasn't like she was singing it TO him, more like she had realised the implications and what would happen to marvin was looking at jason w pity, and jason noticed and just. Knew.

IN what would i do...... when Whizzer is dying in Marvin's arms.. in between the lines of the song he's really quietly crying and whispering 'marvin' in this scared voice and marvin is going 'shh it's okay' but it wasn't ok. i wasn't ok.

ALSO SORRY I KNOW I SAID THIS LAST NIGHT BUT HFHDJ natasha o'brien playing cordelia as jewish. WHYYYYY did that happen her epithet is SHIKSA CATERER it threw me so much. if i needed a reminder that there was no one jewish involved in this production that was it. idk she was a good actress but she was very Hard and didn't have any real chemistry w charlotte and even tho i mostly preferred the cast i saw the second time i missed natasha j barnes v much

anyway in summary i TRULY appreciate the problems w this production and it IS a disgrace that there is not even one single jewish person involved but also. Choices Were Made in the staging and themes and the cast for marvin, whizzer, and trina absolutely break my heart. thank u

[westcoastbroadway1443]

Welcome to Falsetto Notes

aka my thoughts on Falsettos as I actually finally listen to/watch the whole thing for the first time. I love what I’ve heard of of the show but, like with a lot of shows, I haven’t had the time to actually just sit and absorb the whole thing.  Probably nobody is gonna read this, but like what the hell, it’ll be fun to do.  So here I go..

"Four Jews in a Room Bitching" – I don’t know what’s happening but I’m loving the beards and the shimmying.  Also dig the set, I’m a sucker for a simple set.  

"A Tight-Knit Family" – Hearing a lot of bitching but not a lot of funny there, Marv

"Love is Blind" – It’s nice to see the couples set up right at the top here.  Mendel and Trina, Whizzer and Marvin, Jason and a chess board.  Also where I begin to fall in love with Mendel, love the way he says “alibi” and “I admit I admire you”.  Also Andrew’s face during “Hepatitis”, and having Marv and Whizzer just like low key making out in the background.  Good job y’all.  And praise to Stephanie J Block for having to rattle off super fast lyrics, my brain cannot.  I’m starting to realize William Finn doesn’t fuck around here.  

"Thrill of First Love" – The second song I ever heard from the musical because...well my two fav broadway guys are flirting, I looked it up.  I am so very very gay, and Andrew Rannells is so pretty he sometimes makes me forget I’m not into men.  This song somehow manages to make me feel “yipes, maybe you guys shouldn’t be together” and “marvin/whizzer 4eva” at the same time?  Their chemistry is pretty fantastic and this is a hard relationship to portray.  You see Trina so vulnerable in the last song and already feel bad for her and kind of hate Marvin and don’t know what the hell to feel about Whizzer.  

"Marvin at the Psychiatrist (A Three-Part Mini-Opera)" – See this is why family members shouldn’t see the same therapist unless it’s family therapy.  Also if I ever had a therapist do weird hypno-hands at me there’s like 70% chance I would not go back.  Part 3 is probably my fav.

"Everyone Tells Jason to See a Psychiatrist" –  Because of the bad quality of the video I can’t tell if Jason’s shirt is Saturn with a bunch of starts behind it or all of that plus a weird space wizard in the corner.  Kids in musicals tend to annoy me, but I like Jason.  He’s a little shit, but in a believable way.  I wish we got more of him and Whizzer’s relationship to know why he’d want to talk to him, I mean maybe we do and I just haven’t heard it.  And Whizzer’s nervous little wave to Trina is everything.

"This Had Better Come to a Stop" – Yes!  Drag him!  I would conservatively watch like 3 hours of just Trina and Whizzer drinking wine and shitting on Marvin.  Songs like this make think of the fact that this was one of Christian Borle’s dream roles and he’s doing great, but I’m curious what drew him to it, I mean I only know him from funnier roles.

"I'm Breaking Down" – Somebody give Trina a hug please, and give Stephanie awards.

"Jason's Therapy" – This role is pretty demanding for a kid since you have to be on stage constantly and I think he does a good job.  CONFIRM: There is a space wizard on that shirt.  I also wish therapy was as easy as somebody snapping you into a trance, doing air sax, and telling you to feel alright.   And Jason encourage Mendel is the cutest.

"A Marriage Proposal" – And I complete the process of falling in love with Mendel, and Brandon Uranowitz.  For real this song is adorable and will probably be stuck in my head for awhile.

"A Tight-Knit Family (Reprise)" - NOBODY ASKED YOU, MARVIN!

"Trina's Song" – Trina, darling, go chill with the act 2 lesbians.  Fuck these guys.

"March of the Falsettos" – ...ok

"Trina's Song" (Reprise) – Trina rockin a new outfit and new outlook.  Rock on, girl

"The Chess Game" – I’ve heard William Finn being praised by Broadway peeps I like and I can see why, I love the way this song is just this verbal dance that keeps building.  Also Whizzer’s face during the second chorus is perfect.  As much as yeah, Marvin ain’t exactly mr popular in any viewers mind right now, you do see how both their frustrations lead to this point.  

"Making a Home" – This is pretty and everyone in this song deserves good things

"The Games I Play" – I feel like Act 1 Whizzer is kind of hard to pinpoint as a character, what he’s feeling and what he wants, but this song was beautiful.  I feel like I only ever hear Andrew doing like those big belting songs but this quieter and lower one is just fantastic.  Have all the range, young man.

"Marvin Goes Crazy" or "Marvin Hits Trina" – Jason’s face through this song breaks my heart.  Mendel, kick that man out your house and change the locks.  But I also like that he just holds Trina and Jason, he’s focused on his fam.  And Trina’s reaction makes me feel like it had happened at least once before, and Whizzer’s face made me thing with him it had happened a LOT before.  

"I Never Wanted to Love You" – MARVIN, YOU LEFT!  You’re in demand?  Bitch, calm down

"Father to Son" – Jason things about boobies for the first time, and Marvin tries to say oopsie I love you after smacking his mom in the face.  Ok, but I do like this song.  And I do think this is Marvin trying to change and not be such trash.  You get some points for effort.

"Welcome to Falsettoland" – This song is weird and all over the place but I kinda love it.  And surprise lesbians!  Always welcome!!  

"The Year of the Child" – lol I grew up in a very Jewish neighborhood and this is just giving me middle school flashbacks. “The whole things voodoo and I know more than you do” - Mendel (my current fav).  Jason’s wee prayer dance, that is all. Also I think I want to befriend my new neighbors just so I can dance into their apartment announcing myself as “the lesbian from next door”.  

"Miracle of Judaism" – Hey bro, what happened to chess?

"The Baseball Game" – I had heard this song before and it made me cackle.  My poor parents watching me play soccer as a small.  And Mendel being the hardest cheerleader!  Also how often to Jason and Whizzer talk?  What do they talk about?  I want these answers.  And Marvin quit your flirting, you almost look cute.

"A Day in Falsettoland" – The first song I ever heard, cause Tony’s.  Love everything of this song.  No notes.  Y’all keep being great

"The Fight" / "Everyone Hates His Parents" – I love how over it Mendel gets.  His relationship with Jason is one of my fav things in this.  “I’m a psychiatrist!  Get lost!”

"What More Can I Say" – Who knew?  If you’re sweet and not controlling things are nicer in your relationships.

"Something Bad Is Happening/More Racquetball " – DAMN YOU ACT 2 CURSE!  WHY YOU ALWAYS GOTTA BE SAD!  And hey, Tracie Thoms in a musical that actually shows some of the fucked up that was the AIDS crisis?  First time for everything!  (Ok that’ll be my only knock on Rent)  And fuck you for reprising welcome to falsettoland, I wasn’t ready to get teary yet.  Whizzer’s little “I’m sorry”

"Holding to the Ground" – One of the things I like about this show is it doesn’t make anything easy and it lets its characters be real people.  Trina is in a fucked up position when it comes to Whizzer, but she still feels some concern and I like that there’s a whole song for how off everything still feels for her.

"Days Like This" – Songs this bittersweet shouldn’t be allowed to be this pleasant sounding. Everyone is just so kind in this song I don’t know what to do with it but I’m gonna keep staying in this sort of state of almost crying.

"Cancelling the Bar Mitzvah" – Ugh Trina and Mendel are trying so hard.  

"Unlikely Lovers" – And then Whizzer got better and they all moved in together to be fantastic gay housemates.  Yep.  That’s what happened.  Seriously how’d we get from Thrill of First Love to here?

"Another Miracle of Judaism" – God: the big psychiatrists in the sky

"Something Bad is Happening (Reprise)" - Look when I was mad at Marvin last act I didn’t actually want him to die..

"You Gotta Die Sometime" – Again not the kind of song I’ve heard Rannells do before and I love it.  I think that’s what messes with me about this musical, it stars two people I’ve mostly only seen do comedy and now they’re fucking with me and making me cry, it’s rude.

"Jason's Bar Mitzvah" – Oh fuck you Jason.  Not really, you’re a doll I just don’t like crying in my room alone at like 4 am.  Son of Trina, son of Marvin, son of Whizzer, son of Mendel.

"What Would I Do?" – I was ok until Whizzer started singing too.  Then I was less ok.

"Falsettoland (Reprise)" - Marvin finally falling apart was hard, and was he crying because he lost Whizzer or because he knows Jason is going to lose him soon too?  

I really enjoyed this, I’m glad I finally listened to/watched it all.  As somebody who used to really not enjoy musicals besides Phantom of the Opera in middle school, I always like finding more songs to love.  If for some reason you scanned through this and want me to force myself to do it again with another musical, toss a title at me.