Falsettos

''Falsettos'' is a sung-through musical with a book by William Finn and James Lapine, and music and lyrics by Finn. The musical consists of '' March of the Falsettos'' (1981) and '' Falsettoland'' (1990), the last two installments in a trio of one-act musicals that premiered off-Broadway (the first was '' In Trousers''). The story centers on Marvin, who has left his wife to be with a male lover, Whizzer, and struggles to keep his family together. Much of the first act explores the impact his relationship with Whizzer has had on his family. The second act explores family dynamics that evolve as he and his wife plan his son's bar mitzvah. Central to the musical are the themes of Jewish identity, gender roles, and gay life in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It also deals with the topic of the AIDS epidemic.

''Falsettos'' premiered on Broadway in 1992 and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning those for Best Book and Best Original Score. The musical was revived on Broadway in 2016 starring Christian Borle and Andrew Rannells. The 2016 revival was filmed and adapted for the PBS '' Live from Lincoln Center'' television series, and aired on October 27, 2017. The revival was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. Both the original cast and 2016 revival cast performed at the Tony Awards. Other revivals include tours in Australia and the United Kingdom. The musical was praised by critics for its melodic compositions, humor, character development, and positive portrayal of non-traditional family structures.

Background

Inception

Composer William Finn began his theater career with a one-act musical '' In Trousers'' (1979), which centers on the character Marvin questioning his sexuality. It was produced twice at Playwrights Horizons off-Broadway, opening in February 1978 and again in December 1979.Dietz, p. 88 It was also produced off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater in March 1981. After ''In Trousers'' received sharply unfavorable reviews, Finn considered abandoning musical theater and attending medical school. He felt that "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." Finn struggled in his science classes and discarded his medical school plans, turning back to writing about the character of Marvin.

Finn soon wrote the songs for another one-act musical about Marvin and his family, '' March of the Falsettos'', collaborating with director James Lapine on the book. This premiered at Playwrights Horizons in April 1981, ran there through September and moved to the Westside Theatre in October 1981. ''March of the Falsettos'' received more positive critical reception than ''In Trousers'': Ellen Pall of ''The New York Times'' wrote that Finn's "brilliant form combined with the absolute topicality of his social themes first bowled critics over". In 1989, Finn premiered another musical, ''Romance in Hard Times'', which did not feature any of the characters of ''Falsettos''; it was not a success.

Almost a decade after ''March of the Falsettos'', in the wake of the 1980s AIDS epidemic, Finn followed with '' Falsettoland''. The musical concluded Finn's "Marvin Trilogy" of one-act pieces about Marvin and his circle, beginning with ''In Trousers'' and ''March of the Falsettos''. ''Falsettoland'' opened at Playwrights Horizons on June 28, 1990, then moved to the Lucille Lortel Theatre, on September 16, 1990, where it closed on January 27, 1991.Dietz, p. 473 It won the 1991 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and the 1991 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics.

Composition

Finn and Lapine then combined ''March of the Falsettos'' and ''Falsettoland'' to form a full-length show, titled ''Falsettos'', slightly altering them to form a "more unified, more thematically consistent" musical. In writing both acts of ''Falsettos'', Finn prioritized making the audience laugh, believing that provoking laughter is more challenging than garnering tears. Each musical was developed during rehearsals, particularly as Finn is a disorganized writer and composer. Finn often composed songs without a clear idea of where they would fit in the musical; he struggled to decide where to place the bar mitzvah in the action. The idea to set it in the hospital came to him in a dream. According to Stephen Bogardus, who played Whizzer in the original cast of both shows as well as in ''Falsettos'', Lapine came up with the idea to incorporate racquetball scenes in ''Falsettoland'', and he and his racquetball partner, Bogardus, added racquetball terminology into the dialogue. The '' haftorah'' read by Jason at his bar mitzvah was originally the same one read at Finn's own bar mitzvah, but he "got bored in the middle of writing it" and added words that he enjoyed musically but are grammatically incorrect in Hebrew. Some songs, including "Four Jews in a Room Bitching", originated with Finn humming improvised melodies while strolling the streets of New York City.

Synopsis

Act I: March of the Falsettos

In 1979 in New York City, Marvin, his ten-year-old son Jason, his psychiatrist Mendel, and his boyfriend Whizzer are in the midst of an argument ("Four Jews In a Room B*tching"). Marvin steps forward to explain his situation: He has left his wife Trina for his male lover, Whizzer, but no one is happy with his attempts to integrate Whizzer into the family ("A Tight-Knit Family"). At Marvin's suggestion, Trina visits Mendel and explains she is having trouble accepting the end of her marriage and her failure to be a perfect wife. Mendel, instantly attracted to her, tries to reassure her that she is not to blame ("Love Is Blind"). Marvin and Whizzer note that they have very little in common but are intensely attracted to each other and worry that their feelings for one another are fading ("The Thrill of First Love"). Whizzer presents an interlude titled "Marvin at the Psychiatrist, a Three-Part Mini-Opera". In a series of therapy sessions with Mendel, Marvin discusses his relationship with Whizzer, his failed relationship with Trina (which leads to Mendel pressing him for intimate details about his ex-wife), and his inability to connect with his son. Jason is very worried that because of Marvin's sexuality, he will turn out to be gay too ("'My Father's a Homo'"), and his parents suggest he receive therapy from Mendel to calm his mood swings. Jason refuses to listen to his parents, but agrees to go to therapy once Whizzer adds his recommendation ("Everyone Tells Jason to See a Psychiatrist").

Marvin and Whizzer fight over Whizzer's lack of enthusiasm for monogamy and Marvin's attempt to force him into the role of a housewife ("This Had Better Come to a Stop"), while Trina is concerned that Whizzer is taking her place in the family and has a mental breakdown ("I'm Breaking Down"). Trina requests that Mendel provide in-home therapy for Jason ("Please Come to Our House"), and after getting to know her and Jason through these sessions, Mendel clumsily proposes to her. Trina accepts, sparking jealousy in Marvin ("A Marriage Proposal"). Trina is frustrated with the male-dominated world she lives in and the immaturity of the four men around her, who sing a hymn to masculinity, the three adults singing in falsetto to match Jason's unbroken voice ("Trina's Song/March of the Falsettos").
Trina recollects herself and calms down from her frustration (Trina's Song - Reprise).

Marvin tries to teach Whizzer how to play chess, but bitterness and ill-feeling boil over ("The Chess Game"). They fight and break up. Meanwhile, Trina and Mendel move in together ("Making a Home"). As he packs, Whizzer reflects on his life and relationship with Marvin. He has been used and abused by other men because of his looks his whole life, and Whizzer finally decides that he doesn't want to live like that anymore. ("The Games I Play"). After receiving Mendel and Trina's marriage announcement, Marvin breaks down in rage and slaps her ("Marvin Hits Trina"). Shocked by his actions, everyone confesses that they never intended to feel so deeply about the people in their lives, and they accept the pain that love can bring ("I Never Wanted To Love You"). Jason discovers his attraction to girls, to his immense relief. In the wake of the destruction of his relationships with both Whizzer and Trina, Marvin sits Jason down for a talk and tells him that no matter what kind of man Jason turns out to be, Marvin will always be there for him ("Father to Son") .

Act II: Falsettoland

It is 1981, two years later. Nancy Reagan is in the White House, and two new people are introduced: Marvin's lesbian neighbors Dr. Charlotte, an internist, and Cordelia, a non-Jewish caterer specializing in Jewish cuisine. Marvin observes that it's "About Time" to grow up and get over himself. He has managed to maintain his relationship with Jason and now shares split custody with Trina, who has married Mendel. He has not seen Whizzer for two years and has not gotten over him (Falsettoland/About Time). Marvin and Trina begin planning "Jason's Bar Mitzvah", and each character has a different opinion regarding how it should be celebrated ("The Year of the Child"). Later, at Jason's Little League Baseball

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