Footlight
Festival – Original Off-Broadway Cast – Stephen Downs/Randal Martin/Bruce Vilanch
Music
Stephen Downs (3)
Lyrics
Stephen Downs (3), Randal Martin, Bruce Vilanch (7)
Book
Stephen Downs (3), Randal Martin
Recording Details
Date
1979
Type
Audio / Stage Cast
Language
English
Location
US / NY / New York
Conductor
David Spear (2)
Performer
Bill Hutton (13), Tina Johnson (5), Michael Magnusen, Maureen McNamara (3), Lindy Nisbet, Roxann Parker (3), Michael Rupert (47), Leon Stewart (2), Robin Taylor (2), John Windsor
Format
CD
Label
Original Cast Records 9791
Released
1997-09-23
Barcode
0741117979123
Buy from
Footlight
1. Overture — Company/Our Song — Michael Rupert
2. Ballad of Oh — Company/For the Love — Michael Rupert
3. Beata Biax (Beautiful) — Bill Hutton
4. Just Like You — Michael Magnusen, Bill Hutton
5. Special Day — Maureen McNamara, Bill Hutton
6. The Time Is Come — Michael Rupert, Maureen McNamara, Bill Hutton
7. Roger the Ox — Leon Stewart
8. When the Lady Passes — Company
9. Gifts to You — Maureen McNamara, Bill Hutton
10. The Escape — Company
11. The Pirates’ Song — Michael Rupert
12. I Can’t Remember — Company
13. One Step Further — Company
14. Through Love’s Eyes — Michael Magnuson, Bill Hutton
15. Let Him Love You — Maureen McNamara, Roxann Parker
16. The Ceremony — Company / I Speak of Love — Company
17. Our Song (Reprise) — Company
Format
LP
Label
Original Cast Records 7916
Shortcode
[rl4223]
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New York Times
ARCHIVES|Stage: Musical ‘Festival’ Tells Story of Carnival
SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
MAY 18, 1979
“FESTIVAL,” the new musical at City Center Downstairs, has played Los Angeles,”San Francisco and Washington, and been compared favorably, I understand, to “Godspell,” “The Fantasticks” and “Pippin.” Certainly, it has energy and good humor, and the kind of innocent vulgarity that would not be inimical to a child’s birthday party. In fact, “Festival” would be a smash at child’s birthday party. It is a ceremony for innocents.
The musical is played against the background of a carnival, a happy set, and opens with the pianist, wearing tails, walking across stage and unexpectedly doing a cartwheel. This is harbinger. “Festival” calls itself “zany” musical, and the zaniness —quite often funny, too often only goofy — is what “Festival” is mostly about.
It is also about two lovers, Aucassin and Nicolette, whose story — whose several stories — will be acted out by the members of the carnival. In number, they are nine; in roles they are multiple, and in energy they are inexhaustible. Robin Taylor is perhaps most inexhaustible of all. Miss Taylor has a rubbery face and contortionist’s body, and she is by Gilda Radnerout of Imogene Coca. She mugs, she dances, she sings. Everyone in “Festival” mugs, dances and sings, but Miss Taylor does it more often and more joyfully than anyone else. She is the would?be bride, Aucassin’s warrior, a shepherdess, a pirate, a gypsy and probably a few things I missed. None of these roles needs explanation; they are really inexplicable, anyway.
For “Festival” is a fantasy and a fairy tale, and it is insistent on its zaniness. In general, it is not a good thing when a musical insists on its zaniness; it usually means there will not be much on stage except exuberance. “Festival” has plenty of that, and although it bubbles, it does not often sing. In its good nature, “Festival” begs you to like it; it very nearly sits in your lap and grins. Somehow, however, it is like eating a Chinese meal.
Zany Fairy Tale
FESTIVAL, a musical with book and lyrics by Stephen Downs and Randal Martin; additional book and special material by Bruce Vilanch, based on “Aucassin & Nicolette.” Music by Mr. Downs, setting and lighting by George Gizienski; costumes by Madeline Ann Graneto; musical and vocal arrangements by Tony Berg; musical direction by David Spear; choreography by Stan Mazin; directed by Wayne Bryan; production stage manager. Mark Goldman. Presented by Roger Berlind, Franklin R. Levy and Mike Wise. in association with Kip Richard Krones and Leslie Mconves, in association with the LBN Company. At City Center Downstairs, 135 West 55th Street.
WITH: Michael Rupert, Bill Hutton, Maureen McNamara, Tina Johnson. Michael Magnusen. Lindy Nisbet, Roxann Parker. Leon Stewart. Robin Taylor and John Windsor. strolling player, wandering on and off and explaining what is going on. Mr. Rupert looks like Elliot Gould, although he has considerably more charm, and he can find as many ways to make funny faces as Miss Taylor.
For a while, Mr. Rupert is a small, hunchbacked figure in a cloak— again, there is no point in explaining why —limping and lurching through a comic turn. It is exactly the turn that Marty Feldman did in the movie “Young Frankenstein,” except that Mr. Rupert does not pop his eyes. It is very funny.
Meanwhile, there are the 18 songs by Stephen Downs and Randal Martin. Four or five are better than just good, and one or two are special. The problem is still the zaniness; everything disappears into that.
JOHN CORRY
