Pros: In-depth look at controversial issues, strong characters
Cons: Singing not particularly strong, may not appeal to everyone
The Bottom Line: The final and most powerful show in the Off-Broadway trilogy by William Finn that focuses on a family dealing with the advent of AIDS.
chrissy1018's Full Review: Falsettoland by Original Broadway Cast
FALSETTOLAND is the final show in the trilogy by William Finn that began with IN TROUSERS and continued in MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS. Because the three shows focus on the intertwining lives of the same characters, the character development is particularly strong, and the shows get progressively better. IN TROUSERS has never really appealed to me, but I always listen to the latter two together.
MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS is about a man named Marvin who divorces his wife and leaves his twelve-year-old son because he has realized he's gay, and wants to pursue a relationship with a man named Whizzer. His ex-wife, Trina, marries his yuppy therapist, Mendel, which Marvin eventually comes to terms with at the end of the show.
FALSETTOLAND continues the story. Some time has passed, Marvin and Whizzer have broken up, Trina and Mendel are settling into their marriage, and Marvin and Trina are bickering over their son Jason's Bar Mitzvah. Whizzer, who Jason always looked up to, comes to his baseball game, bringing him back in contact with Marvin, and leading them to get back together.
But Whizzer is sick, and the plot introduces two new characters, Dr. Charlotte and her lover, Cordelia, a chef. The Doctor recognizes Whizzer's symptoms as following an increasing trend they've found of a new and unknown disease that seems most prevalent among gay men. Whizzer has AIDS, but the musical takes place at the very beginning of the epidemic, and the disease is still unknown and not yet understood. As Whizzer gets weaker, all the characters are drawn together, forming the most unlikely of families.
There are some very touching and passionate songs, indeed some of the best pieces in this whole trilogy. Of particular note are the amusing "A Day in Falsettoland", which is a witty take on daily life in the yuppified 1980s. Trina's "Holding to the Ground" in which she tries to sort out her feelings toward her husband's new lifestyle, and how her whole world keeps shifting is quite an insightful character piece. Dr. Charlotte's "Something Bad Is Happening" describes her realization that there is more to the disease that afflicts Whizzer and others like him. The most powerful song, "You Gotta Die Sometime" is sung by Whizzer as he struggles with anger and frustration as he slowly dies from an unseen and unknown disease that offers no explanation or answers. The most touching moment of the trilogy comes at the very end, a duet sung by Marvin and Whizzer "What Would I Do?", which you just have to hear.
As is probably already evident, if homosexuality makes you squeamish, this is probably not the show for you. But it is quite an involved and introspective look at human nature and relationships, and it deals with very realistic emotions. It's better seen than heard, and MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS and FALSETTOLAND are often combined to form one very powerful show. I would recommend getting the two CD set that includes both shows, but if you're going to just buy one, get FALSETTOLAND, I think it has the more powerful songs.
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