Play Suggestions: Know a great melodrama?

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Know a great melodrama?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3837
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 3:43am
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Topic: Know a great melodrama?

Posted By: VPA1
Subject: Know a great melodrama?
Date Posted: 2/19/09 at 3:16am

My CT is considering doing a melodrama next season. The ones we've looked at are either too short, or simply not up to our standards.

Help me out here, please. Anyone have experience with a GREAT melodrama that is at least 1.5 hours long?

Replies:

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:22am

The Drunkard!!! I love this show. It's fun, all full of boos and hisses and cheers for the hero. Plus! It is also a musical. Now this next bit of information may or may not be appealing to everyone but here goes. The music was written by a very young..................wait for it..............................Barry Manilow. It's no Copa but it's fun.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:28pm

Our first show was "Lily the Felon's Daughter" by Tom Taggart-- we think it's the best one that we'd read. There are plenty to stay away from, that's for sure. Another one that we produced was "Only an Orphan Girl" by Henning Nelms. It's fun, too. You can see photos of both at www.iowariverplayers.org

Posted By: alice
Date Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:19pm

I did Deadwood Dick. It was very successful. The audience and the actors both had a blast. I don't think it reads very well, but plays great. Give it some thought. Alice

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 2/20/09 at 2:43pm

"The Tavern" by George M. Cohan (non-musical)

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:50pm

We also did "Deadwood Dick" - terrific audience pleaser! Lots of room for songs, etc. One (fairly simple) set, flexible casting, and fun costuming.

In our production, the role of La Paloma, the sultry sex kitten of the Man Trap Saloon was played by a man. BIG laughs.

Posted By: oldactress
Date Posted: 3/12/09 at 8:45am

The Drunkard is the classic. There is also the Last Shilling which we did years ago.

Posted By: GElliott
Date Posted: 3/16/09 at 3:57pm

I've always really liked "Angle Street" by Patrick Hamilton. They adapted the movie "Gaslight" from it. Really fun show to do. One set, 4 or 5 actors, can't remember, but very fun thriller.

Posted By: vpuffer
Date Posted: 3/17/09 at 12:09pm

I've directed 2 mellerdramers with great success: Love Rides the Rails and Because Their Hearts Were Pure. Both were fun for the cast as well as the audience.

Posted By: SpenceKenzer
Date Posted: 3/17/09 at 1:22pm

Originally posted by GElliott

I've always really liked "Angle Street" by Patrick Hamilton. They adapted the movie "Gaslight" from it. Really fun show to do. One set, 4 or 5 actors, can't remember, but very fun thriller.

While "Angel Street" / "Gaslight" might be described as melodramatic, is it actually classified as a melodrama? (I didn't think so, but I could be wrong.)

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Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... !

Posted By: GElliott
Date Posted: 3/17/09 at 3:23pm

Well, when we did "Angle Street" we did it as a melodrama, not over the top, but with plenty of melo-in the-drama. We got hisses and everything, so I don't know if it is technically classified as a melodrama, it is a great tension, drama.

Posted By: Melvin
Date Posted: 4/03/09 at 12:14am

1.5 hours long for a melodrama? That's asking a lot for such a corny vehicle. You might put two smaller ones together. That way the audience will at least get a little variety. Of course, this might just be a personal prejudice, but it would have to be an incredibly engaging melodrama to keep my theater-goer's interest that long. Hope I haven't stepped on any toes here.