FALSETTOLAND A Musical: The Third in the "Marvin Trilogy" * - Book by William Finn and James Lepine; Music by William Finn; Lyrics by William Finn. Playwright's Horizons Theatre, Off-Broadway - 6 May, 1990 (215 perfs) Musical Arrangements: Michael Starobin Costumes: Franne Lee Lighting Design: Nancy Schertler Musical Director: Michael Starobin Set Design: Douglas Stein SYNOPSIS Marvin leaves his wife and young son for his male lover, while his psychiatrist moves in with his wife, At the end he is left with nothing except the possibility of a relationship with his son who is terrified of growing up just like Dad. STORY The year is 1981. Mendel the psychiatrist shines a flashlight into the audience on a dark stage, welcoming us to “Falsettoland,” the conclusion to March of the Falsettos. The cast has been enlarged by two, Marvin’s lesbian neighbors Dr. Charlotte, an internist, and Cordelia, a “shiksa” caterer. Marvin has realized that it’s “About Time” that he grows up and gets over himself. He has called a truce with Trina and he has managed to maintain his relationship with Jason, who is now preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. He has not seen his exboyfriend Whizzer for two years and has still not gotten over him. One day, when she arrives to take custody of Jason for the week, Trina informs Marvin that it is now time to start planning Jason’s Bar Mitzvah, probably the last pleasant thing the ex-couple will ever do together. The pair immediately starts bickering, to Jason’s dismay and Mendel’s amusement. Mendel encourages them to have a simple party, but Trina (and Cordelia, the caterer) will have none of it. It is the “Year of the Child” after all, the year that every Jewish parent dreams of: the year their child is bar mitzvahed and they can spend insane amounts of money celebrating. The scene moves to Jason’s Little League Baseball game. While at bat, Jason has a lot more on his mind than the game. He is trying to decide which girls to invite to his bar mitzvah: the girls he should invite, or the girls he “wants” to invite; reaching a discussion in this delicate situation would be a “Miracle of Judaism.” Everyone is sitting “watching Jewish boys who can’t play baseball play baseball” and getting a little too into it, when Whizzer suddenly arrives: Jason had asked him to come (“The Baseball Game”). Marvin is struck by how little he’s aged, and a tentative offer of reconciliation is offered just as Jason, miracle of miracles (and thanks to some helpful batting advice from Whizzer), actually hits the ball. He’s so shocked he forgets to run. An interlude: “A Day in Falsettoland.” In Part One, “Dr. Mendel at Work,” Mendel listens to the blather of a yuppie patient and agonizes over being a 1960s shrink stuck in the 1980s, and how his work is taking a toll on his marriage to Trina. In Part Two, “Trina Works It Out,” Trina reveals Marvin and Whizzer are back and wonders why that is bothering her. In Part Three, “The Neighbors Relax,” Mendel and Trina jog and discuss Marvin and the bar mitzvah, and Dr. Charlotte comes home to Cordelia cooking “nouvelle bar mitzvah cuisine.” Cordelia asks Charlotte how her day was at the hospital, and Charlotte exclaims that today was a rare day without a death. Meanwhile, Marvin and Whizzer play racquetball and bicker when Whizzer beats Marvin soundly. All reflect on how wonderful life is. The peace doesn’t last long. Marvin and Trina are warring over every single aspect of the bar mitzvah, which
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