March Of The Falsettos
by William Finn

March Of The Falsettos Book Cover
March Of The Falsettos Cover

Highlights

90 mins 1980s Features Children Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes American

Awards & Recognition

Outer Critics Circle

Winner! 1981 Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Off-Broadway Play

Synopsis

March of the Falsettos" is the title song of this act of the show.

William Finn planned on calling the show "The Pettiness of Misogyny", but then he decided to go with a less direct and more subtle title, calling it "March of the Falsettos".

But what does the title mean?

The central theme of the show is the characters lack of maturity (as they also state themselves in this song) and their journey of growing out of their childish behavior.

Something that for instance Marvin needs to do to be the father Jason needs.

Jason, whose voice hasn't yet changed, sings an octave higher than the other three men throughout the show.

This is the only song, that all four men sing in the same register, since Marvin, Medel and Whizzer sing in the falsetto, losing the symbol of manhood - their changed voices.

None of these men have grown up yet.

All of them are still very self-centered, self-involved and insist on getting whatever they want.

The "March of the Falsettos" is their journey from childhood to becoming adults.

Press Reviews

"One feels the unmistakable charge of pure talent."

— The New York Times

"Has an exhilarating champagne tang... In an operatic mode, sans dialogue, Finn... unveils the bitter sweet saga of Marvin, who divorces his wife to be with his male lover... In astringency and cleverness, Finn is the child of Stephen Sondheim."

— Time

Characters

Character
Trina

his ex-wife

Jason

his son

Whizzer Brown

his lover

Mendel

his psychiatrist

Marvin

Publication

Publisher Samuel French
Year 1981
Binding Paperback
Pages 114
Place New York
Language English
ISBN-13 9780573681516
ISBN-10 0573681511
DCC 782.81/2

March Of The Falsettos is a American play written by William Finn and published by Samuel French in New York (1981).

Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle .

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Rating

4.6

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Performance Rights

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