Weird Romance

Intro

Sci-fi musicals often push the boundaries of conventional storytelling, blending the fantastic with the familiar to explore deep, often philosophical themes. Weird Romance is one such musical that combines elements of science fiction and romance, offering audiences a unique exploration of love and human connection through the lens of speculative fiction.

Featured Musical: Weird Romance

Weird Romance is a musical with a book by Alan Brennert and David Spencer, and music by Alan Menken, the renowned composer behind many Disney classics. It premiered Off-Broadway in 1992 directed by television’s Barry Harman. Despite not achieving mainstream success, it has garnered a cult following for its inventive storytelling and beautiful score. According to notes from the libretto, Weird Romance uses sci-fi “as a way of exploring two sides of love and what drives the emotion. Act I concentrates on the externals, and the folly of their worship. Act II is concerned with an inner journey, and is meant, of course, to represent the truer path.”

Plot Summary

• Act I: “The Girl Who Was Plugged In”: Based on a short story by James Tiptree Jr. (the pseudonym of Alice Sheldon), this act is set in a dystopian future where advertising and celebrity culture dominate society. The story follows P. Burke, an unattractive “bag lady” who volunteers to control a beautiful, artificially created body, Delphi, through a neural connection. As Delphi becomes a celebrity, P. Burke begins to fall in love with Paul (her creator’s son) who only knows her as Delphi, leading to a tragic exploration of identity and reality.
• Act II: “Her Pilgrim Soul”: This act tells the story of Kevin Drayton, a scientist who creates a holographic projection to study the past, only to find that the hologram, Nola, develops a consciousness of her own. As Kevin interacts with Nola, who relives memories of a past life, he becomes emotionally involved, raising questions about the nature of love, memory, and existence.

The video below is part of my favorite concert series, “If It Only Even Runs A Minute” celebrating lesser-known musicals. Created and hosted by Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Kevin Michael Murphy, you can watch them introduce the musical while fawning over a young Danny Burstein who was (at that time) performing above them in the 2014 Cabaret revival at Studio 54. Then, hear A.J. Holmes (founding member of StarKid Productions) sing “Need to Know” from “Her Pilgrim Soul” where Daniel expresses his love for scientific discovery. (If you want to skip directly to the song it starts around minute 2:20.)

The Music

Key Songs

• “Stop and See Me”: A song from “The Girl Who Was Plugged In” where P. Burke expresses her desire to be seen and loved for who she is. It’s the most beautiful song in the score and Ellen Greene’s vocals are heart-wrenching.
• “Eyes That Never Lie”: A ballad from “The Girl Who Was Plugged In” in which Paul expresses his love for Delphi. As she tries to reveal her true identity, he refuses to let her tell him her secret. The melody is haunting, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of their connection. It feels like a classic Menken tune.
• “Someone Else is Waiting”: A duet from “Her Pilgrim Soul” when Nola and Kevin finally realize why they are connected. (He was her husband in his past life.) She tells him to let her go and encourages him to love his current wife and move on with his life in the present.

Sci-Fi Elements in Music

The score of Weird Romance incorporates a mix of contemporary pop, and traditional musical theater, with some electronic elements, reflecting the futuristic settings of the stories. Alan Menken, known for his work on Disney musicals, took on Weird Romance as a departure from his more traditional work. Fans of sci-fi literature might recognize nods to classic works within the lyrics and dialogue.

Characters & Performances

Main Characters

• P. Burke/Delphi: The protagonist of “The Girl Who Was Plugged In,” P. Burke is a complex character struggling with issues of self-worth and identity. Delphi, the body she controls, represents the idealized version of herself that society values.
• Kevin Drayton: The scientist in “Her Pilgrim Soul,” Kevin is an intellectual who becomes emotionally entangled with his creation, leading him to question the nature of reality and emotion.
• Nola: The holographic woman in “Her Pilgrim Soul,” Nola is both a projection and a sentient being, bringing a deeply emotional and philosophical dimension to the story.

Performances

The roles in Weird Romance require actors who can navigate the emotional depth and complexity of the characters while also conveying the speculative elements of the narrative. The characters in Weird Romance represent classic sci-fi archetypes—the misunderstood outsider (P. Burke), the scientist who plays with forces beyond his control (Isham and Kevin), and the synthetic being who challenges the boundaries of reality (Delphi and Nola).

The original cast of the Off-Broadway production is full of frequent Menken collaborators. Ellen Greene shines as always as P. Burke and Nola. She is Menken’s muse and who can blame him? Jonathan Hadary who plays both leading scientists is another Alan Menken fav having worked on the also obscure-and sure to be covered on this blog- Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You Mr. Rosewater. The show was a starting point for a young Danny Burstein who charms as the lab assistant in Act II. And the beautiful Marguerite MacIntyre (Delphi) went on to star in shows like The Vampire Diaries as well as write and produce for film and television.

Visual & Special Effects

The set design by Edward T. Gianfrancesco for Weird Romance reflects the futuristic and dystopian settings of the two acts. “The Girl Who Was Plugged In” features sleek, modern aesthetics that contrast with P. Burke’s inner world, while “Her Pilgrim Soul” blends the sterile environment of a laboratory with the warmth of Nola’s memories. Costumes by Michael Krass play a significant role in differentiating the real from the artificial, particularly in the portrayal of Delphi and Nola. And special effects including lighting design by Craig Evans enhance the sci-fi elements, making the futuristic technology a tangible part of the narrative.

Cultural Impact

Weird Romance received mixed reviews upon its release, with some praising its originality and others finding its ambitious structure challenging. Some reviews were extremely harsh and over-critical, but they all praised the brilliant cast. However, it has gained a cult following for its innovative approach to storytelling and its thought-provoking themes. It is now available for licensing and has been produced in regional and community theaters across the country in the years since its short-lived Off-Broadway run.

Fun Facts & Trivia

WPA Theatre

Weird Romance premiered at the WPA Theatre, a key part of New York’s Off-Off-Broadway scene from 1971 to 1976. In the fall of 1977, the WPA reopened under the artistic leadership of Howard Ashman and R. Stuart White. Their mission focused on reviving overlooked American classics and creating new American plays and musicals. In 1985, the WPA relocated to 519 West 23rd Street, contributing to the revitalization of the area, now known for its art galleries and the High Line. Over the years, WPA has produced more than 100 plays, with 15 transferring to Broadway and Off-Broadway, and 9 feature films, including Little Shop of Horrors, which has won numerous awards and will be featured in this sci-fi musical blog.

James Tiptree Jr.

CW: suicide

James Tiptree Jr. was the pen name of Alice Bradley Sheldon whose identity as a woman was unknown for the first ten years of her career. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2012. The James Tiptree Jr. Award was created in 1991, honoring works of science fiction and fantasy that expand or explore the understanding of gender. Although she was married to a man, Sheldon was attracted to women throughout her life and described herself as a lesbian in the years before her death. The circumstances around her death are controversial because as her husband’s health was failing, there was some evidence that they had made a suicide pact in the years before. Unfortunately, on May 19, 1987, Sheldon shot her husband and then herself. Due to this incident, the award bearing her pen name was renamed in 2019 to the Otherwise Award.

The Twilight Zone

“Her Pilgrim Soul” by Alan Brennert was originally an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1985 directed by Wes Craven. Alan Brennert wrote the screenplay in honor of a friend who died and he later turned it into a short story and the libretto for Act II of Weird Romance.

Personal Reflection

Weird Romance is a fascinating and underappreciated entry into the world of sci-fi musicals. I personally think it was ahead of its time. The music is lush and romantic and its dual structure allows for exploration of different facets of love and technology.

This show matters because it challenges audiences to think about how technology shapes our identities and relationships. It shows us that love can transcend physical forms. It is a powerful exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.

Summary

Weird Romance offers a unique blend of science fiction and musical theater, using its two-act structure to explore themes of identity, love, and the impact of technology on human connection. Its innovative approach and emotional resonance make it a standout piece in the world of musical theater. I hope more regional and community theaters will consider including it in their repertoires.

Up Next

Next time, we will dive into the enchanting world of Time and Again, a musical that blurs the lines between past and present in an exploration of love across time. Based on Jack Finney’s beloved novel, this speculative tale follows Simon Morley, who discovers he can travel back to 1880s New York. He soon finds himself torn between a life in the past and his present reality. Join us as we uncover the mysteries and romance of a time gone by, where decisions have the power to change the course of history.

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References

• “A Short History of the WPA Theatre.” Howard Ashman, Shoptalk LTD, 2020. https://www.howardashman.com/wpa-theater
• Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “Actors Ellen Greene and Jonathan Hadary in a scene from the WPA Theatre’s production of the musical “Weird Romance.” (New York)” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1992. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7dd5b290-f74c-0132-d6fb-58d385a7bbd0
• Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “Actress Ellen Greene in a scene from the WPA Theatre’s production of the musical “Weird Romance.” (New York)” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1992. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/87497670-f74c-0132-fcda-58d385a7bbd0
• Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “Actors (L-R) Danny Burstein, Jessica Molaskey, Valarie Pettiford, Eric Riley and William Youmans in a scene from the WPA Theatre’s production of the musical “Weird Romance.” (New York)” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1992. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/65f93130-f74c-0132-9eb3-58d385a7bbd0
• Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “Actors (L-R) Eric Riley, Marguerite MacIntyre, Valarie Pettiford and Jessica Molaskey in a scene from the WPA Theatre’s production of the musical “Weird Romance.” (New York)” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1992. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/6f8d7230-f74c-0132-d055-58d385a7bbd0
• Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “Actors Marguerite MacIntyre and Sal Viviano in a scene from the WPA Theatre’s production of the musical “Weird Romance.” (New York)” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1992. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8296c5d0-f74c-0132-6b3c-58d385a7bbd0
• Gerard, Jeremy. “Weird Romance,” Variety, 26, June 1992. https://variety.com/1992/legit/reviews/weird-romance-1200429891/
• Gussow, Mel. “Nearby Science Fiction in a Musical of 2 Parts,” New York Times, 23 June 1996, Section C, Page 14. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/23/theater/review-theater-nearby-science-fiction-in-a-musical-of-2-parts.html
• Jones, Kenneth. “Songs Added to Menken & Spencer’ s Sci-Fi Musical Weird Romance for CT Run, Through Nov 30,” 18 November 2023. https://playbill.com/article/songs-added-to-menken-spencers-sci-fi-musical-weird-romance-for-ct-run-through-nov-30-com-116418
• Menken, Alan, Brennert, Alan, and Spencer, David. Weird romance : two one-act musicals of speculative fiction. New York : Samuel French, c1993.
• Wikipedia contributors. “Alan Brennert.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Sep. 2023. Web. 15 Sep. 2024.
• Wikipedia contributors. “James Tiptree Jr..” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Aug. 2024. Web. 15 Sep. 2024.