Monday, March 31, 2008

Is Mary Rodgers Guettel a real-life Livia Soprano?

From The New Yorker:

Mary [Rodgers Guettel], who is the composer of “Once Upon a Mattress,” among other shows, is now in her forty-sixth year of marriage to Henry Guettel, the theatrical producer and her second husband. She had six children, including Adam Guettel, the composer of “The Light in the Piazza,” and five grandchildren. “All of them are musical, but nobody is a genius,” she said. “I don’t believe you can judge a genius by the way he treats the human race. He may be as mean as a snake, and my father often was. But a genius gives back—oh, my, does he ever.”

So basically, she's saying that though her son is "musical," he will never be as accomplished as her dead dad, who was talented but abusive. Cool.

Wait, WHAT?!? Shame! Shame!!! Adam Guettel composed Lincoln Center's last hit musical, The Light in the Piazza. He won a little thing called The Tony Award for that show. He has also composed several other very beautiful musicals that some might even prefer to "Once Upon A Mattress." But that is hardly the point....

What kind of mother tells The New Yorker that their son is "musical", but not a genius? What the fuck is the point of saying something so incredibly invalidating in such a public forum? Oh, that's right - to remind your son that no matter how lofty his achievements are, he will never be good enough to please you. Wow.

A little light googling reveals this glimpse into the psyche of such a parent. Here's what she said on PBS about her father. The whole thing is sad:

''I don't think anyone really knew who he really was, with the possible exception of one of the five psychiatrists he went to,'' says Mary Rodgers on PBS. ''And I'm sure they didn't know either. I don't think he knew. He was just all locked up in there, grinding out gorgeous stuff.''

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh man, some mom's just don't realize that stuff. my older sister used to get good grades in math in high school, but then went on to study psych in college, whereas i studied math for FIVE YEARS in college, even took a few grad courses and got a B.S. in math, and my mom STILL always says that SHE is the one with the MATH mind! ugh! i get no respect! </rant>

-david

Anonymous said...

No one who wrote "in a little while, just a little while, we'll be as happy as 1, 2, 3, 4" should be so critical towards her children. those lyrics are LAME. Maybe I'm biased, but i've played my floyd collins cd more than all of my r&h combined...just saying