When Pigs Fly (musical)

Production

The revue opened Off-Broadway in August 1996 at the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre, and closed in August 1998 after 840 performances. Directed by Mark Waldrop with costumes by Howard Crabtree, the cast included Stanley Bojarski, John Treacy Egan, David Pevsner, Jay Rogers, and Michael West. The title of the show derives from Crabtree's school counselor, who said that Crabtree's ambition to "put on stage shows" would happen "when pigs fly."

Crabtree died on June 28, 1996. Waldrop noted "It's a show...inspired by costumes--and, just by extension, the exuberance of Howard's spirit and his desire to just put it out there.... Without Howard, it's inconceivable that I would have written a gay revue."

Concept

The concept of the revue is that "Howard" stages a musical. As he struggles to do so, dealing with the large egos of performers or scenery gone wrong, he hears the words of his high school counselor, "Miss Roundhole". She sarcastically said, "When pigs fly!" in response to his ambitions. The characters in the revue (all played by men) appear in sketches: a song to unlikely loves ("Torch #1"); three life-sized queens from a deck of playing cards ("You've Got to Stay in the Game"); and dancers make a case for being yourself ("Light in the Loafers"). "The Melody Barn" is a take-off on classic summer stock themes; "Laughing Matters," is a defense of fun in sad times.

"The wigs alone...are like tone poems of camp: pillowy, cartoon-land creations, threatening to lift the men beneath them somewhere, fully aloft.... Crabtree's visual creations are the reason for this drag-intensive show's being."

Songs

Critical response

In his review for The New York Times, Vincent Canby wrote that the revue is "...an exceptionally cheerful, militantly gay new musical revue that comes close to living up to its own billing, 'the side-splitting musical extravaganza.' No sides are ever in serious danger of splitting. Yet there's enough hilarity, wit and outre humor here to evoke that era, more than 40 years ago, when bright, irreverent revues were as commonplace on Broadway as today's stately Cameron Mackintosh spectacles."

In the review of a regional production in San Francisco, the reviewer wrote: "The music by Dick Gallagher is jaunty and tuneful and lyrics by Mark Waldrop are sharp and witty. This is a real great musical comedy revue. Michael Sommers of The Star Ledger sums it up beautifully by calling it 'A Hog-Heaven of silliness.' Clive Brooks [sic] of the New York Post said 'This show is user-friendly for straights.' I totally agree with both critics."

Recording

The original cast recording was released by RCA Victor.

Awards and nominations

When Pigs Fly won the 1997 Outer Critics Circle Awards for Off-Broadway Musical and costume design, as well as the Drama Desk Awards for Off-Broadway revue and costume design. Additional awards were the Lucille Lortel Award for costume design, and an all-around OBIE.