I attended the evening performance this past Saturday, and it was a memorable night. Falsettos is exactly what a musical should be: tuneful, funny, poignant and moving. Fittingly, the evening — directed by Lonny Price — began on a comical note, with the actors arriving onstage via the audience.

Chip Zien: We never should have done this . . .
Rupert: Would you stop complaining?
Zien: [Playwrights artistic director] Tim Sanford said this building would be finished. Have you seen my dressing room?
Dokuchitz: Hello, hello. . .
Rupert: Who are you?
Dokuchitz: Jonathan Dokuchitz. We met at that thing.
Rupert: Where's Bogardus?
Zien: Man of La Mancha. He's on Broadway, and 20 years later we're just still milling around here.
Rupert: Could you please shut up?
Zien: No, I won't shut up. You shut up!
Dokuchitz: I knew this was going to happen. I told my agent, "Violet or Floyd Collins, Violet or Floyd Collins."
Jesse Nathanson Greenwald: I oughta be in school.
Rupert: Where's Finn?
Zien: Yeah, 'cause if Lapine was here ...
Greenwald: Patti Lapine?
Zien: I'm gonna slit my wrist right there.
Fraser: Guys, guys, guys, can you try to keep it down. I'm working on my ...
Zien: Where's Faith?
Fraser: Second act, second act!
Prince: Second act?!
Prince: Lonny told me that Falsettoland was gonna be first.
Rupert: Yeah, Lonny "I used to be an actor" Price.
Fraser: Second act.
Mac Rae & Metz: Hey, wait a minute. Did somebody say second act?
Music. . .

All of the performers had the chance to shine throughout the evening, and they all seemed remarkably untouched by time. Alison Fraser, who looked better than ever, scored with her frenetic "I'm Breaking Down," seemingly falling apart before our eyes; Michael Rupert, who has a bit more gray but no less voice, was incredibly moving throughout, especially in his final, heartfelt, teary-eyed rendition of "What Would I Do?"; Chip Zien was as lovably hammy as always, grabbing laughs with most every line; Heather Mac Rae and Janet Metz as the "lesbians from next door" also charmed — Mac Rae delivered a stirring "Something Bad Is Happening," and Metz's belt continues to thrill; Faith Prince was also in top form, both moving and funny — her "Holding to the Ground" was beautifully rendered, and her facial expressions, especially after Metz sings "Oh, Mummy" to Mac Rae, were priceless; Jonathan Dokuchitz had the unenviable position of standing in for original Whizzer Stephen Bogardus (now in Broadway's Man of La Mancha) but came through extremely well with thrillingly sung versions of "The Games I Play" and "You Gotta Die Sometime"; and Jesse Nathanson Greenwald did well as the child at the center of all the madness, Jason.

So, for a few performances last week, Marvin was back with Whizzer, and all seemed right with the world . . . Miramax, how 'bout a film of Falsettos?!

NORMA REVISITED
This week, gossip columnist Liz Smith wrote in one of her daily columns, "I continue to hear rumblings and whisperings that Liza Minnelli will star in the movie musical version of Sunset Boulevard." It seems odd that producers of a film version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Don Black Christopher Hampton musical would choose Minnelli when Glenn Close, who won a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical, is certainly a more bankable film commodity at this point. Personally, I'd love to see Betty Buckley, Elaine Paige or Patti LuPone (wouldn't that be a great way to end the Sunset saga?) get the chance to capture her Norma on screen, though the prospect of a theatre star is unlikely. If a film actor is chosen — and with the success of the star-driven "Chicago" film, it would seem likely that's the route producers will go — I guess I'd vote for Meryl Streep. Since I've already seen what Close can do with the part — and her singing of the tunes remains my least favorite of the Normas to date — I'd be curious to see Streep's work. What other film actress do you think could do justice to the role vocally and acting-wise? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

A MERMAN PARTY
How much do you resemble Ethel Merman? A special prize will be awarded for the best "Ethel-inspired outfit" at the Jan. 23 party celebrating the re-release of "The Ethel Merman Disco Album" (Fynsworth Alley label). The CD, which hits stores Jan. 28, features disco versions of several of Merman's signature tunes, including "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Something for the Boys," "Some People," "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "I Got Rhythm" as well as a bonus, never-before-released eighth cut, "They Say It's Wonderful." The party celebrating the re-release of the 1979 recording will be held from 10 PM to midnight at SPA, which is located in New York City at 76 East 13th Street. Sunrize Highway will host the event, and DJ Lady Bunny will play non-stop disco classics. Attendees must be 21 or over; call (212) 352-4455 for reservations.

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