On Friday, Monday and Tuesday, (May 14, 17 & 18) One Life to Live presented three musical episodes. These particular days had original tunes alongside covers of songs by famous artists. Starr X’ed Lovers was the name of Langston’s musical, and I figure we are to assume that the original songs used throughout the episodes were from the fictional show. The reactions to the musical have been mixed with some enjoying it and others not so much. This entry includes general impressions and is not a full summation of the episodes.
While I didn’t hate the musical, I tended to prefer the jukebox songs over the originals as I am predisposed to theater with orchestral scores, which obviously the program didn’t have. Special episodes like these tend to whet the creative juices of those involved in them, but as an audience member, I do not want to see them all the time. One Life to Live’s last musical was in 2007, so it is not a yearly event. The only two contemporary songs that were used in the prom were “I Got a Feeling” and “Battlefield”, the rest were older than the kids who attended the event.
The musical was not a standalone event as story was advanced throughout the three days. If one couldn’t stand the musical, it would be frustrating to have to watch it just to see climaxes of certain plots. The characters who went to the prom were Starr, Cole, Langston, Markko, Destiny, Nate, Matthew, Dani, Whitney, Darren, Jessica, Brody, Cris and Layla. The last four obviously aren’t in the youngest group, but attended for other reasons. Jessica believed she is a teenager and wanted to go even if Cris no longer loved her. Brody agreed to be her date. Cris as a teacher at Llanview High was playing the role of faculty chaperone with Layla as his date.
On the day of the prom, the kids had a rehearsal for the musical, and sung the original title song Starr X’ed Lovers, and danced along. The musical was based upon Starr and Cole’s love story. The major players were Dani as Starr, Nate as Cole, Destiny as Langston and Matthew as Markko. After the rehearsal, the kids got ready for the prom. We saw Langston discover that Destiny felt she was a liar. The girls along with Roxy sang “Our Lips are Sealed” and then left to join their families. Brody in a dress uniform sang “Keep on Loving You”, about his feelings for Jessica. What was amusing to me was Roxy mentioned the old movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” from 1982, which Brody didn’t know, as he said that is a good thing right. The problem is “Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon is from 1981, so he knew a song from a year earlier, but never had anyone compare him to Richard Gere in that flick. That just surprises me as that clip from that movie is said to be one of the most romantic ever. That’s how I am aware of it, as I did not see it until a decade or more after its release as back then my entertainment interests were more in line with Sesame Street. Of course, if OLTL was targeting younger viewers with the musical, this kind of thing would go right over their heads. The other inside joke that I noticed which was also generational was with Brody and the Navy. Having him sing “If I Could Turn Back Time” a song made famous by Cher, whose musical video created a huge stir due to being barely dressed while being surrounded by real life Navy personnel. Perhaps that song inspired Brody to join that branch of the armed forces. I would hope OLTL picked this song, because of that connotation and not for the clock graphic, which made me laugh for no good reason.
Starr wanted to stay home and skip the event as Cole is in jail. She fantasized more than once that he would be able to be with her on this special night. Blair sang an original song to Starr before the prom to convince her that she could go, but IIRC that’s the only original that was performed primarily by someone who was not a student involved in Starr X’d Lovers. Of all the parents, it would make sense she would know a tune. Dani and Tea joined Starr, Langston, Blair and Dorian at La Boulet, Matthew, Bo and Nora went to the Buchanan Mansion with Viki, Clint and Jessica, the rest of the kids who have parents we’ve met were at the Buenos Dias Café taking pictures and smiling. When the couples met and left their parents, the song “We Belong” was sung.
Once the prom was underway, Starr missed Cole, but Dorian took advantage of her position as Llanview’s Mayor and took him out for the night. Starr and Cole danced together, as the rest of the prom guests were gone. At midnight, Cole had to go back to his cell. Nothing had changed, as he still believed the increasingly unstable Hannah, but they had a moment in time.
Destiny finally started to fall for her date Darren. He did a rendition of “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson. The only downside of that performance was that this particular song performance took longer than most of Darren’s appearances combined. I wish Darren had been developed better before the musical event. Dani and Nate’s story wasn’t really advanced, as it seemed as if they both would have rather gone to the prom together than with their respective dates Matthew and Whitney.
Langston found out the truth about Ford, as Markko found out the truth about her. Langston left the prom to be with her sex buddy Ford, and walked in upon Ford banging Karen aka Pizza Girl. Langston was horrified, but to some she may have gotten her just desserts, as she was doing the same thing to Markko. Markko found the recording of Destiny and Matthew talking about a kiss between Ford and Langston. Destiny couldn’t lie, and we got a heartbreak dance from Markko. When he was introduced to the viewers Markko was a dancer, so I am glad that was remembered and included in the musical episodes. Langston fell for Ford’s line of garbage, started getting it on with him, and Markko walked in on them. Langston needs to learn some self-respect as what was she thinking as Ford had just been pawing Karen, but my sympathies lie with Markko not Langston in this scenario.
Jessica had a second of clarity about Brody, but still said Cris was for her. She put fake votes in the ballot box, so she and Cris would win. Cris got angry and Layla left. While Jessica hid in the shadows, Cris proposed to Layla. He gave her a ring, and Jessica was heartbroken. Brody left to drown his sorrows, and outside of the prom event Natalie felt she lost John to Marty.
Layla, Starr and Langston sang “Battlefield” together, but I couldn’t figure out whose fantasy that was, as obviously that did not happen. In real world, Llanview, Layla would not have her hand that close to Langston’s bottom. And while Starr and Langston are best friends they barely know Layla. Why would they side with her over Jessica as Jessica is Starr’s cousin? I saw it as a dream sequence for that reason, that and the rip off outfits. I think they would have been tossed out of the prom for a striptease of sorts even if it was nonsexual in nature.
I wish the three day event had been slightly shorter, or else that they would be on another "day" by now. As of today, Monday, May 24, characters are still in outfits they wore to the prom. Yes it may no longer by Friday night, but it has been over a week. Yes I know that's a soap contrivance, but I'd like a completely new day. One trick that made things less frustrating during numbers if one doesn't like watching lip syncing is turning on the closed captions. As they appear on the bottom of the screen, if one reads along with the lyrics the lack of sync is less frustrating.
The prom isn’t something that I regretted watching, but I hope One Life to Live waits some time to do another one. It was interesting how effective the non-singing dream sequences were between Starr and Cole as star-crossed lovers. I wish we could see them act in that manner in “reality” more often. The pay off for Langston finding out about Ford and Markko finding out about Langston was worth the wait and continued into non-singing scenes. Not everyone is meant to stay their entire lives with their high school love, and like in the first musical they provided a good contrast to Starr and Cole. The younger high school students of Matthew, Destiny, Dani, Nate, Whitney and Darren had less focus during the musical, but their stories were not completely ignored. Layla being at the prom with Cris provided another strong singing voice, and a climax to the Cris, Layla and Jessica triangle. While I may not buy any of the songs on iTunes, I hope to not be as apprehensive when One Life to Live does its next set of special episodes.
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