Craig Carnelia’s musical, usually referred to by its opening quantity, is a music cycle exploring themes of escape, each literal and metaphorical. Characters grapple with bodily journeys, like a lady leaving her husband, and inside struggles, similar to a person confronting his worry of heights. The work makes use of a wide range of musical kinds to convey these advanced feelings, from hovering ballads to driving, rhythmic items.
Carnelia’s piece resonates because of its common themes of craving and self-discovery. The work’s exploration of human feelings via the metaphor of flight gives a strong and relatable framework for audiences to attach with. Premiering Off-Broadway in 1970, it gained crucial popularity of its revolutionary construction and emotionally resonant rating, solidifying Carnelia’s repute as a major voice in musical theatre.