Posted by S. Woody White @ 07/17/2003 08:09 AM PST

Good Morning esteemed BK and DRs....

Well, first, my choice(s) for revival would be Li'l Abner, and Mack & Mabel. OK, I admit it...I'm a musician, and yes I'm greatly influenced by the quality of the score and songs (IMHO), but I also think that both of them are interesting, stories with characters that are either charming or fascinating.

And my, wasn't yestereday lively and sparkling, and animated and carbonated! I think the most lively site on the entire internet. And did you notice something else that was EXTREMELY interesting? Many people have different ways of looking at topics, life, etc.. And all posts were there, none were severed and thrown away, none were randomly deleted.....unlike some other sites on this here internet!

I say yea & huzzah!! It is time for a great big collective hug and cheer for our very own über-mensch BRUCE !! Yea BK !!

Let's have as many H/K cheers and hugs waiting for esteemed BK when he checks back here.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/17/2003 08:14 AM PST

BK:

The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it!

munch away - your happiness will overcome the calories! :)

Posted by Alfie Byrne / Oscar Wilde @ 07/17/2003 08:21 AM PST

Ooohhh....too much of a good thing is wonderful!

Posted by Mae West @ 07/17/2003 08:24 AM PST

BK, I've found that eating certain foods makes me *hungrier* after I've eaten them than I was before! Usually the culprits are simple sugars and carbs that affect the blood sugar. Popcorn is one of those things (another one is carrots, strangely enough. And *sob* my beloved bagels! I eat one, and I become a heroin addict slathered in cream cheese and moaning softly, curled up in a corner somewhere. Can't touch 'em.)

*sigh* No idea bout the musical question, sadly. Today is my last day at work. I turned in my resignation two weeks ago today; the volatility of my situation here just became too much and I just decided to leave rather than continue to live on the edge. So I've spent part of the morning filing and throwing away the detritus that accumulates and in a few minutes I'll haul some stuff out to my car (yesterday I took posters and some other stuff home).

Oh, and the very day that I turned in my resignation, we went to PF Chang's for dinner and the fortune inside my fortune cookie read: "Your luck has been forever changed today." Neat, eh? :)

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 08:38 AM PST

I would also like to see a revival of LADY IN THE DARK but I'm afraid in today's climate there would be a lot of flak regarding the message the show sends out - that Liza is unhappy with Kendall or Randy because she is stronger than they are and only Charlie who won't allow Liza to boss him around is the man she needs and the only man who can make her feel "complete". That said, I think this is a role that Bernadette is more "right" for than her recent Broadway appearances although I think Karen Ziemba or Audra MacDonald (if she would agree to do 8 performances a week) would be great as well.

Remember a prior topic on this here site about the most unlikely topic for a musical? Well I just ordered tickets to an off-off-Broadway show that would definitely fit in that category (and may have been mentioned): a musical based on Leopold and Loeb. I've never heard of the author but it's being directed by Martin "Annie" Charnin.

BK - In your guest appearance days were you ever on "Pink Lady and Jeff"? I ask because Trio is showing several episodes of this camp classic next week (along with episodes of "My Mother The Car"").

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/17/2003 08:51 AM PST

Does anyone think the time will come when BK will plug the radio show as "the Donald's new Broadway Radio Show"?

Isn't it time "our" Donald Feltham became "the" Donald?

I agree about the variety of responses from yesterday. I saw a great range of perceptions, and offered my own response based on my own perspectives.

That said, I woke up worrying that I had been offensive to those who do not share my viewpoint or to whom my viewpoint may have seemed or been critical.

We have, many of us, been subjected to heinous behavior on the part of others.

Today -- especially today in the media -- gay youths are visible and genuine and often in positions of leadership. This was not true 10 years ago and beyond. Oh, the being in a position of leadership part was true, but being openly gay was not possible. In Scouts, today, it's not possible. But we know it IS possible to be openly gay and a high school football star.

Scouts, however, now find it difficult to do their Scouting on public property, since most public entities are EEO supporters. Many Scouting troops have become vocally hostile toward Scouting policies. These young men KNOW that having a gay man in their midst is something worth fighting for, rather than being afraid of.

Hapgood, I don't believe for one minute that anyone meant to be offensive. We are all from different generations -- and experiences -- and the times have rapidly changed, trust me.

Somehow, it seems things change by the decade rather than by a generation (look at politics, for one case of how things change rapidly).

Let's hope it gets easier each time a child is born; let's hope that intolerance becomes suddenly "intolerable" to a greater number of leaders.

Let's hope that words of hate and hatefulness, such as we hear from the Robinsons and Falwells, become swan songs for the dinosaurs they are sure to become.

Look at what a dinosaur Quentin Crisp was just before his death. He spoke out against gay marriage, saying he hoped it would never happened. He sadly saw himself as a survivor who had only the privilege to occupy a narrow place in the world. That is what "his" generation made him believe. It's terribly sad and totally untrue.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 08:52 AM PST

Topic of the Day:

"Fiorello" with Nathan Lane as LaGuardia.

I'd love to direct it!!! But I'll let BK or someone else with superb taste cast the rest of the parts.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 08:56 AM PST

Yes, Ron, but who would you have "cover" for Nathan on those twelve or fifteen performances a month he is out?

Posted by OM Time @ 07/17/2003 09:11 AM PST

Ouch! Why does everybody here hate me so? I'm a good guy.

Really!

Posted by Nathan Lane @ 07/17/2003 09:39 AM PST

WEL, Tr!o is showing Pink Lady and Jeff now, in addition to Battle of the Network Stars?

Oh, how I wish it were available in my area! (Like I really need to spend more of my life watching kitschy TV!)

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 09:49 AM PST

Call me crazy!

I would really like to see Michelle Pawk as MAME.

John Dossett as Beau, of course.

And Harvey Fierstein as Vera Charles.

And if DR Susan Gordon wasn't interested in doing Gooch, then maybe hmmmmmmmm.... Tammy Blanchard?

As I said, call me crazy!

Last entry I get for the journal is July 4. Is there a later one?

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/17/2003 09:55 AM PST

Speaking of deleted posts - as
you know, we had a bit of a
brouhaha a couple of weeks
ago with a certain site deleting
posts. Well, yesterday, a 17
year old girl (I think it was a
girl) posted about seeing
Gypsy. It was the usual
impassioned "Bernie was
robbed this is the greatest
thing I've ever seen in all my
years of theater going and yes
I'm only seventeen but I've
seen sixty Broadway shows
since I was ten" kind of post.
And a few people got on her
about it, and then others came
to her defense and others
didn't and then she posted
again about how hurt she was,
that people her age were the
future of America and we'd all
better get used to it, and that
created a whole new series of
posts. Well, this morning, the
entire second thread was
missing. Gone, into the ether.
The reasoning, I'm sure, is
that the other thread was still
on the board - so what?
Anyway, I found the girl's
attitude a bit much - and no
one likes young people more
than I. Again, I think the
problem is that when you are
that age your passion
sometimes gets the best of
you - opinions fly hot and
heavy and sometimes the way
they post it is funnily
condescending to those who
don't happen to share their
opinions. When I was that age
I'm quite sure I was very
opinionated and I'm even sure
I may have been obnoxious
about it - BUT, and it's a big
BUT (as opposed to a big
BUTT), I didn't have the
Internet to go spouting to. I
didn't write my opinion as if it
were a fact and as if I were the
only one who was right. I
spoke my opinion to people,
but they could see me when I
did it, and if I was obnoxious
they could knock me down a
peg or two for which I was
ultimately grateful. On the
Internet, we cannot see the
person - if she hadn't said she
was seventeen no one would
have known. Her manner was
a bit condescending and
uppity (BERNADETTE WAS
ROBBED!) and it's printed -
just print on a screen as if it
were somehow more than a
seventeen year old's thoughts.

All that said - we have several
young people on this site who
never do what these others do
- they take part in discussions,
they begin discussions, but
our young people listen and
learn, and we, in turn, listen
and learn from them. I get
rankled when I hear young
people shout "We are the
future of this country", because
that is a frightening thought
given the likes of Eminem and
followers and all the Britney
clones and a lot of the young
people one sees these days.
Yes, there are some bright
and wonderful young people
and yes there are some idiotic
and stupid young people.
People are the future of this
country, whether young or old -
smart people, who listen and
learn and who state their
opinions as if they weren't the
be all and end all.

I am proud of our young
Hainsies/Kimlets for being
smart and funny and let me tell
you that the young people who
post to these other boards
could learn some serious
lessons here.

What am I, an editorial all of a
sudden?

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 09:56 AM PST

OM Time: Oh, we could get Pauly Shore to understudy Lane.

If anything would stop him from missing a performance it would be the threat of someone totally incompetent ruining the role and shortening the show's run.

Actually, I'd take a chance on someone like Harlemm Lee. I think he can do ANYthing!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 09:56 AM PST

~~~~~Sending good vibes to Lulu on her last day at her job -- and hoping you'll find a better situation soon.

Posted by Laura @ 07/17/2003 09:56 AM PST

BK: I read that thread. The young girl was over-the-top in her sensitivity, but I thought she made a point.

She wasn't criticizing anyone else's opinion...she was only stating "hers."

The respondent went out of her way to denigrate the poor thing by saying, "A 17-year-old can hardly have the experience to" blah, blah, blah.

That denigrates the original post and presumes that a 17-year-old cannot possibly know what a good performance is, much less a good performance of Rose is all about.

That said, the youngster DID say she'd seen 60 Broadway shows over 10 years. She's sure got ME beat all to hell on exposure.

Mind you, I've got all kinds of mileage, but I can still remember how I felt at age 18 when folks wanted me to go to Vietnam and possibly "die" for my country, but they wouldn't sell me a beer or allow me to vote for or against the monsters who started the war.

Let youth sing and shout. They wo;; bring us all the future joy we will know.

I thought BOTH posters had a good point, but the second poster did hinge her opinion on the concept that a 17-year-old couldn't know a good performance.

That is so wrong, IMO.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 10:02 AM PST

Translation: "wo;;" = "will"

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 10:04 AM PST

Lulu - whenever God closes a door...somewhere he opens a window.

Posted by Maria Von Trapp @ 07/17/2003 10:04 AM PST

Thank you, Laura. :)

I'm doing some private tutoring already. Maybe self-employment will be the way to go.

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 10:06 AM PST

Oh, and thank YOU, Fraulein Maria!

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 10:07 AM PST

BK - thanks for the info on the LIMELIGHT DVD... That was the only one I wanted to buy, so I will look for the Image disc.

Young people...I remember back in my day....

Oh, well...I don't appreciate young people as a group, but individually, some of them are smart, funny, and intelligent.

Those are the ones that have found their way to HHW. I don't visit the "other" board, so I didn't see the posts in question. Too bad some people can't just scroll on by (a sort of Bacharach-David reference). And isn't it funny...that here at HHW, after awhile, even though the poster's name is not revealed until the end...one can indentify the writing style? All along, you knew this was by:

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/17/2003 10:09 AM PST

I always think it's weird when people say, "I don't like kids" or "I love kids." Would they say "I don't like adults" or "I love adults"?

Some individuals are great and some aren't. Whether they're young, middle-aged or old doesn't change that.

That said, I do understand and sympathize with what BK is saying regarding the way kids (or "young people") can sometimes have a hard time putting their own experience into context. It can be humorous or intolerable (depending upon your mood) when they get mighty angry with all the "oldsters" who "don't understand that things have changed!" The fact that they'll be getting the same lecture from some young upstart in another 10-20 years hasn't yet occurred to them...

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 10:16 AM PST

Let me third Lady in the Dark. Perhaps Meryl Streep in Gertrude Lawrence's role.

Another show I would like to see is Celebration, the Jones and Schmidt piece. I only know the score and I would like to see a production. I'm not sure who I would cast in the show. Perhaps our own Jason could play Orphan.

I might have mentioned this one before but I would love to see a full out production of Boy Meets Boy (it has nothing to do with the upcoming Bravo reality show) starring perhaps Malcom Gets and Denis O'Hare (he just did a concert version of Finian's Rainbow, I believe).

Thats' all for now. I'm about to listen to Milk and Honey, one of Mr. Herman's early shows. I've never heard the whole show before. I found the CD in the library and decided to give it a listen.

Posted by Ben @ 07/17/2003 10:19 AM PST

Lulu-- you go girl!!!!!!
Congratulations on your courageous decision; I have had to do the same thing before, and it was the best thing that I ever did (although scary at the time).

Revival? I'd like to see "High Spirits" done. There are so many great choices for Madame Arcotti (since Harriet Harris is so talented and has already taken a Bea Lillie role, she might be perfect). One or two of the songs might be slightly dated, but I like the score, and the story still holds up. We'll have to work on that.

Posted by kerry @ 07/17/2003 10:19 AM PST

Here is the link to that message from All that Chat -- a young girl's thrilled reaction to an evening at the theater, plus a lot of background that shows just how excited she was and how much theater means to her:

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/forum/messages/99901.html

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 10:23 AM PST

Ben ---
CELEBRATION falls in to that category of "How can such a great score be attached to such an awful book?" along with ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, et. al. Mufti did it a couple of years ago and it was painfully obvious why it doesn't get revived more.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/17/2003 10:25 AM PST

I read it again and I feel the
same as I did the first time I
read it. I have no problem with
her passion, I just have a
problem with the hyperbole
and the whole "Bernadette
was robbed" tone and the
underlying "I don't understand
why anyone wouldn't love this
performance or production"
(UNDERLYING - it's there in
the subtext of what's written).

What you haven't linked to
(you can't because the
Orwellian figures who run the
site have deleted the thread)
was her more than obnoxious
"we are the future of this
country" retort and the various
followups to that. It was a
petulant post, the equivalent of
someone stamping their feet
on the ground.

But the content of either thread
was not my REAL point - my
REAL point was that the thread
was removed, censored, taken
down, as if it had never been
there in the first place. And all
the "these are our terms of
service" ranting and raving
isn't going to change the fact
that these Orwell types are
simply heinous (heinous, do
you hear me?).

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 10:39 AM PST

For those East Coast H/K who missed my post last evening, please go back to the archives and read it so that "you'll know what" is being planned for "you know who" at "you know where" on "you know when". And if you want to join us for "you know what", then click on my name and drop me a line. Hope you can make it. Shhh! It's a surprise!

Posted by Susan @ 07/17/2003 10:40 AM PST

Interesting, thanks Ron for the link.

I liked the post, I thought she said what she truly felt. And theatre is a visceral, subjective experience for us all. An opinion is an opinion, we all have them, and have our reasons for them. Certainly what I think about a show or a performance is not going to be changed by what someone else feels or thinks. But I don't think anyone else's opinion is less valid than mine - simply different.

This poster's description of Peters' performance makes it sound more INTERESTING and INTRIGUING than just about anything else I have read about it. She gives specifics and reasons and the feeling of "being there" in "the moment." A performer who can do that to an audience member is doing his/her job in spades.

Interesting that some people will disagree with an OPINION! You can't. You can state an opposite one, but that is about as far as you can go.

Bill - I am intrigued by the Loeb-Leopold musical. When are you going? Is there a website for the title?

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/17/2003 10:41 AM PST

WEL, thanks, that puts it in some perspective. I agree w/you about Roar of the Greasepaint. It was done when I was in college. I wasn't involved with the production. It is (IMHO) such a bad book I guess the star power of Newley & Ritchard kept it going when it was on Broadway.

Posted by Ben @ 07/17/2003 10:41 AM PST

-Hey there - Just didn't want to be errant and truant all day like I was yesterday...-Did anyone read my late post? ;-)

I'd also like to see L'il Abner, and I'd actually like to see Merrily We Roll Along done with the original book, but without the t-shirts. -Just to see it fully staged with the original book and the original songs. I know they had the reunion concert last summer, but a full staging would be nice.

Other than those two shows... Hmm... Maybe I'll have some more options after I take my walk... It's a totally GORGEOUS day here in Winchester, VA!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 07/17/2003 10:41 AM PST

Oh...a dear reader Susan...thanks for letting us know that the reading went well in theposts yesterday.

All those video cameras? Yikes.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/17/2003 10:43 AM PST

Is it just me, or is Susan as adorable as all get-out?

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 10:43 AM PST

Funny how someone all of a sudden mentioned "Celebration". I'm getting into a Jones/Schmidt phase as I begin to work on a production of "The Fantasticks" and while I know there is a CD of "Celebration", Footlight doesn't seem to carry it. (go figure) Is it out of print, does anyone know?

Revival... I can't think of one just now. Everything has been revived it seems like, I'll just stand on the comment that I never want to see "A Chorus Line" revived, it would be the biggest mistake yet!

Posted by Matthew @ 07/17/2003 10:44 AM PST

Lulu: My you find a job that thrills you, that you LOVE doing and that fulfills you.

I'm told that's what it's supposed to be all about...right, Bruce?

I've had a job or two that made me very, very happy. They were hard work, but I relished them.

They're history now...just part of my past.

S-i-g-h!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 10:47 AM PST

I think the 17-year-old probably would not have received the negative responses she got from some quarters if her post had been along the lines of "I saw Bernadette in Gypsy and LOVED her!" rather than "Bernadette was ROBBED!!!"

Keep in mind the above is my opinion, so nobody is allowed to disagree with me. Jrand says so. ;)

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 10:49 AM PST

Thanks, RP!

Posted by Lulu @ 07/17/2003 10:51 AM PST

BK: Please don't misunderstand me. I totally concur with your thoughts regarding her later tirade against "Audrey2" -- but you would never have responded to the "original" post the way Audrey2 did, would you?

And I do think the youngster was goaded into being overly defensive by certain of the posts that took Audrey2 to task.

It was the girl's passion that I hated to see trashed so snottily by Audrey2.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 10:54 AM PST

While I didn't think Audrey2's
response was as bad as
some people thought (A2 did
say "I'm glad you liked her
performance"), no I wouldn't
have responded that way. I
might have suggested toning
down the all-caps header.
though.

Interesting point, Lulu - about
"I love kids" vis a vis "I love
adults". I guess that was
buried in my POINT
somewhere - that it's not
young people who are the
future of the world - it's
PEOPLE. PEOPLE, do you
hear me? Smart, witty, and
wise people. NOT people who
wear low jeans with thong
underwear.

And yes, getting a job you
LOVE is the best thing that can
happen. Doing anything you
love is the best thing that can
happen, even if that thing is
tremendously challenging or
difficult.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 11:08 AM PST

Jrand - It's called Thriller - The Musical. Click on my name for the website.

Someone said they never wanted to see A CHORUS LINE revived. I'd like to see a REVIVAL of it in a few years, but I never want to see a REVISAL as that is one of the very few shows that must be done in its original staging to work. A couple of years ago Papermill presented a production in which Bayork Lee copied the original Bennett staging in the original design and it was like I was back at the Public in 1975. However I have seen a couple of productions at various schools and community theatres which have made me cringe.

CELEBRATION was released on CD in the early 90s as part of the EMI-Angel series of every OBC recording Capitol records ever made. Most of them are out of print now although DRG has been re-issuing some of them (not CELEBRATION yet). You should be able to find a copy on EBay or some other site that sells used CDs.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/17/2003 11:12 AM PST

blush!

Posted by susan @ 07/17/2003 11:16 AM PST

Interesting that three musicals that posters here have said they want to see revived...LADY IN THE DARK, MACK & MABEL, & MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG...all have been revived since the mid-nineties in London. LADY IN THE DARK was done in 1997 in a very stylish and lovely production at the National in the Lyttleton Theatre and starred Maria Friedman. What I remember most about it was an exquisite set design and James Dreyfuss in the Danny Kaye role, the score of the production was released on Jay Records. The Donmar Warehouse did a revival of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG in a fine production a few years back. I'm not sure the production totally overcame the book problems, but I certainly enjoyed it. MACK & MABEL was a bit more problematic. I not only found the book troublesome, but the production rather sloppy. It was a disappointment.

I'm quite curious to see productions of scores I like...Golden Apple, The Grass Harp, and Destry Rides Again. I'm also quite curious about LOLA.

In my unseemingly interview, I've already said LI'L ABNER is overdue for revival. The satire is more appropriate and on the nose than ever before. And then, of course, there's just the fabulous score.

Posted by Charles Pogue @ 07/17/2003 11:24 AM PST

For all you LADY IN THE DARK fans: The Musical Theatre Guild will be doing a one-night only semi-staged reading of the show at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on Monday March 29, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.

I, for one, would like to see a revival of Marc Blitzstein's THE CRADLE WILL ROCK. The political messages in this property are all too relevant, I am very sad to say, today. Though most, if not all, of the rare revivals of this show rely solely on piano accompaniment, as was the case when TCWR was famously--and infamously--first performed, hearing it with Blitzstein's orchestral score would make our revival an historic one.

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 11:42 AM PST

And before Angel reissued
Celebration, my very own Bay
Cities label reissued it on CD,
in much better sound I might
add. Our Funny Thing had
better sound, too, as did our
Chicago and Woman of the
Year CDs.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 11:43 AM PST

There was a revival of Merrily in NYC in 1994 at the York Theatre Company. It had some very good talent (Malcom Gets, Michelle Pawk, Philip Hoffman, Danny Burstein and others) and a revised book but it just didn't work for me. I still think the score is wonderful. I listen to it frequently, but the book problems may be insurmountable.

Posted by Ben @ 07/17/2003 11:47 AM PST

Jay, yes, I would love to see a revival of TCWR. I didn't see the Acting Company production (w/Patti LuPone) but I did a production, oh, so many years ago in Minneapolis. I played Dauber, the Artist. It can be a bit didactic, but I agree, the politcal messages and sentiments are all sadly still relevant today.

Posted by Ben @ 07/17/2003 11:49 AM PST

I recorded the York Merrily - the
production was fairly dreadful,
but the album came out quite
well, I think.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 11:54 AM PST

I want to start off by saying that, bar none, Hainsies/Kimlets are some of the most impassioned and intelligent on the internet. No matter the age.

Thank you, BK, for your compliments on the young people who post here, and I think I can speak for Sarah, Ann, Emily and Hapgood too. There is a disturbingly large number of idiotic youth in America right now but there will always be many who see the world beyond an MTV perspective, people who care about theatre and film and books and making the world a better place, free of intolerance and hypocrisy.

I read HairBeat's post yesterday and even responded to it (as DramaRose). I thought she was a bit overly dogmatic, but I also admired her conviction. But I also understood Audrey2's point. I didn't see it so much as denigrating the girl or her opinion, but telling her that at 17, how many Gypsy's could she have seen? People get so defensive (and offensive) on ATC, and then for the bigwigs to have deleted the whole thread...something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I would love to see Lady in the Dark revived but I'm not sure Bernadette would be the best choice for Liza. Not steely enough. Audra would be great in the role.

I may have mentioned this before, but the show I really want to see revived is Irma La Douce. I'd want to see either Carolee Carmello or Marin Mazzie as Irma and Brian Stokes Mitchell as Nestor/Monsieur Oscar.

Oh, and they simply must revive Kismet! Brian Stokes Mitchell as Hajj, Brent Barrett as the Caliph and a really good belter like Marin or Carolee or Alice Ripley as Lalume.

Gee, are we noticing a pattern to my casting?

Lulu--I'm sorry to hear about the job, but if you were that unhappy, then it is not a bad thing that you quit. With your wit and intelligence, you should have no problem finding something that will suit you better (and maybe even pay more)!

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 12:08 PM PST

Oh--one thing I forgot.

Matthew--do you live in NYC? If you do, you can take out a copy of Celebration at the New York Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center if you have a problem finding a copy on eBay or elsewhere. I became familiar with a lot of obscure cast recordings that way, including Celebration, which is admittedly not my favorite Jones and Schmidt score. Good luck!

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 12:11 PM PST

BK: You're right (of course, you're right). You did record that version of Merrily. I forgot to mention that when I posted. As you said, the show was not very good but the recording is quite good.

Posted by Ben @ 07/17/2003 12:20 PM PST

Bill - thanks for the link, I passed it along to a friend who will be in NYC during the run and hopefully he will choose to see THRILL ME as well.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/17/2003 12:25 PM PST

Don't you just love it when people who grew up in the 1960's and 1970's make fun of current fashion trends? Ah, the irony...

With regard to the ATC thread, I think that some people have missed an important point. It shouldn't matter how many GYPSY's that the young girl had seen, or how many other Broadway productions she had seen. Her experience of Bernadette Peters in this production of GYPSY was thrilling to her, and she felt that it was deserving of awards and honours. Why would anyone feel the need to denigrate that opinion?

Furthermore, I have heard similar opinions posted by others, more seasoned in years, who are not so quickly dismissed.

Lulu, you make a good point about people saying "I love kids", but I would offer one justification of this. When a child is, shall we say, less than loveable, one can attribute much of this to their parents, and hold them accountable for it. Whereas when adults exhibit poor behaviour, one expects that they should know better.

Personally, I love kids - especially my own.

Had a chance to finish listening to the revival cast recording of NINE last night. Highly enjoyable, and much improved over the original cast. Antonio is unintelligible in much of his lyrics, but he at least sings the role reasonably well. Mary Stuart Masterson is a major discovery, and of course Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski are in grand form. A recommended purchase.

I said I would answer the question about swallowing fire today. Well, I did some practicing last night, and experimented with different types of fuels. Got a minor burn once, because we were practicing outside and the wind picked up rather suddenly. I need to be used to this, since our production will be held in an outdoor venue.

Hard to believe we open one week from tonight! Aaaauuuuuggghhh!!

Posted by Dave @ 07/17/2003 12:46 PM PST

I don't want any more revivals, at least for ten years or so. (At the very least, no more than one musical revival on Broadway per season.) I want to see producers make a concerted effort to promote new writers and directors of new musicals. Hell, they spend so much time and money re-writing the old ones, they may as well create a new one.

Posted by Drumm @ 07/17/2003 12:47 PM PST

Kids - I don't know what's wrong with these kids today.
Kids - who can understand anything they say?

Kids - they are disobedient, disrepectful oafs.
Noise, crazy, sloppy, lazy, loafers.

And while we're on the subject:

Kids - you can talk and talk till your face is blue.
Kids -but they still do just what they want to do.

Why can't they be like we were -
Perfect in every way!

What's the matter with kids today?

Bye Bye Birdie - circa 1960

Posted by Harry McAfee, McAfee Fertilizers @ 07/17/2003 12:56 PM PST

Musicals to be revived - I'd love to see Rags in a big production. A couple of years ago the Bridewell Theatre in London did a very small-scale production - only 4 musicians - but it worked well. However, 'Children of the Wind' needs a big orchestra to do it justice.

I saw the 'Lady in the Dark' at the National Theatre and wasn't overwhelmed by it. Maria Friedman played Liza and I have a bit of a problem with her. She's the London leading lady favourite but I find her a bit mannered and pretty much the same in everything (although, that said, she was very good in Ragtime).

WEL - re Thrill Me - there is a cast recording which I have. Sadly, it really is not very good. Very humdrum and repetitive music. Let's hope the book is better.

Lulu - good luck in wherever life's path takes you. I envy you, with the cr*p I've had to take at work recently!

Posted by Allan @ 07/17/2003 01:18 PM PST

Dave, thank you for loving every single one of us!

Since you're so crazy about all of us, we can come live with you if we want, right? We'll be real quiet and you'll hardly even know we're there.

Posted by The Nearly 2 Billion Children of the World @ 07/17/2003 01:25 PM PST

GRASS HARP has been done three times at the York, most recently last year. Unfortunately they spent so much time rehearsing the score that the book came off a lot weaker than it is. In addition there were a couple of major miscastings. Still as much as I would love to see a good full scale production of the show, it does not have much audience appeal.

To whomever mentioned IRMA LA DOUCE: I would love to see it revived before Karen Ziemba gets too old to play it. I saw the original production on my first trip to New York in 1961 and it was the highlight of a week that included the original CAMELOT, DO RE ME, BYE BYE BIRDIE, MOLLY BROWN and TENDERLOIN. The English leads were matched perfectly with an American chorus including Elliott Gould, Fred Gwynne, Stuart Damon and George S. Irving.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/17/2003 01:37 PM PST

The famous Saint-Ouen flea
market, north of Paris, is
where I've found my copies of
BK reproduced cd issues of
CELEBRATION -- I love Susan
Watson! -- CHICAGO and
WOMAN OF THE YEAR....; and
at a very reasonable pricing...

Thought Bruce might enjoy
knowing that!

Oh, there was even a copy of
the TFNM LP which I stupidly
did not buy..... and now it's
gone!

I'd like to see a revival of THE
GRASS HARP with Rebecca
Luker, La Chanze and YES,
Karen Morrow.....

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 01:42 PM PST

IMHO, I believe that that Sutton
girl -- TMM -- would be terrif' in
IRMA LA DOUCE, opposite
Malcom Gets....

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 01:47 PM PST

Aaaah! Stuart Damon TOO
HANDSOME to play Tony,
remember????

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 01:49 PM PST

Lulu, Maya expressed my sentiments beautifully. Best of luck.

I found yesterdays discussion, which continued into day, very interesting and well written. I kept rushing back to read the posts during my, very few, free moments of the day.

Posted by Jane @ 07/17/2003 02:05 PM PST

Earlier today Jrand asked if we
could tell who was writing the
post just by reading the first
few lines. Well, the answer is
a resounding yes, since I
knew within words that Dave
had written his post, so
Dave-like was it. No one
missed the point of that young
girls post, at least not in my
opinion. Also, the fashions of
the sixties and seventies,
while amusing in certain ways,
are not a patch on the ass of
what kids are wearing today - I
have a friend in the fashion
industry and she is ashamed
of her job right now.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 02:07 PM PST

It's very difficult to debate theater performances because, unlike film, they are different every single night for a variety of reasons. While Bernadette may have given a performance for the ages the night one person attended, she may have had voice problems or a stomach ache on another night and simple wanted to make it through the show.

Hasn't been mentioned yet, but I want a revival of CARNIVAL, one of my favorite all-time charm shows. I saw it as a kid of about 13 and fell in love with every song and every character. I wouldn't take anything for my Larry Lash-produced CD release of that show.

Posted by Matt H. @ 07/17/2003 02:31 PM PST

BK - I didn't realize the Bay Cities connection. I cherish my A Doll's Life CD. And, yes, the sound is superb. Thank you - for everything.

Posted by TorontoDan @ 07/17/2003 02:45 PM PST

BK, don't tell me you don't like
to see kids wearing pants
which crotch is at the level of
their knees, as if they had
defecated in said pants????

Now, you don't find it sexy to
show off -- NOT for you! For
kids, noblesse oblige! -- your
underwears or your
ombilic?!?!
You're not in, man, not with it!

Granted, when I was young we
were quite strange, all wearing
long hair that made us look all
androgynus....

But i'm ready for some "smart"
fashion designer to come up
with the idea for the Emperor's
Clothes, naked with a flower
up the a.. :........ AND THAT
WOULD WORK! --

Remember; you read it first
here!

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 03:02 PM PST

I am a fashion plate, really.
Long before Everybody Loves
Raymond, I was doing the
open shirt and t-shirt thing.
Do I receive a royalty? No.
Damn them, damn them all to
hell. In addition to being a
fashion plate I am also a hot
plate and occasionally a blue
plate special.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 03:06 PM PST

Blue Plate Special?

I KNEW we could eat you with
a spoon, BK.

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 03:11 PM PST

What a great suggestion re show and casting DR Maya. Bagdad is such a "topical" subject too. I too would love to hear those voices singing that wonderful score. I thought Bill Orr and I were the only fans (our childhood memories).

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/17/2003 03:15 PM PST

Thank you for praising my
music!

Posted by Borodine @ 07/17/2003 03:21 PM PST

Tom, the OZmopolitan, is a fan of Borodin?

Do you have the Rhino CD of "Kismet" conducted by Andre Previn?

Absolutely fantacular!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 03:35 PM PST

BK wrote:

"No one missed the point of that young girls post, at least not in my opinion."

...to which I reply, I never said that anybody did. Read the post again, Bruce.

BK further opined:

"Also, the fashions of the sixties and seventies, while amusing in certain ways, are not a patch on the ass of what kids are wearing today..."

...which is, of course, a matter of opinion. Let's remember that low-rider jeans, hip-huggers, mini skirts, halter tops, etc. are all considered "retro" looks to the kids of today. They have borrowed these fashions from earlier decades, and have put an ironic spin on them. So we have hairdo's that are a milder version of what was worn by the "new wave" element of the late 1970's and early 1980's. We see fashions that originated in urban areas in the mid-1970's as part of the early hip-hop movement, now moving into the mainstream.

Now, I'm not saying I like these fashions. I just recognize them for what they are.

My point was that it is amusing how it all comes full circle. The kids who rebelled against their parents fashions, now are appalled at what their own kids are wearing.

Posted by Dave @ 07/17/2003 03:37 PM PST

Hmmm. A composer who can't even spell his name correctly.

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 03:39 PM PST

I understand, Dave - but I didn't
like that stuff back then either.
But jeans were never this low,
although mini-skirts were even
more mini when I was in my
late teens. The jeans just
don't flatter anyone - they are
ugly and disgusting. And, of
course, one new wrinkle are
the tattoos - the tattoos that sit
just above everyone's butt
cheeks. These are not small
tattoos either - they are great
big tattoos and they will not
come off without great
expense and pain - and that is
the price of "hip" because in
ten years when these "kids"
look in the mirror and it is no
longer "hip" but passe to have
such things, they will not be
happy with what they see.
This happens all the time. I
guess I just never bought into
"hip" - I never wore the
fashions of the day if I could
help it (okay, I did have bell
bottoms but I NEVER wore that
stretchy material that pants
were made out of in the
seventies - what was that
called - awful). I never owned
a Nehru jacket, although I did
wear a Carnaby cap.

My point is that I'm not railing
against this stuff because I'm
an adult - I railed against it
when I was a kid, too.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 03:51 PM PST

Here's from another Kismetophile with childhood memories of the rich and magical songs. Even having to endure some relative singing "And This Is My Beloved" at cousin Ruth's wedding didn't tarnish the score for me. (The marriage, by the way, didn't make it.) My appreciation of classical music is somewhat limited, though I'm impressive at identifying the music (certain pieces) of Borodin, Strauss, Rachmaninoff, and Grieg. Thank you Wright and Forrest.

Posted by TorontoDan @ 07/17/2003 03:52 PM PST

Just about to scurry off to tonight's performance of PIMPERNEL. I wanted to thank DR Sandra for sending me such a wonderful suprise in the mail! :-) I will, indeed, send you a copy of the program and I will take some photos tonight with my friend's digital camera and email them to you...me in all my "finery." La! what a lark. I'm not sure which email addy you're using nowadays, so please email me using the link on my name so I'll where to send it. Any other H/K who want pictures sent to them, please email me and let me know. I'm sure you'd get a kick out of the garb...especially the big pink chiffon bow. Yes...pink chiffon bows. Need I say more to whet your appetites? :-)

MusicGuy: Got your email...can't wait!

Craig Brockman: Where the hell are you?!?! I haven't heard from you in WEEKS!

And now, I'm off...

Miss you all!!

Posted by Jason @ 07/17/2003 04:00 PM PST

Ooops...hehe...forgot the link. There you have it.

Posted by Jason @ 07/17/2003 04:02 PM PST

WARNING: SPOILER FOR AVANTI!

I always wondered if Bernard Slade got his idea for Same Time, Next Year from the plot of Avanti. As you know STNY plot revolves around a man and woman who meet once a year to have an adulterous affair.

Avanti revolves the son Lemmon and daughter (Mills) of a similar adulterous couple.(His father; her mother) At the end of Avanti Lemmon and Mills decide to pick up where the parents left off my meeting once a year to have an affair.

And that's where the plot of the Slade play comes in.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 07/17/2003 04:16 PM PST

The television series that BK worked on last year received 2 Emmy Award nominations.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 07/17/2003 04:17 PM PST

OK esteemed, lithe, stylish, and non-trendy BK.....

It's time for details....details do you hear?? What was the name of the TV show you worked on last year, that was just mentioned by Mr. Michael Shayne? And what is the name of the current production that is shooting all over southern California??

Inquiring minds are about to fizzle out from heat overload here in the barren wasteland. H E L P !!!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/17/2003 04:50 PM PST

Jay, if I were to spell my name
in my own language, you could
not even read it!

To you, i'm Alexander
Borodin...

To my French friend who's
lending me his computer
keyboard it's Alexander
Borodine...

Vous comprenez? ;- )

Posted by Borodine @ 07/17/2003 04:54 PM PST

I keep wondering, because i
do have time to waste... ;- )

will Dave ever AGREE with BK
once????

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 04:56 PM PST

The name of the show that I
worked on last year, that was
nominated for two Emmys is,
of course, Bullshit! (one of the
Emmy noms is for my pal Gary
Stockdale, for his theme
music). I am loathe to reveal
the name of the show I'm
working on - only because
should one of the network
people do a search on their
title they might find I've been
writing about it and who knows
how they'd react. it would
probably be fine, but you never
know.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 04:57 PM PST

It's too much fun for Dave NOT
to agree with me - but he also
wasn't agreeing with several
others today, so I don't really
feel special. And, it's too much
fun for ME to have Dave not
agree with me. I think Mr.
Dave enjoys not agreeing with
people - it's been that way
since early on here, even
before he wasn't agreeing with
me. And that is fine and dandy
and also dandy and fine. It all
comes out in the wash, as
they say.

Posted by bk @ 07/17/2003 05:00 PM PST

Maestro Borodine:

My apologies.

It's coincidental that you should appear on this site today, because earlier we were discussing a musical called LADY IN THE DARK? Have you ever seen it? It contains a song that mentions you and about a zillion of your compatriot composers. It's called "Tschaikowsky." Or is it "Tchaikovsky?" Or maybe "Chaikovski?"

In any event, I LOOOOVE Rrrrrussian composers!

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 05:14 PM PST

Hmmm. That first question mark should have been a period.

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 05:16 PM PST

Just returned home from having my car detailed. It looked so nice until I drove up our dirt road.

I'm having a good laugh over this discussion of clothes. We went through some interesting styles with our boys. I NEVER imagined taking boys to the jewelry store to get their ears pierce, nor to shop for ear rings with them. Thank goodness when they wore their jeans low, the boxers were still worn up to the waist. A style that didn't last very long. As with all styles it's the people that take them to extremes, or worse, wear the style even when unbecoming to their figures, that are the problem. I do enjoy the current style, when worn in moderation. My son's 21 year old girlfriend looks precious in the little stretch tops and low cut jeans. Unfortunately most of the girls have large bellies hanging over the low cut jeans. No one has mentioned the low rider skirts and high stretch tops the pregnant woman are wearing. I'm concerned the sun will cause them to get stretch marks.

Posted by Jane @ 07/17/2003 05:18 PM PST

Clothing styles for youth do come and go, and I've oftentimes scratched my head over some things that have passed for fashion, but figured live and let live. As BK and others have pointed out, though, some of these kids--and a lot of adults, too!--are going to be in a real pickle one of these days over the tatoos they thought were so cool at the time they had them burned into their skin.

The other thing that bugs me about today's youth fashion is that much of it is rooted in gangs. And I don't mean the Mouseketeers, Dear Readers, but gangs that perform unspeakable violence against innocents and themselves. That the gangster "look" of baggie pants worn below the butt should become the "must have" fashion for grade schoolers bothers me considerably.

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 05:39 PM PST

Am I being too EXTREME if I
say that I find that we live in a
more and more decadent
world?

Decadent on all levels!?!?

And, believe me, I'm all for live
and let live -- oh, a Cole Porter
reference -- but when people
end up looking ugly and
repulsive -- i know, i know,
ugliness is in the eye of the
beholder, but don't tell me
most piercings on faces are
not just... unattractive?

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 06:00 PM PST

"With regard to the ATC thread, I think that some people have missed an important point." -Dave

"BK wrote: 'No one missed the point of that young girl's post, at least not in my opinion.'

...to which I reply, I never said that anybody did. Read the post again, Bruce." -Dave

Why don't YOU read the post again, Dave?

Posted by Scales of Justice @ 07/17/2003 06:08 PM PST

Is anyone ELSE out there HOOKED on "Big Brother"?

Jennifer???? ANYone????

How about"Fame," which climaxes next Wednesday night when a winner will be named from among the four finalists.

DOES ANYONE BUT ME feel HORRIBLE for poor Serena when NOT ONE judge named her as a favorite to win it all? I thought it was APPALLING to do that to her. She wasn't my favorite to win it all, but she was in a two-person race at second. Brandon is dead last. In fact, Brandon should be there...Alex should.

My vote is for Harlemm Lee...he's short, he's bald, he's 35, and he's head and shoulders above all the rest of them.

Brandon needs to learn to sing notes "as written" -- too many "borrowings" of stylistic nuances just mess stuff up in my opinion. You know you're in trouble when they announce that Brandon will sing Donny Hathaway's arrangement of Leon Russell's "This Song's For You."

And what was with Shannon Bex? Her "I Will Always Love Your" was delivered a la Dolly Parton (writer) but they announced she'd sing "Whitney Houston's" arrangement.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 06:12 PM PST

It's too darn hot!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/17/2003 06:14 PM PST

You can say that again!

Posted by Cowardly Lion @ 07/17/2003 06:18 PM PST

I'm glad that I am not the only one who loves Kismet and who would love to see it revived. I did think about it being set in Baghdad and all that, and how any producer who wasn't Max Bialystock may hesistate to mount it right now with today's political climate. But why not?? It's a classic...and that score. My dad will be listening to the classical music station in the car and Borodin's Polyvetsian Dances (sic?) will come on and I'll start singing Stranger in Paradise.

I think that both Karen Ziemba and Sutton Foster are both good choices for Irma too. Sutton probably has the most amazing set of pipes on Broadway right now. I'd also love to see her in a revival of Funny Girl. True, she doesn't look "Jewish" like Barbra Streisand but boy would she sing the heck out of that score and after all, Barbara Cook DID play Fanny in stock!

Jason--glad that Pimpernel is going well!

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 06:30 PM PST

EEEGGAADDD!! Lull Blight ...

"a smothering lull engulfed Manderlay, just as Miss Danvers was hot-waxing her upper lip..."

Well BK, this is definitely another sparkling, lively, almost whipsnappery day of a nice large amount of DR posts. And, the day is far from over. What a popular site on all of the internet!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/17/2003 07:03 PM PST

DR Lulu, how great you must feel for taking that leap of faith in quitting your job. How envious I am of your courage to do so! If you weren't happy there, then you definitely did the right thing. There's no two ways about it. And no looking back. Remember that everything works out for the best. And for you, that is yet to come. Enjoy your freedom.

Posted by Susan @ 07/17/2003 07:26 PM PST

All of the plays which might have
occured to me for revival have
already been mentioned, except that
I would add anything by Weill
(Particularly "One Touch of Venus"
and "Lost in the Stars") and a
version of "The Happy Time" done
as an intimate show, that brought out
the family aspects. It would certainly
be better than the original
production, which from reports I
have read was among the most
grievously misconceived ever.

Oh yes, and "Carrie".

Oh, and maybe I'm confused, but
what is bad about decadent?
Doesn't it mean luxurious, leisurely,
and just a bit naughty? How is that a
bad thing? I mean, mayb if it is the
only thing, but everyone needs, nay,
desrves, some decadence in his or
her life.

Oh and by the way, in the furor, I
never mentioned my opinion for
"Queer Eye...": It is cute trashy fun. I
was heartened by the good humor
shown by te straight guys with all of
the gay men being crazy around
them, I really liked how they
changed, and I realized that I am not
fabulous enough by half. My first
boyfriend needs to take me
shopping, so that I can be fabulous
in more than my personality.
;)

And BK, I appreciated your defense
of the young people here, and I
heartily concur with Maya's
response.

Posted by Hapgood @ 07/17/2003 07:30 PM PST

DR Jay:

what ever happened to the good old days, when kids in gangs at least wore colourful shirts (warm colours for one, and cool for their rival) and played basketball with pointed toes to my music?

Posted by L. Bernstein @ 07/17/2003 07:51 PM PST

By decadent i meant moral
decay...

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 07:52 PM PST

Well, Maya and I are on the same wavelength, as IRMA LA DOUCE is always tops on my list for what I want to see revived! And in spite of Allan's qualms with Maria Friedman, she's who I'd love to see as Irma. I'm still surprised that "Our Language of Love" is not a cabaret standard, or that some intrepid female vocalist hasn't taken on "Dis Donc." Fortunately, there is a brilliant record producer who recorded "The Christmas Child" on A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS. . .

After IRMA, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA would do for me. Put Ms. Chenowith in it as *Rosabella," Malcom Gets as Herman, Linda Lavin as Tony's Sister, James Gandolfini as Tony and Rachel York can be Cleo.

Regarding AVANTI!, I remember seeing this many times in theaters when it first came out - - back in '73/74 I just couldn't get enough of it. BK's comments make me hesitate about popping it into the dvd player: sometimes those movies that were special way back when, aren't so special anymore. I still think that MGM shoulda capitalized on the fact that Juliet Mills is a treasured daytime soap opera star, and brought the PASSIONS contingent into Wilder territory. Mill's Pamela is a joyous creation.

Posted by td @ 07/17/2003 08:00 PM PST

Yay! #100!

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 08:10 PM PST

TD--Maria Friedman does have an awesome voice. Has she ever ventured onto this side of the Atlantic?

All of a sudden, I am seized with a sudden urge to get out my Irma LP and have another listen!

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 08:14 PM PST

Dear Reader Lennie:

You know, 50 years from now they'll be calling NOW the "good old days."

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 08:19 PM PST

Dear Readers:

This has been quite a day for me! I have corresponded now with not one but TWO dead composers!

Posted by Jay @ 07/17/2003 08:20 PM PST

Speaking of All That Chat, did you notice that one of their main posters admitting to making stuff up just to piss people off?

And they wonder why they have no credibility in the industry.

Posted by Christopher @ 07/17/2003 08:22 PM PST

Jack Lemmon won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical for AVANTI!

Posted by Matt H. @ 07/17/2003 08:27 PM PST

DR Maya, instead of getting out my cd of IRMA, i put in the dvd and jumped to the chapter where MacLaine dances to "Dis Donc!" I really do love what Andre Previn did with the orchestrations for the film, even though the songs are unsung. (Oh! Is that a Bruce Kimmel reference?!?!)
But, I got the dvd of ONE, TWO, THREE tonight, and I'm laughing my a** off! Still as funny as ever! (Maybe I will still laugh and love with AVANTI! over the weekend).

Dear Host BK - did you know this and the 99th post were MINE?

Posted by td @ 07/17/2003 08:33 PM PST

Not only has Barbara Cook played Fanny in FUNNY GIRL, so has Carol Lawrence!!!

MOST HAPPY FELLA has had two Broadway revivals already and neither was very successful.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/17/2003 08:34 PM PST

I sometimes have fits of posting frequency, and sometimes subside into the background as a lurker, but I always check this board with eagerness, and as another young member of the crew -- I turned 19 yesterday, happy birthday to me -- I wanted to put in my two cents. Or even three of them. The cents.

I didn't read the post in question (the one by BERNADETTE WAS ROBBED! girl) but from what it sounds like, that opinion is no more related to her being 17 than it is to a million other characteristics of a person. I myself am quick to bristle when someone points to age as a defining characteristic, or as a limit. It is one of many many many things that shapes your experience at the moment, but it means a different thing for everyone. And I very much resent the assumption that age equals greater understanding/taste/knowledge/whatever. I have had many teachers who have responded to my questions or quibbling or probing of their claims and theories with "Trust me -- I've lived a long time. I've thought about this for many years." Verbatim. Professors like to say this. To which I always want to respond, "Well, great, then you can explain your reasoning to me -- if you've thought about it for so long, fill me in and let me benefit." I simply don't buy that living longer makes you live better -- I know so many people who haven't changed or grown in decades, and "young people" who have matured decades in weeks.

As for knowledge of performing, we have entire schools of performance for young people (I'm currently enrolled in one) and if we don't think that a youth can know a good performance, how can we possibly expect that he give one? And yet we see young actors and artists of all kinds do brilliant, transcendent work frequently -- not always, and not enough, perhaps, but there are actors of ten who have impressed me more than people five times their age. Obviously they have a handle on something.

To be oh-so-cliched, Mozart was composing at four, and he knew what he liked then. Was his music, or his opinion, of less value because it had been formed in four years? Well, maybe, but should he have sat on it for forty more years before sharing it -- forty years in which it might not even have changed?

Ooooohhhh, I'm waxing rhapsodic. Stop me. Or better yet, I'll stop myself.

Anyhow, I think we young folk (regardless of our dressing habits -- I agree that those low rider jeans are dreadful. And they really make everyone look beer-bellied which is no good at all) are self-questioning and confused enough without the more advanced constantly telling us we don't know anything. Okay. But neither does anyone, really -- we're all just trying to figure it out.

As for musicals I'd like to see revived -- I too would very much enjoy Carnival (I'd kill to play Lily, I think it's a magical role) and I'm game for a nice, full-scale production of Anyone Can Whistle that runs at least fifty performances so I can get to one.

Posted by Anna @ 07/17/2003 08:45 PM PST

OMG . . How did we miss it? Happy Birthday, Anna!

Posted by Susan @ 07/17/2003 08:52 PM PST

Happy birthday, Anna! You really should post more frequently--liked and agreed with your post. BTW, what perfoming arts school do you go to?

TD--I have actually never seen the Irma la Douce movie. I became familiar with the musical though when I was living in NYC and I picked up quite a few very cheap records of rare OCRs around the city. Irma La Douce was one of the LPs that I found and I loved the music at first hearing--it conjured the romantic streets and alleys of Paris for me, and then Elizabeth Seal has such an amazing voice. I'd like to see the movie even though they stupidly cut most of the songs--Shirley McLaine rocks (now she's someone who would be a great Mame). I also looked it up on the Internet Movie Database, and there was a French TV movie made out of it too in the 70's. Wonder if they had the music for that one?

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 09:07 PM PST

Dear Reader Maya! I was just on the Imdb reading the user comments for all of the Wilder films that were finally released on dvd! So, since IRMA was released quite a while ago, I didn't go to that page. . .
Ms. Seal DOES have an interesting voice, and Keith Mitchell's voice gives me goosebumps! It's a great cast recording.
If I recall correctly, Ms. Seal appeared in FOLLIES, somewhere across the pond.

DR WEL - am I the only one who DOESN'T like the two-piano version of MOST HAPPY FELLA? ? ?
I truly became entranced by this show when I scrimped and saved my pennies for the three-lp vinyl cast recording! Then, sometime in the mid-1970's Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera mounted a full production of it - I was there on opening night, and three other nights of its seven performance run. That production featured Leigh Berry (CYRANO) and Don Stewart (CAMELOT, "The Guiding Light") and was everything a production of FELLA should be.

Posted by td @ 07/17/2003 09:17 PM PST

Happy Birthday (late) to DR Anna... Here are several candles, and some pointy party hats. iiiii ^^^^

DR Hapgood....of course you deserve (as does everyone) a smidge or two of decadence in your life. Good, red-blooded decadence! I think you already have a good start on the fabulosity!

DR Francois.... and of course by decadence, I mean moral decay. :) All things in moderation.

DR Jay....quite a day for you and dead composers. If Tchaikowsky offers to take you on vacation, be careful!! He waxes more than rhapsodic.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/17/2003 09:28 PM PST

Anna, could you elaborate on "I
I know "young people" who
have matured decades in
weeks"???

As for Mozart he was the
exception which confirms the
rule... and we're talking
GENIUS here!

I know I'm showing my age but
-- and MusicGuy seems to
know... -- what does "waxing
rhapsodic" means???

Such a decadent -- and
pepsodent! -- world, I'm telling
you!

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 10:10 PM PST

Hours away from the computer and all those posts re Kismet/Borodin. "And this Is My Beloved" is a so wonderfully sung on the Samuel Ramey/Julia Migenes version. Don't like the TEr one as much. I don't know the Rhino version DR Ron.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/17/2003 10:14 PM PST

Tom,

You don't know the film version
on Rhino????

Well, we're going to make sure
that you do, because, as Ron
said, it's fantastic, and a little
decadent too! ;- )

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 10:26 PM PST

What???
Me again!

TER has Judy Kaye in lieu of
Migenes, and, in my book,
Judy wins!

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 10:28 PM PST

François--waxing rhapsodic means to be very over-the-top excited about something and talking about it in such a way as if you were like a rhapsody. The verb wax can also refer to emotions as well as to the waxing and waning of the moon--one can wax poetic, for instance. I hope that helps and that I didn't confuse you.

That said, I hope I can speak French one day as well as you speak English!

Posted by Maya @ 07/17/2003 10:46 PM PST

It is the Ruth Ann Swenson component that makes the Sony release so beautiful. (I had to check on the singer!). Judy Kaye is mentioned in your email!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 07/17/2003 10:48 PM PST

Maya,

Thanks for the info!
I knew it had to be that colorful!

Posted by François @ 07/17/2003 10:57 PM PST

Hiya...been really busy, getting my house ready for sale...5000 sqft is asinine for one person and their cat, dog, and 2 birds.
Time in my life to downsize; think of all the DVDs I could pig out on.
Dark Chocolate...TRUFFLES!

Posted by KT @ 07/18/2003 12:03 AM PST

It's not a gang - it's a club.

Posted by Annette Funicello @ 07/18/2003 05:27 AM PST

Put me down as another who doesn't care for the two piano MOST HAPPY FELLA. I grew up with the condensed single LP version, and when the expanded version was released on CD, I jumped at it, so the most recent one was a distinct letdown to me. I prefer all the singers on the original.

Elizabeth Seal is very talented (never saw the original show; my folks thought it was too risque for me), but my heart still aches to know she won the Tony away from Julie Andrews that year.

Posted by Matt H. @ 07/18/2003 06:06 AM PST

I never said I liked or dis-liked the 2 piano HAPPY FELLA... I just stated that it was not a sucess nor was the production in the early 80s which used a full orchestra. I can't see it being revived anytime soon which is a shame. So many really good shows that appeal to those of us who love Broadway musicals really don't appeal to the casual theatergoer and therefore don't stand much of a chance of being given a first class revival except by a non-profit theatre company. Quality has nothing to do with it. It's just economics (a Weill/Lerner reference).

Regarding the various KISMET recordings, a few months ago Donald did a show where he played tracks from all of them to make a complete all-star KISMET. This is one show that does have several very good recordings and Donald presented an excelent sampler.

By the way, according to the back of the DVD cover for IRMA LA DOUCE, before Shirley was hired they were in negotiations for Elizabeth Taylor to play the role!

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/18/2003 06:20 AM PST

Matt - I too thought about Julie Andrews losing the Tony that year. I did some surfing, and saw what an odd year for Tonys 1960-61 was. Nancy Walker was another nominee for best actress in a Musical (Do Re Mi), while Tammy Grimes was nominated for (and won) best actress supporting or featured (Unsinkable Molly Brown). Dick Van Dyke won that year as best actor supporting or featured (Bye Bye Birdie). I think the nominations were based on whether the star's name was above or below the title of the show. The next year's nominations were just as peculiar, with Carnival not even nominated for best musical score.

Posted by TorontoDan @ 07/18/2003 06:44 AM PST

Tut, Tut.....Now, where in tarnation (a "who?" reference) is that little sleepy-head BK ??

It's almost 7:30 here in the west this morning...Up..Up, you lazy Mary...there is botox to shoot, teeth to cap, and I'm sure all manner of other mondo bizzaro things to capture and document.

I wanna go to DuPar's !!!

Notes, you philistine, notes...how can I start my day without reading BK's literary seed pearls on the mantilla of life??

Posted by MusicGuy @ 07/18/2003 07:28 AM PST

Just for the record, there have been many times when I have posted my agreement with BK, and I have concurred with others on this board many times as well.

In fact, I will do so again right now. I think that a revival of LI'L ABNER would be a great deal of fun.

But, as with many of the DRs, I will voice my opinion, even if it is not the popular opinion at this board.

Now, let's be clear. There is nothing in my earlier post that suggests I agree or disagree with BK. I suggested that it is amusing how fashion trends come full circle, and how people who grew up in an era with some controversial fashions are now shocked by the clothes the younger generation wears. This is not a new observation. Another poster quoted "Kids" from BYE BYE BIRDIE as an earlier illustration of how this phenomenon.

BK then says...

"I think Mr. Dave enjoys not agreeing with people..."

I think it is closer to the truth to say that I enjoy looking at all sides of an issue. I am willing to examine different points of view, and offer them to the group for discussion. Sometimes I will even play Devil's advocate, just for the sake of looking at the issue in another light. That seems to not always be popular around here. ;-)

I'd also like to point out that in many instances, people have inferred a meaning from my posts that was not intended. For example, if you read my original post today, you will see that I wrote:

"With regard to the ATC thread, I think that some people have missed an important point"

Note that I referred to a thread, not the original post. And I said that *some* people (i.e. not all people, and not necessarily Bruce) may have missed *a* point (not the point of the girl who started the thread). I was suggesting that there was a point we had not yet looked at. (Namely, that one's experience of a particular show need not be predicated upon a frame of reference that includes having seen multiple productions of the same show. If that were the case, how would one judge the original production, or the performances in it? A revival *is* an original production, if you haven't seen it before.) This was obviously misconstrued by some people. Maybe that's because I didn't clarify it enough for some people. I'll take responsibility for that.

Now, if you'd like me to voice my agreement with BK once again, I will. I feel sorry for the kids who are defacing their bodies with tattoos, as I'm sure they will regret it in years to come. Piercings can be removed, and most will eventually heal over. Hair can usually grow back, and you can always change your clothes. But tattoos are more permanent, and much harder to get rid of, should one outgrow them.

Posted by Dave @ 07/18/2003 07:40 AM PST