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[Freddie]

Page Three!

[Freddie]

I posted this question on castrecl, but since it's a slow day page-wise, maybe I should ask this here.

[Freddie]

Have you seen any pre-Broadway tryouts of shows that went on to New York success, but had such overall subject matter shifts as "Woman of the Year" did in 1981?  or: Did anyone else here see the opening weekend version of "Woman of the Year" tryout in Boston, and then see it on Broadway?

[Freddie]

I'm reminded of this from a recent Times commenter's mention of Joe Namath - 

His 1981 production of "Damn Yankees" at Jones Beach had had ads, even in the arts section of the New York Times, which included this quote;
"Joe Namath sings better than Lauren Bacall" - Stewart Klein, Channel 5 News

[Freddie]

 This was during Lauren Bacall's Broadway stint in "Woman of the Year" - the Kander & Ebb musical which had arrived in New York stripped of some very real complexity her character Tess Harding had at the opening of its Boston tryout - complexity which one assumes may have been part of why the role was first appealing to her. And made it feel more like a Kander and Ebb musical.

[Freddie]

As in the "Woman of the Year" movie, when the musical opened in Boston, Tess Harding finds herself really bad at dealing with a child she adopted and faced with the idea that she might have been using the kid as a trophy child.

[Freddie]

By the end of the Boston run, the great child actor was gone, along with that plot element - before Broadway.

 

[Freddie]

So unlike Lauren Bacall's  triumph in "Applause" with great fireworks, "Woman of the Year" had become a song and dance musical comedy, and with no real drama going on, and there were indeed barbs about her singing, resulting in that classic critic's line in that Jones Beach review of "Damn Yankees."

[George]

Today will be the first (of three) J&H Sunday matinees.  Our call time is 12:30 for the 2:00 show, but people have been getting there earlier than that, so I'm going to try to get there earlier, too.  We'll see if I actually do. 

Then tonight at 7:00 p.m., Theater Artists Olympia will be having a belated The HEAD!!! That Wouldn't DIE! cast party and t-shirt dispersal.  I've had the HEAD t-shirts in my car for a few weeks now, and the actors are wanting their t-shirts!  So now, they'll get them.  I can't temember if I posted this before, but here's what they look like.

Fabulous photo, George!

Thanks, Freddie!

[George]

DR George, I loved your photos, too. I don't recall seeing a photo of your sister before, and I liked the shot of the two of you.

Thanks, Larry!

[George]

An ATC-er had linked this photo of yesterday's protests (looking at the area near the TKTS booth).  Quite a turnout!

Very cool, Freddie!

[Jrand75]

Thanks for the photo DR FREDDIE!

[Jrand75]

Nice review DR MICHAEL G and the photos are great.

[Rodzinski]

Rodzinski, thanks for posting that What's My Line episode last night!  Great fun!

Yer welcome!

[Jrand75]

Nice meeting.

I was given a lot of time to talk before the meeting and I met everyone who came by - actually quite a few folks.

We took some photos which I will be sent.

I was the first person to receive the The Jim Poor Award for service and dedication to PCPH....photo eventually.

Jim was one of the founders. He has passed on but his lovely wife was there to give me the award.

[George]

Great photo, George.

Thanks, John!

[Rodzinski]

Three of the Cowsills, the three that still perform under that name, have an entertaining and candid podcast/youtube show. This morning I watched a lengthy interview they did with Johnny Whitaker as their guest. Most intriguing.

[George]

This is fun for Happy Days fans. I know the woman in the photo.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/happy-days-cast-san-antonio-21107596.php

Very cool, too, Freddie!

[Rodzinski]

Was wondering if he’d mention his cabaret shows with BK, but it did not come up.

[George]

In a bit I shall be on my way to my last official duty at the theeder.

The 2025 Annual Meeting where I will present my final Promotions Committee Report.

I think I will survive.

You and Gloria Gaynor.

[Freddie]

Nice meeting.

I was given a lot of time to talk before the meeting and I met everyone who came by - actually quite a few folks.

We took some photos which I will be sent.

I was the first person to receive the The Jim Poor Award for service and dedication to PCPH....photo eventually.

Jim was one of the founders. He has passed on but his lovely wife was there to give me the award.

Congratulations on your award, Jrand!

[George]

Laundry is finished and needs to be put away. I had a near disaster during the washing cycle. I got Liquid Tide on my hands so I went to the sink the washers drain into to wash my hands and I must have dislodged one of the hoses connecting a washer to the sink. I was on the phone talking to my brother Randy when the washer emptied and the force of the ejected water sent the hose flying off the edge of the sink as water poured all over the basement floor. I rold Randy I'd call him back after I dealt with the issue. Luckily I was able to catch the hose with my cane and reattach it to the sink/

Oh, my goodness! Glad there was a happy ending!

[George]

Good news on your show, George!

Thanks, Michael!

[bk]

I'm up, I'm up - nine and a half hours of great sleep.

[bk]

Made pasta and must eat it.

[bk]

The last of the window cards has sold.

[John G.]

Today's our last performance of the run. Salome doesn't have a chorus, so we'll be off until Tosca in May.

I think you should rewrite it and include a chorus.

[John G.]

From DR John:

I stopped listening to Emma Willis’s memoir when the talk of dementia got a little heavy. So I started Ian McEwan’s latest, What We Can Know, in which a leading character develops dementia. Oh, joy.

LOL.  I have been deciding if I want to read What We Can Know.  I think I'll pass.

I really like McEwan. This one is no Atonement, but it's really good.

[Jane]

Nice meeting.

I was given a lot of time to talk before the meeting and I met everyone who came by - actually quite a few folks.

We took some photos which I will be sent.

I was the first person to receive the The Jim Poor Award for service and dedication to PCPH....photo eventually.

Jim was one of the founders. He has passed on but his lovely wife was there to give me the award.

I am very pleased you were respected an honored, as you deserved, at your last meeting.  It is very moving that you are the first person to receive this special award.

[Jane]

Three of the Cowsills, the three that still perform under that name, have an entertaining and candid podcast/youtube show. This morning I watched a lengthy interview they did with Johnny Whitaker as their guest. Most intriguing.

Interesting.