So sometimes we rockcrits get tired of howling at the moon and want tp back to Broadway. Here we go then…
Comedy Tonight – Ken Thorne – From A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Thorne’s scoring of this masterful piece of palava used at every awards show ever. If you recognize the name it’s maybe because Richard Lester also used him on A Hard Day’s Night..
If I Was A Rich Man – Zero Mostel – Many (many, many) years ago I was dating this girl and she forced me to go to see Fidler On The Roof . I said ok but only till this song goes on. Sing song in and I get to leave… I prefer Mostel’s Jewish angst to Topol’s self pity and Gwen Stefani’s update to either!!!
Why Do I Love You – Elaine Stritch – I went to see this revival of Show Boat FOUR TIMES. And didn’t really think it made sense to give this song to Grandma BUT Elaine kills it. Listen to how she laughs before “happy”. It’s called musical theatre.
Some Enchanted Evening – Paulo Szot – The great Brazilian Baritone whom I’ve written about more than once and who will be starring at the Met next month became a superstar in this Lincoln Center Production of South Pacific .still playing I believe but he isn’t in it any more. I prefer his take than the more histroinic Rosanna Brazzi take from the movie. If you were in the city and had the chance to see him in this production and missed it -shame on you.
I Love You, Porgy – Ella Fitzgerald – You and I may disagree upon many things but we agree upon this: George Gershwin was a terrible loss for music. So maybe if we can’t agree whether Porgy And Bess was a musical or an opera, who cares? We might also disagree whether Ella’s natural bounce was right for this. But you’d be wrong.
As If We Never Said Goodbye – Glenn Close – I went to opening night of this and Billy Wilder came out for the curtain. Sure, I preffered the movie as well, but if I’m stuck seeing ANYTHING by Lloyd Webber I hope it’s this show, Sunset Boulevard.
Alright, are we done, may I finish A Funny Thing?