Profile for RobR

Maria Friedman - Fosca in 'Passion'; Dot in 'SITPWG'; Marian 'WinW'; Mother in 'Ragtime'; Liza Elliott in 'Lady in the Dark'; Mary in 'Merrily' - plus Witches of Eastwick, Square Rounds, Ghetto.

Yes 1992 the Pit Theatre at the Barbican, London. The RSC's production of the Dybbuk directed by Katie Mitchell, a stage of varied shades of brown, actors directed to almost put a pause between every syllable, and a stage lit by candlelight. At the interval I realised I'd just lost two hours of my life I could never get back and I had a pile of ironing at home that would provide a better night's entertainment.

Anthony Sher opened it in London and was then followed by Harvery. It was a remarkable performance from Sher who played Arnold a little more 'needy' as I recall and it was very much an actor's performance - one of those that knows it will get the actor noticed by a wider audience. He also made the mke-up in the first play 'prettier'/more stylish for want of a better word.

You sing showtunes around the office at work - and try to get colleagues to join in with the harmonies and chorus numbers. You can't remember the name of the guy you went out with, but know you dragged him along to an amateur production of 'Company' for a 2nd date. You ask what production of any multiple recorded show, someone means when a fellow addict mentions a show ("Do you mean original cast? London revival? or off-off Broadway that played 2 weeks") You spend several years with a fellow ...

The chairs from 'Grand Hotel' - I have alot of friends, finally they could sit down. The dresser from Doyle's 'Sweeney Todd' - what I didn't want to keep would sell on e-bay. The balcony from the new 'Evita' - it would just finish my garden of. The house in London's 'Mary Poppins' - a three/four storey nouse in Central London, who wouldn't want that?

But let's look on the bright side - it may not ... However back to the question - I suspect 'Light on the Piazza' to move between the legit stage and opera house over the next 30 years; also the technical aspects of stagecraft may in time develop at such a pace that we could end up with CGI theatre, or downloadable performances (just think get Carol, Angela, Chita and Julie to record their classic performances one last time ready to be slotted into any production long after their deaths - roy...

Just been reading Sheldon Harnick's observations on his show in 'The Art of the American Theatre: Conversations with the Creators'; he comments that they blew the second act at the time by concentrating on the love story between Nathan and Hannah, when the whole show should be about father and sons. Also he points out it needs a fairly big company, on Broadway it was 40 strong. But it is a beautiful score.

On Your Toes

Skip X - so Y. Yearling

Three Wishes for Jamie

Passion

I've been filling in my CD collection gaps and finally got round to purchasing the remastered 'Li'l Abner' - now I have a vague idea of the plot Dogpatch being used as a nuclear testing site, but that's about it. Its such an American show that I can't find any record of it having been performed anytime in the UK, so anyone able to provide a synopsis and bit of background? Many thanks.

Fate may often treat me meanly But I keenly pursue A little mirage in the blue, Determination helps me through. Though I never really grumble, Life's a jumble indeed And in my efforts to succeed I've had to formulate a creed. I believe in doing what I can In crying when I must In laughing when I choose Hey ho, if love were all I should be lonely. - If Love Were All ~ Noel Coward's BITTERSWEET

7 Mack and Mabel

I admit Sunset is the one ALW musical I have seen far too many times. Saw the very first preview in London (which was to have been the last before opening night - but staging problems messed up the schedule) and still remember Patti walking down the staircase at the end with the white peacock feather head dress (which was slightly overkill for Norma meeting the press, if fabulously mad). Then later in the run when Kevin Anderson seemed to be having a running war with the M.D. (you know one ni...

The Barbara Dixon - she created the part and it's from when the show still maintained its rough edges.

From 2000 a stunning bit of Euro dance music by Lora Munro of 'Do-Re-Mi' and 'My Favourite Things' - I just listened to it again it made my ears bleed!!! However Donna Giles version of 'I am what I am' is worth it, clever mix, soulful voice, and perfect for facing the worst of the day. I also remember from the mid 90's a techno remix of 'The Day After That' from 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman' - first time I heard it at 5am on a hot dancefloor it rather freaked me out, my two worlds of musicals and...

Guys & Dolls She Loves Me Nine City of Angels Passion and at No1. Grand Hotel (well this week)

Can I suggest another Lansbury role? Cora Hoover Hooper from 'Anyone Can Whistle' - corrupt, venal, cunning, self pitying & her duet with Nurse Fay Apple 'There's Always A Woman' is a delight.

Has a blissful score (and the Columbia Masterworks edition has Truman Capote reading a very small part of the original story - worth it just to compare against Phillip S-H's performance) and memorable performances all round If you then wonder why it lasted only 165 performances on Broadway, it's worth checking its history in 'Not Since Carrie' - sounds like fireworks all round.