A Family Affair

[jasonf]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:29pm

What do you guys think of this show? I just tried really listening to it, and much of it sounds kind of -- whatever -- which is disappointing considering the pedigree involved. But "There's a Room in My House" is beautiful!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 7:26pm

Give it time. It grows on you. To me "Family Affair" is one of many "fluff" musicals that seemed to be popular in the early to mid sixties along with "Bajour", "Something More", "Flora The Red Menace" and "Sail Away". I remember seeing "Bajour" and "Flora" as a kid and even though I was only ten/eleven, I knew even then that these were mediocre shows at best yet I loved seeing them both. A nineteen year old Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera in her prime were reasons enough to buy a $6.00 mezzanine seat. I never saw "A Family Affair" but since I knew of Larry Kert from "West Side Story" and Rita Gardner from "The Fantasticks" I eagerly bought the album and was a bit disappointed upon first hearing it. Over the years I grew to really enjoy it, especially non singer Eileen Heckert's rendition of "Summer Is Over". Commedienne Shelly Berman who was never a favorite of mine even comes off better than expected. Finding him very irritating as a performer, I now find myself much more tolerant of the man's singing. No, "A Family Affair" is by no means a great show but like "Let It Ride" and "Jimmy" which still haven't made an LP to CD transfer, it's always fun finally getting these sixties' flops on compact discs.