Anyone Can Whistle
Anyone Can Whistle
#1Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 6:15pm
This is one of my Personal favorites. The entire score (even the cut songs are wonderful) is strictly Sondheim at his best. The book, while problematic, is lovely enough, but I wish that AL had been able to revise it before he passed. Even em with these flaws, I have recently been compulsively listening to the OBCR (with the stunning Angela Lansbury, in a role that she is perfection in). I am wondering if anyone had the pleasure to see the original production (out of town, or previews count as the actual show closed after 9 performances) and had any anecdotes or opinions on it. Also, is there any hope for a full-fledged revival?
If you haven't seen the show, what are your favorite songs from the score?
Mine are all if the Cora songs:
Me and My Town (the best character introductory number ever, IMOO)
A Parade in Town
I've Got You To Lean On
I also love
There Won't Be Trumpets
Come Play Wiz Me
See What It Gets You / Anyone Can Whistle (Reprise)
#2Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 6:24pm
I love the show but it's extremely doubtful we'll see a full-scale revival anytime soon.
It's not that Laurents wasn't ABLE to fix the book. He wasn't willing to.
But I think the score is one of Sondheim's best. Love the OBCR.
#2Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 7:01pm
Hey
I agree, the original cast recording is wonderful - our Ange's marvellous timing nails her numbers while Lee Remick is genuinely touching - but I have seen the show done twice here in London and it simply refuses to fly. It's not unknown for books to be re-written so I guess there is always hope for it.
#3Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 7:48pm
I actually prefer the Carnegie Hall concert cd. Madeleine Kahn's voice for Cora is innately funny, Bernadette Peters gets Fay's baby-doll innocence and steely reserve just right, and Scott Bakula is an infinitely better singer than Harry Guardino. Not in love with "There's Always a Woman" but the rest of the recording is a winner.
The only production of the show I ever saw was at the Berkshire Theater Festival one summer-- don't think it could ever become a full-fledged revival saddled with that book and attitude. 
#4Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 8:12pmIt's a great score, very bright, but holy cow that book. The attitude isn't necessarily what kills it, peppy satire is entertaining enough but Anyone Can Whistle needs to be a breezy two hours, at best. A new, tight book could really send it sailing.
#5Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 8:41pmInteresting idea, Charley. I was about to ask Kad how he thought Laurents could have fixed it. I've never thought of a way that would work, but I think we need to know what we are watching and who is important much earlier than Act II.
#6Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 8:45pm
I had heard how bad the book was, but when I saw the Encores production with Foster & Murphy, I was still shocked. It's not even bad, it's nonsensical. Why are there three acts?
The score is great though.
#7Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 8:46pm
I do believe tightening it would've helped a great deal- not to mention there are tonal shifts that confuse what exactly the show is.
I saw a production in London two or three years ago that did the show in a very Brechtian style, and it really helped the piece, in my opinion. We knew right away what the show was.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#8Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/29/13 at 8:59pmThe Encores! production was one of my favorites I've ever seen them put on. Flaws and all, it was a wildly entertaining evening. Donna Murphy was fantastic as usual. The book makes no damn sense. And the show virtually has no right in being as long as it is.
#11Anyone Can Whistle
Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:52amJust because I forgot to add this above: I agree that the score is magnificent!
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