Anyone see the original "They're Playing Our Song"- Page 4

[DAME]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 3:52pm

OMG I never knew that. I will have to give the song another listen. BTW.. you know what I was trying to find... right before the show opened Lucille Ball went on the Tonight Show and she talked about being excited to go to her daughters show. Trying to do a search on google and YT.. but so many clips are popping up.

Updated On: 5/29/12 at 03:52 PM

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:18pm

No, it just means that the sarcasm was lost on you as a high school student (or that Arnaz didn't deliver it correctly at that performance).

Come on. By any standards that's a pretty cheap joke.

(And I loved that production of DRACULA--saw it many times.)

Updated On: 5/29/12 at 04:18 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:29pm

Here's some interesting trivia. On the original cast recording Eydie Gorme sings the last few notes on WHEN YOU'RE IN MY ARMS because it was not really in Lucie's range.


It wasn't in her range? So what did they do when she had to sing it live in the show? Did someone sing the note off stage for her?

[morosco]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:32pm

Here's an email from Larry Blank...

"Eydie Gorme sang the last few notes on WHEN YOUR IN MY ARMS. because it was not really in Lucie's range. . . In the theatre it didn't matter. . but would've been noticeable on a
recording.
Larry Blank
MD for the show"

[morosco]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:36pm

But here's an article in the New York Times that makes things even more confusing...

The only moment in Debbie Gravitte's brassy new cabaret act when the singer sounds less than thrilled with the way her career has developed comes when she recalls having her voice on the original cast album of 'They're Playing Our Song' replaced by that of Eydie Gorme.
A Singer With Brass And Splash

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:38pm

Thanks for the clarification and the links morosco!

[morosco]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:41pm

Makes me wonder if Gravitte (Shapiro) sang those notes for Arnaz at performances.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 4:43pm

On the subject of high notes, I asked Lucie how and when her voice changed, because I remembered her as a more or less lyric soprano when she and her brother sang on one of their mother's TV shows. She said she just woke up one morning in her late teens/early 20s and discovered she was a contralto; her voice had changed literally overnight.

She struggled with a few of the vocals in MACK AND MABEL, but was so charming in the role, nobody seemed to mind. I know I didn't.

[morosco]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 5:05pm

By any crazy chance does anyone have the Johnny Mathis recording of "I Still Believe in Love"? It was used in the original production during a segue.

[aviators99]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 5:26pm

I'm pretty sure it comes with the Samuel French package, because I've heard it used at a bunch of the shows I've seen.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 5:29pm

The clip is one of several Samuel French licenses with the show. I was in a production two years ago, and Samuel French sent us a tape with that on, along with Vernon's song "Me and You and Leon" that he gives Sonia in the last scene. There may have been others too.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 11:52pm

The very first musical I ever saw (outside of school/camp) was They're Playing Our Song. While it certainly isn't exactly a kid friendly show, my folks took me to the touring version in Boston.

I always wondered what happened to Marsha Skaggs and now that I've read some posts I see that she changed her last name...

Caught the revival at Reprise in LA and while i LOVED the music, I have to say the show didnt really stand up too well - incredibly long first act (and wasnt such a fan of the staging - although Jason Alexander and Stephanie J Block were fantastic)

I don't know how this show could be revived - although wouldve been interested in seeing the version at Meniere a few years ago...

[aviators99]

Posted: 5/30/12 at 12:02am

I agree with respect to the staging. I found it a bit too "clever". The first act was indeed long (the same length as the original). In general the show has much more dialogue than most shows. The Redo at the Reprise tried to account for that by adding more music (in the second act). They couldn't really delete any dialogue...Apparently, Simon and the producers had the same argument in the '70s.

The Meniere got horrible reviews. I'm sure the Reprise was better.

[alterego]

Posted: 5/30/12 at 8:48am

Morosco, further to your information in regard to the Cast Album (as we used to call them). The album was recorded during the LA run, I was told by someone who was associated with the show that Marvin Hamlisch was concerned that some of the "Girls" couldn't hit the notes he wanted so waiting, in a limo at one point in the carpark next to the recording studio were a Pointer sister or two and Liza Minelli.

They also found out that only one of the girls knew how to play the toy pianos used in the bows. The other two had been faking it. The short melody referred to as You, and Me, and Leon is actually called Vernon's Theme and is on the Australian Cast Recording. The Johnny Mathis I Still Believe In Love was recorded by JM as a favour to Marvin Hamlisch. It is not the full song and JM does some strange vocals at the end of the track (I assume) so it couldn't be released or used in full.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 5/30/12 at 11:16am

That's right. I originally referred to it as "Vernon's Theme" because I recalled seeing that in the script, but then I changed it because of Vernon's line in the show, "It's all about you and me and Leon. I call it 'You and Me and Leon.'" Thanks for the clarification.

[Buscee]

Posted: 6/15/12 at 4:12pm

I have seen this show several times during its original run. Unfortunately I did not see Robert Klein. I saw Tony Roberts and Lucie Arnaz, Stockard Channing and Roberts, Diana Canova and Tedd Wass, and the final performance with Victor Garber and Marsha Skaggs. IT is my favorite show,and you can only appreaciate it if you saw the original sets, etc. Local Theatres sometimes don't put the money into. I also saw it at Westbury Music Fair with Latessa and Susan Anton. The sets were stunning and actually paved the way for the projections and video you see on Broadway today. TPOS was the first.
I do believe there was a feud with Arnaz and Klein, but that is all over. I met them both at TPOS with Sutton Foster and Seth. Lucie said to Klein "you were great in this show"

I have actually had many recent conversations with Arnaz about this show. She is a living doll.

If you have any questions please feel free to fire away.

There is a record DEMO that went out before the actual OBC album came out that has the whole Johnny Manthis version of ISBIL

Updated On: 6/15/12 at 04:12 PM

[Wildcard]

Posted: 6/15/12 at 8:17pm

Lucie, Robert and Marvin reunite this weekend at the Pasadena Pops
Lucie, Robert and Marvin: They're Playing Our Song

[aviators99]

Posted: 11/13/13 at 11:22pm

Sorry to revive an old thread, but for fun I wrote a "They're Playing Our Song" quiz. I have "Easy" (for some of them you would have to have seen the show a few times), "Hard" (for some of them you would have had to see the show a dozen times), and "Impossible" (Either have to cheat by reading the book, have performed in the show, or have seen the show 30+ times like me and started looking for trivia questions during the show). This message board doesn't let me put invisible answers in it, so I'm just going to put the answers. If you re-post this somewhere, please give me credit (Ron Schnell - @RonnieSchnell)

TPOS Test

Easy
----

What is the name of the leading male character in the play?
Vernon Gersch

What is the name of the leading female character in the play?
Sonia Walsk

What is the first name of Sonia's on-again off-again boyfriend from before the play starts?
Leon

How late was Sonia to her very first meeting with Vernon?
20 minutes

At what hotel in The Hamptons was Sonia planning to stay on the weekend following her first meeting with Vernon?
Gurney's Inn

Who was Vernon's girlfriend whose initials are on his hand towels?
Natalie Klein

Where did Sonia and Vernon go on their first "date"?
Le Club

From which show was the dress Sonia wore to Le Club?
Pippin

Where on Long Island did Sonia and Vernon escape for the weekend?
Quogue

How did his parents keep Vernon from sliding off the piano bench?
They tied him to a coat rack

What did Sonia bring to Quogue with Vernon for the sake of the neighbors?
A tennis racket

Who sings Sonia and Vernon's first hit: I Still Believe in Love?
Johnny Mathis

Where do Vernon and Leon meet for the first time?
Hospital X-Ray room

Hard
----

What group was playing during Sonia and Vernon's first dance?
The Bee Gees

What is the first name of the only named performing character other than Sonia and Vernon?
Phil

From what show was the dress Sonia was wearing when she first met Vernon?
The Cherry Orchard

From what show was the dress Sonia was wearing on the second time she met Vernon?
Of Human Bondage

How late was Sonia on the second time she met Vernon?
1 day, 22 minutes

What is Leon's last name?
Persky

What was the name of Sonia's first big hit?
Can't Lovin' Be Fun

On what floor did Vernon live?
14

How old was Sonia when she wrote "Let's play two sets in Massachusetts"?
11

Where did Sonia and Leon go to college?
Middlebury College

Where did Vernon study?
Juiliard

What kind of car did Sonia and Vernon drive to Quogue?
Austin Healey

What does Leon call Vernon the first time they speak on the phone?
Mervyn

To what number on the charts do we know that I Still Believe in Love reaches?
2

For how many weeks do we know that I Still Believe in Love was on the charts?
12

At what hospital is Vernon healing?
Cedars Sinai

On what street was Vernon hit by a car?
Sunset Blvd

What was the year, make and model of car hit Vernon?
1972 Ford Pinto

With whom does Sonia collaborate in Los Angeles after she breaks up with Vernon?
Mark Rosetti

What was the name of the orchestral composition that Vernon had recorded for his grand exit from Sonia's apartment?
You, Me, and Leon


Impossible
----------

What day and time was Sonia and Vernon's second meeting supposed to be?
Tuesday at 11

What was the date of Sonia and Vernon's second meeting?
May 17th

What was the address of Vernon's studio?
111 East 10th Street

On what street did Sonia live?
West 18th Street

In what class at Middlebury did Sonia get an A+ but have the teacher tell her she "got through by the skin of her teeth"?
Comtemporary American Literature

How much money were the fresh clams on the way to Quogue?
$4

What was the phone number at the house in Quogue where Sonia first arrived?
[phone]

What was the address of Vernon's friend's beach house in Quogue?
267 Sea View Drive

What was the address of the house in Quogue where Sonia first arrived?
257 Sea View Drive

What was the first name of the person with whom Vernon was speaking on the phone when we first see him in the hospital?
Lou

What time was it that Vernon got hit by a car?
2:30 in the afternoon

What is Mark Rosetti's record label?
Eclectic Records

Whose movie did Vernon score in Paris?
Louis Malle

What was the name of the song Vernon erased to record You, Me, and Leon
Rhapsody in Blue Cross

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 3:58pm

I saw the original cast and it was fun if not groundbreaking. Just read it recently and it is, I'm afraid, terribly dated.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 3:58pm

I saw the original cast and it was fun if not groundbreaking. Just read it recently and it is, I'm afraid, terribly dated.

[aviators99]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 4:00pm

No, not "dated". It's become a period piece.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 5:33pm

As much as I adore Lucie Arnaz and like Robert Klein, I can't imagine sitting through the show twice. Neil Simon's lame and pointless jokes just wore me out.

Buscee, I would love to hear what Arnaz says about the supposed feud with Klein. She's one of the warmest and most gracious celebrities with whom I have ever worked. Of course she's not a close, personal friend, but I have trouble imagining her carrying a grudge.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 5:41pm

Made me laugh again just now.

Joey, as I explained in my original post, the problem with the ashtray joke was context. I readily admitted the audience found it hilarious. But it was placed in the middle of a serious scene because apparently Simon didn't trust his own writing about the relationship of the leads.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 6:07pm

Havn't read this entire thread so if repeating,sorry, but the original Australian production starred John Waters and JACKI WEAVER.
PS-I'm sure I owned an LP cast recording,don't know if it went to CD.

Updated On: 11/15/13 at 06:07 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 6:29pm

Really a shame that no real footage exists.