Bernstein/Comden & Green Concert -- missing something...

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 2:14pm

Ahem, but ALL THREE also did PETER PAN. No mention of one of Broadway's most revived shows?

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86794.htmlhttp://www.playbill.com/news/article/86794.html>http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86794.html

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 2:53pm

Did they?

According to IBDB there are AT LEAST TWO different versions of "Peter Pan" -- one, a world famous, oft-revived musical comedy that debuted in 1954 starring Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins that had the following creative team: Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh; Music by Mark Charlap; Additional music by Jule Styne; Additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green; Incidental music by Elmer Bernstein and Trude Rittman; Music orchestrated by Albert Sendrey. There's no mention of Leonard Bernstein in the listing.

Then there's another "Peter Pan", listed as a "play, revival" from 1950 starring Jean Arthur as Peter Pan and Boris Karloff as Hook that did apparently feature music and lyrics by Leonard Bernstein (probably more of a "play with music" than a full-scale musical). However, that version has never been revived (even though it was a hit) and has no mention of Comden & Green anywhere in the credits.

It seems that Bernstein and Comden & Green both worked on shows based on "Peter Pan" -- it just so happens that they worked on them 4 years apart and not with each other.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 3:05pm

The Bernstein Peter Pan had very few songs (I'm still trying to find a copy of the CD), but there was a pretty ballad I recall, "Build My House".

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 11:46pm

Right, all three did PETER PAN, but yes, they were two different productions. As you said, Bernstein did the production that Bernstein starred in. Comden & Green did the more famous production that starred Mary Martin (1954), Sandy Duncan (1979) and Cathy Rigby (1990-91; 1997-2001).

The concert should still feature songs from BOTH productions, but, my opinion is biased. :-P

For more information on PETER PAN, visit my website, http://www.peterpanfan.comhttp://www.peterpanfan.com>http://www.peterpanfan.com (shameless plug).