Broadway Puzzler #57

Posted: 12/6/03 at 5:53pm

If I were still called what I was called when I first made my appearance on Broadway people might have the wrong impression of me.

Who am I?

[magruder]

Posted: 12/6/03 at 6:30pm

You would be The Gay Life (now called The High Life).

Posted: 12/7/03 at 1:17pm

THE GAY LIFE, it is!

Or, THE HIGH LIFE. Whichever you prefer.

Music and Lyrics by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz
starring Barbara Cook, fresh from THE MUSIC MAN, Jules Munshin and Walter Chiari (who?--sorry Walter).

Opening 11/18/1961 at the Shubert Theatre, 4 of the 7 major newspaper critics were favorable. 3 were not, Variety even saying "...fairly good but probaly not good enought fo rthe brutal economic conditions of today's Broadway." Sound familiar? Alas, despite it's beautiful score filled with subtleties and the glorious Barbara Cook, THE GAY LIFE closed after only four months. The score was recorded and is highly regarded and a kinescope exists of two numbers performed on the Ed Sullivan Show on 12/17/61. THE GAY LIFE was nominated for 4 TONYS, and won 1, Best Costumes, Lucinda Ballard aka Mrs. Howard Dietz. There has not been any major revival.

When the show was first published in 1986 its title was changed to THE HIGH LIFE. It is the first Dietz-Schwartz show to be published in its entirety.

One added note: THE GAY LIFE is one of a small group of shows that was changed after its opening performance. The show as captured on the orignal Broadway Cast recording is the show prior to the changes.

Bulldog.