Dear World

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Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:41am

Recently Jerry Herman, along with Paige O' Hara, Jason Graae, Karen Morrow, and Donald Pippin visited Arizona State University to put on some workshops and a concert. One of the songs performed particularly caught my interest, "I Don't Want to Know" from DEAR WORLD.

I've done multiple searches, on and off-site, but I'm having trouble coming up with any real information on it, other than a very light plot synopsis.

I was wondering if there was anyone out there who could help me out a little. Who sings "I Don't Want to Know?" What sort of character is she?

Thanks,

~Aryn

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:29am

Angela Lansbury sings "I Don't Want To Know."

DEAR WORLD was indeed ahead-of-its-time, in terms of its subject matter and its delicious score. It's a musicalization of Jean Giraudoux/Maurice Valency's THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT.

Jerry Herman recruited two stars of his original MAME, Angela Lansbury and Jane Connell, for the roles of Countess Aurelia (the madwoman of Chaillot) and Gabrielle (the madwoman of Montmatre). The cast also includes Milo O'Shea (MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS), Pamela Hall, Carmen Mathews, Kurt Peterson, Gene Varrone and Michael Davis.

Angela Lansbury sinks her teeth into the central role of the tragic-comic Countess Aurelia, with several lovely numbers including "Each Tomorrow Morning", "I Don't Want to Know", "Dear World", "Kiss Her Now", "One Person" as well as the heartbreaking "And I Was Beautiful". Pamela Hall steals the show with the achingly-lovely "I've Never Said I Love You".

Jerry Herman's score is wonderful. This isn't your brassy MAME, HELLO DOLLY or MACK AND MABEL. DEAR WORLD shuttered after an abysmal 132 performances.
From a reveiw of the Dear World OBC on Amazon

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 11:29 AM

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:28pm

I'll do my best to answer your question.

the main plotline of dear World, is a fight between good and evil in modern day paris. all Good, Pretty stuff is being ruined by businessmen who are trying to take over the world and destroy it (from the madwomen's eyes or not only?)

with all Good things in the world shattering around her, the Countess sings this song to resent acknowledging it.

from synopsis:
"The Countess's friends see the seriousness of the situation but, ever the optimist, the Countess doesn't see the evil in the world. But if what she is told is true, she doesn't want to know and retreats into the sewers of Paris "

find detailed synopsis at:
http://www.nodanw.com/shows_d/dear_world.htm

Bring Disney's "Der Glockner Von Notre Dame" To Broadway!
http://musicalkid.multiply.com/

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 01:28 PM

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 4:16pm

I love DEAR WORLD. I will never work, but I still love it. A friend of mine specultated as to what the show would have been like with a Schmidt and Jones score. I think they would have been better suited to adapting the material.

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart; and you'll never walk alone.

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 04:16 PM

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:02pm

*sniff sniff* I smell Jerry Herman talk!!!!!

That is just a sample of the wonderful wit and melody that flow from this score. I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing the OBC, esp if you enjoyed this number. No matter what problems Herman has with the feel of the material and the book meshing with his style, I have NEVER been dissappointed in any of his songs [I've heard almost all the B-way book ones].

Hello Jerry! Well hello Jerry! . . .

I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:05pm

THE TEA PARTY is among Herman's best work.

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart; and you'll never walk alone.

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:30pm

There was talk recently about a small-scale revival featuring Maureen McGovern, with Herman doing some adjustments to the score, etc. He himself felt the show didn't work because it was done as a big, brassy Broadway musical (with the Countess Aurelia a limp substitute for Mame) when it should have been a chamber musical. He described "I Don't Want to Know" especially as working to achieve a kind of mad, insistent build seen in the best of Jacques Brel's work.

I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:31pm

Anyone see it somehwere? I'm curious to know what the main problems were, could it be fixed? It is good a good enjoyable show, if not a perfect one?

I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:43pm

This is also one of my favorite shows. I consider myself lucky to have seen the show - and one of the above posts was correct. Most of the critics thought the show was "over produced" and if done on a smaller scale it would have played better.

I also remember reading years ago that when Jerry Herman was asked what his favorite composition was, he said "The Tea Party" from Dear World. It really is amazing.

#10

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:47pm

I would love to see/be in a production of this [Note my screen name, Herman has made me love smog]. I think it would be awesome if Roundabout did it, although not untill I live in NY. I guess it would all depend if Studio 54 or the AA theatre would be able to accomodate it to the right size.

I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!

#11

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 7:29pm

I remember seeing this at the Hellinger

As I recall, I loved the score - some of which did not make it to the CD. It was not for everyones taste ( including critics) which is why it did not succeed. The show was moderately entertaining

Poster Emeritus

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 07:29 PM

#12

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:05pm

The great thing about the show, is its score. The Mad Woman story is rather dull, imo. I do agree that it would work better as a smaller show. And give the song Dear World, back to the kid.

#13

Dear World

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:35pm

actually, frontrow, i believe the liner notes of the CD mention, that one of his favourite songs was "and i was beautiful". he love the simplicity and honesty of the song.
simple and direct.

Bring Disney's "Der Glockner Von Notre Dame" To Broadway!
http://musicalkid.multiply.com/

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