Did they take away Ellen Harvey's Solo in Brotherhood of Man?

[E.Davis]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:21pm

On the past two T.V programs they have performed it on, everyone sings it now? Is that reflected in the show?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:41pm

I sure hope so. Feel free to disagree, but her singing in that number always makes me cringe. Her vibrato-laden vocalizing feels totally out of place, jarring, and grating, and it makes me long for Lillias White.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:48pm

PiraguaGuy, I totally agree. It took me right out of the scene. I think it has something to do with the fact that she leaves the stage and only comes back for her solo, so I was like, "WHOA!" when the solo began. And not in a good way.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:48pm

I liked it.

It was along the lines of the original Miss Jones and not the sassy scatting Lillias White version(which I enjoy equally).

[timote316]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 5:28pm

I love the recording of the song with Lillias, but I've always had a problem with her casting as Miss Jones. I've only seen the movie, but isn't the fact that this meek secretary comes out and sings this big, brassy, belty solo the big joke of the moment? That seems kind of ruined when the role is played by a well known former Effie White...

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 5:39pm

I agree with timote, I'm all for color blind casting but a older stoic (maybe unattractive) opera-voiced woman breaking loose IS the joke. If she starts scatting like Ella, it may be impressive but it ain't as funny. I have a similar (but not as strong)feeling about SIT DOWN YOUR ROCKING THE BOAT.
And I love me some Lillias, but not in this context.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 6:15pm

It would be fine if she didn't always end up half a tone sharp at the end of the number. Every time I've heard it performed, it's painful, shrill, and unattractive.

Give me the 95' Lillias White version any day.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:12pm

"I've only seen the movie, but isn't the fact that this meek secretary comes out and sings this big, brassy, belty solo the big joke of the moment"

I've seen Miss Jones played several different ways, but never as "meek." Strict, uptight, and conservative would be better ways to describe the character. After all she is the secretary all the others seem to fear, the one who Finch needs to charm to get in good with Bigley. She is a lot of things but not meek.

And even in the movie I would not call Ruth Kobart's performance meek.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:19pm

How to Succeed is a musical comedy and white people trying to sing gospel is funny. That was the original concept of the number with Ruth Kobart's dour battle ax Miss Jones suddenly chirping away in decidedly unhip fashion as she gets the spirit. In the previous revival, Lilias White pretty much fumbled the comedy of the character all night long, until she got to sing the sh!t out of "Brotherhood of Man". They delivered a showstopper, but lost a lot of the character's comedy along the way. I have other issues with the current revival, but I was thankful that they got Miss Jones right.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:48pm

I thought her solo was the funniest part of the entire production, I think she purposely over-sings it. I hope she still has it!

Maybe they realize it's jarring out of context? They used it on the Today show.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:56pm

I found Harvey a shining brightspot in this dull production. I do agree that out of context, her version of the solo is a bit surprising, but, in the context of the show, it's just another great addition to a thrilling number that is much appreciated after a couple hour of, for me, total boredom.

[choitoy]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 7:35pm

I was just thinking that they trimmed her solo, since the whole performance on Letterman and the View were more abbreviated in general from the performance on the Today show. I even thought it was funny how much they had to adjust the choreography so they could fit on the Letterman stage area.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 10:14pm

Her solo is still in the show. I think they just cut it for the sake of time on all the morning and late night show appearances.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 10:23am

^ Which is a shame, b/c it's really a great chance for Ellen to shine. I've loved her in everything I've seen her in (Mamma Mia, Annie and Mary Poppins) and almost went to see High School Musical b/c of her (I was going to be out of town that week).

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 10:39am

"In the previous revival, Lilias White pretty much fumbled the comedy of the character all night long, until she got to sing the sh!t out of "Brotherhood of Man". They delivered a showstopper, but lost a lot of the character's comedy along the way."

Smaxie---that's exactly how I remember it. She was less than memorable until that number, and then she completely stopped the show with her "scat" and gospel-ese riffing.

I agree with your assessment of Miss Jones, too. Ruth Kobart, who originated the role on stage and film, was a legitimate opera singer as well as a musical comedy performer. Her interpretation of the role and the Brotherhood solo is still my favorite.

[PottstownTeacher]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 3:04pm

This is completely random, and unrelated to the thread, so please forgive me for digressing ... BUT ... Ruth Kobart was Miss Hannigan in the national tour of ANNIE, which I saw at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia on July 30, 1980. I was 6 years old. It was the first show I ever saw! OK, I'm done. Back to the thread.