Dolores Gray - Summer Stock Medley

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 8/6/24 at 9:31am

The Ed Sullivan Show's channel just posted an intriguing medley from Dolores Gray. She claims she starred in summer stock in productions of Can-Can, Lady in the Dark and Annie Get Your Gun. The first two sound like perfect casting. The third still surprises me despite the fact she played Annie for ages in London. 

I've read she had an unpopular stage mother so it's funny to hear her reference her in her audience patter. "(Annie's) a role I almost love more than my own mother!"

Dolores Gray "Another Op'nin', Another Show, C'est Magnifique & That's Entertainment" | Ed Sullivan - YouTube

[inception]

Posted: 8/6/24 at 10:35am

Thanks for the link.  I only know Gray from her few film appearances.   Most recently I rewatched Designing Woman where she's Lauren Bacall's catty rival for Gregory Peck.

Seeing a performance somewhere/anywhere of Lady in the Dark has to be near the top of my wishlist.

Of the shows she does parts of in that clip, Can Can is also pretty rare to see these days.  Vancouver's summer stock company Theater Under The Stars (currently in its 84th year at the Malkin Bowl) did it in 2005.  It is very much of its time, and even nearly 20 years ago the book felt super dated.   (The film with Frank Sinatra & Shirley MacLaine also isn't 100% faithful to the stage version.)

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 6:16pm

I love the Ed Sullivan channel's commitment to posting clips of Dolores Gray. Today's number is one of the weirdest things I've seen her do. Singing to two small children that "Shrimp Boats Is A Comin'" while an angelic chorus trills behind her. 

Dolores Gray "Shrimp Boats" on The Ed Sullivan Show