Elaine Stritch in the King and I ?

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:06pm

Did anyone get the chance to see Elaine Stritch as Anna in the king and I ? I can't picture her in the show.
Updated On: 6/21/08 at 01:06 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:11pm

Wow. I wonder how she was.


I just read she also played MAME on tour. I wonder how that was also.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:13pm

It's so hard to imagine her in either Mame or the King and I. But I would've loved to hear her!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:25pm

Well, she played Vera in MAME, so that IS belivable. She didn't play Mame.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:28pm

Hahaha, her playing Vera is very believable.

[DG]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:28pm

"Vera Charles and title role, Mame, U.S. cities, 1967

Title role, Mame, U.S. cities, 1969"

She lists both of these tours in her bio.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:31pm

She's a drunk and a liar!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:32pm

I didn't see her in The King and I, but I knew someone who worked with her on a summer stock production around 1970, I believe. He always had a wicked smile on his face when speaking of her, but he told me that during the run, the people involved in Company came to check her out. She was quite the drinker in those days and Bruce told me that someone always had to be waiting at the top of the aisle (it was theatre-in-the-round) to be sure that she remained fortified. Love that Elaine!!!

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 3:54pm

can't her in the king and I either.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 3:56pm

Who did she play in the King and I? The King of Siam?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:03pm

I wouldn't be at all suprised if she "did" The KING, but the musical?
I don't see that.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:04pm

thats what i'm wondering he did't say she played Anna Maybe the royal wife I can't spell her name but the lady who sings
"something wonderful" I would laugh the whole time.

Updated On: 6/21/08 at 04:04 PM

[phantomo88]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:08pm

From http://www.lambertville-music-circus.org/:

http://www.lambertville-music-circus.org/seasons/playbills1965/seasonprogram_ss/images/page6.jpg>



Elaine Stritch played Anna!! I recall that Art Frank had to change keys for everything she sang as her range was totally different from any other Anna heard before (or since, I guess) on the professional stage. As it turned out, she worked hard, was a wonderful Anna, and brought her solid acting strength to the role.
Source: Gerald Krone, General Manager

Yes, the Elaine Stritch episode was true. We changed keys for performers often. My musicians were VERY adept at that. Most could do it reasonably well at sight without writing out the transposition. Source: Art Frank, Musical Director/Conductor

Updated On: 6/21/08 at 04:08 PM

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:11pm

What year did She do "The King and I"?

It's possible to picture a very young Elaine doing the role for a while.
The music for Anna is not all that demanding, but she would have to lovable enough to deal with all those kids...and that is the part I am having trouble seeing her pull off! HAHA!

I bet it was GREAT...on the "Elaine" scale!

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:13pm

1965

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:21pm

WOW!

43 years ago?

I bet She was FANTASTIC!

Rock On, Elaine!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:52pm

WOW!
That Lamberville Music Circus site is incredible.
I used to go there as a kid and later in my college days I performed there.
Those tents were like 120 degrees during the Summers.
Some of the pictures of the stars that played there are great.
Check out the stars to be.

Thanks for that link.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:16pm

The Lamberville Music Circus was my real introduction to musical theatre, although I'd seen the touring version of Guys and Dolls in 1952. I went to the Music Circus regularly between 1953 and 1958, with occasional visits thereafter (by then, I was already going to Broadway). It was one of the joys of my childhood and I loved it, heat or no.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:19pm

Yes, THANKS for that link!

Make you wonder how were they able to produce a new musical every week for the entire summer!

Just....WOW!

[Patash]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:39pm

Elaine Stritch in The King and I? Sure, I can see that. Did she shave her head to play the King?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:40pm

There was a thread about this a while ago.
I can definitely see her as Mame, for example, I can see her bringing so much to "If He Walked Into My Life" (she's not all cynicism, she does a beautiful job with "Something Good" in her concert), but I'm not sure that I could ever imagine her as Anna. If Elaine Stritch were my instructor, I'd be too terrified to ever join her in song and dance.
I wonder what she was like, her "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?" must have been a true showstopper though.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 7:10pm

Regarding Stritch in Mame: She and Bea Arthur toured with the show. They would swap roles, one playing Mame, one playing Vera, then they would switch.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 7:13pm

They "flip-floped"?

Wow!

Posted: 6/21/08 at 7:17pm

Wow- that link is amazing! A true piece of history.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:49pm

When did that happen? I was around at the time and I don't recall Arthur having anything to do with any stage version once she left the Broadway. Yes, she did the film (the only watchable thing in that disaster).