Happy 50th Anniversary to ILLYA DARLING

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 5:41pm

It opened 50 years ago today at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.

The show was based on the greek film Never On Sunday, reuniting the film's writer and director Jules Dassin, composer Manos Hatzidakis and leading lady Melina Mercouri. Also in the cast were Orson Bean and Hal Linden, with English lyrics by Joe Darion.





There seems to have been quite a buildup to the show, with a cover story in LIFE magazine while the show was in rehearsals in December. The star power managed to sustain the show for close to a year, despite dismissive reviews. The show was recorded by United Artists and while they severely screwed up the ruling order it's fortunate that the bouncy Greek-flavored score was preserved. I'm sure audiences deprived of "Moon River" several months earlier were happy to hear the film's theme song intact this time around.

Playbill:



Marquee:



 

Production Photos (Friedman-Abeles):

[carnzee]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 6:34pm

Thanks for sharing, Nowak Darling! 

And to those who haven't seen TOPKAPI : stream it or buy it. Mercouri is DELICIOUS in it! 

[JayG 2]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 6:40pm

Mr. Nowack, you've done it again. Thanks for the pictures. Great production shots!

[NoName3]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 6:43pm

Thanks for posting this. I never saw the show but bought the cast recording shortly after it was released and still give it an infrequent spin. It sounds fun.

[bk]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 7:08pm

Y'all know this was put on CD right - with extra material, right?  And in show order, right?  And remixed from the original three-track tapes, right?

[markypoo]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 7:24pm

In '67 my parents took the entire family on a combo NYC/Bermuda vacation.   While in the former one matinee afternoon, we kids were sent off to Man of La Mancha at the ANTA, and my folks went to see Illya.  During one scene (so I was told later on), Melina started hurling plastic wine cups out into the audience and my Mother caught one and presented it to me back at the hotel.  And that's my story.

 

 

 

[NoName3]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 10:24pm

bk wrote:

Y'all know this was put on CD right - with extra material, right?  And in show order, right?  And remixed from the original three-track tapes, right?

And thanks so much for doing that, bk. 

Illya, Darling at Kritzerland

Updated On: 4/11/17 at 10:24 PM

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 1:24am

As an adolescent I was a fan of Orson Bean's, so I wanted to see this musical; I was not very familiar with Ms. Mercouri, although as a child I had heard the popular instrumental "Never on Sunday" many times.  Anyway, my equally uninformed parents thought it would be nice if I took my young brother along with me.  So, twofers in hand (remember those from the schools and NYC info center in Times Square?) we took the ferry from Staten Island, hopped on the only train I was familiar with, the number 1, and ventured to the Mark Hellinger Theater, where we got down front center orchestra seats for a preview matinee.  (I can't remember what the cost was but I'm pretty sure it was less than $15, maybe $10 or so.)  We both enjoyed it, but I was bombarded with questions from my sibling afterwards.  Funny, the song I remember most (aside from the "Never on Sunday" movie theme also used in the show) was "Take a Little Drink of Ouzo," which was cut before opening night.  I remember it was performed to exuberant choreography.  Thanks for those memory-invoking photos. 

Updated On: 4/12/17 at 01:24 AM

[NoName3]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 2:43am

What a sweet reminiscence, mamaleh. Thanks for sharing.

[evic]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:10am

One of the most exciting overtures ever.

[Finch]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 12:51pm

These photos just brought back memories of a Saturday matinee many years ago.  I was in grad school at U-Michigan and went into Detroit to see this at the Fisher--it was on tryout.  I sat in  the mezannine, front row, center.  I turned to my left, and saw I was sitting next to Tony Bennett.  Some events are not forgotten.  Thanks for giving me a reason to recall them!

 

 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 7:39pm

 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 10:03pm

Reading these posts really made me want to hear this score. I pay for Apple Music and Spotify, but it was not available there. I was happy to see bk chime in about the CD's availability. bk's remastering of the FOLLIES OBC has convinced me that this is one to spring for from Kritzerland!

[jo]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 10:34pm

It was towards the end of the run of the stage adaptation when I saw it on Broadway  - that was one of my earliest memories of Broadway.

But the performance I saw was bittersweet.  All throughout the performance, Melina was silently crying as she sang -- I was seated close to the front and could see the tears coursing down her cheeks!  I found out later on that it was the day her father died in Greece...and maybe because of her anti-regime views of the then Greek government, she could not return home for the sad event.

But a really great lady and performer!

 

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:56pm

thanks so much for that clip. Here's a longer version:

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 11:26am

Interesting too: the show arrived before the ubiquity of body mics.  Mercouri managed the vocal demands -- not great, but substantial enough for a non-singer -- with great skill.  Unlike Bacall, with whom one might compare her singing, she could corral a melodic line, whether purring or barking.  It was an effective vocal performance.  I wonder how hard it was for her, 8 times a week, since she danced a fair amount in the show.  Like Bacall, she was a smoker.  But then, everyone in the theater was back then.

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 11:26 AM