They're Playing Our Song

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 11:50am

A campy piece of early 80's fluff I was obsessed with in college. Some great songs, though. A possible Encores production?  Jeremy Jordan and Kara Young? Alex Edelman and Betsy Wolfe?  

Or a full movie star Broadway production with, say, Jake Gyllenyhaal and Anna Kendrick?  Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone?  Good comic actors that could grasp and punch the what may now be dated Neil Simon dialogue? 

[Dom P]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 12:37pm

Owen22 said: "A campy piece of early 80's fluff I was obsessed with in college. Some great songs, though. A possible Encores production? Jeremy Jordan and Kara Young? Alex Edelman and Betsy Wolfe?

Or a full movie star Broadway production with, say, Jake Gyllenyhaal and Anna Kendrick? Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone? Good comic actors that could grasp and punch the what may now be dated Neil Simon dialogue?"

 

I rather enjoyed the Original cast.of Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein at The Imperial Theater.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 12:41pm

It just does not feel like a show with a compelling reason to revive. Any BIG star who is right for it is probably getting offers for a ton of other shows too, with better roles. It might not even be Encores-appropriate...York Theatre or J2 Spotlight?

Great entr'acte, though.

I wish I had seen Klein & Arnaz's reunion concert in 2019. There were also two high-profile concert versions in 2010: at Reprise in LA, with Jason Alexander and Stephanie J. Block which Lonny Price directed, and an Actors Fund benefit at John Jay College with Sutton Foster & Seth Rudetsky which Denis Jones directed.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 12:45pm

[DAME]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 1:01pm

This is such a fun show.  There used to be a link with pictures and drawing of the original set design.  Maybe someone that’s better at finding things can resurface it for us.  This show and I Love My Wife should be brought back with some imagination and respect for its time and place. 

[Dom P]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 1:54pm

DAME said: "This is such a fun show. There used to be a link with pictures and drawing of the original set design. Maybe someone that’s better at finding things can resurface it for us. This show and I Love My Wife should be brought back with some imagination and respect for its time and place."

I was fortunate to see " I Love my Wife", with the late Lenny Baker, James Naughton, Johanna Gleason and Illene Graff, Pre-Broadway at the Forrest Theater. What a fun show.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 2:20pm

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 2:29pm

morosco said: "Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker."

That is a really good idea.  If someone got creative and did a production that was presented as a time capsule.. a picture of the time.. and they didn't mess with trying to make anything non cringy.. just accept what it is.. could be wonderful.  Same for I love My Wife.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 2:29pm

morosco said: "Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker."

[DAME]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 2:31pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "morosco said: "Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker."

"

Excellent!

[alovingfan]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 2:32pm

DAME said: "This is such a fun show. There used to be a link with pictures and drawing of the original set design. Maybe someone that’s better at finding things can resurface it for us. This show and I Love My Wife should be brought back with some imagination and respect for its time and place."

I would love to see both these shows resurface. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 2:42pm

I guess that I have to be a contrarian.  I thought this was thoroughly mediocre from start to finish.  I think there were three reasons this did good business: Neil Simon, when he was still relevant; Marvin Hamlisch; and Lucille Ball.  I say Lucille because people saw Lucie grow up and, despite no real credentials, she sold tickets.  I imagine Richard Klein sold tickets…he was the best thing about this show.  Lucie was also very good.  But it was just tired, would be painfully dated by now, and had about two good songs.

i will admit that I saw this AFTER seeing Sweeney Todd for the first time, so that may have had some impact on my assessment.  It was trivial.

i sound like I have contempt for it, which is not the case.  It was the type of show where I summarized it to friends as ‘if you did not see it, you didn’t miss anything’, and it is definitely not worth dealing with the Lincoln Tunnel on Saturday night (which I had actually done).

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 3:24pm

Jarethan said: "I guess that I have to be a contrarian. I thought this was thoroughly mediocre from start to finish. I think there were three reasons this did good business: Neil Simon, when he was still relevant; Marvin Hamlisch; and Lucille Ball. I say Lucille because people saw Lucie grow up and, despite no real credentials, she sold tickets. I imagine Richard Klein sold tickets…he was the best thing about this show. Lucie was also very good. But it was just tired, would be painfully dated by now, and had about two good songs.

i will admit that I saw this AFTER seeing Sweeney Todd for the first time, so that may have had some impact on my assessment. It was trivial.

i sound like I have contempt for it, which is not the case. It was the type of show where I summarized it to friends as ‘if you did not see it, you didn’t miss anything’, and it is definitely not worth dealing with the Lincoln Tunnel on Saturday night (which I had actually done)."

That is cool  Not every show is for everyone.  I do have a place in my heart for both shows mentioned.  I would love to see them back.  I saw Song a few times during its run.  Lucie and Robert were the best.  I also enjoyed Diana Canova. Anyone remeber her?  I also saw Victor Garber and Lorna Luft on tour.

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 3:51pm

DAME said: "This is such a fun show. There used to be a link with pictures and drawing of the original set design. Maybe someone that’s better at finding things can resurface it for us. This show and I Love My Wife should be brought back with some imagination and respect for its time and place."

I saw the tour of Song while still in college with Dawn ("Gilligan's Island") Wells (can't remember who her leading man was) but got to see "I Love My Wife" on my first trip to NYC with the Smothers Brothers/

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/25 at 5:07pm

I saw the tour of Song while still in college with Dawn ("Gilligan's Island") Wells (can't remember who her leading man was) 

Richard Ryder played Vernon opposite Wells’ Sonia. It was in the 2nd National Tour. Wells replaced Lorna Luft in November 1981. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 10:54am

I saw Stockard Channing and Tony Roberts. I was 11, but I was such a huge Stockard Channing fan because of her performances in "The Cheap Detective" and "Grease" that I begged my parents to take me. 

I also saw Stockard Channing in "The Rink".

 

Updated On: 7/22/25 at 10:54 AM

[Quinn Wilson]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 1:49pm

CarlosAlberto said: "I saw Stockard Channing and Tony Roberts. I was 11, but I was such a huge Stockard Channing fan because of her performances in "The Cheap Detective" and "Grease" that I begged my parents to take me.

I also saw Stockard Channing in "The Rink".

"
 

I know she got a bit of flack for The Rink, I’m sure taking over for Liza was daunting, but I thought the bootlegs of Stockard were great! Love her! 

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 1:54pm

Quinn Wilson said: "I know she got a bit of flack for The Rink, I’m sure taking over for Liza was daunting, but I thought the bootlegs of Stockard were great! Love her!"

She was great in "They're Playing Our Song" and I absolutely adored her in "The Rink".
 

[morosco]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 2:09pm

Stockard Channing and Tony Roberts

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 3:41pm

morosco said: "Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker."

This came very close to happening about a decade ago, they both eventually turned it down.

Updated On: 7/22/25 at 03:41 PM

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 4:22pm

Not the AI slop in this thread…

[merle57]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 4:32pm

Neither is a great show, and neither is particuarly relevant to a modern audience. Simon's books are pretty formulaic these days, plays like television sit com humor, and the score does not compensate. It was fun with the original leads and of its day.  I Love My Wife was a clever concept with the musicians as a Greek Chorus. Lenny Baker and Joanna Gleason were very good, the shows were so-so, but the situation flirted with adultery then backed way off. I think the plot itself may be too dated, and was even somewhat dated back in the late 1970s. I doubt either show would run long even with star casting. Both shows would be better for off-Broadway, IMHO. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/22/25 at 4:33pm

SmokeyLady said: "Jarethan said: "I guess that I have to be a contrarian. I thought this was thoroughly mediocre from start to finish. I think there were three reasons this did good business: Neil Simon, when he was still relevant; Marvin Hamlisch; and Lucille Ball. I say Lucille because people saw Lucie grow up and, despite no real credentials, she sold tickets. I imagine Richard Klein sold tickets…he was the best thing about this show. Lucie was also very good. But it was just tired, would be painfully dated by now, and had about two good songs.

i will admit that I saw this AFTER seeing Sweeney Todd for the first time, so that may have had some impact on my assessment. It was trivial.

i sound like I have contempt for it, which is not the case. It was the type of show where I summarized it to friends as ‘if you did not see it, you didn’t miss anything’, and it is definitely not worth dealing with the Lincoln Tunnel on Saturday night (which I had actually done)."

That is cool Not every show is for everyone. I do have a place in my heart for both shows mentioned. I would love to see them back. I saw Song a few times during its run. Lucie and Robert were the best. I also enjoyed Diana Canova. Anyone remeber her? I also saw Victor Garber and Lorna Luft on tour."

But wouldn’t you think it was really dated, as so much Neil Simon has?  

[BentleyB]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 2:39am

I saw it with Klein and Arnaz.   It’s what I call and “one and done.”  Glad I saw it, don’t care to ever see it a second time, unless someone very compelling was in it.  I think Parker/Broderick would have been great.  It is so dated and I found the music bland along with the writing. 

[SondheimTesori]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 12:53pm

I've recently been dreaming of Sara Bareilles and Brian D'Arcy James doing this at Encores. They have such great chemistry, and I think this is one of the scores in the canon that would truly fit Bareilles' voice like a glove (in addition to the meta songwriting aspect for the character). And a great vehicle for her charm too. 

Agree with others that I cannot imagine this show needing a showcase beyond an encores run, but think it would be fun and worthwhile to do it there.