Jill Haworth as Sally Bowles in Cabaret...

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 10:25pm

Does anyone think Jill Haworth is REALLY underrated as the original Sally in Cabaret?

All you hear about is Liza or one of the many Sally's from the recent revival.

I think Jill needs some love.

I love how she sung Sally's songs. I just wish Sally got to sing more in the original, because I love how she sang Sally, that's how Sally should be sung.. (Sorry Liza)



I bet she was glorious live.

Updated On: 9/2/05 at 10:25 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:11pm

I, too, believe Jill has become woefully underrated over the years.

Her version of "Cabaret" remains a classic rendition.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:13pm

She's always been my favorite Sally.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:18pm

I love Jill on the recording. That, of course, doesn't mean that she was completely effective in the theatre...

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:23pm

^ And you were alive to see her in the theatre?


Anyway, I think she looks amazing in the role. Updated On: 9/2/05 at 11:23 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:27pm

No. That's precisely my point.

I mean, how many great cast recordings are there of flop shows? Judging from the cast recordings, shows like MACK AND MABEL, THE BAKERS WIFE, and LOLITA MY LOVE were amazing.

Obviously the recording doesn't tell the entire story...

We know that Hayworth was considered an erratic performer and we know she, for the most part didn't receive good reviews as Sally Bowles, no matter how good she is on the recording.
Updated On: 9/2/05 at 11:27 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:29pm

That's all dandy..

But I made this thread to share our enjoyment of Jill on the recording..

No one can deny that Jill is very underrated for her portrayal of Sally, no matter if it was good or bad.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:32pm

She's not under-rated if she wasn't good...

The only negative reports I've heard about her performance, were from those who saw her live. I don't think anyone has said she isn't great on the recording.

And yes I agree, she *looks* splendid in the role, though I kind of prefer the pictures of her Sally with her natural hair before they wigged her during the out of town tryout.

Updated On: 9/3/05 at 11:32 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:45pm

We know you know it all.. and everything..

But I didn't make this thread to hear how bad she was in the role.. Thank you.

All I've seen of her are those clips from the BROADWAY MUSICAL PBS DVD, and I enjoyed her.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:51pm

LOVE HER! LOVE LOVE LOVE

Cabaret CD is like a bible on CD.....and she's wonderful..and yes I have those clips on DVD too...Love Love Love.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:03am

I love watching her on the american musical in that segment, her voice sounded entertaining! yet her low notes sounded scary, and frightened me

[PJ]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:06am

I love her rendition of "Cabaret" and "Don't Tell Mama." I remember reading on ATC a long time ago that she was very inconsistent in her performances though. And from what I've heard, yeah, she's pretty much the only one in the original cast who didn't receive great reviews.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:00am

I love her rendition of "Cabaret"-hate her "Don't Tell Mama"- but Liza's remains the closest to my heart because she is the reason I fell in love with this musical, plus I believe Kander & Ebb wanted her to play the role on Broadway but Hal Prince wanted a real British woman. Anyways, whatever happened to her? She didn't do anything else on Broadway after Cabaret.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:04am

I'm not sure what happened to her, I'd be curious to find out.

I just think her voice was much better suited for Sally than Liza. Because Sally isn't suppose to be an amazing singer. Jill's voice was just pefect for Sally's songs.

But who can say Liza didn't do an amazing job with the songs? I just think Jill's voice was better for the role.
Updated On: 9/3/05 at 02:04 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:08am

Yay. I found this..

(June 2004) Currently resides in her lavish New York apartment. Still stunning and beautiful, she works in many famous voice-overs for film and television.

from her IMDB page.

Glad to hear she is doing good!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:16am

Oh wow, I didn't know that. I thought she had done do some West End productions. I do understand what you say about Sally Bowles not supposed to have an amazing voice and I agree, but still how can you not love Liza? She gave a heart-breaking performance. But still I do enjoy Hallworth's rendition of the title song very much.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 3:05am

wasn't Jill blond as Sally? I remember seeing her singing "Cabaret" at the Tony Awards. And she was a blond. I prefer Liza, she was my favorite Sally Bowles.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 8:16am

In reality Jill Haworth was a blonde. During rehearsals she was having problems with her performance and Hal Prince suggested that she put on a brunette wig. From that poin on her performance jelled and she kept the wig.

As for recordings and liver performances:

I've sat in on recording sessions and know that performers do take after take to get just the performance they want committed to the disc. For all we know Haworth sang "Cabaret" 20 times before they got just the rendition they wanted for the album.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:07pm

Well I think her DON'T TELL MAMA and PERFECTLY MARVELOUS are just great too.

But how did they get her? Was she big in the Westend? Did she audition for the role, and she had the look they wanted?

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:22pm

And I doubt it took Natasha Richardson one try to get her title song right. Because she even has some painful notes on the final CD version!

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:28pm

i love her on the Cabaret CD and the PRomises Promises cd!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:34pm

I think you are confusing Jill Haworth (Cabaret) and Jill O'Hara (Promises Promises). They do have slightly similar voices though.
Updated On: 9/3/05 at 12:34 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:23pm

Natasha Richardson sounded worse live.

HOWEVER, her voice oozes sex and for that, it's amazing. And her MEIN HERR is my favorite. Yes, she can barely hit the notes...but there's just something about it.

But I too like Jill...and when I first heard her, I was wondering why no one has ever said anything before.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:28pm

Oooh. I def. agree. Natasha's voice definitetly oozes sex, and she just sounds very raunchy when she sings. It does work.

Her singing for the role is actually very similar to Jill's, in my opinion.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:42pm

If Liza was their first choice for Broadway, would they have kept the character of Sally British?

For the movie with Liza in the role, they switched Sally's nationality to American. And they changed the character of Clifford Bradshaw (Bert Convy, who was American) to Brian Roberts (Michael York, who was British!).

Catering to the casting, no doubt. But a lot of shuffling going on.