Liza in The Act

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Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/19/16 at 11:05pm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TvAURkgx-D0

She really was ( is ) a superstar.

Did anyone ever see her in this, and is it time to bring this back ? Maybe Encores

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/19/16 at 11:25pm

I did see her in this. She worked very hard to put it over, but it was still bad. Her "oh please, my nerves" in City Lights still makes me laugh.

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/19/16 at 11:32pm

That clip is stunning and is always a joy to watch. I'd be interested in hearing from a poster who knows the material well; is this a title that would be viable for a production outside of Encores?

I recall the book "Colored Lights" having a really interesting passage about The Act. If I'm remembering correctly, the show was in a pretty disastrous state out of town due in part to Martin Scorsese's inability to translate his eye for directing to the stage. Gower Champion came along to make some much needed improvements, but like I said, I'd be interested to know if it really ever became that solid of a piece. It being written especially for Liza and her talents probably wouldn't help matters today if someone were to try to mount it.

While I would love to see Encores take a stab at it, I think The Rink might be a notch higher on my list of shows I'd like to see them tackle.

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 12:12am

I saw it and remember nothing of it. Maybe I was lucky.

Poster Emeritus

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 12:14am

I must admit that I know nothing about the show, nor did I know it was written for her. It is a kinder and Ebb show, yes?

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 12:19am

There was basically her on a bare stage singing. She was so hot than people would have paid to hear her recite the phone book. It was her doing a night club act and that was it.

Poster Emeritus

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 12:47am

The only reason I love this show is because Mark Goddard who played Major Don West on Lost in Space is in it.

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 1:46am

Liza was in rough shape during this show. She would sometimes lip to tracks if her voice wasn't up to it or duck into the wings for a dance number during which Claudia Asbury would come on and take over. It was a glorified club act and there'd be no reason to revive it.

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 1:57am

It was really Mediocre. A bunch of musical numbers strung together by the barest of storyline. I remember Barry Nelson (hard to believe he was ever a Broadway star) showing up on stage for 2 minutes of dialogue, which was a joke...it really was an original night club act pretending to be a real Broadway musical. Without Liza M at her career zenith, the show would have run for two weeks. The only number I remember was City Lights, which was enjoyable. Liza gave her all to make it modestly entertaining, but it was a dog. I can see no point of staging it for Encores...despite being Kander and Ebb, the score was bottom draw.

#10

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 2:17am

Thanks for all the responses , I had no idea that it wasn't a full book musical, I'm guessing City Lights was the best thing about it?

#11

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 2:22am

"Arthur In the Afternoon" is actaully a very charming number but I would agree that it was not, by far, top drawer Kander & Ebb. It was written in a hurry and sounds it.

#12

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 5:46am

I was going to say, "Arthur in the Afternoon" is a fantastic song and Liza's rendition--as with most of her renditions--is spectacular. I think the creative team did what they could with what they were given. Scorsese wasn't a good person for Liza to be around with at the time, and unfortunately it damaged the show. From reading Colored Lights, it sounds like once the damage was done all Gower Champion could do was get it to a place where it was presentable enough. I always find it weird that this is one of Liza's Tony-winning performances.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#13

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:09am

I went through a period where I was OBSESSED with the OBCR. I still listen to it from time to time and enjoy the score a lot. There's nothing quite like Liza belting out The Money Tree. City Lights, Arthur in the Afternoon, Bobo's, Shine It On and There When I Need Him are other choice tracks. The recording has a gratuitously bombastic quality to it, which only makes me love it even more.

The Act was nominated for 6 Tonys including Best Score, Actor (Barry Nelson), Actress (Liza won), Costumes, Lighting and Choreography. It's weird knowing that Nelson was nominated for Actor in Musical and he doesn't make a peep on the OBCR as far as I can tell. Has anyone else ever been nominated for a performance in a musical without singing a note? (Of course the cast recording might not be a complete representation of the score, but Nelson isn't listed as having a song in the Playbill either.)

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#14

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:22am

I got the cast album on a CD on a label I never heard of . It was, like the show, a bare bones affair. It had a one sided picture of her inserted into a jewel case . The back of the case was a one sided insert with the musical numbers listed.Spent all of 10 cents to produce.

The show played , if memory serves, the Majestic . It lasted about 6 months after word got out I believe.

Poster Emeritus

Updated On: 5/20/16 at 08:22 AM

#15

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:30am

The cast album is indeed cheaply produced. The insert is crap and the sound isn't great. I have to turn my speakers all the way up to hear it at a normal level.

The Act did play The Majestic and ran for 233 performances (October 77-July 7. I don't think it flopped because of bad word of mouth, but rather because Liza began missing performances like crazy. If she had been able to take care of herself it may very well have turned a profit.

As much as I love the OBCR I also have a live audio from early in the run and Liza's voice is positively electrifying. The audience goes crazy after The Money Tree and it never fails to give me goosebumps.

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#16

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:53am

"The recording has a gratuitously bombastic quality to it."

"Bombastic?"

"Has anyone else ever been nominated for a performance in a musical without singing a note?

Thomas Mitchell won the best actor in a musical Tony for Hazel Flagg.

#17

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:57am

Such a great cast album (sound issues aside).

City Lights and The Money Tree are 2 of my most played songs.

....but the world goes 'round

#18

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:08am

One of the (many) amusing tidbits in this score comes in the song Shine It On, where the designer Halston's name is mentioned.

Mmm... Halston designed the costumes for this show. What a coincidence!

#19

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:08am

Well aren't you just the most clever fellow!

....but the world goes 'round

#20

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:18am

I love that clip, but the show was ruined by all the snow.

#21

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:22am

PalJoey said: "

I love that clip, but the show was ruined by all the snow.

"

Jebus I love you Pal, that made me laugh out loud

#22

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:28am

Liza did miss a lot and then renegotiated her contract back to playing 7 a week omitting Wednesday afternoons. Her contract was extended by a couple of weeks making up for those missed performances. Liza was also out partying until dawn, singing for free and then would claim vocal exhaustion. That's what comes from too much pills and liquor.

She actually played it a year. It was a long tryout with extended engagements in Chicago (under the title 'Shine It On', SF and LA. It also lost all of its investment.

Barry Nelson didn't sing because he couldn't carry a tune in a bag. However they needed some sort of name to play opposite Liza and Nelson was the one they got. When he had to leave for a month or two mid-run, Gower stepped in and played the role.

While tailored for Liza I remember reading that Shirley MacLaine and Ann-Margret had been offered the show first and passed.The working title at that point was 'In Person'. That may have been PR but it was in the papers.

The show isn't very good. There is essentially no plot conflict. The numbers were fine, but really didn't even comment on the very weak book. I bet this hasn't even been suggested for Encores wish list.

#23

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:28am

#24

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:38am

The Kander and Ebb show I think they should bring back (at least to Encores) is WOMAN OF THE YEAR...sturdy story (based on the Hepburn vehicle of the same name) and terrific Kander and Ebb songs! Comic showstopper in 2nd act was Marilyn Cooper as an ordinary housewife next door to glamorous Lauren Bacall's character (Cooper won the Tony, I think)...

Would be a sensational vehicle for a big Broadway star of a certain age...I saw Lauren do it, then Raquel Welch and even Debbie Reynolds! Great memories...

#25

Liza in The Act

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:52am

This had a book?

Poster Emeritus

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