MINNIE'S BOYS - great role for Bette Midler?

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 12:18am

Just listened to this CD again yesterday and thought it would be an ideal show for a big concert recording. It truly is a stunning and witty score which would benefit from a great leading lady performance! Bette Midler came to mind (if Marc Shaimen is reading) but pretty sure some current Broadway divas could give it a shot too! With the movie "revival" of The Three Stooges I think the world is ready to look again at The Marx Brothers who IMHO were without comparison! Some work on the book could make this a story worth telling.

Any ideas on casting as I think these are challenging roles?

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 2:44am

no one ever talks about this show - it originally starred Shelley Winters in one of her few Broadway appearances.

There are some great songs - there's one that's popular around mother's day -

it would be cool to see a revival happen - yeah Bette Midler would be good.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 8:01am

I saw it when I was 14. Shelley Winters kissed me at the stage door.

The show wasn't really good enough to revive, except at something like Encores, for a few concert performances.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 8:20am

The problem is the role isn't very good. Minnie's boys are the characters of interest, not Minnie. Making Minnie the star throws the whole show out of whack.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 10:43am

And Ms. Winters was indeed a major problem with the original. Directors, choreographers, book writers kept coming and going during previews, but Winters, who should have been fired (you're getting the best of her on the cast recording, and it's none too good) was the main nightmare, which is a shame. A friend of mine was a p.a. on that show, and I remember her telling me that at least at one preview they only did the first act for a paying audience!

There was a tour some time later, with Kaye Ballard as Minnie, and I heard it was way better than the original, although you would have lost the brilliance of Lewis J Stadlen, unforgettable as a young Groucho, Julie Kurnitz at her most Margaret Dumont, and Daniel Fortus, whose singing of the remarkable "Mama, a Rainbow" still brings tears to one's eyes, and who was an early victim of the AIDS crisis in 1984.

The score is great, and aside from Winter's unsteady vocals, beautifully presented and preserved. A great item for Encores (dear Rob Berman, are you listening?), although the casting of the Marx boys would be the hardest part.

[wildcat]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 12:02pm

I heard a tape of the Kaye Ballard production and it was blessed by having the original Broadway boys playing the Marx Brothers so it was an ideal combination. But the book is a disaster and absolutely NOTHING happens in the second act making the show feel endless. I wouldn't even recommend the show for Encores which presented another of my fave scores with a dreadful book, 70 GIRLS 70. It made for a most disheartening evening.

Lewis J. Stadlen's autobiography tells the whole grisly story of the Broadway production including Shelley Winters' intense dislike of his performance because of the accolades he was receiving.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/29/12 at 4:24pm

Thank you for the great information and reminiscences. I only discovered this score in the 80's and would love to hear a singer/actress tackle Minnie's songs.

The orchestrations are terrific with a big traditional Broadway sound!

Sorry but I am a fan and would love a concert production!