Marti Webb in SONG AND DANCE (at 50!)

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 1:27pm

Marti Webb has to be d'un age certain, so her return to SONG AND DANCE at this late date will certainly give the story of a free-wheelin' young thing in Manhattan a new spin. Rather than provoke a cynical reaction, I feel a bit like You Go, Girl. I'm not being ageist in saying the material -- written for an ingenue -- may be more poignant, and darker, with an inevitable edge of desperation. Hey, why not?

[tpdc]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 2:03pm

I saw Marti Webb in the original production and she played it dark, poignant and with a lot of desperation then! She was terrific.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 2:42pm

I find that to be a great casting choise.
I loved her original.
ANd why not allow her to be in the part.
She has these boyfriends and she "falls in love" -- that cannot just happen overnight (well okay so in the gay community some are moving in on the 2nd date but still....)
My point being that she will bring a nice touch to the part.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 3:39pm

I think it is a nice touch to have Marti Webb close this new production of "Tell Me On A Sunday" - as ALW wrote the original TV special for her.

I'm afraid she is a lot older than 50 though. She was the original Ann, starring opposite Tommy Steele in the Original London Cast of "Half A Sixpence" way back in 1963. I'm not sure exactly how old she was at that time - but she was certainly older than 10!

[catcher]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 4:52pm

I laugh when I think of Marti Webb singing some of the music and lyrics in the current version... Even if it was the old one, her selection would be wrong. Just because someone was great 20 years ago, doesn't mean they are still right... It's absurd.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 5:24pm

Though I started this thread, I guess my own reaction is somewhere between Catcher's and Jon's. I would be curious to hear how (if) the material stretches to accommodate the perspective of a woman clearly in mid-life. The romantic issues may adapt, but the idea of coming to Manhattan bright and frankly green to start your hat biz. It bespeaks the promise of youth. But since I'm middle-aged, but younger than Webb, I have a few reservations. It's only a month; maybe the nostalgia value alone will carry it. Bernadette Peters was in her late 30s when she got to the role of "Emma," and won a Tony for it. But Peters was forever ageless prior to Gypsy.

[tpdc]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 6:31pm

One of the things that made Webb's original performance so great was that she was at the beginning of what was considered "middle aged" in 1982. In the original she wasn't a hat designer. She was one of those 60s "birds" who was now too old to get by on her looks and personality and had no career path like Emma in the Peters rewrite. Her performance was angry, sad, tough and ultimately moving. She managed to put all that into the very thin orginal text so maybe she can stretch this latest revision as well.

[catcher]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 6:57pm

I agree about her performance in the original, but, again, even in that I think it would be a stretch. What makes this so amusing to me is simply the new material--which is clearly written for a young urbanite.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 8:02pm

tpdc: Thanks for that critical reminder. I had the "Sunday" album, and you're right--no coy and potentially cloying Peters Emma trappings, no cute young thing "issues," and (at that point), no big hit ballad that came later, "Unexpected Song." The woman was optimistic, but bruised; she'd been around the block. The question is -- there are blocks ... and there are blocks. A woman d'un age certain has been on a longer journey, more Piaf-esque concerns about aging, her body, what love means. Perhaps that sensibility can be brought forth in the Don Black lyrics. I'm now dying to see the damned thing.

[Dude]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 12:32am

who cares if Webb is coming back.

why bring this crap back in the first place?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 12:33am

Well thank you for sharing, Dude. And Happy New Year.

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 12:33 AM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 2:54am

well~ I think it will be a REAL change to the revival show!.... from Denise Van-Outen (young, sweet little girl) to Marti Webb (old, original n currently playing Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly modern Millie London)!!!!!! Didn't it say that it is about a GIRL going from London to New York????? When will they put Maureen Lipman in the show then! Though I think it will still be a cool experience..... it just does not sound right of such a old woman in the show!
My CHICAGO the musical group!!!!!