Most Disastrous Performances? — Page 4

Perhaps many of you have read "Not Since Carrie" and other books about flops... Remember the one about MATA HARI's disastrous tryout in Washington where leading lady Marisa Mell scratched her nose after being executed by a firing squad?

Also, back in the early '70s, Rex Reed wrote a hilarious account of the opening performance of the first musical version of GONE WITH THE WIND at the Drury Lane in London, 1972. I recall that Reed said that following a series of bad scenes and minor calamities, at closing of Act One ended with a live horse dumping on stage.

I think it was that also show (or perhaps the aforementioned MATA HARI) where a supposedly "dead" character on stage rolled out of the way of a rapidly descending show curtain for protection. Priceless.

Oh, MamasDF, that's rich! I'm surprised the audience didn't start feeding her the lyrics at some point.

^ Was the projector getting knocked over and messed up a blooper too?

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Liza was famously inept replacing Julie Andrews in Victor, Victoria.

I once saw Rex Harrison fall asleep and Glynis Johns having to wake him up during the second act of The Circle.

And then there was Bacall opening night of Waiting in the Wings, sadly and glumly giving an embarrasing and lifeless performance, opposite Rosemary Harris no less. That was painful to see a grande dame giving every impression that she knew she was bombing. To see a legend having a very rough time on stage, fully aware she was in big trouble, and having to get through the night was as torturous for the audience as it was for her.

NOT SINCE CARRIE also talks about an out-of-town tryout show (I wish I could remember what) where the production was in such chaos that the leading man turned to the audience at one point and said something to the effect of, "There used to be a song here, but you're better off without it."

Wasn't that Donald O'Connor in Bring Back Birdie?

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Sting in The Three Penny Opera - we saw it in DC before Broadway and his voice was beyond shot. For someone who supposedly performed in rock venues every night for months, it was beyond shocking how weak and strained and cracking his voice was. And his voice was the best part of his performance.

At a preview performance of Hamlet at the San Diego Old Globe, I somehow got in early and seated, when the doors closed behind me and somehow I didn't get kicked out. I saw a stage hand nail something on the floor. Then when the Gravedigger came out, he tried to open a floor door to get at Yorrick's skull, but the panel was nailed shut. He kept going and struck the handle with his shovel and the other gravedigger did the same until finally the director yelled "Stop" and they came out and took the nails out and started the scene over from the beginning. Truly, Alas, poor Yorrick!

In a community theatre production of Oliver (my daugher was Oliver), the u/s for Nancy had only had two weeks to get up to speed and was thrust on stage - and well, she kind of got lost in "As Long As He Needs Me" - stanzas and lines mixed up. Somehow, the conductor followed her and at some point she ended the song. It's on DVD - but I ain't uploading it - because the actor really is a fine actress and it was just unfortunate.

I love Nathan Lane's acid-edged ad-libs in Wind In The Willows. From what I recall he was pretty sassy during that and Merlin making reference to their respective impending closures.

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The first time I saw the UK tour of EVITA, pieces of set were flying in all over the place. At one point (when Eva appears behind the portrait of herself during the Requiem), the balcony she was leaning on shot upward and nearly beheaded her. She let out the most terrifying scream.

Regine in FOllies at the KC. Thank god Solange is such a bit part.